Congratulations, Twins!

While out walking the kids in the stroller a woman passed by, looked down at them, and then enthusiastically exclaimed to me, "Congratulations!! You had Twins!!"

Close enough!

They Keep us Laughing

Just this smile alone keeps me laughing. Scotlin loves to laugh. If I am laughing he will laugh along with me. It is not uncommon to hear him laugh out loud at his toys, or sometimes, at nothing at all. Such a happy boy!

Mi's loves to help. If I am dusting she is right there by my side dusting along jabbering

"help." "help."

When I found her dustin the coffee table (with a diaper wipe) on her own the other day I couldn't help but smile and laugh. She keeps things spick and span around here. (Yeah right!!:))

The other day when I was vaccuuming I turned the corner and couldn't find Miley. She is usually my shadow, and so this was honestly the first time I didn't know where she went. I said her name, and heard nothing. I ran around the corner and started calling for her. She was JUST here. How could she have dissappeared so quickly? Just before I took off up the stairs to search for her, I turned around and found her hiding behind the french door in the corner of the kitchen. She was quiet as a mouse in her little corner, but after I found her she was smiling, laughing, and putting her nose up against the glass.

Mr Smiles is loving the backyard swing. He will squeal with laughter when I tickle his feet as I push him in the swing. He is getting so interactive now, and loves to be tickled or tossed up in the air. He is very observant, and will fix his eyes on anything that seems interesting for him to watch. He especially loves to watch His sister, and other kids play. He fell asleep in my arms last night before bed. I just stared at him as he laid there in my arms and wished he could sleep there all night. He is so perfectly round and snugly. I just wanted to squeeze him! I can't kiss, hold, hug and love him enough!

Miley is talking up a storm. Every day she learns one or two new words. Justin and I were laughing as we listened to her jibber jabber into this phone after her bath. She walked around with it up to her ear saying "hi. {jibber jabber} HI, Hi... {jibber jabber} hI. HI. hi, hi"

These two keep us laughing. It is a blast to watch both of them do new things everyday. Here are two videos that I can't watch without laughing until there are tears in my eyes! Miley is giving her "look," and Scotlin is licking his jacket zipper (like he licks everything) like a little kitty cat. SO adorable. (Just never mind the spit up at the end. That happens a lot around here!)

Miley's Room

Just a random post so I can get that next to death picture of me from the last post (which I nearly deleted all together. Thanks to close friends who encourage me to be bold even if it means I get a little deep sometimes.) down the page a little bit.

(Note: The walls were purple when we moved in!)

...

When springtime hits I get the urge to clean, and clean, and clean.

I might get a little carried away at times.

Like the other day when I was picking up in Miley's room and ended up rearranging all the furniture and decorations.

Let's just say the power drill came out and everything!

I enjoy a change of scenery sometimes.

It's something my mom always did so I guess I get it from her.

Here are some before and after pictures of Miley's room.

Yes, she is still in a crib. Bumper pads and all. That's a long story.

No, we don't have any plans to change that as of right now. She doesn't try to climb out.

We will probably delay changing it into a toddler bed for as long as we can.

My neighbor has four kids and she said every time she changed the crib to a bed the kid's nap time ended.

We don't want to take any chances with that!

...

I haven't changed Miley's room since she was a newborn baby.

All that can come later.

We are not in any hurry for her to grow up to fast.

6 Months Ago

There was once a time when these pictures made me feel nauseous.

When I thought of Scotlin's birth it felt like there was a 1,000 pound weight slowly trying to crush my heart.

It made my head pound.

The pounding reminded me of all I could hear in the Operating Room;

the rythm of Scotlin's failing heartbeat.

Pounding, Pounding, Pounding in my ears.

A large medical team worked for long, long hours to deliver Scotlin,

and I thought for a minute,

during the process, one of us was not going to make it.

I just prayed it would be me.

I vividly remeber the feeling, and knowledge that I am a daughter of God swept over me, and in that moment of complete uncertainty and fear, I was not alone.

In the days that followed, even though I was confined to a tiny, cold hospital room in what was at the time an unknown place, I was not left alone.

