A Week of Firsts....

This week marked a lot of "firsts" in our babies lives. I will go in order!

1) Lukas & Maddox spent their first week with their new nanny, Morgan.

We recently hired a new nanny and her name is Morgan. After interviewing her, we immediately felt that she was the perfect fit for our family. She is high energy, loving and fun. The twins immediately took to her and so have we. It also helps that we have several strange coincidences, such as she was born and raised around our home town in the Texas panhandle, she is an Aggie (WHOOP) and her Uncle is the OBGYN that delivered both of our nieces! It is a small world let me tell you and we are super happy to have her in our home!

2) Lukas & Maddox celebrated their 1st Birthday!

On Saturday (December 18th), we had a huge birthday party for Lukas and Maddox. Several of our friends and family were in attendance and we had a great time! My sister, Courtney, came down and helped me get ready for the event and my friend Missy made decorations and cupcakes and the cakes too! My great friend, Richard, helped cater the event and made tons of great food!

Lukas was "all boy" while digging into his cake, while Maddox took the cleaner route and licked icing off of a single finger. We are soo thankful for all our friends and family that made it out and brought us a plethora of wonderful gifts. Everything turned out perfectly and we enjoyed sharing this special day with the ones we love most!

3) Lukas & Maddox had their first haircut (or trim, I should say)

After all the excitement from the birthday party, we decided to kick back and relax on Sunday. Plus, the children wanted to play with EVERY single new toy they had received. My sister, Courtney, took the opportunity to give our sweet angels their first haircut. I call it a haircut, but it was a simple trim to cut off little ends and help shape the hair style so that it wasn't in their eyes and so that it can grow longer and fuller. It makes me happy that their first haircut was done by their Aunt CoCo. We are soo thankful that she came down to visit!

We have been busy and it doesn't look like much is going to slow down in our near future. This week we are headed to A-Town to celebrate Christmas (and birthday) with all of our family. We are super excited to share these special times with our family and can't wait to see everyone!

A Birthday Letter for my babies...

My dearest Lukas & Maddox,

One year ago today, God blessed me with a 7lbs 7oz baby boy and a 5lbs 13oz baby girl. You were a long awaited answered prayer. A dream that your father and I had from the time we planned our future together.

For 36 weeks and 4 days, I dreamed of what you would look like and prayed for your safe arrival. I enjoyed every moment of carrying you both. I would sing Coldplay to you in the bathtub (that was after all the first concert you both attended) and Cody would read you a story every night. Though we already had a bond so strong, nothing could have prepared me to meet you.

When I saw you both for the first time, I immediately felt a love that I had never known. As I held you both for the first time, at the same time, I knew then and there that my life would never be the same again.

Our first year with you has been the highlight of our lives. The joy you have given Cody and I is hard to describe. You give us hope, happiness, laughter, and love. We also have never worried about someone as much as we have worried about you both. Our lives are so full that we cannot imagine them without you.

Maddox - We love your independent personality and your ability to light up a room. You have often been described by our family and friends as a "pixie", because of your petite build and nimble movements. We love the way you dance around and laugh so sweet. You always have a smile on your face and a plan in your mind. We love the way you are enamored by the small details around you and how you never stop. You are everything we could want in a baby girl. We have such dreams for you in our heads and while we can't wait to see the lady you will become, we enjoy you being our baby girl.

Lukas - We love your sweet, loving nature. You love to give hugs and kisses to the ones you care for the most. Nana has always said you have "soulful eyes". Your boisterous laugh touches our hearts and makes anyone within earshot smile.  You are soo playful and ornery at the same time.  Everyone that meets you says you are "all boy". We love your out-going personality and your love of attention. You are everything we could want in a baby boy. We know you have a wonderful future ahead of you, and while we can't wait to see the amazing man you will become, we enjoy you being our baby boy.

