Zoo Crew - Take Two!

Today we went back to the zoo and met up with Aunt Juli and her family and some friends of hers. We covered ground at the zoo we had not covered on our last visit. We all went over to the children's zoo where we got to watch them feed the pelicans.

At our own feeding time, the boys and Jon and I hung out and got a few good pictures...

The boys looking cool...

Brewer & Me...

Daddy & Co. with the big crustacean...

After we we finished at the zoo, the gang went out and rode the train while I looked on (the boys were napping and we didn't want to wake them). It did not take much convincing to get Jon to join in on the train ride. Here he is with brother-in-law Owen...

After their train ride, Lauren & Rebecca helped with the boys.

When we finished with the train, we all went to Luby's for a good lunch. Now we are at home and ALL my boys (Jon included) are napping before church. After church, I'll try to get the pix added to our original zoo trip.

Fly Home, Angel.

Little Tuesday Whitt passed away today after an intense battle with cancer that she and her family faced with bravery and grace.

Tuesday leaves behind a twin sister, two brothers, loving parents, adoring family, and countless friends.

I pray that someday we are all blessed with peace and understanding of what happened to darling Tuesday and that those of us who mourn her will be comforted that her struggle had meaning and purpose on this earth and that she is now home in the arms of angels looking down on all of us and protecting those who so valiantly fought for her, especially her parents and siblings.

Tuesday was here on earth for just over two years. I knew about her while she was living for only two days. Her story makes me want to hold on to my boys with both hands every second and protect them against the things in this world that I know I can't possibly prevent.

As a mother, my heart aches for her mother, that she has to experience a grief I can not even fathom. God Bless you for sharing your daughter with us.

To read Tuesday's story, go to http://half12.blogspot.com/ .

Rest in Peace, Tuesday.

"I'll lend you for a little while,
a child of mine" God said,
"for you to love the while she lives,
and mourn for when she's dead.

It may be two or three short years,
or twenty-two or three,
but will you, till I call her back,
take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you,
and should her stay be brief,
you'll have her lovely memories
as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay,
since all from earth return,
but there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true,
and from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.

Now will you give her all your love?
Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to call,
to take her back again?"

God fancied he heard the parent's say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring,
the risk of grief I'll run.

I'll shelter her with tenderness,
I'll love her while I may,
and for the happiness I've known
forever grateful I will stay.

But should the angels call for her,
much sooner than I planned,
I'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and try to understand."

-Anonymous

Thank You, Granny...

The boys and I had a big day, we went to lunch with friends and then we went by my office and Jon's office to get them introduced to our co-workers. We were out and about, just me and the boys for about 6 hours today. It was alot of fun, but it sure did wear me out.

It also left the boys a little overcooked and it was pretty tough squeezing a nap out of them this afternoon, but we managed it, with a little extra crying from them....I made dinner, but the boys insisted on being fed first, so Jon and I ate together after we fed the boys. All in all, it was a good day.

Tonight, Granny and Grand-dad came over to visit and Grand-dad went to help Jon in the garage while Granny hung out with me and the boys.

Well, I guess I didn't know how tired I was from the activities of the day, because the next thing I knew, Granny was waking me up to let me know that she was going home, that the boys had started falling asleep (we had fed them around the time she got here...), so she changed them into clean diapers and pj's and put then down for the night...all while I was dozing on the couch (OOPS!).

Thanks a million, Granny! We love you!

Tomorrow: Zoo Part II - Return of the Twins...

Brewer Naps!

An official routine!! Well, we've done it every day this week, so I am going to call it a routine anyway. It's a routine for his afternoon nap. Both of my kids very rarely get fussy, but Brewer has been fussing in the afternoon regularly, so we decided to try getting a routine - guess what, it works!

Every afternoon around 3 after his afternoon bottle, Fatty McMilkMouth turns into a major cranky-pants.

Sooo, I take him in his room and put him down in his crib, give him his paci and leave the room. He kicks out the paci and continues to cry for a couple of minutes - I go back in.

I say to him, "Brewer, there is no reason to be upset. There is nothing wrong. Mommy is right here. You just need to rest. I promise you mommy will be here when you wake up." or some variation on this theme - While saying all this, I keep my voice quiet and I pet his head and rub his tummy, tuck him in with a blanket, give him his paci and Mr. Moo-Moo...his teether cow. Usually before I walk out the door his little eyes are closed and he sleeps for 2-3 hours! It totally cracks me up that this works - like he already understands every word I say when I reason with him. LOL!