I was given a blessing.

A Priesthood blessing.

That I would

'never be left comfortless. That even holy Angels would be there to comfort me. To lift, and to carry me, and to help me carry the burden and pass this test.'

Never have I had more Faith, and Realization that our Heavenly Father is there.

He will not leave us comfortless.

I could not have done it by myself.

I was not alone.

I have 100% confidence in telling you that HE is Real. HE is There, and HE Lives.

Today this precious boy is six months old.

He has a never-ending smile.

He is sweet, and snuggly. Giggly. And bright.

Scotlin's sweet little face is a daily reminder to me that no matter how hard our trials seem, and even when we feel like we may not be able to lift the burden,

HE IS THERE.

HE IS LISTENING, and

HE WILL COMFORT US.

My heart no longer hurts.

It sings.

It is bursting with pride and joy.

Scotlin lights up our lives.

He is our best little buddy.

It's truly amazing to think about how we all began. And how much potential we have to become whatever we want to be.

For me, personally, I don't know how I could go through this life without help and guidance from a Heavenly Father. Without that knowledge that I am a daughter of God, and without Priesthood Power.

I need the help.

I'm grateful I have it.

I can't do it alone.

That same power that helped me six months ago is in my home.

It blesses my family and continues to bless my life every day.

Scotlin will learn from the example of his Father, and from those who love him, that he too can have that power, and it can continue to bless him throughout his life just as it has since the day he was born.

We love you Scotlin!

We are so glad you are here,

and you are the happiest baby boy!

20 Months

I get such a kick out of looking across the table at dinner time and seeing Miley sitting up to the table to eat with the family like a big girl.

There is also almost nothing as rewarding as watching her eat, enjoy, and ask for more vegetables.

Try this delishious twist on traditional twiced baked potatoes and see if your toddler (or husband) devours it like Miley (and Justin) did.

...

Twice Baked Green Potatoes

8 large potatoes

1 head of broccoli

4 cups spinach

8 green onions diced (use the whole onion)

1/4 cup grated parmesan

2 Tblsp. olive oil

1 1/2 tsp sea salt

pepper to taste

Bake foil-wrapped potatoes at 350 for 1 hour. Let cool. Steam broccoli for 15 minutes. Add spinach for the last 5 minutes. Cut each potatoe in half and scoop put the middle. Keep skin intact with about 1/4' around the edge. Set aside.

Use mixer to blend the potatoe 'guts' broccoli, spinach, oil, parmesan, salt and pepper. Scoop mixture back into potatoe skins. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes. I sprinkled cheese on top and served it to Miley with ketchup.

It was gone in minutes.

Some of the 'looks' I've been getting lately...

The first one I'll see just after saying something like "don't touch that, it's dangerous." This is the look of "but I'm smiling, that should make it okay to touch. See? Look how nice I'm acting."

The second one is the look right before she either starts to laugh histerically, or starts to act naughty, naughty, naughty.

Decisions. Decisions.

She talks up a storm all day long. She even whips out words, such as "purple" (while pointing to something purple) that make me wonder "when did you learn that? I didn't teach you that..."

Long ago we tried to teach her some sign language. mostly just manners. The only sign that stuck around was "PLEASE." Now, she won't say the word "please"she will only sign it. To her, signing "please" is saying "please."

Even with all the words that she knows, she just wont say the word "please." I'm glad she at least knows how to sign it so we can have some manners. Maybe some kids know how to do both. Anyone have tricks on how to get her to SPEAK instead of SIGN?

Justin and I usually put Miley to bed together. She eats dinner, has a bath, brushes her teeth, and then has a story before bedtime. After her story we say prayers and then we hug and kiss goodnight. Every night Miley will give Justin and I kisses and hugs back and forth. She will kiss him. Then she'll kiss me. She will hug me, then she will hug Dad.

Mom. Dad. Mom. Dad. Mom. Dad.

If we sit across the room from eachother she will run back and forth giving each of us hugs and kisses one at a time. Smiling and laughing the whole time.

