Summer Fun!

Emma Grace Crane (Audrey and Natalie's cousin) turned 1 on July 9th and her parents threw her a HUGE birthday party on the 11th. It was nice to get to see everyone and hang our for a little bit. Here are a few pictures from the big bash!

The next weekend, I took the twins down to FL to visit their Zachar grandparents, Nana and Pappy. They had such a good time and loved swimming and playing and shopping with the girls. We can't wait to go back. We didn't make it to the beach this time, but hope maybe we can next time we go when Daddy is with us. They loved showing off all of their new skills for all of Mom's friends down there. Natalie thinks it's cool to shake her head "no" sometimes when you ask a question or say something. Audrey likes to show people that she can hold her own bottle by herself...she is becoming our little "Miss Independent". Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

7 months old today!

Wow has time flown by! It seems like just yesterday we were riding to the hospital everyday to visit Audrey in the NICU. I can definitely say that the first 4 months of the girls' lives have been a total blur for me and Spencer. We were remembering some memories from that time the other day and remembered on the night that we brought Natalie home with us how many times we stopped the car to get out and check on her to make sure she was breathing. haha. We were so paranoid because Audrey had 2 apnea spells where she would quit breathing on us. So we were freaking out that Natalie might do it too and then we wouldn't have nurses and doctors there to help us!

It is so crazy to get out all of those Preemie clothes that the girls wore when we brought them home and how they were actually big on them at first. To hold those clothes up by them now, you would never think that in just 7 months, they've more than tripled their size from birth. Audrey is getting so big now! She is just like her Mommy was when she was a baby...long and skinny! Natalie is growing like a weed too trying to stay bigger than her sister. She is built more like Spencer was when he was a baby. By no means is she chubby (except maybe those cheeks!) but she is just thick and muscley! She is getting tall too...I'm afraid they are both going to be tall like us! I could be wrong, but it seems like they are definitely growing longer each day! I already have their "future supermodel" onsies purchased!

Right now Natalie is getting better at holding her own bottle. If you are holding her bottle in front of her and she wants it, she will reach out and grad it from you and attempt to stick it in her mouth! She has no patience whatsoever for fooling around when it is time to eat! haha. She is just about to sit up by herself, she still needs some balance support, but it won't be long. She has been such a wonderful, easy baby! We can just lay her down each night in her crib, turn on her music, give her Miss Woobie (her blanket/doll), and give her a blanket to cover her eyes with and she is out like a light in 5 minute. She LOVES to fall asleep with something covering her eyes and face. I guess I don't get the room dark enough for her...LOL.

Look! We can hold our own bottles now!

Audrey is a Mommy/Daddy's girl! She is taking her sweet time to accomplish any new task! She just enjoys for us to help her do everything so we can be close to her. She already knows how to manipulate us into holding her and doing things for her that she can do for herself. We're a sucker for it almost every time though. She is starting to sit up too, just needs to get a little stonger in her back but it won't be long. She is grabbing everything. You really have to watch those little hands now. One sweet thing Audrey does is just give the biggest hugs ever! She LOVES being cuddled and hugged and kissed. She will eat it up!

It is so funny how so alike they are and yet so very different! I can't wait for their personalities to keep shining and showing themselves to us!

Fathers and Daughters

Father's Day weekend was very special for us this year, as you all can imagine! We've waited so long to be able to celebrate this holiday (along with Mother's Day!) that it is almost unbelievable in our minds. And to think we get to celebrate twice as much because we are blessed with two special girls.

Audrey and Natalie have their Daddy wrapped around their tiny fingers already. It didn't take long at all. They know Daddy is always there ready to play and make them giggle. Daddy is also a great source of comfort when they are sleepy or upset. The last week or so Audrey has been especially attached to Spencer for some reason. Her face just lights up when he come to pick her up or pay attention to her. Natalie has always been a Daddy's little girl. Her nickname is Spencerina! She looks and acts like him already.

I know that Spencer is learning everyday how important he is going to be in their lives! He will be the source of confidence, strength, and knowledge that our girls need from their Father to grow strong and confident themselves. I saw this quote the other day and thought it was said perfectly...

"Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.” Joseph Addison

I am so happy that we have a chance to know this kind of affection and love!

6 Months Old!

Last weekend Mom and Dad came up from Pensacola to visit and pick up / clean out Mom's apartment. It was nice getting to visit with them, especially Dad since we haven't seen him a while. We also got to hang out with Ann and Danny a little bit Saturday too which was great. We don't get to see each other much (even though we live in the same city).

Audrey and Natalie had their 6 months check-up Friday (12th). Everything was fine. Both girls are doing great Dr. Harris said. Natalie weighs 15lbs 4oz and Audrey weighs 14lbs 9oz. Slowly but surely Audrey is determined to catch up with her sister. She is a little piggy and wants to eat all the time. I can see the determination in her eyes..."Please Mom give me more food so I can grow big!". Of course Natalie is our "natural" eater. She will pretty much eat whatever you put in her mouth. They are rolling over now and getting up on their knees sometimes like they want to crawl. They aren't sitting up by themselves yet and really don't seem interested yet, but we're working with them to try and get their balance. It won't be long I'm sure...

During Dad's last trip to Bogota, Columbia, a man he works with sent back gifts for the girls. You can see them holding their gifts below! They got their first set of earings. One set is gold and the other is white gold. So now we just need to decide when we want them to get their ears pierced.

Spencer went this past weekend to visit his best friend Brad from college. They played baseball together at Cumberland College (now called University of the Cumberlands). During their visit they went up to Louisville, KY to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. http://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/ It is supposedly one of the most haunted places in the US. Of course they didn't see any ghosts but Spencer said it was neat anyway. We sure missed Daddy being at home with us though!

Hope everyone has a great Father's Day this weekend!

Summer is coming fast!

I am so glad summer is here (at least for the most part). Spring seems to want to hang around and bring us rain all the time, but we are enjoying the warm weather again finally. Last weekend, Spencer's cousin, Jessi, graduated from Ringgold High School, and though we were not able to go to the graduation ceremony, we were able to make it to the pool party her parents threw her on Saturday afternoon. It is always a lot of fun to get together with his family, and we always enjoy the time we get to spend together. Makes me miss my family in WV a lot! We thought this might be the first time Audrey and Natalie would get to go swimming, but they weren't feeling up to par, both fighting little colds and allergies (they get this from both of their parents...sorry girls). So we decided it wasn't a good idea to put them in the cold water quite yet. We did have a lot of fun though soaking up sunshine and eating good food! It was great to see everyone and we wish Jessi all the luck in the world as she starts a new era of her life! We love you!

Sunday, May 31st was Mom's birthday...Happy Birthday Mom! Also that day, Audrey and Natalie were dedicated at church. They did so good up in front of the church, I have to say I was a little worried how they would react, but they ended up falling asleep in our arms! Then that night, Spencer was baptized! What an exciting day...Praise the Lord! He has blessed so much.

I just had to post this picture of Nat Nat taking a nap last night. We put her down after we got home from work in her bouncy chair where she LOVES to kick her legs and arm and squeal! She started getting quiet and was playing with the burp cloth she was holding and they always like to put it up to their face, usually to try to eat it, but next thing we know she is out like a light and fell asleep holding the burp cloth over her eyes thinking it was nighttime because it was dark "outside". haha...she is so funny! We got a good chuckle out of that one!