Lukas and Maddox, I hope you always know that you bless my life. I hope I never forget to tell you everyday that I love you and that you are the world to me.  I know I kiss you so much that you can't stand it sometimes, but you should know now that will never change. I thank God everyday for you. This first year of your life has been one of the best years of mine. I love you soo very much!

Mom

Family Pictures

Anytime Cody and I need great pictures quickly, we turn to my good friend Missy Flint with Melissa Ellen Studios. Recently, we wanted a few family pictures taken since the kids are almost 1. Missy came through... again...and the pictures turned out wonderfully! Here are a few of our favorites...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo/video - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember forever for it is etched on my heart ♥ 

Recently, Maddox has been crinkling her nose and snorting. She thinks it is hilarious. I blame this new found trick on my friend, April. April has boy/girl twins also. She came over one day and was imitating how Charlotte, her little girl, "snorts" when she gets excited. Ever since Maddox has seen this "snort" she can't get enough it!

This also proves that I am a mother in love. No matter how silly the habit is...it is alway the cutest thing ever when my kids do it!

Enjoy..

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This year, we decided that instead of driving 5 hours to A-Town for Thanksgiving we would fly. Yes, you read it correctly. Cody and I decided to fly with twins to A-town. We figured that this way we would get to spend more time with family and less time traveling.

We left last Wednesday at 8:30 am. Despite the "death stares" we received as we boarded the plane, the one hour flight wasn't too shabby at all. Lukas had a couple of fussy moments (that lasted a total of 1 or 2 minutes on the plane) then we were all a go. However, when we landed in A-Town before exiting the plane, Miss Maddox decided she had enough of sitting still and it was past her nap time. She proceeded to make me and EVERYONE on the plane aware of her unhappiness. This, however, was short lived as soon as we were allowed to stand she was a happy camper.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent it with Cody's family. Ione and Kylene prepared a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. They took care of everything all weekend and we were super Thankful because traveling had worn us out. We got to see our nieces, Lauren and Ally. They are soo good with the babies and kept them pretty busy the entire time. Brandon, Kylene's husband, cooked an awesome steak and shrimp dinner and prepared some awesome Chiladas.

We spent the evenings at my mom's house, so that we could put the twins down for bed every night around the same time. We loved getting to see my entire family as well.

The babies came down with a nasty cold on our trip and were super fussy, so Cody and I dreaded the flight home. Of course, our babies decided to nap early and ended up waking up at 10 am and our flight was at 12:30 pm. We got to the airport and checked in and were told our flight was delayed for 15 to 20 minutes. After making 20 or so laps around the airport letting Miss Maddox and Mr. Lukas do as much walking as they wanted, we finally boarded the plane.

We took off and things were going great, if Lukas started getting fussy a sweet guy behind us wearing sunglasses would raise them up so Lukas could see his eyes then put them back down...this "game" pleased Lukas very much and quickly cheered him up.

Towards the end of the flight we busted out suckers. We have only given our babies suckers once before, so you can imagine the delight they had when given this sugary treat.

**A word of advice when giving a sucker to an 11 month old, be prepared to look like plastic by the end of the sucker. Sucker slober kisses will make you and your babies look like you were made by Mattel. Maddox even enjoyed a game of put the sucker in Mommy's mouth and quickly pull it out (the aim and distance perception of an 11 month old isn't 100% let me tell you), but all that mattered is they were happy the ENTIRE flight. Happy babies = happy parents!

We got home around 3:00 pm and you could tell the babies were so much more at ease once we started playing with their toys in their environment.

After putting the babies to bed at 7, you would think that Cody and I would crash out. However, Cody and I are very impatient people and we have a Playroom design set up for our kids and couldn't wait to start our project. We ended up buying paint and painting the entire playroom that night! We are super excited to finish it up for Lukas and Maddox's first birthday present!

Anywho, that is all that is going on in our world. We are back to our home, our dogs, our schedule and our life. So blessed we are...

Next up...Family pictures taken by the fabulous Missy Flint!