Giving Thanks ..Thanksgiving 2011..a little delayed

"Give thanks for the blessings already on their way"... Is a quote on my kitchen wall.  I bought this when we first moved into our  house.  For the several years I would stare at that sign and think "When are my blessings going to come?"  All I wanted was children.  Obviously there is a plan and only God can dtermine what it is.  At this time in my life I am so thankful for the struggles we went through because we would likely not have had twins.  Most people offer some type of condolence when they see my trucking through Target with the double stroller.  "Better you than me" is the most typical thought that comes out of people's mouths.  My response...."Yep". 
Here is my list of thanks....not all...too many blessings to count:
1.  My sons.  There are no words eloquent enough to express how much my life has changed beacuse of them.  Every day is a gift and every night I get sad that they are growing up too fast.  I love them as babies.  They make me want to be a better person every day. 
2.  My husband. He loves me and loves his sons...what more could a girl ask for?  He gets up every night and helps with the boys...not a lot of men can say that.
3.  My parents.  #1 would not be possible if it was not for you.  Your love and support and assistance in the entire process was amazing and selfless.  My children are a gift from God, via Mom and Dad.  You are my role models and inspiration in parenting.
4.  Coastal Carolina University.  Hmm??? Why?  Well, they gave Paul a job which brought him back to the east coast and closer to us.  Since they moved back in March we have seen them so much, but still not enough.  They have road tripped here, and we have traveled out there.  It is so nice to be able to watch my handsome nephew grow and to get closer with my sister in law.  I am so excited for the arrival of their little boy...just wish I knew his name. There have been no less than 7 road trips between us, which means they boys have all spent TONS of quality time together.
5.  Church.  While the Catholic Church gets a bad rap in the south, I am so thankful to be a member of St. Michael's.  Mass on Sunday is great, the boys enjoy it (for now) and I feel good every time I go.  I think the routine of going and the lessons learned will help my boys grow to be great men.  Additionally, after I had the boys, the meals ministry at my church provided us with a month's worth of dinners. Total strangers from the church coordinated the meal calendar, delivered them to our house (which is 25 minutes from the church) and gave us delicious and complete meals....salads, bread, entree, desserts, wine, and many baby gifts.  It was such a blessing to have so many meals cooked.  Mom was already back to her house and had her own dinners to cook...this really helped out since there was no way I was able to cook for me and Scott at that point.  I could barely get out to get the mail on a good day so cooking...no way.
6.  Family....while my NY family wasn't able to be here on a daily basis, many of them came down for the Christening and the calls/emails/texts of support are always encouraging.
7.  Friends. Laura Hurter.....came by many times this summer, with lunch for me, allowed me to get some rest while she hung out with the boys, changed diapers, spent the night to help with night duty so Scott could rest.

Not even sure where to start....began this one on November 15th, 2011....yikes!

Despite by best intentions, I have not been able to post on here in a LOOOONG time.  My life is so busy these days and there doesn't ever seem to be any down time.  Up at 4:30 or 5:00, shower, dress, get ready for work, nurse the boys, hang out with them, and out of the house at 7.  Work until 5, pick them up from mom's, home at 6:15.  Feed them dinner, eat dinner ourselves, entertain the boys, bath at 7:30, nurse them by 8, in bed by 9.   That is my typical Monday - Friday routine.  Saturday and Sunday's are a little different, but still up by 5, shower and dress, hang with the boys, Scott off to the gym, feed the boys, laundry, clean the house, grocery store, errands, lunch, naps, get dinner ready, college football, play with the boys, dinner, bath, nurse, bed, and bed by 10.  Up at 5, get ready for church, 9am mass, home by 10:30 or 11, begin  making baby food, finish laundry and cleaning, naps, lunch, playtime, naps, dinner, play, bath, nurse.

So, using the computer isn't really in my schedule. When I do sit down to use the computer, TJ is clawing at it, trying to use it for himself. 

