A Trip to Children's Hospital for TWO sets of TUBES =)

Well we have two sweet girls who made it safely through their first "surgery." =) Praise God! We knew most likely it would be a very routine procedure, but let's be honest, "routine" matters not when they are whisking away your two most treasured possessions here on earth and putting them under anesthesia. So we are so, so grateful for God's provision for our precious babies and that we are now on the other side of this process of getting tubes for both girls! We are hopeful that this might eliminate so many doctors appointments confirming another double ear infection. Thank you so much for your prayers! We are and always will be so thankful for the body of believers interceding on our behalf!

Just arrived bright and early to Children's to begin this process of paperwork, waiting, gathering everything there is to know about the girls medical history, etc. =)

"What's the big deal!?! It's just tubes mom and dad!" ;0)

Weight, height, & blood pressure have all been taken at this point-now the waiting begins. Good thing they had every type of vehicle for the girls to test out which took their minds off the fact that they couldn't eat or drink anything! Only not so great part was mommy & daddy making laps around the hallways!

Snuggling up before surgery!

Maddie Grace's favorite part about the whole process was the hand sanitizer....she LOVES this stuff and she managed to talk her daddy into stopping at just about every one in the building :)

Recovering with some clear liquids....not sure if it was the 8 oz. of apple juice full of sugar or the anesthesia but Baby B was bonkers! It was rather difficult to hear the discharge instructions from the nurse and keep her contained :)

Thankful for sweet, sweet friends who blessed our girls with princess balloons and princess dress-up skirts for being so brave today!

We managed to make it home just in time for Makenzie to throw up just inside the door, but hey, at least it wasn't in the car! We stuck around the house the rest of the day, ensuring that these two were safe and sound. The nurse told us to baby them like they were newborns-I think I remember what that was like :) Other than a little hyperness from Makenzie & a tad fussiness from Maddie Grace, the day went perfectly! We couldn't be more thankful to have this behind us and praise the Lord again and again for blessing us with two healthy girls who have such minimal health issues-being in the hospital was such a good reminder of just how grateful we are and how we don't take that for granted!

First Snow the Girls Could E-N-J-O-Y

 Snow in the South always stirs up quite a show around town! This time was no different, but our "snow" day looked a bit different than I would have pictured. Beginning mid-morning, the snow began to fall and the girls were absolutely mesmerized by it. They would stand at the window and just watch it fall. This wasn't their first "snow" experience because they did visit Colorado last winter for our ski trip...BUT it was the first time they could really take it all in and realize what it was! We were scheduled to be at Children's for their ENT appt to determine whether or not they would need tubes. I called just to make sure everything was still on schedule and when they said yes, we hopped in the car and headed downtown. Not a blip on the radar-the roads were totally fine & we arrived safe and sound. Everything went great and then it came time to leave. As we loaded up the car, I peered out from the top of the parking deck to see the city covered in a white blanket. So beautiful and the girls were still completely enthralled by it. I thought, "Perfect, we'll be home soon, they can take a quick nap and then out we'll go to let them play in the snow!" WRONG. Traffic was horrendous, stopped in every which direction. So now there I was, stuck in the car with two tired and cranky toddlers, trying to get home, and not moving an inch. Thankfully we made it home safely, but what should have taken 25 minutes turned into a 2-hour trip where I was forced to let them eat a whole bag of yogurt melts, sing until my lungs couldn't take it anymore, and pray that God would get us home safely. =) And we did...it was like we took a car trip, but didn't go anywhere. 

Finally at home but decided to forgo naps for the day so they could get outside! Bundled up, loaded up, and headed to the park!

My two little snow bunnies said, "Yippee for snow in Birmingham!!"

 "Uh Mommy, what is T-H-I-S stuff?!"

Go ahead girls-it's okay to touch!

 At this point, they were still enjoying themselves...

Snapped a quick picture together! (sure wish daddy could have joined in the fun!!)

 Played a little in the car...and then the meltdowns began...cold, tired, hungry, you name it!

