Joseph and Shiloh have a secret!!

I am not sure what the secret is, as neither one is saying but you can tell by the eyes there is something going on. I suspect that Joseph slipped Shiloh a treat when nobody was watching and neither one want to give the other up. (I won't tell if you won't - oh hi mummy how are you!!)




















Renee and the boys, its a trick but Mom's can do amazing things entertain one boy while feeding another.

























The boys special and until April 1st their last surviving great grandma. Grammy was a beautiful lady and loved our boys so much. She did so much physical therapy work on the boys that we will be able to see her loving care whenever Joseph and Benjamin jump, run and play. I look forward to the day when she will be able to see how these boys have grown up, when we will all see her again in Gods Great Kingdom.

New Photos

Just a few photos to share...Benjamin wearing the sweater Matt's mom made, both boys doing their best James Dean impersonations, and Joseph intently playing his little keyboard.

The boys are such a joy. I can't begin to recount all the ways they make us smile, laugh, sigh, and think about God every single day.

Up Close and Personal

I wanted to add these photos so you might get a feel for the developing personalities of the boys. I wish you could see more of Benjamin's smile (sitting on Matt's shoulders). He has so much fun playing with Dad. So does Joseph (above). It's funny on the weekends when Matt is home during the day because the boys seem to know there is a different rhythm to things and they both want Dad's attention. Matt says it's because Mom is meat and potatos and Dad is the yummy treat. I think it's just because he is an awesome Dad and the boys know it!

Six Months Old

This week the boys turned 6 months old, chronologically speaking. When adjusted for their 9 weeks prematurity, they are actually at about a 4 month old level of development. Both are growing quickly and their personalities are becoming more vivid by the day.

Joseph is a little reserved, emotionally intuitive and seems wise beyond his years. Benjamin is very physically active, outgoing and generally has a happy disposition.

Despite the overwhelming craving for sleep, we are thoroughly enjoying every day with them. It is especially fun to get them both on the floor playing together. Benjamin is trying to sit up by himself now. Joseph rolled over for the first time unassisted yesterday.

March should be the last month for the RSV season so in another four weeks we will be out and about a lot more. Hope to see you then!

Birthday Week Photo

Well, maybe I should call it conception week photo. This week a year ago Matthew and I were in Oklahoma City for the embryo transfer which was on February 12, the day before Matt's birthday. Today we were reminiscing about the past year, all the IVF protocols we went through, and feeling grateful for having these two beautiful boys at the end of it all.

This has been a pretty stressful week. I picked up a cold and have been really under the weather. The boys also have runny noses. Although we haven't been getting them out for anything other than required doctors visits, last week we had one at the hospital and I think we all got exposed. So Grandma has been staying over to help ease the burden. TGFG. Thank God for Grandmas!

Joseph is approaching 8 pounds and Benjamin is not quite 12 pounds yet, but both are growing every day and we are falling more in love with them every minute. Thanks for checking in on our blog! We appreciate your interest.

Armpit Prayer

Benjamin has such a sweet disposition. So his crankiness this week has been out of character. He has been fighting a cold, so to help comfort him I have been spending a lot of time in the Lazy Boy. As we settle in for a rocking session, he nestles into the crook of my elbow, comfortably positions himself within the softest blanket I can find, and promptly inserts his right fist under my left armpit.

Now, this would have taken me by surprise and seemed a bit odd had I not had a friend whose eight year old son did the same thing as an infant. There must be something comforting to babies about that intimacy, and maybe even the pheremones that eminate from the glands under the arm. Consequently, any quiet time I get lately is spent with a fist under my armpit.

As we were rocking the other evening, I was praying and began thinking about prayer itself. I have been a praying person for as long as I can remember. But somehow I have often felt guilty making all the requests that I do, as if I need to be giving something to Him in exchange for what I ask. But what can I give God?

It's natural that I think of this in terms of the boys now, since to them we are their provider, sustainer, comforter, their god in a sense. So I asked myself, "What is it I would want from them?"

The answer has been brewing in my thoughts all week and I think it has to do with intimacy. Just like how I love it that Benjamin wants to be so close to me that he sticks his fist under my arm. It thrills me that he kicks his legs in excitement when he recognizes my presence. And I know Matt's heart sings when Joseph talks to him in all his extravagant baby language, even though it doesn't make a bit of sense.

God is our loving parent and His love is unconditional. I don't think there is anything I can say or do to cause Him to answer a prayer a certain way. But I can present my requests, delight in His presence, and trust that He is supremely good and has only my best interest at heart.