Wordless Wedensday

They say children learn by example. I suppose this is what Jake and I do whenever we go out with them. LOL... And for once they weren't fighting over a toy!

Playing Pretend

Thankful Thursday...

Today I am thankful that we found a church that seems like a good fit for our family. We went to our very first church service since moving and we met a lot of amazing people just like us. There was a great mix of elders and younger couples, as well as families with children. I am excited to make it back again this weekend and incorporate church back in to a regular part of our lives.

I have great memories of church on Sundays as a child and the things I learned. I still remember my first Sunday School Teacher Miss Nancy and how she taught us "Away in a Manger" and I want that experience for our children. Something just warms my heart when I think about attending church and coming home to a nice family meal. It's just a small part of my idea of the American Dream.

60 Days - 2 whole months

Without a single tube feeding! (And she is gaining weight! 23.1 lbs is the official weight.) And this last week she has suddenly started eating one waffle AND... AND an entire Greek yogurt for breakfast (it used to be one or the other.) Her appetite is growing for sure, and I am seeing her eating a lot more.

We couldn't be more proud. And to celebrate I made her a double layer chocolate cake! And I am also excited because for the first time ::knocks on wood:: neither kiddo had a reaction to the icing. The plain.white.vanilla.icing. Lol.

Today ( 1/15/13) is the official date for this "versary" but we celebrated on Sunday while Daddy was home for work, so he wouldn't miss out on the celebration.

Mommy & Me Monday ...

The milestones are becoming BIGGER and less frequent (as the should), so Milestone Monday will be happening less and less.

In it's place we'll continue Mommy & Me Monday... where I share none other then MOMMY & ME photos! :) I am also planning on expanding this and making it a whole day about a Mommy & Me adventure, but I haven't gotten there YET, I need to get creative, seeing as how we have lots of adventures on the daily basis here.

Branding Photos, and more...

I've been thinking about expanding the blog and it's general audience and by doing so I want to protect things on the blog. As you've seen from my various blog posts I have a lot of things I am passionate about and I want to reach a larger audience to encourage, inspire and help raise awareness.

Generally speaking anything I post on this blog is my own "intellectual property". I imagine in the future (if they haven't already) people will link to the blog or share a post or two of mine. When that happens I want to protect what I can and ensure that the things don't end up in the wrong hands or passed off as their own. AKA, I'd hate to see pictures of A & B as models for the latest fashion trends on a billboard somewhere without my consent (ok, so that might not happen BUT... if it did, I'd want credit for their cuteness), or my simply amazing writing plagiarized.

So going forward you will notice each photo is branded with our name. And you'll know it's our photo when it appears anywhere else.

In addition, if you are reading this blog and want to share information what you've read, by all means go for it, by linking the specific post and giving credit to Our Valentine's Day Surprise. You can also share by clicking on the link at the top "Share".

And while I am sure this is not nearly as exciting as all my other posts, I appreciate you taking the time to read it, and respect it. It's a necessary part of my blogging experience. Be on the look out for more new things coming for us, that may even include our very own FB page - which is set to launch on 2/14/13 (the twin's second birthday nonetheless!)

Pray for Brae

When Addison was in the NICU at UMMC we had the honor of meeting Braelen. In fact they were roommates for a brief period of time. His mom is simply amazing. She has been faced with so much but has never given up hope. Braelen's story is nothing short of amazing and I am afraid even I wouldn't be able to depict the details and amazing miracles this amazing boy has endured.

But I want to share Braelen's story with you. Visit the link below to learn about Brae and his progess:
 https://www.facebook.com/PrayForBrae/info

Friday Date Night...

Keeping with our resolution to spend time together, it's date night!

Pizza, milkshakes and a movie.

I had a coupon for a free pizza from Papa John's so I used it.

Rented a Redbox movie, - "The Grey" with Liam Nelson, www.thegreymovie.com, "The Grey is a 2012 American adventure drama film co-written and directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Nelson, Frank Grillo and Dermont Mulroney. It is based on the short story Ghost Walker by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, who also co-wrote the screeplay with Carnahan. The story follows a number of oil-men stranded in Alaska after a plane crash, who are forced to survive using little more than their wits, as a pack of gray wolves stalk them amidst nercilessly cold weather."  (from Wikipedia)

Jake's pick not mine. I'll let you know how I feel about it next week lol...

Hit up the drive thru for milkshakes, and came home to first enjoy our double date. Picnic in the living room and watching "Sophia the First" on Disney. They are finishing up an episode of Mickey's Clubhouse then it's "teeth and night" (these two keep me on track, to the top of the steps they climb and exclaim "My teeeeth" and run into the bathroom). Then Mommy & Daddy will indulge in their movie and a semi early bed time (any time before midnight is huge around here).

Blake's 1st milkshake!

Ignore the sweet potato spot on her shirt...  She loves her milkshake too!!

Crappy iPhone self portrait... Family time cuddles!

Last week's movie - "Trouble with the Curve" was about a retiring baseball scout who ends up with his daughter tagging along for his last trip. Featured Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake (now you know why this got my vote), I hoped I wouldn't be disappointed with a movie solely about baseball, and I wasn't. It featured a decent love story plot (without being too "chick flick) and a shirtless JT. Jake even commented that it was a pretty decent movie. 

I am actually looking forward to spending this time together and I was shocked when Jake even remembered and commented "It's date night", too. So without further delay, it's time I end this post and get ready for the movie. Sweet dreams!