Such fun to see them experience new things and it's safe to say they enjoy snow more from a distance than up close and touching it! They loved watching it fall and would giggle with delight, but the minute we tried to make a snowball, they weren't huge fans anymore. Was quite a long day, but sure was fun to have snow for a day!

Date #2 for Baby B

Due to the fact that the stomach bug hit our family again...I am just now getting around to posting about Makenzie's date with her daddy last Saturday night! (Jan.5th) All day we had been talking to her about her special night out with daddy in hopes that it might sink in that it was JUST HER and daddy! If anyone knows our sweet Makenzie you are well aware of just how much she loves/desires/craves/thinks she needs one on one attention from us. So this is right up her alley to have daddy all to herself! And sweetheart, one day when you are reading this and wondering why Maddie Grace got to go camping and you have not yet, we will gently and as sweetly as possible explain to you that you didn't quite have the same laid-back and go with the flow disposition that your sister did which made it possible to take her out in the woods knowing she would probably would sleep through the night and pretty minimal risk of waking up people in the middle of the night. =) However, you are loved just as much as your sister and your daddy hopes you always know that deep down in your heart! What a special night it was for the two of you and daddy said you were on your absolute best behavior! Lots of special times were shared at Johnny Rockets and Barnes & Noble! And here's how your 2nd date with your daddy went down through some pictures...

Swapping some sweet slobbery kisses...you give THE BEST kisses precious Makenzie!

Last photo op in front of the Christmas tree! Ready for her night out on the town... =)

Daddy helping her get her coat on and showing her what a gentleman looks like...

Makenzie beginning to understand that's it's just the two of them and that "sissy" is not going too!

Sitting like a big girl in her booster seat at Johnny Rockets, being a little ham for the camera while munching on her grilled cheese! =)

You stole daddy's heart over 21 months ago and you still do on a daily basis!

"Yep, it's all yours punkin!!!"

A perfect dinner out-I'm sure the depth of conversation will only grow with time....Lord willing!

After dinner, the two of you headed to Barnes & Noble to play with the trains and read books together (your favorite thing to do hands down!) Looks like from the picture below you enjoyed yourself for as long as you could make it! And crazy that your tiny little self, at almost 2, can still fit in your infant car seat comfortably!

Stealing one last kiss from his date!

Makenzie, may you always know how much Jesus loves you as you watch your daddy love on you! You are a special little girl and our love for you is unconditional!

I Will Miss This...

The days are long but the years are short. (and in my world with two babies, sometimes they are incredibly long!) While I was pregnant I heard people tell me this quite often and it didn't resonate in my heart like it does today. I couldn't agree more with that statement and while some days I feel like I'm treading water tending to one fit after another, other days are beautiful and full of tons of smiles and joys! So knowing this, I truly do try to savor my little ones while they are little. We try to read as many books as they want, even if I don't want to read the 31st one. I try to teach them as much as I possibly can and love them and shower them with affection like it could be my last. For only God knows the plans He alone has for these precious ones..

So without further ago, here are the things I can already see myself missing in the days ahead when I am no longer a mommy to two young children!

1. the smell of my clean babies covered in the purple bottle of Johnson & Johnson baby lotion

2. their pudgy tummies in the bathtub

3. their open-mouthed oh so slobbery kisses each day!

4. them being tiny enough to both still fit in my lap for stories & fighting to do so

5. the endless amounts of books they like to read everyday

6. the way they wrap their arms around our necks and "squeeze" us tight!

7. rocking them in the middle of the night when they wake up

8. them going nuts in their crib together during family worship time

9. the way they can get each other laughing uncontrollably

10 .tight, footie pajamas! Is there anything cuter?

11. Maddie Grace sucking her thumb and getting her bunny ear positioned just right under her nose =)

12. Makenzie needing 2 pacis-one to suck and one to put on her finger

13. watching them try to do the motions to The Wheels on the Bus, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, & This Little Light of Mine

14. the incessant giggles I can get from the girls just by playing peek-a-boo with them or sneaking up on them/chasing them 

15. how snuggly they are sleeping at night!

16. hearing them say mommy and mama over and over again =)

17. having a few minutes alone during naptime each day to regroup or update this blog!

