HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!

Has it really been a year already? It some ways this past year seems like an eternity but in others it seems just like yesterday.

Braden enjoying some baked beans and a hotdog. The white shirts were probably not a good idea!
Reed loves to pile food in his mouth like he has to hurry before Braden takes it from him. Neither one of them are clean eaters at all! I hope that they stay good eaters like they are now. They will eat just about anything you put in front of them except for potatoes and peaches!
Braden loves to crawl everywhere...he gets faster each day that passes. Braden is such a happy little boy and I absolutely love his laugh. He loves for you to chase him and he will stop every few feet and turn around and grin at you then giggle and keep on crawling. He has this little grin that spells "I am a little mischevious" but I love every bit of it!
Braden does not even know what an encouragement he has been for his "little brother" this past year. He was always so good to be drug back and forth to Vanderbilt almost every day for the first three months of his life to go visit his brother. Braden is by far his brother's best physical therapist...he pushes his brother like no one else can and Reed watches every move he makes. I am so thankful that God blessed us with Braden and I cannot wait to watch B and R's relationship grow each day.
Oh sweet little Reed...how far that you have come this past year. When I look back at pictures with where his journey started, I am amazed at how God has brought him this far. I cannot look at pictures from his first two months of life without being totally humbeled and amazed at how God worked through this little guy at such a young age and taught us so much. I never truly knew what it meant to completely put my faith and trust in God until we were told that Reed had a heart defect then needed to wait for a heart transplant. Who would have ever thought that we would be thankful that our son's heart was so bad that he would need a transplant.
Reed is such a sweet boy who has about the sweetest smile. He is definitely a little fighter and has battled through more than most of us have our whole lives. I am so thankful that he is so young that he will not remember any of this...hopefully!

The boys getting their birthday cakes. Ryan was the reason for the KU jerseys in the background. Family of four soon to be five in April! B couldn't even look up at the camera because he was so concerned with eating his cake! Braden's first year in picturesReed's first year in picturesI couldn't believe that they kept their hats onBraden and Reed were clapping for their own birthdays!

Fall Part II

Halloween and Fall

Happy Halloween! We took the boys to trunk-or-treat Wednesday night. They did not stay in the stroller too long...they were only content as long as the stroller was moving! Weston, Preston. Camille, Reed (who was not the happiest camper at the time), and Braden Sweet little pig, monkey and giraffe

Priceless!!! I am not for sure which kid is going to like Santa the least. We are taking bets to see which one will cry first! All I can do is laugh at times like these because it makes for some good memories later on. Why is it impossible to get them to look at the camera?

I gave Braden an apple while I was changing his diaper to try to keep him still. I did not know he was going to eat it. He would start shaking his head because he wouldn't get enough of the apple in his mouth. I guess his front teeth work.

Fall Time

Fall Time

Two weeks ago, Ryan and I went to the church family retreat with some of our friends. We left the boys with my parents so we could spend some time with our friends. It was perfect weather and we had a really good time.
On Saturday morning, the guys went to play golf while we stayed and went to Bible classes..something is wrong with that picture. In their defense though, it was a planned activity with the church retreat:-) Ryan obviously took the picture below of his group: Zach Crawford, Josh Terry and Josh Story.

That afternoon, all of us couples went to the skeet shooting range. It was so much fun! Zach was cracking us up with his shooting attire. He reminds me of Elmer Fudd in this picture!!!
I was showing Martha Lynn how to load the gun and turn the safety off. I think this was her first time to shoot a gun.

One morning, I went downstairs to check on the laundry and I came back and found this. I guess that is what I get for letting Reed think that the can of puffs was a rattle. You live and you learn. Don't worry, I didn't let them eat them all even though that would have been easier than cleaning up their mess. Their faces just say "Guilty!"

I wish that you all could see these two in the bathtub. They absolutely love bath time! Its a good thing that we have tile in our bathroom because water ends up all over the floor from them splashing. People think that I am crazy for giving them a bath every night but if you could see the looks on their faces when they get in the water then you would too!

I am trying to get the boys used to having things on their head so they won't hate their Halloween costumes. So far, I am not succeeding for longer than a minute!

Right after I took the picture, Braden had yanked the towel off his head. We owe a huge thank you to the Calendine family for having our church class over for a cookout. They had everything that you could think of for entertainment...football, huge blowup obstacle course, fishing, and tons of good food.

We brought the boys bouncers so they could entertain themselves for a while. Reed was in the middle of a big bounce in this picture.

