candy corn....happy halloween!

we went trick or treating at Gina & TIm's house... we walked...it was fun...while were there she took a few pictures... THANK YOU!

a trip to the park dressed as candy corn... doing what they love MOST....swinging.... well, and taking a few pictures...

a very happy henry...

henry is not to sure about the hood part of the costume.... oh the price of looking good :) don't worry, I took it off right after the picture!

sullivan is a very funny man...

a trip to the Yamatani House for a Halloween visit.... Sullivan LOVES dogs... funny.

Nori looking pretty!

just checking things out... check out derek's muscles!

all the kids sitting pretty! sullivan & henry = candy corn, derek = muscle man, nori = a cat princess :)

henry in starbucks heaven! it must be genetic! ha...

they love drinking foam in a mini cup....

happy birthday babies! today you turn 1!

Today our little men turn one! Patrick was able to spend the day at home with us - a very special day!

they enjoyed some very yummy chocolate mousse for dessert! YUM!

singing happy birthday!

sitting pretty at the club! must have been a great time - they've lost a couple shoes! :)

reading a book when we were getting a bit antsy!

I think you can see the ants in this picture... henry was VERY ready to go home...

before dinner we fit in a trip to the park - their favorite!

oh so happy!

loving the swing! sullivan is such a goof!

Sullivan woke up early from his afternoon nap to spend some extra time with his dad...

Sullivan wants to climb...

Henry sits so nicely!

Good morning boys! Today you turn ONE!

Today was an emotional day... not because I have "issues" or am "overtired" or bc I lost the video camera last night and thought it was gone forever :) but because we still pinch ourselves every day that these little men are ours and they wake up so happy to have each day and to see their momma and dadda... and that they are healthy, thriving, happy people! We are so thankful for everyday... our journey to parenthood wasn't really typical or what most people dream of or even imagine but it was our journey and we are so thankful for every moment of all of it and SO very thankful for all of the people, who made it possible... to be on this road of parenthood is truly amazing.

Yesterday I got a text message from a number I didn't know off hand... after reading it I realized it was from one of my postpardum nurses who remembered it was the boys birthday... Jenn... she is wonderful & just loves the boys! Today I even heard from Colleen our favorite nurse & friend from Dr. Muasher's office... well, it is hard to pick favorites but she has become a great friend over the years - these boys sure are lucky to have so many great people in their lives - they have no idea...but someday they will - I am sure of it!

A bit about the boys in their 12th month of life post utero :) ...

Sullivan is non stop... he is talking all day and is constantly on the go - he says "this", "d", "moo", "dada", "moma" and a bunch of other random tones all jumbled together - he is talking up a storm. He loves playing with Henry, reading books, dancing to music, making his elk sing and socializing with people - EVERYWHERE...I wonder where he gets that!? Sullivan loves people food...and was first to avoid the baby stuff... he successfully transitioned to milk with ease... he was so over formula! :) He loves my latte cups...he grunts and grunts when I get a drink...so I have to either empty my drink into another cup or drink as fast as I can and then hand him the cup... he just loves pretending to drink. I think I need to start just getting him his own! :)

Henry is a honey without a doubt! He really loves playing with Sullivan... he also loves taking whatever it is Sullivan is playing with... everything looks better when Sullivan has it I guess. Henry is very aware of people, what they are doing, and their feelings... he is our little "feeler" - I love it! Oh, and Henry loves to eat... anything he eats anything - his favorite is yogurt! Henry is so into music and rhythm that I really need to get him into a music class....he dances no matter where he is...whenever the beat strikes - he's movin! He loves pushing buttons, flipping switches, reading books and trying to eat sullivan's toes...yes, he loves to nibble... and then he busts out in a giggle :)

Both boys are climbing stairs, riding their new lamb rocker, and they sit in their new big boy chairs with pride! They are both strong standers and they point at everything... Henry is into the sign language... he is very proud when he signs "more" - too funny!

All is well here... I'll post their weight and height tomorrow... we've got some big boys on our hands!

art!

so mary needed a very large space to practice her face painting skills as she was warming up to be the fabulous face painter at the boys' first birthday party...so she used my leg! ha! mary, my fave was your bat :)

a visit from uncle doug...so much fun!

catching up... it had been way too long...the boys loved him!

boys being boys....

Birthday cards! So fun to open & chew on! :) Thanks for the prizes! Sullivan points at Doug ... he wants to tell us that someone new is in our house but can only point and say "this"... we have to say to him..."this" is Doug! :) As you can see Henry is dancing with excitement to have a birthday card! too funny.

One of our great friends, Doug, came over to see the boys & to meet up with Patrick for lunch to catch up! The babies love him... it was a really nice visit. Thanks for making the trip Doug!

funny things I find them doing ....

footless henry with his bottle in hand and sullivan's in his mouth... propped just watching his morning show... oh and don't worry...he loses interest after "both" bottles are empty :)

Sullivan decided to dump his bottle out and play with the dripping milk...he was trying to grab it as it dumped.... what a funny man...

after I cleaned it up and went to the kitchen....I returned to find that he did it again...I guess he wasn't hungry...oh and I did clean it all up...I'm not gross. ;)

I walk into the kitchen for two minutes and I come back and this is what I find... they LOVE the computer! I just had to take a picture... sneaky little suckers :) I love it!

a package! what could it be!?!?

Henry and Sullivan were so excited to have such a large box arrive via UPS... they just couldn't figure out why it was here... and then we opened it! What a great surprise! Thanks mom & dad! (grammy b & grampy b) They love it!

facing forward.. a very big deal!

So I was under the impression that you couldn't turn a car seat to face forward UNTIL you baby was both 20lbs & one year... not one or the other...SO...I have been jamming these enourmous and tall little men into rear facing seats...well, the seats fit but they had no leg room....therefore their knees were almost to thier chins! ok not really but close.... so here are what two happy babies looked like when I realized that my almost 30pound babies could sit facing fwd even though they weren't one... who knew?! I guess everyone but me! :) Thank goodness I called the non-emergency line one day and spoke to a very nice officer! :) Now the boys are much more comfortable...

pumpkins & more pumpkins!

sullivan & the dad

sullivan's pudgy fingers finding new textures

henry so happy

standing in the pumpkins

tasting the pumpkins...

sitting..... on henry

sullivan exploring... so cute

a trip to the city...American University

So today we went into DC to participate in a graduate psychology course.... basically, the babies played and doctoral students took notes... asked the parents questions and observed play.... it was fun...the boys were on their best manners!

sullivan crawled over to these girls as soon as they sat down and he just hung out...played with their water bottles and books.. he cracks me up.

the boys & their friend brayden zook

the babes sharin their toys like champs!