18. seeing them try to put their own socks and shoes on or walk in mommy or daddy's shoes

19. seeing their scribble scrabble when coloring

20. watching their daddy love on them and wrestle with them in ways mommy just doesn't!

21. their sheer excitement when we do new activities: play dough, color with markers, bake cookies, play games

22. the way they love their alone time with mommy and daddy and get possessive over us

23. the sound of their little feet running around

24. when they run to us when we pick them up at church

25. hearing them learn to sing songs: E-I, E-I

26. MG's chubby little fingers and Makenzie's petite little hands

27. their naked little bottoms running from us after bathtime!

28. Them folding their hands, closing their eyes, muttering a short or sometimes rather long prayer, then throwing their arms in the air and saying amen!

They are incredibly precious gifts from God and I hope we never forget all the cuteness that sometimes gets clouded by whininess, lack of sleep at night, or clingy toddlers.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.  Psalm 127: 3-5

A little more Christmas + Fireball Throwing

And our last little bit of celebrating landed us in daddy's hometown: Clayton, AL for New Years, the fireball throwing, and to celebrate Christmas with the Currie side of the family! We always talk a lot about who we are going to visit with the girls in hopes that they might begin to associate where they are going. I think they had this one figured out! They were all smiles at the mention of Nana and Granddaddy and boy did they jump right into their arms when we arrived! I think they have begun to realize that Nana/Granddaddy = played with all day every day. They know they always have a million and one creative ways to put huge smiles on their faces! Let's just say they are totally disinterested in mommy and daddy while they are around. =)

Here the girls are on Saturday morning, full ready to begin this "gift opening" party once again!

 What a fun gift from Uncle Nathan & Aunt Kim! The best part was the huge box to play in filled with balloons! The girls love their time with them!

Maddie Grace & Makenzie's 1st Fireball Thowing!

So fun for them to finally be a part of this long-lasting family tradition! A rather cold and windy night to say the least, but they hung in there for a little while!

Trying to stay warm by the blazing fire...but Makenzie wasn't so sure about that either...needless to say she clung to mommy almost the entire time there!

Hard to move when you feel like giant marshmallows, but at least they are hopefully warm enough!

Three toddlers all bundled up! Great to see cousins and 2nd cousins (not sure on how that works =)

Rather amazed by the burning fireballs! Couldn't quite figure out what was going on...

Back to warmer weather, a decent night's sleep, and fun playing outside with the cats! Maddie Grace sure can't get enough of them!

And while MG can't get enough, Makenzie is still not as fond of them...hence her I'm scared reaction, please help me!

"Really it's for us!?!" All smiles after another surprise from Nana and Granddaddy! They sure do spoil us!

One of the girls favorite parts about going to visit Nana and Granddaddy is getting to play outside! They love their rides in the wagon, cars, bikes in addition to picking up pecans & getting to see cats, dogs, cows, and birds. They love it and Mommy and Daddy sure do love catching a few extra zzz's as well!

"Daddy I found this in your closet, is this still in style?!"

Each visit, they pull out a few more toys that were daddy's as a child. They have them cleaned up, organized and ready to be played with when the girls arrive! This morning's new toy reveal was daddy's matchbox cars! They loved lining them up (MG) and letting them fly across the floors! Not to mention it brought back fond memories of daddy's childhood. =)

The girls were able to drag their grandparents outside for another morning stroll! They soaked up having their undivided attention and were completely unaware that mommy and daddy were nowhere to be found. They were outside, having fun and munching on yogurt melts! =) Does life get any better for these 21 month olds?

Granddaddy had to be worn out after these girls finished requesting another ride! He sure is willing to sacrifice anything for these girls and they seem rather smitten over him as well!

One last fun activity that Nana pulled out for the girls. They each got a bag full of coins and she taught them to insert them into the little piggy bank globes! Kept them quite occupied and they were so proud of their accomplishments that we heard a few "YAYS" leave their mouths! =)

Despite the girls not always eating and sleeping well on the road, we manage to squeeze in a lot of fun playtime with them and make lots of memories! One day soon they will know just how loved they are! (if they don't already!) We had the best time relaxing and spending time with family and we praise God that he continues to grant us more time together! 

