Ready to bring in the New Year!

Today ends 2012.  What a great year we have had!!  We have spent the last twelve months busier than ever.  It went from watching our precious babies, who did nothing but sleep all the time, to toddlers, who we are chasing all the time.  We've enjoyed lots of first this year.  Alison and Nick's wedding, our first trip to the beach with the babies, Emma & Evan learning to crawl and then to walk, Emma & Evan's 1st birthday...the list goes on and on.  They have grown into busy little people who are into everything.  Everything in our house has been moved up a couple feet for the time being, so it is out of their reach!  Tonight we will be celebrating the passing of 2012 and the ringing in of 2013 at the Fortner's house.  We love spending time with friends.  2013 is already filling up quickly! Alison's birthday is the 4th, which is this week. Hopefully momma's arm is healing well, so our baby sitter will be back soon! She will find out on the 7th...which is also when I have my appointment with Dr. Tarasidis.  Hoping and praying that all goes well.  Daddy's knee surgery is on the 14th. So, we are going to be busy the next few weeks.   Also, hopefully 2013 will bring good news for Katie & Matt!!  With their adoption process well under way...we are anxiously awaiting for their addition to our family.  Things at work are about to get interesting with me taking on a few new roles.  I am super excited and can't wait to get started.  Justin is still learning his new job and so far...it is going good.  We know that 2013 is going to be an exciting year with Emma & Evan, so we are ready to get it started!!  Happy New Year!!!

40 years and counting...

This isn't my normal post centered around Emma & Evan and what all is going on in their lives. Today marks my parents 40th wedding anniversary.  In this day and time with the divorce rate as high as it is and as many single parents as there are...40 years of being married is something to celebrate.  As I think back over my life and the example my parents have set for me...I just hope and pray that Justin and I set that same example for Emma & Evan.  Times haven't always been perfect and there have been many arguments but divorce was never an option.  They same was true for my grandparents.  They were married almost 60 years before my grandma died.  True love isn't finding the perfect person...it is finding some one who you can love regardless of their flaws!! In the almost 13 years, yes 13 years, that Justin and I have been together...we have grown and learned a lot about each other.  We went from dating and football games, to college, to being married, and to now having two precious babies of our own.  Life wasn't always easy when it was just us two...when we threw Emma & Evan into the picture...life really got fun! I wouldn't trade a minute of our life together though.  It has helped shape us into the people we have become and will only help us to grow closer in the future.  I look forward to spend many more years with Justin and just hope we can make it to 40 years ourself!!  Happy Anniversary to the best Mom & Dad ever...I love you both!!

PaPa and Emma!

Family photo!!

MaMa and Evan!

Amazed by the cook!

Family trip to Miyabi's!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

As the title hints...it's Christmas time around here!! Last Thursday...5 days before Christmas...we were hit by the lovely stomach bug!! Me & Evan were actually sick Thursday. Emma got sick one time Friday, and Justin woke up with a fever Saturday. We weren't able to make it to the Leopard family gathering because of all our sickness. We didn't get to go to church Sunday morning. We did go to Justin's mom's family gathering at the church for lunch and then back to our house to open gifts with Jason , Ashley, the kids, Dottie, & Mike. Emma & Evan got clothes, rocky horses that talk, and books! Emma at first was not a fan of the talking rocky horse...but here a few days later...she is warming up to it! I finally finished all my Christmas shopping Monday...Christmas Eve. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. Justin worked on Emma & Evan's swing set Christmas Eve too and thanks to the rain...it didn't get finished. Matt came to help. They got it all up except for the monkey bars. Emma & Evan didn't care though!! Katie got sick Christmas Eve night and wasn't able to have her normal Christmas morning brunch with Matt's family. I thought we were over our sickness but I am really hoping we didn't pass it on to Katie. Christmas morning, we got up and showed Emma & Evan their gifts. We also read the Christmas story and unwrapped the most important gift we will ever get...Baby Jesus. Justin left early to go fry the turkey at momma and daddy's. We got there about 1:00 ready to eat. Alison, Nick, & George were also there. Katie and Matt didn't come to eat. They came later for presents. Emma & Evan got new bookbags, more books, tricycles, savings bonds, and money for whatever Momma and Daddy think they could use. I think overall they had a wonderful 2nd Christmas. We are so thankful to be able to celebrate this wonderful time of the year with our precious little family!!

 

 

Emma & Evan's gifts from Santa!!

The letter Santa wrote!

Emma's ready to see if Santa came!

Evan's ready to see if Santa came!

 

They were checking out their stuff!

Talking about Baby Jesus and reading the Christmas story!

Momma and her sweet babies on Christmas!!

Emma & Evan's swing set minus the monkey bars!

Emma & Evan checking out their tricycles!

Gifts from MaMa, PaPa, Aunt Alison, & Aunt Katie!

