Personaility Profile

Abby and Natalie definately have their own little personalities. For the most part, they are very much alike. They are both very happy and love to play with their toys. They are both rather friendly. They may be a bit shy at first, but they warm up quickly and will soon crawl over you if you get down at their level. They both will also whine and cry a little when they don't get something they want or if you take something away. Little tantrums - they are kind-of cute on a 15 month old. I know the charm will be lost soon:-)

Their differences are few, but mark them as unique. Abby is by far the more aggressive. She swipes toys from Natalie and gets pretty mad if you take them from her. She will also push Natalie out of the way to get what she wants - whether it's a toy, mommy's cup or even mommy or daddy. Abby tends to be the leader - trying most things first. Natalie usually tries to copy her. For instance, if Abby starts blowing bubbles and vibrating her lips during meals, Natalie promptly starts blowing bubbles too resulting in the expulsion of whatever food they are eating. Despite her strong willed-ness, Abby is also very, very lovable and fun. She laughs easily and flashes the biggest smiles that just light up her face. She can be cuddly too. She will crawl over to me, crawl into my lap, and lay her head on my shoulder. It melts my heart.

Natalie is the sweet one. She is gentle and hangs back a little. She has just the sweetest little smile and seems to kind of peek out from under her eyelashes when she does it. She loves to clap and will do so at the slightest excited "yea Nat!". She also loves to bop. Whenever she hears music, she starts bopping up and down with a huge grin. Although, she often acquiesces to Abby's pushiness, she is learning to fight back - or at least how to evade and defend whatever toy she has.

Natalie is generally the better sleeper. She rarely cries much after going down for the night. I think it just goes with her more easy-going personality. Natalie can also be cuddly. She will crawl into my lap and just hang out there. She also loves cuddling with daddy in the big chair. Recently, Natalie has been more than thrilled with herself for learning how to walk. She will take off, walk several feet, and if she falls, she laughs. She practices a lot - walking from the ottoman to the couch or from the couch across the room. She is just so delighted with herself.

Both girls are really very good-natured. They rarely cry or fuss just for the sake of fussing. If they can't have something they want, they do get mad, but while they are playing, they are just so happy. They delight in the smallest things: diapers to play with; the little rocking chair they crawl into and try to rock; and two days ago, empty plastic pull-out drawers that could climb in and on top of. They played with these forever yesterday.

When they wake up from their naps or in the morning, they are almost always very happy. They babble and play in their cribs for quite a while before they begin to fuss to get out. (I love this by the way - I get extra night-time sleep and extra nap time!). Sometimes I find them standing at the end of their cribs within inches of each other (their cribs are end-to-end). Their beds are full of toys, stuffed animals, and a few books so they are quite happy. Natalie has taken to throwing things out of her crib though. I guess that's the cue that she ready to get up:-)

Natalie and Abby actually do play with each - not counting stealing toys from each other. Sometimes they crawl on each other and break out in laughter. They try to grab each other's faces and give each other slobbery french kisses. Somehow they find it very funny.

They also watch each other and copy each other. They like to touch hands when they are sitting next to each other in their feeding chairs. They will laugh and smile at each other, and if one starts to laugh, it can start a giggle fest.

Natalie and Abby are really the most amazing kids, although I may be a little biased. Having twins is so much fun. I feel kind-of sorry for singleton parents:-) You guys are missing out on so much! I know we are really lucky to have such wonderful babies - especially when it comes to personality and sleeping. With all the joy they bring, I can't imagine life without them.

Walking Wonders - The Proof!

Check out Natalie and Abby walking! Aren't they the cutest things ever?? The amazing thing is this video is old now. We took it Monday and already they are walking almost twice as far. Yesterday, Abby even walked towards me, turned around, and walked towards Lindsey (our ST). It was incredible.

They have also figured out that walking can be used as a mode of transportation. Now, instead of automatically dropping to their knees, they will try to walk a few steps first. They can also go from squatting straight to standing up. I can't even do that.

Enjoy the video!