We've Made it to 21 Months!

We've officially survived/enjoyed/cherished another month of our girls lives! They are 21 months old today and still could not be more different from one another. It appears that they might have each acquired some of their mommy and daddy's qualities =) We'll let you guess who you think takes after who!

21 Month STATS:

Mak-23.4lbs & 30 3/4 in; MG-26.6lbs & 30 7/8 in
Diapers: Mak-About to make the switch to size 4; MG- size 4
Clothes: Mak- both 12 & 18 mo; MG- 18 mo
Shoes: Mak: size 4; MG: size 5
Teeth count: Mak: 10; MG: 11

 

What new things you girls have done this month!? (from 20-21mo)

-Words Maddie Grace can say: bye bye, uh-oh, Mommy, Daddy, nigh nigh, hi/hey, up, down, boom, boo, baby, ball, that (all day long!!!), whoa, bubbles, dog, yummy, baby, ohhh, no, me, what’s that, “right there,” eyes, ball, out, milk, more, book, rock, sissy, home, bubbles, Mimi, Nana, rag

-Words Makenzie can say: bye bye, uh-oh, mama, dada, nigh nigh, hi, up, down, boom, boo boo, baby, ball, that, whoa, bubbles, no, out, milk, more, book, rock, sissy, bubbles, Mimi, Nana, rag

-the first thing they say every morning when we come upstairs is “ON!”-they want their Christmas tree lights on J

-Both extremely SCARED of Santa this year….enjoyed waving/saying hi from a distance but if you tried to set them on his lap, they freaked out!

-favorite songs: The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus, B-I-N-G-O, Old McDonald, Pat-A-Cake- they will sing E-I, E-I over and over again & MG will say B…I, B….I on repeat while the song is playing; they also will do the motions with me to several songs

-they run to the window to be picked up whenever they hear the trash truck coming

-love airplanes, birds, really anything they can gaze up into the sky and look at

-really enjoy being outside and will drag your hand to the door if they think that will entice you to take them outside J

-can now locate and point out animals (fridge magnets) by sound and not just by name

-now make connections between things they see in books and on tv to real life (for ex. Mickey ornament to the Mickey Mouse tv show)

-Ever since we brought the girls back a Mickey Mouse ornament from Disney they have a new love for the tv show and promptly request it each morning by saying on and going to get the mickey ornament J

-still LOVE LOVE reading books and snuggling up-they will usually stay put and read for as long as mommy is willing to keep reading (we’ve made it through quite a few before my voice gives way=); Mak enjoys mommy reading to her while MG sometimes prefers to curl up beside me but read to herself instead

-Makenzie is still our little monkey/climber-she will swing and climb on any and everything which scares mommy to death and we’ve had quite a few falls because of it

-Love bathtime a whole lot and especially love requesting a constant flow of water out of the faucet

-love giving hugs and kisses, esp Makenzie and she will give you a huge kiss on the lips and then one on each cheek before bedtime and throughout the day

-MG loves to tuck things under her chin if she can’t carry everything which cracks us up

-MG also has started cheering for herself (claps her hands and screams YAY!) whenever she does something she is proud of such as completing a puzzle, walking down the stairs, finishes a task

-Makenzie starts dancing and getting down, even if she’s in the bathtub or highchair when she hears music-HILARIOUS! Mg’s dance moves consist more of bouncing up and down on her knees and twirling around

-love light switches and anything they can turn on and off-have mastered turning on a lot of their toys by themselves

-they both say MMMMMM when they like something they are eating

-love pushing daddy’s nose because he makes all kinds of noises (honk honk, beep beep) and now they walk around the house grabbing their noses and saying beep beep

-still love going nuts in their cribs at night, bouncing incessantly, laughing uncontrollably and looking like they are nowhere close to falling asleep (yet they always do pretty quickly!)

-they immediately say bye-bye when they see Daddy because they are so used to him leaving to go to work in the morning-they haven’t quite grasped that he doesn’t always leave them J