Florida Trip 2017

     We had so much fun in Florida this year!  We rented a house for the week on the beach in Melbourne, FL and let me tell you we are already planning our trip back!  Melbourne, FL is an hour away from Orlando so we had several beach days but took full advantage of Disney World too. 

      It was a trip full of "firsts" for Audrey and Abigail.  They took their first plane ride and did unbelievably well on it I might add.  I was so afraid we were going to be "that" family with the screaming kids on the plane but our girls were unbelievably well behaved.  It was also Audrey and Abigail's first visit to the beach.  The beach house we stayed at was literally a few feet from the beach which made it so nice!  The girls absolutely LOVED building sand castles, collecting sea shells, and of course swimming in the ocean.  And it was their first trip to Disney World.  We were able to visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot while we were in Florida.  We want to go back again though because it is impossible to see everything in a few days time.  This was such a memorable trip and we can't wait to go again!

Melbourne Beach

Magic Kingdom

Airboat Ride in Melbourne, FL

     The last day that we were in Melbourne we got the chance to go on an airboat ride and look for alligators.  This was a very cool experience.  We saw so many alligators and the ride was a lot of fun too! 

Until next time,

XOXO
Rachel

Just A Swinging...

Last year Josh and I got the girls a playground that Josh ended up spending an entire day putting together.  Granted he had the best helper available...that would be me but I was more of a cheerleader than a helping hand.  He did such a great job!  The girls love it and I love watching them swing...

Just A Swinging...

XOXO
Rachel

Young, Wild, & THREE!

We are THREE!!

Time has really flown by these last three years.  Audrey and Abby are talking up a storm, in FULL sentences now.  It amazes me how far they have come in the last year. 

I am forever thankful for God's hand in their growth and development.  Josh and I are so blessed to be the guardians of these two girls.  They have forever changed our lives in so many ways. 

To God be the glory.

XOXO, Rachel

Thankfulness

     In light of the Thanksgiving season, I wanted to share what I am most thankful for.  God has blessed me with three special people that I love with all my heart.  We recently had family pictures taken and I wanted to share a few of them with you.  My sweet girls were somewhat uncooperative but the pictures turned out perfect.  I am so thankful for my little family...

Thanksgiving 2015

Paci Weaning

     The time has come to say good-bye to the pacifiers.  We knew the day would come and now that we have been pacifier free for a whole week, I can't help but wonder why we didn't get rid of them sooner!  Scratch that, I know why we didn't get rid of them sooner, it was my fault.  I really didn't think the girls would be able to handle it (and mommy and daddy like their sleep).
But all joking aside, it really wasn't that hard.  Here's how we weaned our girls off the paci:

For the last two months we have only allowed the girls to use their pacifiers at bedtime and nap times.  Then last weekend we took the plunge.  We started with our first nap time, our girls still take two naps a day.  I took the pacifiers off of their wub-a-nub lambs and sewed the lambs mouths back together and instead of giving them the lamb with a paci on the end I just gave them the lamb.  The look on their faces when I gave them their "Lambie" was hysterical.  A look of confusion mixed with happiness mixed with disappointment, all at the same time.  So the first nap with their "Lambies" didn't go well.  In fact, it didn't go at all.  The girls did not sleep.  The second nap of the first day of no pacifiers went the exact same way.  By bed time the girls were so tired I gave them their lambies and they went to sleep...for 13 hours!!  This went on for a couple of days and now they are perfectly fine with just having a stuffed animal to hold instead of a pacifier.

If I had any advice on paci weaning for you it would be TO NOT GIVE UP!  And DON'T GIVE IN!  And every child is different so what worked for us may not work for your son or daughter.  It is hard for a few days but it is so worth it.
Good Luck!!

xoxo.

rachel

16 Months...Time stop now!!

Life is so busy for us right now!  The girls are 16 months old and looking back at old photos from last year makes me realize how fast they are growing.  My how quickly time flies.  Over the last 4 months the girls have learned to walk and now they are running around the house...it seems like just yesterday I was swaddling them and now I'm lucky if I can catch them.  They are always on the go!  The pitter patter of their little feet brings a smile to my face. 


Every day Audrey and Abby learn new things.  They can now say their own names and each others name.  They also say about 20 other words and are able to repeat just about anything they hear.  They love to play hide and seek, usually I am the one that hides.  They come looking for me around a corner, I jump out and yell "BOO" and they scream with excitement.  Then they both turn around and we do it all over again.




The girls had their check-ups last month.  Audrey is 25 lbs. and Abby is 22lbs.  Both girls are 31.5 inches tall.  They are growing like weeds!  Both girls are in 18 month clothes although Audrey can wear some 24 month stuff depending on the brand.  Their feet have grown too...bye-bye size 4's!! 


It's been a busy year and we are loving every minute of it.  Until next time...


xoxo,
rachel

We are ONE!!

The last couple of months have been jam packed full of fun!!  We had our  first Christmas together as a family of four and our little sweet peas turned the big O-N-E!!  I can't believe it has been over 12 months now since I gave birth to my precious girls.  Time really does fly!!!  

What's new?  Well for starters we have not one but two WALKERS!!!  Audrey and Abby started walking at 11 months.  They are really getting around these days which makes for one tired mama!  I couldn't be more proud though!  Also, the girls learned to dance!  They will shake their little booties to just about any music...although their all time favorite song is "HotDog!" by Mickey Mouse.  We had a dance party tonight in the girls' room...Josh got Abby and put her on his shoulders and I did the same with Audrey and we danced to Zack Brown Band.  The girls' giggles were indescribably hystarical...I can still hear their laughs in my head.  There was a moment while Josh and I were dancing and laughing that I thought to myself, I now know what true happiness is...I am so in love with my family.  My heart is full y'all!!  

We had our 1 year check-up last week and boy was the doctor in for a surprise!  Audrey Claire weighed 23 lbs. and was 29 inches long.  Abby Grace weighed 21 lbs. and was just shy of 29 inches long.  The doctor was so surprised at how big the girls have gotten.  

These pictures pretty much sum up the last two months with these two cuties.  We are having so much fun with our girls!  We are DOUBLY blessed!

Christmas 2014

Let's Parrrrrrtay!!!
WINTER ONEDERLAND BIRTHDAY PARTY

Praise be to God who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3