Mommy's weekend out

Ben is the greatest husband ever! He took the girls to his parents house for the whole weekend - well, at least from about 5pm Friday until about 1 or 2pm tomorrow.

Mommy is having a great time. I've been working on a photo book for the girls and catching up on all my Gilmore Girls episodes. I usually watch them at night while feeding the girls, but I've been watching the Olympics instead.

I have been somewhat domestically useful. I cleaned the kitchen including scrubbing the stove top pans and the area underneath them. I also folded all the clothes that have been on the guest bed for a week. Now, if I can just manage to put them away.

I love Mommy weekends. There's just never enough time to do what I WANT to do and what I SHOULD do - like clean the bathrooms and work on the yard. I wish I had a week. Maybe when the girls get older I can have a week. They can go to grandma's and mommy and daddy can have a grand ole' time.

I do miss my girls. I'll be happy to see them and play with them tomorrow. I should have plenty of time. Ben declares he's going straight to bed as soon as he gets home:-)

Thanks, honey - I love you!

10,000 calories - (Olympic spoilers ahead)

8-10,000 calories. That's how many calories USA Olympic Swimming Champion Michael Phelps gets to eat - in ONE DAY 10,000 calories!!! Can you imagine? I want to be Michael Phelps. Of course, then I'd also have to swim like 10 miles a day. That might not be as much fun. Michael said he actually has a hard time eating that many calories. Can you imagine...having to eat so much you can't eat enough - even when you are eating burgers, fries, eggs with cheese, pizza, Chinese food - pretty much anything you want. Wow.

Have you seen Michael swim? If you haven't, you have really missed a show. He is absolutely amazing. It's like watching a miracle take place. He can be in third place, and in the last turn and the last 50 meters, he can pull ahead an entire body length. It's unbelievable. If you haven't seen him swim, I highly recommend you try to find someone who has a race recorded and watch it. It just makes you proud to be an American.

Speaking of Americans, how 'bout our gymnasts. Bronze for our men and Silver for the women. And, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson grabbed the gold and silver in the All Around competition. Go USA!!

As you can tell, I'm an Olympic junkie. I love the Olympics. I look forward to them every year - well every two years:-) Despite the vagrant human rights issues and the terrible smog (poor track and field and outdoor athletics), China has done a beautiful job. The event locations are gorgeous. The "Water Cube" is especially spectacular.

It's still a bit confusing to me how China ever procured the Olympics. And despite their extensive building projects and welcoming language, it sounds as if they made actually entering the country complicated. I guess the true success of these games will be measured in the future by whether or not the eyes and influences of the world community are able to have any effect on the politics and policies of China. We can only hope.

For now, go team USA!!

Walking Wonders

Natalie and Abby are amazing. Once they figure something out, they just go at it until they've got it.

They've been taking two or three steps for a couple of weeks. Yesterday, though, it clicked. All of a sudden they are taken 4,5 or 6 steps. They area also trying to go from one apparatus (sorry, I've been watching too much gymnastics) to another without holding on. It's really something to watch.

They are so pleased with themselves too. Natalie is especially funny. She will take several steps, fall on her face, and then laugh hysterically. I've been trying to catch it on video, but she hasn't cooperated yet. I'm going to keep trying.

I just can't believe they are walking. I know I predicted they would walk by their adjusted age birthday (Aug 20 - original due date), but still, I can hardly believe it. They are nearly toddlers. They will soon be toddling around. Toddling.

It makes me a little sad that they are growing up so fast, but it's gone to be so cute to see them going up and down the hallway. Then, they will start chasing each other. It's going to be adorable.

I have some video that I will post when I am on my computer (currently on the laptop). Stay tuned:-)

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...A Very Good Place to Start

Don't worry, we aren't going back to the VERY beginning, just a month or so.

We travel back in time to July and our many fun adventures...

July 6th

Ingram - Vernon Hill, VA
Poppy, Natalie, Harriett, Mommy and Abby

We took a Sunday morning to join my dad and Peggy at Ingram Christian Church. Many, many moons ago (when I was 9-11), my dad served two little churches in Vernon Hill. Some of the people at Ingram remained close friends of my dad's. Fifteen years ago, when my dad really needed them, they were there for him in a way no one else was. He began preaching there again twice a month. When he took his church in Luray, he and Peggy continued to travel to Ingram about once a month. Their trips are more infrequent now as their lives are busier and the dear congregants at Ingram grow older and more frail. Now they have services every few months and for special occasions.

