Hanging Lights

Asher admiring the Christmas lights. He's wearing the outfit he wore coming home from the NICU and it finally fits!!!


Soren is also fascinated by the lights.


Both babies admiring their 'work' of hanging lights.


Asher and mom.


Asher and Soren with mom!

For this morning's 9 o'clock activity I had the boys 'help' me hang more lights on the tree. When Jamie bought the tree last week I asked him to pick up lights and he came home with ONE box of 100 lights because he thought that would be plenty. Yeah right! I bought 300 more, which wasn't even enough, at my new favorite store, CVS. The boys and I can easily walk to the CVS so it is my favorite place to shop, especially for lip gloss and candy. My current chocolate obsession is Hershey's kisses, particularly the cherry cordial and the mint truffle. YUM.

Anyways, the boys were adorable and clearly they were totally stoked about their participation.

Oh Isabel!

My mom, being the extraordinary grandma and woman that she is, offered to watch my sister's kids last Saturday so Amberlyn could go to the BYU game with her hubs. My mom had the kids help her put up her Christmas village and things were getting hectic so she had to reign in the chaos a bit. Isabel, in reaction to the 'reigning,' initiated a humorous dialogue.

Isabel to my mom: "Is my mom your kid?"
My mom: "Yes."
Isabel" I feel sorry for her."
My mom: "Do you mean to tell me that your mom never yells at you?"
Isabel: "Yes."
Annika: "Yes she does!"
My mom: "isabel, do you want time out?"
Isabel: "No!"

I love my niece Isabel, she's always keeping it so REAL.

More to Love about Babies

My babies are starting to hold their heads up and their strength amazes me! My favorite daily baby moment is when I put them over my shoulder to burp them and their little heads perk up and they look around with their bright eyes--it's such an intimate proximity to their little faces and their cutness just makes me swoon. I also love it when they smile, which they do at least once a day. Asher opens his mouth as wide as can be and gives me a loud squeal when he smiles, it's so freaking adorable.

Jamie and Asher

These photos needed to be shared!

Brian!

Brian was in Baltimore for an academic conference so he was able to spend a night with us. Jamie and Brian hadn't seen each other in something ridiculous like three years. It was great to see Brian and watch him hold babies like a pro. We miss our friends and wish they were closer.

Insurance...a Blessing.

I just recieved the final bill for my stay in the hospital coupled with Asher and Soren's NICU stay: $61,000. Thanks to insurance I owe a mere $100 co-pay. What a blessing! Asher and Soren are an even bigger blessing and would be worth any price. I love those boys.

Soren and Asher

Here's a nod to those pregnant self portraits. I much prefer holding a baby (Soren) ON my belly than in my belly. Is there anything sweeter than a baby falling asleep on your chest?









Here is a montage of fun photos from the past month. The boys are getting so big and their cuteness grows even faster then their little bodies.

Christmas Cheer

Christmas fest has begun!!! For only the second time in our marriage, we have a Christmas tree. Jamie chose a beautiful fir, which has perfumed our home with the smell of nostalgia and comfort. I am not a real crafty craftsman type person so my decorations are minimal but I sure love the cheer and color of the holiday. I love a fresh wreath and poinsettias are a must. My favorite flower is an amaryllis but I have yet to outfit our home with them...just wait.

I also love the tradition of candles in the windows--it's common here in the East and I adore the warmth they inspire.

What is Your Favorite Fall Color?

The trees of my neighborhood!




I am not loyal to one specific color. Mine shifts from whichever tree looks the most brilliant at the moment. I love the breadth of orange: from a deep rust to a brilliant brightness. I also love a screaming red tree.

Two Months Old!!!

Soren: 10.8 lbs
Asher: 8.13 lbs

My boys are growing! Asher finally made it onto the chart for weight where he proudly sits in the 5th percentile but remains off the chart for everything else. Soren sits comfortably in the 25th percentile for weight.

Asher and Soren got their first set of shots, which was heart wrenching to behold. I held their hands while the nurse stabbed them with needles...I hated it and hoped that they did not have nasty NICU flash backs. BOTH boys yacked up their one oral immunization. The nurse had never seen anything like it before and suggested that perhaps my breast milk is so stinking good that anything different is loathesome to them.

I was worried that the boys would have a terrible reaction to the shots but their only reaction was to sleep so my chill babies slept.

Favorite Baby Gear: Patagucci Fleece

There have been a few stellar baby gear items that I think deserve some attention. Back in March when I was in Utah for my 30th birthday, Jamie and I bought a blue fleece outfit for what we thought was on our ONE baby. The price was steep but we figured it was worth it since the baby would be born in October and could wear the fleece for the entire winter. Well, when we found out one baby was really TWO, we bought another fleece during our July trip. Anyway...BEST purchase ever! The fleece is extremely soft and it keeps those baby babes enormously warm and comfy on our cold walks. Best of all, talk about stinking CUTE.