Please Read and Pray!!!

As some of you may noticed, one of the blogs I follow on a daily basis is called "Kelly's Korner". The link is to the left with my other favorite blogs. I found Kelly's blog through my friend, Melissa (her blog is my fave too and the link is on here!!)

One day I saw the link for Kelly's blog on Melissa's and started reading it...wow!! Kelly and her husband live in Arkansas and had just given birth to their first little girl, Harper. She had struggled with infertility for a long time and had finally been blessed with Harper. Harper was born with all sorts of problems and almost died. She was flown to a big hospital in Oklahoma and was in the NICU for a long time...please read her blog for more info...it's a WONDERFUL blog.

Kelly is also a sweet, sincere, godly woman and she consistently posts prayer requests so that we can all be in prayer for one another. Eric made me stop reading them for a while, because he would find me sobbing in the bedroom as I read these heart-breaking stories of sick babies and the parents who were having to let go. I am still reading them, but trying not to worry so much that it will happen to my girls. I am really working on trusting God in my babies lives and knowing that He has a plan for them.

However, I do think it is super important that we pray for these requests, even if they break my heart to read. It is strengthening my love for the body of Christ, and how can that be a bad thing?!!

Please read Kelly's Korner when you have time...there are lots more requests than I can mention on here. BUT...this is one I read tonight and I wanted to mention... lease read this blog...there are only 2 posts so far, but I do not know if I could be as strong as "B". Her faith amazes me and I wish I could give her a big hug but instead I will pray for her and the precious life of her unborn child!! Please pray with Eric and I!!

http://www.littleoneapril.blogspot.com/

Just Playing Around...

We haven't been up to anything new...just playing and having fun every day! We have taken lots of walks in the beautiful sunshine and gone to the parks to visit our favorite swings. We have also had so much fun with our toys at home.

Lexi trying to stand up again...she does this all the time now.


Lilly playing around with her sister. No one got hurt...they were being silly! :)

I was trying on a new swimsuit and Lilly wanted to play on the walk and ride toy. Isn't she cute?!

See, they have to taste everything! They crack me up...this is Lilly, who will now stick out her tongue and then slowly approach an item as if warning it that she's coming. :)

They love this toy and will actually argue over who gets to sit on it first.

Lilly is looking at the camera...they had just woken up from their nap and I set Lexi in Lilly's crib so they could say hi to each other. I especially like how their legs are touching...they are really sweet to each other!

We go outside in the evenings and the girls love it! First is Lexi waving at Daddy! The next 2 are Lilly playing in the grass.

Look at strong little Lexi who doesn't need us to put her in her infant seat to play at her activity station anymore! She just pulls herself up and walks around it. She played the piano for daddy last night while I was at dinner with Jessica.

Shelby's Birthday Party and The Package

UPDATE: He's here!!!! James, Amy, and Hannah Gattis announce the arrival of Gabriel Isaiah!! He was born this morning at 11:11 am, weighing 8.6 ozs, at 21.5 inches long!

We had an eventful and fun weekend. First, the girls got a package in the mail on Saturday from Nana Epps. It was full of fun items...2 sets of matching dresses (so cute!), a sweet book, and 2 of the cutest little Easter purses ever! I pulled everything out and the girls put it all in their mouths...that means they liked it!! Thanks, Nana Epps!!

Lexi standing up in one of her new dresses. She pulls herself up on everything now. She just really likes to stand up. :)
It was cold the other morning, so the girls wore some leggings under their dresses. Lilly loves to flash that big smile!
Lilly in her pink dress with her new purse...and below, we have both girls with their purses.

We ran errands Saturday evening and the girls got to sit together in a cart for the first time, and use their shopping cart cover. Thank goodness, since Lexi tried to suck on the handle bar the entire time.

Then on Sunday, we went to Shelby's 3rd birthday party. Shelby is my friend Jennifer's daughter (I roomed with Jennifer's sister in college). I spent a lot of time with the whole Vance family while at UMHB and they are still like family to me. The girls LOVE them too!! It was so much fun...the girls were included just like the big kids and got to do the crafts, play the games, etc...

The girls came home with a lot of fun things. I felt like they had just had a birthday. :) The rubber duckies were their favorites. It was so much fun to see them sitting in other's laps and just smiling away while holding their new duckies! Then we stopped by Jessica and Scott's house on our way home to pick up the fun toys and clothes that we are going to use for a while...then it REALLY felt like the girls had a birthday! They missed their afternoon nap and came home so excited to play with everything..the first cries came when they didn't know which toys to play with first. :)

Here are pictures from our fun weekend!!

Daddy and Lexi having a morning cuddle! You should see the way those girls look at their daddy...so much love!!

Lexi was the first to pick out her duckie from the little pond...I think it took her a minute to realize that she was allowed to have one of those ducks and could pick which one she wanted.
Jessica and Lexi with her new duck!
Daddy helped Lilly get her yellow duck!

Here is Mommy Jennifer with the birthday girl, Shelby. Next to her is Jessica with her daughter, Annalise. We were making personalized door hangers with glitter stickers.

Lilly wanted to eat hers...

The girls were in the thick of the action. They just sat on the kitchen floor while everyone ran around them playing "Pin the Crown on the Princess" :)
Lexi couldn't get enough of Daisy, the chihuahua. Although she also really likes sitting with Mrs. Vance. Lexi kept patting the dog with her toes. Thankfully, Daisy is a patient dog!

When we got home, the girls examined all the new toys!

Lilly showing mommy that she has matching bloomers on too!!

Cute one of Lexi...Eric took this one!

And last but not least...Lexi smiling at Elmo...I do not usually let them watch tv, but I flipped past Sesame Street this morning and their faces just lit up...I had to leave it for a few minutes and take pictures of the smile that she got when Elmo showed up!! :)

Blessed

For some reason, I am emotional today. My best friend for the past 15 years is having her 2nd child right now...a precious little boy!! I am so happy for Amy, James, and 3 year old Hannah-Banana! Love you guys!! I'm coming to see you soon, I hope!

I am also just reminded how extremely blessed I am. God has blessed me with the love of my life, my Eric! I have 2 of the funniest, goofy little dogs that I can't imagine life without, and now I am the proud mommy of identical twin daughters. I am just blown away when I think about it. I read so many sad stories of people struggling to get pregnant or having babies with heart and brain diseases or are just struggling to make it. Part of me feels bad, because I am sitting in my house on my laptop with 2 healthy little girls asleep in the next room. I do not deserve better than anyone else and I know that my life is not perfect, but I am just so thankful for every day I get and every thing God has given me.

My friend Jessica blessed us yesterday by loaning us some ADORABLE and wonderful baby clothes. Her daughter, Annalise, has grown out of them, and when my girls grow out of them, I am going to give them back for her sister to use for her new daughter (to be born soon...YEA!!). I told Eric last night how God had been so good! I have been able to clothe my children in the cutest things, and feed them when they are hungry, and give them toys to play with...those are amazing blessings!! Thank you Jesus for all my blessings!

Here is the song I have been singing today...

Martina McBride's "Blessed"

I get kissed by the sun
Each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the bedroom door

Sometimes I sit on my
Front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place

I have been blessed
And I feel like
I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones
That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room,
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet and
No words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift

When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me I know

MY FAMILY!!!

I call this picture, "My twin tornado"