The congregation at Ingram is very dear. With their matriarch, Harriett, at 97ish years strong, they embody the verse "where two or more are gathered in His name", God shall be in the midst of them. Sometimes, there are only two or three. These precious people have been so kind to our family throughout the years and they have followed and prayed for Natalie and Abigail and longed to see them. We were so happy to be able to take Natalie and Abby to visit them.

We arrived at the end of the service and were able to say hello to a number of people. We then joined Harriett at her daughter, Nancy's, house for a lovely lunch. It was so wonderful to visit with old friends. Natalie and Abby also discovered the joy of banging on a glass door.
Just for the record, I did offer to clean off the fingerprints.

The trip was short, but it was so good to see a place I called home for three years. I have a lot of good memories of Ingram: singing for the church (usually after being asked ON THE WAY to church); drinking the leftover grape juice after Communion (a PK perk); standing on the large grill-like heaters and making our skirts and dresses flare out; trying to read books during church and getting caught; helping light the candles as an acolyte; running around and playing in the church yard.

We were grateful to spend the day with Poppy, Nanny and the folks at Ingram. We are even more grateful for their support and prayers of our family. They have truly been a blessing.


July 19th - more long, lost friends


I guess July was the month to reconnect. July 19th we traveled to Greenville, NC to visit some more old friends, Nicole and Kevin and their little boy, Lucas. As a special treat, Nicole's parents, Jerry and Gayle, were also there. Our families go waaaaay back. Jerry and Gayle were in my parents wedding - 40 years ago. My mom and Gayle were pregnant with Nicole and I at the same time (I'm a month older). Together with Guye, their son 2 years older, and my sister, 2 years younger than me, we had so much fun together. We used to play tag around their house in Burlington. I also seem to remember an annual watching of The Wizard of Oz. We also got together nearly every New Year's Eve to ring in the new year. We kids would congregate in Kim's bedroom(the biggest and best complete with TV, VCR and bathroom), while the grown-ups toasted in the New Year.

It had been a long time since we had seen each other, however. Nicole and Gayle were at our wedding nearly 6.5 years ago, but it had been even longer since I'd sen Jerry or Kevin. Our first meeting with Lucas had just been at the girl's birthday party, but with all the chaos, we barely had time to say hello.

We had so much fun hanging out with everyone and sharing some Lexington BBQ. Lucas was also a very good sharer and pretty good about Natalie and Abby taking over his toys!

July was definately a month for catching up with old friends. My goal now is to not let so many months and years go by until we see our friends again and also reconnect with other friends we haven't seen in a while.

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I don't think I'm quite done with July, but it is getting late. Stay tuned for more news. I promise it won't be so long this time. I have a lot of catching up to do:)

I'm Baaaack!

I have been a very delinquent blogger. Bad Mommy, Bad, Bad, Bad Mommy. I've kept all our adoring fans on pins and needles. Actually, I know what that is like. There are a number of blogs (of other preemies) that I check almost daily. I hate it when there are no updates.

There's a reason why I am so behind. If you know me, you'll laugh. I'm actually very particular about my blogging. A perfectionist, if you will. I spend a great deal of time (well, a few minutes) thinking of just the right title. As in all writing, that's the hardest part. Then, I want to make sure I have the perfect pictures. Pictures have actually been my downfall. What happens is I go in to label and pick pictures and end up spending hours doing that. By the time I'm done, it's late, or my little wrists are tired and suitable only for surfing. Then there are the times I have so much to blog about that I know it will take forever and I don't feel like typing that long. So, between a mix of perfectionism and laziness - I'm behind.

I have much to report. The girls have been very busy traveling, seeing people, and doing all kinds of fun new things. I will try to touch on all our adventures so grab the popcorn, a coke, and let the show begin!!