Little People Nativity

We got a wonderful surprise a few weeks ago from my Aunt Eileen. She stopped by and gave the girls their Christmas gift, the Little People Nativity scene! I absolutely love it and so do the girls. We set it up in our entertainment center at their standing level and every night Rush or I set it up so that in the morning when the girls wake up and finish their bottles and start to play it's all set up for them to have fun with (and chew on!) One of my favorite features is the angel that sits on top of the manger, when you press down on the angel it plays music and the star lights up and a light shines down where baby Jesus lays (if the girls haven't gotten to him yet!) I just love the Christmas season and hope my girls do too when they're older! :)

Grandmom Baskin

So I've been a horrible blogger lately, and I'm going to totally blame it on the holidays and babies! ;) I will eventually finish posting pictures from their last month, but first I want to say that over Thanksgiving heaven welcomed another angel home. Rush's grandmom Lowrey Baskin passed away early Friday morning at the age of 92. I've only known Lowrey for a few years, but I know that I am going to miss her very much. She had such a strong presence, and was the matriarch of the Baskin family. She had such a sharp memory I know there were many times that I was amazed at the stories she told us from "way back when" when I have trouble remembering what I ate yesterday! She was a kind hearted woman who welcomed everyone into her home. I enjoyed hearing all the stories of her this past weekend when visitors would come by the house with their condolences and food. She made such an impact on so many lives, and was never late at sending out a thank you note! There is much I can STILL learn from her, and I am glad that we were able to see her on Wednesday (I should say that I was glad she was able to see the girls!) We will cherish the pictures we have of her with the girls. :)

This was the first time Grandmom met the girls (3 and a half months old), I didn't do a very good job of making her stop playing with the girls to look up for the picture...

I believe this is Reagan, love those smiles!

 The girls are 6 and a half months old here.

 Not sure who's happiest, Grandmom or Reagan!

I thought this picture was hilarious! Rush was holding Addie while Grandmom had Reagan.



Rest in peace Grandmom, you will be greatly missed by all of us!

9 Months!

How are we already celebrating the girls being 9 months old??? I really feel like they should be MAYBE 5 or 6 months old. AH well, what can you do? You can't slow down time, so we've got to make sure we enjoy our time in the moment! This year one of my goals was to try and live more in the moment, rather than looking to the future and saying, "I can't wait until *such and such*." And I think I've done fairly well so far, every now and then I catch myself looking forward to a major holiday (nothing wrong with that) but I still want to enjoy the NOW. Imagine how much I would've missed out on if I had been sitting here looking forward to the girls' first Thanksgiving and Christmas instead of enjoying the little things they are learning this month!

Speaking of this month, WOW, have the girls made some leaps and bounds! They are both very efficent crawlers (we have had to baracade the living room off with pillows!), they both now have TWO bottom teeth (there goes using teeth as a way to tell them apart), they love to stand up and reach for any and all electronics within their reach (more on that later), Adalyn is even cruising (YES, cruising!), they both love to clap their hands when they are happy, and dance along with the music on their toys. It is so weird to all the sudden see them standing up and looking around when just a few months ago, I could put them in a certain spot and they would be in that spot when I came back! Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for their continuing development, I just feel like they are going to be asking me math questions next month! Who am I kidding, they'll be asking Rush math questions not me. ;) And now that they are crawling, bath time is very interesting. We have two little duckies the girls like to play with and I have to be careful they don't dive out of my arms and into the side of the tub as they lunge for their duck! And then when Rush is trying to dry them off and lotion them down, he is constantly having to grab them from crawling off the bed! It really is quite amusing. I suspect sometime in the near future we will be chasing naked babies around the house and wrestling them down to get them diapered and dressed.

Now to the electronics, I'm sure y'all are on the edge of your seat wondering what I could possibly be about to tell you, and I hope it's not a disappointment because I find it very entertaining. :) Since the girls have been able to stand themselves up and reach the ottoman (where we keep our computer, camera, phones, and remote while we are in the living room) they have since found these items and decided that they are their most favorite toys. Now when they get a hold of our phones or the remote (I've managed to keep the computer away) they instantly start chewing on them and drooling all over the little cracks and crevices. What's more funny is that when one baby sees the other with one of these items she immediately crawls over and TAKES it from her sister! Then the first baby starts screaming and crying while she tries to get it back, and if she is successful then the other baby starts crying and throwing a fit. And what's worse is when I take it away. You would think they were 13 years old and I just took their phone away, picture this: baby is happy chewing on Mommy's phone, Mommy takes said phone away and the apocolypes takes place. Well not really, but they will throw themselves back and start screaming and crying while throwing their limbs around and forget trying to distract them, they throw whatever toy I try and give them. I usually just wait a second and then pick them up to snap them out of it. I don't have any video of it, but I can assure you if you don't mind the crying it is pretty funny. I just hope it's not how they react when they're teenagers.