 

A little bit of EVERYTHING...

I can't believe it has already been over a month since I blogged last.  Well, time is short these days! Let's start with Emma & Evan's birthday party!!  They probably won't remember any of it but I couldn't have asked for it to go any better.  Justin and Aaron put the tent up Friday night and we started decorating EARLY Saturday morning.  It was COLD and I was a little worried what we would do if it didn't warm up.  It did though...so no worries there.  Katie & Alison did all the food so that was one less thing for me to worry about.  We had all the tables set up and the wagon ready for the hayride.  Emma & Evan took naps right when I wanted them to...which was another answer to prayer!!  As soon as guest started arriving we started the hayride.  All the girls took the babies on the hayride instead of the guys like I had planned.  Oh well..we enjoyed it.  Then, it was time to eat & of course time for CAKE.  Neither baby would dig into the cake like most 1 year olds do...but after I put Evan's hands in his cake...he got the hang of it.  Emma was not a fan of having cake on her hands.  Then, it was present time.  They sat pretty still for me to open presents.  Evan reclined on his beanbag the whole time and played with a cellphone Anna Kayla gave him.  That was a great gift for both of babies considering they are obsessed with a cell phone.  The whole day was perfect and they are both so blessed to have so many people who love them.  After everyone left we cleaned up and headed home.  I knew as soon as got in the car they would both be knocked out...but no such luck.   They played and played when we got home.  It was lots of fun trying to figure out where to put all those toys!  

Next, we had our 12 month check up at the doctor's office.  The computers were down that day so I wasn't able to see how they had grown and what percentiles they were in.  Evan weighed 25lbs and was 30 inches long.  Emma weighed 21.8 lbs and was 29 1/2 inches long.  They are both doing great developmentally.  They are talking ALL the time and we can actually make out some of their words.  Evan can sing Deep & Wide, and they will both do the hand motions.  It is CUTE!!  Evan will give you sugar if you ask for it.  He will even give Emma sugar when she doesn't ask for it! :)  He loves her!!  They are pretty good listeners...Emma's much better than Evan.  Evan tends to listen when he wants too!  Typical BOY!!!  He loves being outside and Daddy has taught him to throw leaves.  Emma is still not a fan of dirt or touching the ground for that matter.  I don't blame her though...I'm not a fan of the outdoors either.  I have lots of plans for this girl that don't include dirt!!

Lastly, we went last week to meet Santa Claus for the first time.  I was so excited because everyone goes on and on about this Santa.  Well, the day was going just like I had planned.  We picked E&E up from school, took them home & fed them, and loaded them up in the car.  They both slept the whole way down there.  Evan woke up himself about 5 minutes before we got there.  Yay...another answer to prayers.  He isn't a happy camper when he is woken up!! We dressed them in the car and headed in for our picture time.  As soon as we hit the door Emma started clinging to me and crying if I attempted to put her down.  Not what you want when it is picture time.  Evan did EXCELLENT!!!  He LOVES to have his picture taken.  He wasn't afraid of Santa Claus and would sit in his lap.  Emma didn't do anything.  I even left the room hoping it would get better.  A few minutes later...Justin came outside hoping if we both left she would get alright.  Again...no such luck.  After we left she started clinging to the photographer and wouldn't let her put her down.  We ended up getting 2 pictures of them.  I had been telling people all along I just wanted one good picture of both of them.  Well...that's what I got.  One good picture.  Oh well...there is always next year.  At least I have one picture to remember this experience by!!

They are growing so quickly and becoming such independent little people.  We are venturing out by ourselves more.  I even took them both shopping with me this past Saturday.  Of course...I didn't try anything on.  With it being so easy to return things these days...we just by pass trying clothes on.  They do very good in restaurants.  Of course...we only go to loud ones in case they decide to scream...but they are easily entrtained by people walking by.  They are eating more and more table foods and have cut out formula.  I still add a little to their night bottles because I am NOT wasting what we have left...but once that's gone...NO more formula!!  Evan refuses to drink milk out of anything except his bottle.  He will drink water & tea out of his sippy cup fine...but not milk.  I try everyday and soon enough he will get over having to have the bottle.  I figure if this is the worst thing I face in life with him...I am doing good.  I can't believe we are fixing to celebrate their 2nd Christmas.  Santa got them a swing set for Christmas that Daddy is going to have lots of fun putting together. 

Momma and the birthday girl!!

Family photo!!  It was a little WINDY!!

Emma thinking "Momma...what is this on my hands???"

Evan offering Daddy some of his cake!

                                                   Momma and the birthday boy!!

Emma & Evan's little pumpkin cakes!!

The food table...courtesy of Katie & Alison!!

                                             Our one picture with Santa!!

Well...someone is awake from their nap...so blogging time is over!!  Until next time...