11 Months Already? Another day at the park

Gus getting Raleigh who is laying in the bag!

Wow, has time flown or what? The boys were officially 11 months old yesterday. Amazing! They spent the morning with mommy, and a few hours in the afternoon with Nonnie Boni & Grandpa Pickles. Mommy spent the "free" time cleaning. It is nice to have help when you want to get things done; it is very hard to mop with four little hands & four little feet chasing you down. Although I saved the vacuuming until they got home as they love to watch it so much! The boys had a nice talk with Nannie & Poppy & Great Aunt Jackie & Great Uncle Dale on Skype. The funniest thing was hearing Poppy say "hello" to the boys & see Augustus hold his hand by his ear as if he was on the telephone. Then I got the phone out for him & he held it to his ear to talk to them:) The boys have slept really well the last two nights, so we hope they are back into their normal routine after their flu bought had them up at random times in the night. They would fall back asleep right away if they woke up, but no one gets a solid night if one wakes up with a little cry. Raleigh has been standing on his own more, just for a few seconds here & there, but we are excited. Both boys are using their walkers to walk around the playroom. Augustus is less interested in it than Raleigh, but we are trying to encourage him as best we can. They get the proudest look on their faces when you are cheering them on as they walk around. So cute. We are excited their twin friends Abigail & Annabelle just started walking yesterday. The girls are two week older, and the boys tend to have their developmental milestones about three weeks after them...so hopefully by their first birthday they will be walking. The boys' party is at a great park & it would be great to see them able to walk at the playground...I think;)

Raleigh swinging away, Gus is on the back side

Gus looking so big! Gus & Mommy on the slide. Raleigh in his bag!

Augustus at the top of the tall slide, oh my, he is a little daredevil.

Raleigh on the horse, looking very intense.

The boys laughing at each other while trying to get the sippy cup.

Love & Losses

I have to post these pictures from this morning of the boys loving on their Daddy and loving on each other! We had such sad news from our friend Lauren this morning and it just helps remind us of how incredibly lucky we are. After waiting so long to get pregnant & being blessed with two babies during our first try, we are so thankful every day!

Our love & prayers go out to Lauren & Josh, may their babies rest in peace.

Gus & Rals, then Rals & Gus kissing & hugging each other:)

Gus, Daddy & Raleigh

Gus looking under the door, bum in air. So precious!

Swinging With Dad

My Boys


Just a quick hello to post a few pictures of the boys enjoying their swing. Dad is super excited about this too:)

Update on the newest & greatest things we are doing:

Augustus has started running his tongue along his teeth all the time...you can see him sticking his tongue out in one shot & his beautiful teeth in another. We finally got them a real toothbrush so we can keep some of our fingers. The little finger brush we had was a danger to us both when we were trying to "brush" their teeth.

Both of the boys are really into eating their own food & don't really like the "baby" food any more. They really love cheese & yogurt.

They have started using their push to stand walkers which is very exciting. Except when they fight over the same one...very scary for mom to watch them duke it out. The boys are also trying to climb up on everything as well.

Very exciting to hear them making new sounds, we cannot wait to hear these little men talk:) They still say "da da da da" all the time now, but they have added "ra ra ra ra ra" for Raleigh. Gus has a very distinctive "hello" and uses it to answer his telephone. Yup, little man holds the phone up to his ear & everything. The funniest thing is when he picks up other random toys & acts like that is a telephone too. "HELLO" he yells:)

Every day is such a joy! XOXO - the boys!

New Cars!!

Yesterday the boys & Mommy got out of the house, finally! We have been so careful not to infect anyone with the stomach virus! It was just to go pick up a few things from friends. The best thing we picked up were the two new "cars" the boys can now ride around in. We met Daddy in the driveway last night to greet him home from work in our cars. Then the family went for a walk around the block. Although it was a very noisy and cool walk, it was so much fun! Here are a few pictures.