Well here are some of our favorite pictures and videos from this past month:

My sweet Adalyn

My precious Reagan

Adalyn crawling. We were about to go on a walk and she started crawling towards my shoes, I luckily had the camera nearby to get it on video!

I found the secret to baby soft skin! MILK BATHS! ;)

Reagan is either a. just like Daddy or b. found Daddy's spit cup that he left within reach...

"What's that?" -It's what I imagine her thinking. :)

Adalyn is the one on the floor, this is just the normal, everyday kind of baby action I see!

Reagan just LOVES the bear that Daddy brought home for her!

They love to wrestle with their bears

and in the middle of wrestling she stopped just long enough to stare the bear into submission!

Is this not the face of an angel? 

One of my favorite "looks" :)

Video I got of the girls playing with their bears. Reagan is the one sitting up, Adalyn is the one laying down.

I took the bumpers out of the cribs since the girls started standing, they didn't care for it too much, they kept getting caught up in the slats and pressing their heads up against the slats while they were sleeping.

Reagan was passed out!

Adalyn using her skills to play with her toys up high!

Reagan is fine just chillin' on her belly.

In order to get Reagan to crawl on camera I had to entice her with my phone!

Without bumpers, the girls liked to hang their legs out and talk to each other :)

The girls are enjoying one of our "borrowed" toys, they love to dance along!

Well I am going to call it a night and finish this post (hopefully) tomorrow! Have a goodnight and I hope you enjoyed these pictures and videos. :)

Happy 236th Birthday Marines! :)

DVIDS - Video - Indomitable Spirit: The 236th Marine Corps Birthday Message#.Tp7nU5wVI3g

So proud of MY Marine!

Grandpa Wades E. Moring

Life has been pretty crazy lately, but yesterday it was nice to be able to be with family all day while we said goodbye and laid my Grandpa to rest. I don't know if y'all recall one of my recent posts, but it was about us being in Floresville and visiting Grandpa in the VA Home. I am so glad that we were able to go and see him (and Grandma of course!) because while we were there he was completely aware and as mobile as he could be (he was able to hold the girls, one at a time) for about an hour (he usually would get tired not long after we were there.)
I always try to remember Grandpa as the strong healthy man he was and the many memories I have of him so as not to forget. Some of the small ones that are my favorite are just being down at the barn and pens with him while he would work, the frozen Snickers bars (cut in half) that we would get as a treat (it's more of a Grandma thing though), the Grape-Nuts cereal in the refrigerator, picking pecans and then getting to shell and eat them, and last but never least, getting a kiss on the cheek for every hello and goodbye.
It hasn't quite hit me yet that Grandpa is gone, I guess with his declining health he wasn't quite himself anymore, and towards the end it was a blessing for Grandpa to go home. He lived 91 great years (according to me, and I was only there for his last 26), he served his country, and was a God fearing man. What more could you ask for? Rest in peace Grandpa, you will be missed but I will see you again!

All my love Grandpa, until we meet again!

My first experience with a consignment sale

After hearing about all the loot my sister in law would come home with for my nephew, I knew I had to check it out! *A BIG shout out to Liesl, who turned me on to consignment sale shopping, I couldn't have found this many awesome deals, or afforded all this without JBF.* I did some research about what I might need and what to expect, so Rush watched the girls, I wore tennis shoes, brought along a rolling cart, and took my Momma with me! Since I was a first time mom and military (I only needed to be one, not both) I was able to get into the Pre-Sale. It. Was. AwEsOmE! I got some great gear and clothes for the girls. I could've easily gotten more things/clothes/gear for the girls.

Ok so enough of the chit-chat, here are the pictures!

*Disclaimer: I already threw the price tags away, so the prices are to the best of my memory (which we all know is not the best!) I do know that I came in under $201.00!

4 piece button outfits! Now that the weather is cooler, the girls can wear all parts of the outfit. $10 each.