What are the boys up to??? 
September...beach trip with Nana and Pop Hogan to visit Uncle Paul, Aunt Alli, Decky, and No Name Hogan.  The boys did great on the ride, loved the water, loved their cousin...great trip.  I am so thankful that Paul got a job that brought him close to home.  I love the 6 hour drive and the ability to see them more regularly.
October....first flight...trip to NY to visit the Heckelman's, Hogan's, and Crescenzo's.  It was a great time.  The boys did GREAT on the flight, just a little meltdown due to being wayyyy over tired.  We had so much fun...Aunt Margaret's 30th birthday party, hanging with all of their cousins, and seeing all of my family.  I haven't been to NY in 3 years, so it was long overdue.
Halloween....too cute.  TJ was dressed as a monkey because he is crazy like a monkey and Matthew we dressed as a cow because his nickname is "Matty Moo".  They were adorable and we had a great time with Nana and Pop.
November - November first, Matthew's 1st tooth appeared and TJ followed 2 days later with his.  Less than a week later each of them had the other bottom tooth in as well.  It was a rough couple of weeks though.  Two teething babies coupled with Daylight Savigings....yikes...they were up at 4:30 daily ready to party.  For two weeks Scott and I averaged about 2 hours of sleep per night.  It was so pitiful watching these two.  They were in such pain, and there was nothing I could do about it.  Tylenol helped, but not enough.  They are now through the worst of it....until the next bunch  start coming in.

Matthew 7 Months

TJ 7 months

For my birthday the boys came to school to have lunch with me, which was awesome and then we went out to dinner that night. The boys were great in the restaurant..they love flirting with the ladies and smiling at everyone they meet.

A little bit about my boys July 2012 15 months

The boys are now 15 months old and I am terrible for not posting since September, almost a year ago.  I have missed posting important moments of the past year, but I have instead spent my time loving my boys, playing, singing, dancing, feeding, bathing, sleeping, and teaching my brilliant and beautiful boys.   Am I that Mom that thinks her kids are amazing...you betcha!  A little review...

TJ:

15 month stats:

height: 31.5 inches

weight: 26 lb 10 oz

talking:  10 months (first word Mama) Mama, Dada, Maa Moo (Matthew), Raa Raa (Roger), ball, bay-ball (baseball), baa-ball (basketball), oofff (barking), meow, moo, Nana, Pop

Walking: February (10 months)

Teeth - 1st - November 1, the other bottom an top 2 - by January, the other top two, March, the other front bottom teeth - July 12..along with 4 molars- 6 teeth in one week, and we were on a plane to NY.

What a trooper.

Funny things:

Loves baseball....when he is crusty or can't sleep we turn on a baseball game and he immediately calms down..He watched (and i mean carefully watched) a UNC baseball game in person at Carolina in March and then watched 5 innings of their playoff game (My student was pitching) with Pop on the couch until he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.  TJ loves golf - watches the majors with Daddy and/or Pop and practices his swing.  He walks around all day swinging his baseball bat or his golf club.  Can we say obsessed?  TJ also loves to dance.  We often turn up the music and dance before and after dinner...current favorite song "Call Me Maybe".  He goes crazy.  TJ loves to climb. I had to take the furniture off of the back deck as he was climbing on it trying to climb out of the deck. Scary.

Matthew:
Height:  31.5 inches
Weight:  26.8 oz
Talking:  10 months - Mama, Moo, Woof....that's about all then around 12 months..."Jay" for TJ and Daaaa For dad.  He can say Nana and Pop.  Matthew can do baby sign language for Please and More.
Walking: 10.5 months..he tends to do things a little bit after TJ...watching and learning.
Teeth:  1st tooth cam in on Halloween (bottom right) with the bottom left 3 days later.  The boys were completely in sync with each other on the teething.  Top teeth were in before his first birthday.  Molars came in July 2012.  He took teething completely in stride.
Funny things:
Matthew is hilarious without even trying to be funny.  I could sit around all day and watch him.  He has been "spinning" since March....He stands in living room, bottle in his mouth, spinning in circles until he falls.  Matthew LOVES music and loves to dance.  The second a song he likes comes on his butt starts moving.  He can "drop it like its hot", back it up, and do his dancey dance...these are all of his special moves.  He loves to climb, can't stand to watch his brother take a nap, loves to poke Roger and adores his trucks.  He loves to touch trucks and wheels...basically anything with an engine and gets super excited when he sees a truck in the parking lot.

Matthew and TJ July 2012 - hanging out in Roger's bed

This lasted approximately 30 seconds before they both thought their "snack table" would make a great surface for dancing.  It was promptly removed from the living room.

TJ enjoying a little sun this summer....very happy little guy.

Matthew loves to be naked....beginning his stripping career early.

These boys continue to light up my life and make me laugh on a daily basis.  They love to fight with each other and play near each other...not quite playing with each other yet!!