playing catch-up

So this post is HUGE because I am putting pictures from most of January on here! We have already had a busy 2009 and thankfully, right now, everyone is well--well almost everyone--Zuzu has a hurt paw after boarding for the weekend while we were in Disney. We don't know what happened, but the vet looked at her today and said we'll watch her for a day or so and see if she improves--poor puppy! Anyway, on a much more important note, my best friend Jamie delivered a healthy boy today--James Norman--7 lbs, 3 oz! I CANNOT wait to see pictures of him! I will be visiting her in March in NY. Alrighty, here are the pictures you've been waiiting to see! Enjoy! Ty one morning hanging out in his pjs...

the babies try out the lanudry basket...

ready for the crawling race...

Lily one morning with her Hello Kitty umbrella and cinderella costume--a complete outfit if you ask me :)

the twins in their "baby pit" which they escape from many, many times a day!

this photo is out of order since we just went to Disney, but I goofed during the upload... this was the twins first visit to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and they LOVED it!

at GG and Gran's house for "Christmas" with them around New Year's--Lily found a shower cap and couldn't resist!

then she convinced Gran and Ty to join in on the fun...

this is a good look for him...

Daddy peeking out from the princess tent from GG and Gran after we assembled it...

and Mommy peeking out from the teepee for Ty--also from GG and Gran...

James discovered and greatly enjoyed crawling in both new dwellings...

the brothers together...

camel rides...

Hello Kitty sheets!

Spiderman Sheets!

Lily waiting for her cake to "cook" in this Disney Princess oven that cooks with ice--don't ask me how...

still waiting...

Ty and his playdoh octopus...

Lily on the playground in Jacksonville...

Ty and Gran having fun...

don't let go!

Ty driving a bumper car in Ollie Koala's Backyard in Jax--he LOVED this!!

Lily driving hers...

the babies in Mimi's office in their pen--confined and loving it!

a night out for Mommy and Daddy...Happy 11 year anniversary to us! (dating, not wedding)

Daddy with Miss Supermodel :)

Here's the fam at Disney on Saturday--I think the whole Super Bowl crowd was there--but they cleared out on Suday and we had EPCOT to ourselves!

Mommy and Daddy, James and Isabella in front of the castle--they soaked up Disney like a sponge!

Daddy and James...

we ate lunch n the Crystal Palace with the Winnie the Pooh characters and the big kids had a ball--the babies not so much...

Mimi with Miss Isabella...

not loving Tigger...

also not loving Tigger...

okay maybe he's not SO bad...

the makeshift baby pit at the hotel...

Peter Pan hats for the kids to feed their obsession...

Mimi and sunburned Isabella at breakfast...

and pink-cheeked James...

Poppy and the kids with their Mickey and Minnie sunglasses...

in Mexico having some musical fun!

even Sheepy got in on the fun...

the twins not sure about their feelings on EPCOT...

for those of you who know me well, this little stand was calling me from afar...

playing the drums in Morocco...

saying hello to the donkey...

a quick story about Ty--we happened to meet a little girl (Sara) and her family--Sara is a BEAUTIFUL little girl and is a tri-lateral amputee (both hands and her left foot) and we really enjoyed talking with her and her family. Sara is 6 and Ty was the first child she had ever met who was an amputee like her. Ty was also enamored with her and began showing off for her--it was so cute to see. They were both having a good time looking at one another and playing. A very cool divine appointment!

I think that just about does it for January--cheers!

I should quit promising to post pictures because inevitably I always have to apologize for being tardy! Anyway, a quick story--Lily and I were watching The History Channel last night before she went to bed and there was a show about past presidents. She asked if all those guys were all not living any more and I said yes. My little old soul likes to talk about Heaven and she's also the connoisseur of teeny tiny things. She started asking what Heaven looked like and I told her that Jesus would be there and the streets were made of gold and there will be a crystal sea. She then asked what crystals were and I was reaching for a description...diamonds, shiny little ummm...like sequins. Her eyes lit up and she asks, "can we pick the sequins?" Ever the treasure collector, my Lily is excited about Heaven because it's full of sequins! She then told me that "It will be so fun exploring the whole world in Heaven with Jesus..." I couldn't agree more...

a quick note...

So Isabella is now crawling in earnest! She crawls like she's always known how--I think she has for a few weeks but has been content to just sit and watch her brother! James has pink eye and also has another tooth! He also pulled to standing yesterday all by himself--oh man, does that mean that he'll walk soon??? Oh dear!! I have a UTI and feel awful--it's my first one and I'm glad I've dodged them for 32 years! I have also now lost 5.4 pounds on weight watchers!! Buh-bye baby weight! I will post pix tomorrow---cheers!

A cold day in Florida!

It was freezing when we woke up today--a nice change from the pseudo-winter we've been having! I actually made it to the gym today for the first time since the twins were born! I also started weight watchers about 2 weeks ago--I've already lost over 4 pounds! The kiddos were home with one of our new sitters, May, and had a good time this morning. I snapped a few pix from where I was standing in the kitchen--the kids like these down days and so do I! here's Ty telling me he's going to make a mean face--and then as promised, he did (although his mean face is pretty cute...)

Here's Miss Isabella eating her cheerios--she's quite skilled at picking them up with her pinchers! AND...her ear infection is GONE!! we had her checked 2 days ago and her ears were clear--praise God!

here's Mr. Jamesy on the move--he covers a lot of territory in one day!

the twins were being so cute in the discovery dome--they played in there together for quite a while--they now make each other laugh and smile--it is the coolest dynamic to watch!

Happy New Year...

I had meant to post sooner than this into the new year, but again, life got in the way! I am also having some computer issues right now so I will have to post more pictures later. Anyway, the twins are now 10 months old and James us crawling in earnest. He gets into EVERYTHING!! He also likes to stand holding onto something and will stay there indefinitely. Isabella is close to crawling, but she still rolls to get everywhere. Where James has been blossoming physically, Bella has been much more interested in books and she has now said, "Zuzu." She still laughs at everything--she's almost always happy! Even though she has had and ear infection that won't go away since October! They are both so much fun at this age and even though they still require so much attention (physically), they give back so much joy. James constantly makes a beeline for the shoe cubby by our front door to chew on a pair of crocs--I guess they are nice and squishy. But he gets determined and no matter how many times I move him--and no matter how far away I move him, he'll be back at the cubby gnawing on some shoes.

As for Ty and Lily, both are doing great! Ty is potty trained--and I mean no more accidents during the day period! He is still wearing a pull-up at night, but he heads straight for the potty in the morning instead of just going in his pull-up. I am amazed at how well he took to the whole process and we decided not to pester him about going--I told him if he needs to go to come and tell me--and he does! Amazing! We had a quick visit down to my folks' house while Todd was away for a quick business trip so here are some pix from The Bubble Room--my all-time favorite restaurant!

Ty says he doesn't need a nap anymore...hmmmm