Old Navy pants/capris $3.50 each

Children's Place sparkly shrugs $4.00 each

Baby Gap sweaters $5.00 each

Cherry sweat outfits $4.00 each

BRAND NEW, never worn red boots $5.00 each

Pink cowgirl hat $3.50 (we figured it was too good to pass up and that we can find another later!)

Matching shopping cart/highchair covers $20.00 TOTAL

Smaller diaper bag (for quick trips) $4.00

Play table (going to be for Christmas) $10.00

And the big ticket item (one I didn't think would still be there) a bicycle trailer (for 2) $75.00!

This thing is in great condition! Brand new they are easily around $250.00! Only thing I am missing is the owner's manual, but I think I can find one and print it off online.

Now I just need to find me a good working bike...

For those interested in going to one of these, it is put on by Just Between Friends all over the U.S. You can easily google them and then find the one closest to you. They only have 2 sales a year, one in spring and one in fall. Next year's spring is scheduled for mid April, and you can bet I plan on being there! I'm also thinking I might try to consign some items because you get in to the sale earlier than anyone else! :)

How are they 8 months old already??

I know I will probably be saying this for the rest of my life, but I really do feel like it was just yesterday that we brought the girls home from the hospital! We are only 4 months away from celebrating their first year of life, and I'm starting to feel like I'm not ready. I want to do so much and I'm sure 4 months is plenty of time, but I'm also thinking about Thanksgiving, Rush's birthday, and of course Christmas (the girls' first so I want to make it BIG!)

Well lets get back on track, today the girls are 8 months old and this past month we celebrated MANY milestones. During their 7 month of life, both girls have started "crawling" not in a very mobile, follow me around the house kind of way, but they manage to get around fairly well. They've also had their 1st tooth (teeth in Reagan's case), they've also become amazing at sitting themselves up and grabbing/playing with things without falling over, and lastly just yesterday I saw Adalyn stand herself up for a split-second before she fell back down.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...

Chilling in our high chairs, about to eat dinner as a family

Reagan showing off her sitting skills

The girls love their play center (I can't think of the proper name at the moment), I need to get a before and after picture of the alligator that they demolish as soon as they get in it!

This gummy grin just won't be the same once she has teeth! I love Reagan's gummy smile.

Can you see Adalyn's pretty little tooth? It's not a spit bubble! Looking at her it's the front bottom left tooth.

I think she hams it up for me (which I love, and she comes by it honestly!)

We eat most of our snack and wear the rest!

Momma got too close with the camera and four little hands were all over the camera strap before I realized what was going on!

"What do you mean this isn't a toy?"

Addie's big smile, "I got the camera!"

Absolutely precious

Who knew bottle lids were such great toys? The girls love to play with them after they're done. :)

If she can, Reagan will hold something in her other hand as she drinks her bottle.

Mimi & Poppy are ready for the game just as much as the girls are!

Love it!

*'nuff said*

Adalyn was playing with the neck pillow, when I tried to get a picture she spotted me!

The girls' first time in jeans! I also painted their shirts!

My girls are just so precious! :)

All of our Camp Lejeune friends and us at the Alamo! Left to right: Stefanie, Hanna, & Brock Lennon, Kristen & Brian Rabuka, Us, and Kristal & Brian Pegram (who are expecting a bundle of joy April 2012!)

The girls first time at the Alamo!

I just recently spotted Adalyn stand up for a split-second (before falling back down) so I ran to get the camera in hopes that I could catch her doing it again. We didn't get a standing shot, just her trying to stand.

Working on those leg muscles!

Oh darn! She spotted me.

"HI Momma!"

Reagan was just chillin' watching me take a million pictures of Adalyn.

She has a contaigous smile, you can't help but smile back at her!

She's already working on getting into the vcr/dvd & direct tv boxes!

"Look Ma! No hands!" :)

Beautiful smile! Showing off her tooth!

The girls playing together after their breakfast

The oh-so-threatening alligator (I don't think it's a crocodile because the snout isn't long and skinny) toy on their play center. It's the first thing they "destroy" when they are set in it.

The threat has been eliminated. It is now safe to commence play with all the other toys.

Happy 8 Months! This is the best picture I could get, they refused to sit still and leave the dolls alone. Oh well, as long as they're happy!

"Open mouth, insert (doll's) foot."

While I was trying to get their picture Adalyn held the doll's foot in her mouth and wouldn't let go!

I hope you enjoyed all the pictures! I'm hoping I can start doing more detailed posts now that I'm caught up. Up next is about my first Consignment Sale! :)