10 Months...Three Weeks Too Late

One day. One day, I will post monthly updates on time. I'm learning, though, to give myself grace in ALL (okay, most) areas of motherhood. 

This past month was full of growing and changing. And I still cannot get over the fact that we are planning a first birthday party...

Both James and Mattie Rose have two teeth. The bottom front ones. It's so strange to look at them and not see those big gummy smiles, but something about those little pearly whites gets me to :) We now brush our teeth during bath time, and they fight over who gets the toothbrush first. 

Bath time is still our favorite part of the day. Right after dinner, I get them out of their high chairs, and it's like two little ducklings following their mama duck. They know exactly where to go! They could play in the tub for hours if I'd let them and if the water stayed warm :) If you haven't seen the recent bath time video I posted on Facebook, I highly recommend taking a look at it. It's pretty stinkin' cute. 

Both James and Mattie Rose are crawling all over the place. They figured it out and figured it out fast. So much so that we ended up investing in a gate for our living room. The room is really spacious so it's more than enough room for them to play in, but they were wearing me out taking off to other parts of the house in two separate directions. And I say invested, because the entryway into our living room is 70 inches wide, so we had to buy a ridiculous amount of extension pieces. But it's up, they are happy, and mommy is happy!

They both are able to pull to a standing position, but have yet to cruise or let go. It amazes to watch them just figure things out. Mattie Rose is learning to climb. She loves climbing on and off of Jake's dog bed, and today, I caught her trying to climb onto the fireplace. Ay yi yi! They play really well together, but after a while enjoy their own little world within the living room. 

We LOVE to eat! Just like Mommy and Daddy. They are not very picky and will typically eat whatever I put on their high chair tray. Some of our favorites are grilled cheese sandwiches, bananas, carrots, green beans, scrambled eggs, strawberries, string cheese, and chicken. Any Gerber product of any kind is a big hit as well (puffs, cookies, cheese straws, etc.). 

Any time spent outside is time well spent. James and Mattie Rose love to go to the park and swing. And walks around the neighborhood in the BOB are fun too! 

This past month has been a rather healthy one. Though James has his third double ear infection, you'd never know it. Our pediatrician has referred us to an ENT who we will see next week. A little nerve-racking but I know it's for the best for his poor little ears. 

Enjoy a few pictures!

{look at those teeth!}

{such a happy boy}

{our new thing - that tongue is always sticking out of his mouth}

{looking a little concerned}

{what, mom?}

{my best girlfriend}

{little stinker}

{cracking up at her brother i'm sure}

{getting so big}

{mattie rose and her toes}

{daddy was working really hard behind the camera to keep their attention}

{best buds}

{gosh i just love them so...}

{mattie rose practicing her heel stretch}

{and now she's got it}

{does it get any cuter? i think not.}

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!!

Holy Week

This past week has been one full of family, tradition, remembrance, and celebration.

Gigi and Poppy (my dad's parents) came to visit for six days. I loved it! The babies loved it! And I am pretty sure Gigi and Poppy loved it!

Monday night, we celebrated Passover with a not-so-traditional Seder dinner. My dad's side of the family is Jewish, and I grew up celebrating several holidays a year with Gigi and Poppy. So it was neat to share Passover with them and to introduce James and Mattie Rose to it. It was also neat to be able to share with them how Passover translates into our faith as Christians. And I am so grateful that there is always mutual respect for differences within our family.

{table is set}

{this china belonged to my great-grandmother Rose, Poppy's mom, who Mattie Rose is named after}

{daddy and daughter}

{james and our poppy}

{lots of laughs}

{"oooo poppy, give those glasses"}

{have you ever seen anything cuter than a baby boy in a yamaka?}

{i mean, i think not...}

{sweetness was tired}

{poppy, james, and gigi}

{poppy, mattie rose, and gigi}

{poppy reading from the haggadah}

{kyle following along}

{seder plate with a missing shank bone}

{she's a genius}

{matzo ball soup - poppy told me they were the best matzo balls he's ever had ;)}

{mattie rose was a fan!}

{james was too!}

(the first time i made matzo ball soup for kyle, he got up and walked away from the table. i am proud of him for trying again, and this time, he ate it all!}

{gigi and poppy with their favorite grandchild - sorry kim, rach, nik, sara, ash, alex, julie, and kyle. truth hurts sometimes :) }

{team mcshan}

{gigi, kyle, and poppy}

{this melts my heart}

Saturday morning we headed to church for an Easter egg hunt. The hunt was originally supposed to be at someone's house, but it rained non-stop last week, so they moved it to the church gym. Not as "pretty" but still full of fun and fellowship! 

{i can't believe how big they are getting}

{happy men}

{my girl}

{she was all about that purple egg}

{crawling all over the place}

{gosh, i could just eat her up}

{my chill little man}

{we have lots of friends to look out for us}

{and who love to share with us. or let us take from them :) }

{everything in the mouth. still no teeth.}

{my crew. couldn't love anyone else more than i do them.}

Sunday morning the babies got to tear into their Easter baskets, but not before trying to snap a quick pick. Big thanks to Carrie at Ella Minnow Pea for hooking us up with awesome goodies! If anyone is near the Kingston area and needing a gift for a baby/child, stop in and check her adorable store out! I can do some damage in there!

{they could not sit still}

{my little man}

{team mcshan}

{stinkers}

After church, we had a delicious lunch at Kyle's parents house followed by a house-wide napping session. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter resting in the Good News that God loves the world so much that He sacrificed His only Son, so that we may never have to experience the full weight of our own sin, and can be reconciled to Him. There is no act of love greater!