At daycare, they also have afternoon naps starting between 2-3, so it looks like this could become his regular routine! YAY Brewer! What a sweet big boy!

In other news, the car did not start this morning - ugh - dead battery. Granny had to come help me get the boys to day care - Thanks Granny! Jon came home and fixed the car, which was awesome because I had a major Sam's run to make! Jon is the family hero today!

We all seem to finally be over being sick - though Jon and I still have sore throats and runny noses. The boys have finished their antibiotics - thank goodness - and seem to be doing fine!

Well, I gotta go! Time to school my other child on the fact that he should be napping.

Hopefully I'll get the zoo pix incorporated into our zoo post tonight. I know I am running behind on that!

Later!

A day without Mommy...

Is like an eternity to Jon.

He did such a great job taking care of the kids today. I came down with what we think is a flu bug last night and he and his mom have spent the day tag-teaming on the kiddos - thanks so much, Granny!

By nighttime, I was feeling a good bit better and came out and helped with the boys a bit. I think seeing me helped them be less cranky before bedtime. I had been in bed and out of sight all day, so the boys were probably confused.

My fever is pretty much gone now and hopefully it stays gone so I don't have to go to the doctor tomorrow...fingers crossed!

Mommy is a Superhero!

And her superpower is...

eating sushi...with chopsticks...

left-handed...

while simultaneously feeding Brewer a bottle with her right hand.

Tres, tres chic!

Thanks to the good people who work at Sushi King and our fellow diners for making our family feel so welcome (on a Saturday night) with 2 (perfectly-behaved) 3-month-old children. The boys and Jon and I had a great time there with Megan and Jon!

Our Phabulous Life is 'ZOO'perb!

That's what the boys were saying on Friday when they had a PHantastic time at the zoo! It started with daddy getting an awesome parking spot...then we flew right in the doors with our members pass (membership has its privileges), not that having our little cuties with us didn't help the situation - everyone was fawning all over them as they let us pass...

Jon and I grabbed a quick snack at the Macaw Cafe when we came in and took a few quick snaps of the boys there...they were all smiles and Bonham especially hammed it up for the camera!

We took the boys to check out the monkeys and the bears yesterday and they had a great time.
While taking in the primates, we saw a mommy lemur carrying her newborn baby around, and then another mommy taking care of her little one. The bears were out and about, too, thanks to the great weather! We got some great pictures of the spectacled bears.

On the way to the gift shop, we caught the lions being lazy...

And lastly, we played a little 'snakebite' in the gift shop with one of the toy snakes...

When we got home, the boys napped for almost 3 hours! It was a GREAT day.

2009 - Mommy's resolution...

I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better...(you get the idea)

After all my big talk and promises, another month (almost) slides by.

So, I will forgive myself, start fresh in 2009 and give you the month 3 update, beginning with our 2 month appointment.

Brewer, true to form, HOWLED at the shots, while Bonham took it well, barely letting out a single whimper.

I was absolutely right on about weight - Brewer weighed in at 10lb 13oz, while Bonham was 10lb even. Brew was 1/2 inch longer than Bon, so they are staying pretty close in size. Brew was in the 25th percentile for everything while Bon was in the 15th for everything but his head, which measured in the 10th percentile.

After that was Christmas which was wonderful, except that I got a horrid stomach virus and spent Christmas night in urgent care. Luckily, I felt well enough to spend Christmas morning with the boys and we had a wonderful time and got some cute pictures! The Christmas season was spent with family from near and far - most especially with little miss Lili-pie, the boys' cousin - who was also celebrating her first Christmas.

Fast forward on to January - the month of giant strollers (YAY!)....we got a BOB jogger and a couple of double Maclarens...and sadly, the month of our first colds, and, as a result, ear infections...Brewer has 2 and Bon has just a half of one...Dr. Suell took great care of us and the boys have been real little troopers, even sleeping through the night despite being so miserable with stuffy noses.

(I bet you can guess by now which one takes his medicine and his nose-cleanings like a champ and which one gives his mama major DRAMA when it is time for these activities...when Brewer even sees the saline bottle now he screams bloody murder!)

February will be the month of returning back to work...I am anxious, but hopeful that all will go well. We started a trial run of part-time daycare this month and the boys seem to really enjoy hanging out with Miss Mary and Miss Sophia, so at least that won't have me crying on day one...

In the meantime, Jon and I want to try to do some fun things with the boys, so tomorrow we are headed to the Houston Zoo - pictures to follow soon - no, really, I PROMISE this time...see the beginning of this post...this is my resolution for the year!