Today the boys have been drinking much more so we hope the bug is behind them fully. Daddy's other project today is to put up the boys' new tree swing:) Looks to be a much better weekend than last!

The Flu Invades

This past weekend was very long indeed. Not only did we have a long weekend due to President's Day, but we also had a long weekend with everyone sick with a nasty stomach bug. Unfortunately, that is what happens from time to time with little ones & play dates!



First I got it Friday, then Gus started showing symptoms, then Daddy, then Raleigh. I think today everyone is almost back to normal. The boys are finally eating and drinking a bit better. Raleigh still has some smelly stuff going on, but other than that, we should be good to go soon.

I cannot tell you how much laundry and cleaning we have done to try to limit this flu to one go around, but I am sure you with kids understand! The toys alone take a half a day to clean properly I swear:) Now that everything has been fully disinfected again we have taken most of the toys out of their playroom until they are better. All the cleaned stuffed animals are put away too until they are fully recovered just to cut down on the cleaning again!



As we are stuck inside - we are not even going to chance spreading this to others - I have been busy taking pictures. Here are just a few cute ones from today that I could not help but share. Their new jeans are too darn cute! Raleigh has a new AC/DC shirt, and I am looking for a Beatles or Dave Matthew's Band shirt for Gus - size 18 months if anyone has one;).

We hope Nonnie Boni feels better soon...of course she caught our bug. She could not help come & give us cuddles while we were sick. Feel better soon!

Raleigh in his new AC/DC shirt

Raleigh checking out the view - man those eyes are blue!

Brotherly love, Raleigh holding on to Gus

Raleigh "patting" Augustus

Too cute! Raleigh looking down at Gus...

...and Gus looking up at Raleigh

Rals & Gus

Augustus, smooshed in the chair by his smaller bro;)

Valentine's Day Revisited

Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone. I have been super sick with the flu, and Augustus had signs of the flu yesterday afternoon, and although he was not himself most of the day, he seems to be much better today. He only got "sick" a few times and this morning when I went in to get him from his crib he greeted me as only a happy-go-lucky Gus can do, with legs just a kicking! That is his happy dance, and if you have seen his thighs, you know there is some power behind those kicks! We are so lucky to have Grandpa Pickles to come by and help out while we were not well, and for Daddy who came home early on Friday! Thank goodness for President's Day too, long weekend, YAY!!!

We had a great time taking the photos of the boys on the beach, well maybe great is not the right word. It was a lot of work, particularly for Nonnie Boni, but so worth it. I am sure next year when we look back on their first Valentine's Day pictures we will not remember the sweat:) I remember the days of immobility and how much easier it was to get them to smile and both look at the camera. Those days are gone for a little while I suppose. Still adorable, candid shots were had. They really are the cutest things I have ever seen!

In other news, the boys went to the doctor for their monthly Synergis shots last Monday. Both boys are well. Augustus is up to 22 & 1/2 pounds and Raleigh gained a half a pound on Augustus, as he is now up to 21 pounds. Watch out Bulldozer, your bro is catching up! Also, Raleigh is fully crawling now, no more army/swimming style crawling unless of course he is super excited, he still just cannot help himself, he has to scoot & yell the entire time he is chasing his brother, cat, shoes, etc.

Here are a few larger shots of the boys from the beach. Enjoy!

Raleigh, probably getting ready to put some sand in that mouth!

Raleigh with his new friends, the puppies

Raleigh Charles looking sweet

Augustus Jackson looking a bit like Clint Eastwood (yeah, you were right on that one Leah!)

Raleigh - looking pretty much exactly like Gus in this picture!

Augustus, laying back in his tub with feet up

Augustus looking EXACTLY like Daddy in this one

Gus with a big smile


Also, please keep our friend Lauren & her babies in your prayers; baby B's water broke this past week & she is in the hospital again. Much love & prayers to her family!

Brooke

Happy Valentine's Day from Augustus & Raleigh

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