I told you she likes you!

My brother came in last week for my mom's surgery and has been staying with us to help out. The helping out part hasn't gone as well as he would have liked because the monkeys haven't wanted him to hold them. Isabella has gone back and forth between crying and being happy around him. Most of the time when he tries to pick up Caitlin she starts screaming. He keeps saying that he thinks she hates him. I keep telling him that she doesn't hate him, she has just been off this week because of me being gone so much over the weekend. So tonight Sean picked up Caitlin and she let him hold her for awhile. She even liked it. See Sean, I told you she doesn't hate you!

I am not smarter than Cheerios.

Yesterday I put the monkeys on their play mat and gave each of them a small bowl with some cheerios. I thought it would keep them out of trouble and give me a few minutes to get dressed. I walked out of the room and came back to find the cereal all over the floor.

Ok, no problem. I picked them up and put them back in the bowls. Being the bad, not afraid of a few germs mommy that I am, I gave the bowls back to the girls. I turn away for a second and both girls start shaking the bowls like rattles and the cereal goes all over the floor again.

Ugh! Once again I picked the cereal up.

This is where I should have shown that I was smarter than the Cheerios and not given the bowls back to the monkeys. Nope, I was tired and apparently my neurons were a bit slow waking up. I handed Caitlin her bowl, she looked at me with a smile and promptly flung the bowl back to the floor.

Obviously, it was time for me to throw in the towel and go back to sleep.

Answered Prayers!

All of our prayers over the last week have been answered. My mom is home today and is doing marvelously well. No paralysis, most likely no cancer. Almost all feeling has returned to her feet and legs. We could not have asked for a better outcome. Now she just has to figure out how she is going to make it through the next month without being able to pick up the monkeys. So far it is just as hard on them as it is on her. They don't understand why grandma won't pick them up or play with them. Hopefully this next month will pass without too much trauma for them.

Prayers for my mom.

Today is going to be a big day for my family. Please send any thoughts and prayers you can spare to my mom. She is having a long and scary surgery that will have a significant impact on her quality of life. We have faith that all will be well, but it is impossible to not be very worried.

Silent Observer

Our first family photo.

The monkeys on their birth day.

So small! So perfect! So loved!

One night last week I went in to check on the monkeys like I do every night before I go to sleep. It was late and I was exhausted. The floor squeaked and Isabella sat up. I froze in place hoping that she would lay back down without seeing me. She looked around and crawled over toward me. I had a moment of panic thinking I had woken her up and would have to give her a bottle to get her back to sleep. It wasn't me she wanted though.

When she reached Caitlin she stopped and started grabbing at Caitlin's face. I had another moment of panic thinking I was going to be feeding two babies in the middle of the night. Caitlin barely stirred though. Isabella grabbed at Caitlin a couple of more times then she laid back down. I waited a moment for her to go back to sleep. Instead she sat up again and searched around on the mattress in front of Caitlin. Not finding what she wanted, she grabbed at Caitlin once more. This time she was able to get to Caitlin's mouth and found the object of her desire. With a swift tug, she removed Caitlin's paci, placed it in her own mouth and promptly drifted off to sleep once again.

I crept back to my own bed with a smile and the joy of seeing first hand how much my babies have bonded during their first year.

Pool Time!

The monkeys had a another pool play date with their friend Leo. Here are a few pictures of them enjoying their pool time.

So Caitlin, if you help me fill this bucket I won't pour it on you. Sound like a deal?

I am such a cute deal maker!

Why is everyone sitting so far away from me? Does my hat look goofy or something?

If I turn away from them, they won't see me filling this with water. Then I can spray them when they least expect it!

Our mommy won't put enough water in this pool for us to do a cannonball. Will you pour some water on us so we can stay cool? We really want a diving board on our next pool!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Today was the monkeys first birthday! Happy Birthday girls! We had a wonderful day filled with family and friends. Here is a little photo summary of the day.

Patiently waiting for our guests to eat so we can have cake.

Getting closer to cake. We can't wait for our first taste of sugar!

Our personalized smash cakes.

Do you think mommy will notice if I wipe my hand on her pants?

Can I have a birthday cake everyday?

The aftermath.

I can't wait to play with the spider legs.

This butterfly rocks! Whee!

Caitlin

Isabella

I bet I can put this toy to good use.

Almost there.

I told you I could put it to good use!