The other night I did her bedtime routine without Justin there because he was studying. We read her book, said her prayers, and then I asked her for a kiss goodnight. She kissed me, held open her hands and said "where's Dada?"

it was so cute that she knew her routine enough to notice he wan't there to put her down. The girl LOVES her Daddy. He painted her fingernails today before we went to the Temple. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

She loves to play. She loves to laugh. She loves to watch trucks and birds. She loves to be chased. She loves to help cook and clean. She loves stories and songs. She loves bath time, and jammies.

Every morning when she gets dressed she asks to keep on her jammies, or if I have a fresh batch of laundry from the dryer she will find her jammies, and pull them out of the basket to carry around. Sometimes she will try to undress herself so she can put on her pj's. She will come to me and ask for "help?"

I have to tell her jammies are for nighttime and we need to get dressed so we can go play. The other day when I was trying to get her dressed, she kept pulling the zipper on her jammies back up after I had unzipped them. She kept beggin "on?" "on?"

I couldn't resist. I let her wear her pj's until lunch time that day. She just wanted to stay comfy, and I loved watching the pink ball of fleece run around all morning. Isn't that what childhood is all about?

Miley, we are soaking up every last minute we can with you while you are still our 1 year old baby girl, because in just 4 short months you will be 2!!! It puts a lump in my throat.

We love you!

April Showers Bring...

April Showers Bring US INSIDE.

I am kind of starting to get the hang of a routine around here that helps me feel like I can get things accomplished. But between one or the other of the kids needing to eat, or sleep we are still quite homebound. And, if it's a rainy day we don't go anywhere at all. The sun has been out a bit, but it's really windy and probably too cold to stay out for too long, so we have been staying inside a lot, and trying to keep busy.

...

We blow bubbles and bake bread, we color, swing, dance, and sing.

We do just about anything we can think of to stay entertained, and keep smiling until it really warms up and we can play outside.

Both kids geared up for their grub! This is what breakfast time looks like at our house. Miley in her bumbo and Scotlin in his car seat. We never did invest in a highchair. Call us crazy, but hey, it's working for now.

Our neighbors brought over this toy for Scotlin. I was so grateful! We never had an excersaucer for Miley, and I wish we had. They are the greatest. Scotlin (and Miley) are really enjoying it. Scotlin thinks he is the Bee's Knee's in this baby!!!

When they first brought it over Mi's had to try it out, She thought it was the greatest new toy in the world. Now she's okay with it being Scotlin's toy, and she just plays with the toys around the outside while he sits in the middle.

Miley and Scotlin love each other. They love to play together. Miley wants to get Scotlin from his crib every morning first thing when she wakes up, and Scotlin always has a huge smile on his face whenever he sees his sister. Maybe playing inside isn't so bad if you have your best little buddy there to play with.

...

Miley pushing Scotlin in his swing.

They keep each other company.

She can really get the swing going, so sometimes I have to help her tone down the love.

but I am glad they find it so entertaining to play together.

They are getting so big.

April can be enjoyed. Even if we are staying home most of the time.

And soon enough all these April showers will bring flowers which means we will be enjoying the great outdoors.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

We have lived in Nova Scotia for almost 9 months now.

Sometimes I can't believe it.

It has gone by so fast.

Some of the time if felt like one very long roller coaster ride.

After all this time I am starting to feel comfortable, and maybe, just maybe I might be getting the hang of it. I am getting better at handeling the distance from family and friends back home.

I am getting used to Justin's school schedule, and I just might be getting used to having two kids and running a household again.

I am no longer completely surrounded by the examples of Latter Day Saint women.

I am learning to BE the example of a Latter Day Saint Woman.

I am applying the things I learned while I was young, and I am proud to say that each day I am becoming more like my mother.

Yes, sometimes it's hard to live far away.

I have heart strings that are tugged everyday because of it.

I have so much to learn, but there are a couple of things I am grateful to know right now.

I am grateful to know that I can be happy, here in Nova Scotia, or in any other area of the world because I have been taught how to live.

How to love.

How to give.

How to help.

And how to grow.

I am grateful above all that I know from what source these teachings come.

If this is where I am, this is where I am happy to be.

"Our Future is as Bright as our Faith." -Thomas S. Monson