Eight Months of Twinsies

Today Maddie and Rachel are EIGHT MONTHS OLD!

How are they already 8 months??

Goodness. Stop growing already, girlies!

Not really though. These girls steal our hearts more and more each day.

 {Maddie is holding Rachel on the couch because Rachie sure wanted to crawl right off it! hehe}

Those numbers made it about 2 minutes before the girls began ripping them off!

my Aunt Sylvia made them these cute dresses!

Maddie is a speedy little crawler and spends the majority of her days standing along the couch and going up down up down. ;) She loves Emma, dinner time (fruit is her favorite, but she's not too picky!), being tickled, and climbing up me. She has the best hearty laugh, and doesn't hand it out easily, but if you can get her to laugh, it's priceless. Daddy can get her to laugh better than most by pretty much doing anything. :) She loves playing with her rings {and banging them along Luigi's cage...yikes!}, her leap frog table, and currently her carseat. Oh, and she loves puffs. Her baby einstein singing toy calms her down every time {miracle toy, seriously}. She is climbing everywhere and stands up for everything... diaper changes, baths... she keeps me busy! She rediscovered her tongue so enjoys sticking it out! Oh and of course she adores her sister. Most nap times, I find her standing talking to/watching Rachel and am constantly having to lie her down. Maddie is full of joy and spunk, and I love watching her grow and discover the world and what she likes. 

Rachel has become quite the dancer. While Maddie stands and kneels, Rachel dances... constantly! She dances on cue, whenever music comes on, when she likes what she's eating {hello puffs!}, and whenever else she feels like it, which is often. She also makes quite the scrunchy face and pulls it out of her hat often when frustrated, but also when she wants a laugh. She has such a strong little voice and is starting to really put sounds together to make more of a language with her words. When she talks, it makes sense. And she says "mom mom mom mom"... pretty much adorable. She loves kisses and being with Maddie. Current favorite toys include her stacking cups, leap frog table, and her carseat. Oh, she also loves puffs. {those things are like candy to them! amazing little crackers}. She has the sweetest laugh and her smile is priceless. She especially loves to smile at Daddy and laugh when he dances for her. She loves music and playing piano with Daddy. Rachel is so content and happy, and I am enjoying watching her explore the world alongside Maddie.

 {watching Daddy!}

I Will Declare Your Greatness

Tonight, as I was reading, I came across this passage:

"On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness."

{Psalm 145:5-7}

And I began to wonder how much I actually declare His greatness.

I sat and began thinking about how God has shown me His greatness in huge ways, just today.

My husband went out for a late dinner with a good friend. Thankful for friendship.

I have an amazing family who brings me Starbucks, picks up prescriptions for me, helps me put my babies to bed when daddy can't, snuggles my babies and hangs out with me. {among other things.}

My daughters are the cutest little girls I've ever seen {not that I'm biased...} and have the sweetest little hearts. I love love love watching them grow and learn, play and laugh.

I have great friends who I can text/email/call at any time. And who do the same with me.

My babies are sleeping soundly right now in their beds. They are perfect little sleepers. Today was a good sleeping day for them, which is a huge success for us all!

And in a thousand little ways.

Sprouts in our little garden.

Clean happy puppies after late night baths.

Sprinkler sessions at 1830 and 1900, signaling bath time.

Being able to print two photos on one paper on my amazing little photo printer.

Two baby books almost caught up.

Coffee with cinnamon vanilla creamer and vanilla ice cream.

Birthday cake pops with mom.

Pharmacists who can find your prescription.

Rachel's laughter.

Maddie's scrunched nose when she grins.

Luigi's sweet little whistle echoing any and every beep in the house.

Emma and Baker's excitement.

J's face when he sees his girls when he gets home from work.

Vacuumed carpets and air conditioning.

But even if today was a terrible day, 

God would still be Great.

Today and every day,

God is Majestic.

He is Awesome.

His deeds are Wondrous.

God is Great.

God is Good.

God is Righteous.

Lord, may I always remember to declare your greatness.

All About Rachel: 14 weeks

she is talking up a storm!!! (even with hiccups!)

she likes to do sit-ups and practice standing

she loves to look at, smile at, and hold hands with Maddie

she is such a content baby to play on her playmat on her own or with others

she is in a mommy mood and is being a bit picky about who gets to hold her, which started when she got sick for the first time this past month.

she went swimming for the first time in Grandma's pool and liked it! she never cried!

she has laughed a few times and it is oh so cute!

she smiles a ton!

she clasps her hands together tightly and brings her hands to her mouth often [I often have to break her grip to feed her!]

she's got the strongest little head and neck and is rocking tummy time!

she is so affirming of Maddie! "we can do this sissy!"

she loves her other twin, daddy!

she still loves her swing and has started snuggling with her blanket/stuffed animals sometimes when she's sleepy... love her sweet spirit

She got to visit her bouncer toy for the first time... she pretty much hung out like this the whole time. i was cracking up - she is so tiny for it!

Rachel has my heart.

I'll take your hand, Sissy

This hand holding started this month, especially over the last week.

It happens almost every time they are next to each other.

And it's the sweetest thing in the world.