Martha Lynn and sweet Camille

Braden with Macy, his friend that is also a twin.

It got pretty cool that night so they had a big bonfire where we could roast marshmallows. I was glad I brought their sweaters. The next day Ryan and I went and bought them a fleece coat for the winter.

Ryan and I trying to stay warm...actually I think he was hot because he had been playing football with some of the guys.

Stay tuned for some more pictures...it won't be long before you can see them in their cute Halloween costumes!!!

Blessing!

Well, I think that the picture below can pretty much sum up our news! That's right...Reed and Braden are going to be big brothers. I am 12 weeks pregnant and due April 19th (the same exact time as my sister-in-law, Tina) and the boys will be a whopping 17 months old! This was definitely a surprise to us but a welcomed blessing after what this past year has brought us. I won't lie...when I found out, there were some tears shed but I will just blame that on the hormones. Ryan and I are so thankful that God has entrusted us with another child and we are so very grateful for this blessing. Please be praying with us that this child is completely healthy and thanking God for this blessing in our lives in addition to Reed and Braden!!!

We are still here!

I am so sorry that it has been so long since my last update....can you tell that school has started back for me and the boys are really busy?!? I am back at school every Tuesday/Thursday from 7:15-3:30 and Fridays from 7:15-10:30. I love teaching and am so thankful that my parents can keep the boys otherwise I am not for sure that I would have gone back to school. I think that teaching helps me keep my sanity since I can talk to other people besides two 10 month old! I love them though!!!
We have been practicing with Reed to get him to hold his bottle by himself. So far so good! I always feel bad with them lying on the ground without me holding them but I guess they have to grow up sometime.
Braden is all over the place these days. Here in the last couple of weeks, he has really starting "talking" more, pulling up on everything and crawling! We are so proud of him. However, these sometimes makes for an unhappy Reed. Braden loves to tackle Reed and Reed cannot stand having to sit while Braden is on the move. I guess B can help motivate R!
At least Reed can roll over for his plan of escape!

There are some rare occasions when Reed can get Braden back for all the tackles. I am sure one day they will both being wrestling each other and each one will be able to hold his own!

The boys love to play outside. They can entertain themselves for quite a while on a mat with a basket full of toys. They think it is so much fun to pull out all the toys. I am sure they won't think that's fun one day when I make them learn to pick up all their toys.

Does this make me a bad mom?!? I was pretty desperate one afternoon for just a spare minute and Einstein and some Cheerios did the trick!

They didn't seem to mind it!

Both boys have had runny noses on and off for several weeks now. I guess it is due to getting new teeth. Braden is getting one of his top teeth and Reed is getting his top 2 teeth and one new bottom tooth. What fun!

If I didn't know better, I would think that Braden was fake sleeping in this picture.

Our first bubble bath! I think that I need to use something besides Palmolive next time because I do not think it was tear free!

I don't know what it is about these boys but they love anything with wheels especially their tractors!
They love to fight over the John Deere tractors.
You like Reed's two bruises he got when Nana was watching him?! My mom was letting the boys play with pots and pans in the kitchen and Reed thought it would be fun to fall forward:-) Boys will be boys!

We took the boys to the Flea Market on Saturday after it had rained for hours. Ryan could not believe how many people would stop us to look at the boys. Some of them acted like they had never seen twins before. We get used to twins at our church because there are 3 sets of twins in their Sunday school class!!! We went to the farm in Kentucky Sunday and the boys loved the hammock on the porch of the cabin.

They didn't really like sharing their space with each other!

My "city boy" husband had never been skeet shooting before so that was the afternoon activity. Ryan had never shot a gun before besides a wimpy BB gun....he says that he grew up in Florida where they don't go hunting!! I was really surprised when he hit three out of three skeet on the very first try! If I must say so myself, he was pretty good for a "city boy"! I didn't do too bad myself either!

My brother bought a lot of rocking chairs for the wrap around porch and a few kid ones too. Braden figured out how to rock himself in the chair...the only thing it needs now is a strap to keep him in the chair!

Reed was not quite as stable in the rocker as Braden but mainly because he held on with one hand!

I love their little fall clothes. There is something so cute about long sleeve one piece outfits! This is a picture of Reed gritting his teeth. This is something new that he started yesterday. I guess it makes his gums or new teeth coming in feel better but he looks like a little chipmunk when he does this!

