Early Christmas!

So the newness of playing with babies sure hasn't decreased over the past week or so. In fact, it's only grown! Most days, all they want to do is play with their babies and read books. Problem is they didn't have babies of their "own" yet! The babies they have been playing with have been on loan to us and will have to be returned soon. This is where you insert generous and gracious grandparents who were willing to let them celebrate Christmas a little early with a few gifts: their very own babies! The funny thing is our sweet 17 month olds act like they know what they are doing! They know how to feed, rock, and now use wipes/diapers on their newest little newborns =) Which is quite precious when you see it happening X 2 before your very eyes...As soon as the babies were removed from the packaging, it was feeding time as you can see...

 And then it was time to change their diaper (they made sure to use plenty of pretend wipes and cream on them!)

And then it appears it was time to get going! Maddie Grace got the diaper bag all loaded up and before she could make it to the gate to leave, she plopped down it appears to "rest." This momma knows exactly what that feels like to want to just lay down in the middle of the floor! =)

Thank you Nana and Granddad! We love our babies already and we can't wait for all the fun we will have with them!

Motherly Instincts Already!

I knew this day would probably come, but to be honest I sure didn't expect to wake up to find it it here so soon! Our girls officially like to be little "mothers" at the young age of 17 months! =) I am in awe that God places these natural instincts within a little girl at such an early age. They are absolutely precious to watch as they feed their babies, burp them, rock them, sway with them, and try to get them strapped in their high chair and stroller! Truly is amazing to see how God creates little girls and boys so vastly different! This feels like a big milestone in my mind in terms of them really growing up. They are beginning to act more and more like toddlers, rather than babies and it is such a privilege to be at home watching them mature each and every day! Sure am head over heels in love with these wee little ones!

Labor Day Weekend in Ellijay

If you know anything about our family, or at least Kendall and I, you know we share an love extreme passion for traveling. Now that we have two babies in the mix, that makes it a little more challenging to get out and about and travel to the ends of the earth to say the least. However, we still manage to squeeze in as many road trips as possible and make as many family memories as our small budget will allow!!! =) So without further ado, here's where the Currie Family landed ourselves for Labor Day Weekend!

We made the trek to Ellijay, GA for a weekend of fun with some of our best friends from Birmingham! Between the two families, I don't think there was an inch of space left unpacked :) The house was perfectly chosen by my husband from no less than 1500 options-yes, that's my dear husband who has many talents! It was perfect and was a great set-up for the kids to explore, play in the pool, swing, attempt to knock over the gate to climb the stairs and endless opportunities to make big messes! We had a fabulous time with our sweet girls, enjoyed living life alongside friends, ate delicious food, and packed in as much fun as we could in our time there! 

Visiting the General Store, Hanging out on the porch, & BBQ Dinner at Poole's

Fun hike to a waterfall with both families!

Exploring nature + Picnic by the stream =)

The girls at the Petting Zoo! Loads of fun for them!! (esp for MG-our animal lover!)

The girls got to feed the ducks while we were there =)

Apple Picking at R & A Orchards-a first for the girls AND mommy!

Makenzie was really into picking the apples while Maddie Grace had no interest other than sampling them :)

Is it always a lot of work to get everything packed for a trip like this? You bet! Do we sometimes wonder if it's worth it? Every single time! Are we ALWAYS glad we embarked on these kind of adventures!? Without a doubt! We always return home SO thankful that we had the chance to getaway with our family and spend quality time together, hopefully adding to our long, long list of cherished memories with these two precious faces!

The Twins are 17 Months!

Weight: MG-24.6lbs Mak- 20.2 lbs

Teeth count: Mak-3 with 1 on the way ; MG-8

 Dear sweet babies! (can I please still say that?! J)

You are 17 months old today and your daddy and I are in disbelief as always that another month has flown by! We are trying to savor and hold onto each precious month with you girls! They are just going way too fast! Can we please bottle up this stage (most of it!) and save it for later!? We love you both more than we ever thought was possible! You two are so dear to us and we can’t imagine life without you two a part of it. You make our days full of joy and your laughs are completely contagious! You are getting more and more rambunctious and full of personality and we never know what the next minute holds. Literally. =) We love you both deeply, but in such different ways. Our love for you will never change, ever. Just like God’s unconditional love for you! We are loving the fact that you girls are understanding so much more of what we are saying! We can’t wait until you can grasp spiritual understanding J What a day that will be! We really can’t believe our little babies are turning into toddlers right before our eyes! We are so nostalgic already and we know that will only grow with time. We hope and pray that we are loving you girls well and that you feel secure and nurtured. We love you so so much MG and Squirt Jr. =) We have loved all 17 months of your little lives!

Love, Mommy & Daddy

 What you girls are up to these days:

-DROPPED the bottle, FINALLY! (1 week shy of 17 mo!) Went cold turkey and both did great!

-MG has said a few words: mommy, daddy, UH! (for uh-oh), do! (anytime she sees a dog! Just missing the “g” sound at the end); Makenzie is saying uh-uh-uh-uh oh! She also makes distinct sounds for dog, duck, and pig =)

-imaginary play has begun (drinking from tea cups, rocking baby, eating “play” food from your kitchen

-HUGE mess makers (playtime is incomplete unless every toy/book has been strewn across the floor!)

-hang onto mommy’s legs when they want to be held/played with/or are just whiny (esp MAK!)

-Makenzie is our WILD, energetic one-she loves to run into things, roll off things, squeeze into tight corners, and if she thinks she’s about to run into something she just closes her eyes and presses on!!
-Maddie Grace is our more reserved, calm child who can entertain herself for an extended period of time unless Makenzie interferes! She loves to stack things, organize objects, and line things up!

-At 16 ½ mo, MG & Makenzie began identifying pictures in a book correctly (teddy bear, cat, dog, banana, blocks, shoes, fish, car, baby)

-MG can identify who people are in pictures correctly and while practicing this one day, she pointed at her daddy and said “D-A-D-D-Y!!” as clear as day J

-Whenever they see a dog on tv or at the park, they point and say their version of “DOG!” And Makenzie barks! J

-Both girls can sign more, all done, help, and please! (16 ½ mo)

-Both girls will squat and sneak up on each other

-Walking up and down stairs with help from mommy or holding onto rail (just past their 16^th month!)

-carry everything around on their shoulder like a purse

-have conversations on their play phones and pass it back and forth

-give high fives (16 ½ mo)

-try to dress themselves and put their shoes on

-Makenzie waves frantically at MG when she wakes up in the morning, when they wake up from naps, or really just anytime they have been separated J It’s adorable!