Reed is doing well and weighed 17 pounds 14 ounces at his cardiology appointment this week. He is trying his best to catch up. He is such a pleasant little kid and pretty easy going as long as he is not tired or hungry. Reed gives the sweetest smiles that will melt your heart. He will let just about anyone hold him but if he sees me then he will usually start to whine. It is still so amazing to me to look at him each day and realize that God blessed him with a new heart and to see how far that he has come over the past 10 months. He is still behind about 2 months developmentally but nothing that is not to be expected. Braden is our little guide....whatever he does Reed usually accomplishes a month or two later. We are just so thankful for each milestone that he reaches! I love when people see him and their response is "He looks so healthy and you wouldn't even know that he had a heart transplant!" Praise God!

My sweet little Braden is just growing and growing. He is such a people person but he has to warm up to them first. When he first meets someone new, he looks them over and does not usually give them a smile at all. Once he warms up, the show begins! He loves to laugh and makes us smile all the time. I can already tell that he is going to be a very busy toddler who loves to be in the middle of everything. He is such a good big brother to Reed even though he is a little rough but Reed will give payback one day:-) I think that he is the best physical therapy for Reed because he pushes Reed to do more and doesn't even know it. Twins are so much fun and such a huge blessing!

Labor Day Weekend

The boys are keeping us very busy these days! We still love to resort to the outside to kill time during the day and they thankfully love it. My nanny is in town and she has been spending a lot of time with them. She brought her dog to my parents' house and I am thinking that they will be wanting a dog before long. I am fine with that as long as it is an outside dog:-)
Braden not for sure about his dad's hat on his head!

We have been practicing with Reed to get him to hold his own bottle. Braden has this down but Reed likes for the person feeding him to hold it. In order to get him to actually do it on his own, he lies down on the floor with a pillow behind his head and a blanket under the bottle in case he gets lazy! He is doing great with this!
I love his expression..."Mom, why am I having to do my parent's job?"

Ryan likes to take pictures of me looking my best:-) I was trying to rest but Braden kept wanting to play...the fun never ends!

"Peek-a-Boo"

Braden has really started scooting backwards this past week. This morning, I was in the kitchen and I heard him fussing but just figured Reed took a toy from him. Well, Ryan said for me to come look at our son...he was stuck underneath a chair and couldn't scoot himself out!

Will it be UK or KU in the future for these boys?????

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures!!! The boys go to bed around 6:30 every night so around 5:00 we have to get a little creative! I think in this picture, Ryan was singing to them and I was giving Braden juice because he has been a little sick again. Whatever it takes to make them happy!!!
The boys eat dinner at 5:30, bath after dinner then a bottle right before bed. I LOVE having them in bed at 6:30 because I am pretty tired by the end of the day.

We LOVE Bathtime...

Down on the Farm

We went to Kentucky last weekend for my granddad's 90th birthday party. I am so bad that I didn't even get a picture of the boys with granddad! The boys did well minus the car ride. Any suggestions for calming crying or should I say, really angry, babies in the car???
My brother and one of his friends are building a cabin on the farm in Kentucky. We went by to see the progress they had made. The boys loved being outside and playing on the tractor.

Uncle Craig entertaining the boys.

Aunt Tina, Uncle Craig, my mom and dad, and Ryan observing the cabin construction.

Mom and Dad

Aunt Tina and Uncle Craig are expecting a baby in April!!!!!! I am so excited for them and cannot wait to have a little niece or nephew.

Braden flying in the air with daddy.

"Peek-a-Boo" where is Reed?

My big boys. They are definitely a handful carrying both of them.

Reed trying out some corn

Reed and Braden trying to shuck some corn

Playing Patty Cake in front of the tractor.

Reed says "When am I going to get to ride the tractor?"

Braden practicing driving the tractor so he can help farm one day.

Reed was really concentrating on driving

Braden is not standing on his own all the time but he can manage for a little while without help. He looks like such a big boy standing without someone holding his hand!

Reed riding with Uncle CraigBraden liked the tractor but he started to cry at the end of his ride. The boys had their 9 month appointment this week. The doctor thought they were both doing well. Here are their stats:

Braden weighs 18 lb. 10 oz and is 28 inches long

Reed weighs 17 lbs. and is 27.5 inches long

They both got their first round of flu shots while we were there. Other than that it was a pretty easy doctor's visit.

I love this picture because this is pretty typical these days. They each will pull on each other and this sometimes ends up with someone on the ground or Reed crying..... Let the fun begin!!!