Mimi's Blankets

Our Mimi has a gift. She is extremely talented and can make beautiful baby blankets.
We had to be patient for 9 long months, but in all her spare time (while baby sitting us) she got our special keepsake blankets made.

We absolutely LOVE the camouflage patten she chose for us. They are so soft and perfect for cuddling.

We also LOVE that we each have a personalized corner on our blankets that has our name, date of birth, weight, and time.

Isn't our Mimi amazing???

9 Month Pictures

I love, love, love Keva Dawn Photography ! Once again she has produced AMAZING pictures of my adorable baby boys.
Heath, my serious, curious, inquisitive, sweet little boy.

Hunter, my outgoing, mischievous, flirty, smiling little boy.

We're ready to play...put us in coach!

Chhhhicken

Chicken- The original white meat and the word that Hunter thinks is just down right hilarious. Watch closely, the funniest part of this video is that Heath is not laughing at Daddy or the word Chicken, he is laughing at Hunter laughing.

9 months

The boys are growing so fast and I want to be able to remember everything or at least be able to look back at my blog and read about what was happening.

Just in the last couple of weeks:

Heath has finally learned to sit himself up. He learned this because it was the only way to block Hunter so he couldn't come out from under the couch. Hunter screamed bloody murder...Heath smiled for the camera.

Heath is starting to crawl. He will get up on all fours, but will only go about 4 steps before he goes back to his belly. He can go where ever he wants to go by just rolling or scooting on his belly.

Heath is my sweet boy who will let me rock him to sleep and loves to just sit in your lap and "chill".

Heath is still very serious. You have to be very funny to get him to smile. I'm not usually very funny according to Heath. Daddy is though.

Hunter is SOOO busy. Just holding him is Exhausting.

Hunter can pull up on things and no longer is happy just sitting down. If there is something for him to pull up on (couch, pant leg, coffee table, high chair) he is standing.

Hunter got a tooth today. The first of either of the boys. You can't see it in the picture, but I tried.
Hunter will NOT let you rock him and cuddle with him. He won't even sit still for that matter. He still has a very hard time going to sleep...I think he just doesn't want to miss anything.

Hunter is still my flirt. He smiles and laughs at everything. That smile melts my heart.

Hunter can crawl just a little bit better than Heath. Heath won't be far behind. He is learning quickly.

Both boys (I think) have FINALLY out grown their reflux. It only took 9 months and my entire stained wardrobe, but we finally out grew it. Yeah!

They are so much fun, and they are always on the move. I have a fear that when they start crawling really well, my life will be going in two different directions...literally. Love it!

Do You Like Vegetables?

Heath is such an opinionated little baby, and maybe he is being bribed by his daddy.

My Curly Headed Boy

I prayed that at least one of my boys would get Chris's thick curly hair. God answered my prayer. Can you guess who?
It's Heath! They will soon be very easy to tell apart for those who still struggle. Poor Hunter inherited my straight and very thin hair, but Heath got his daddy's curls.

Car Seat Craziness!

My boys ride in many different vehicles throughout the week. (1) Kay's suburban when it is her week to take the boys to Mom's house. (2) Our truck, when it is my week to take the boys, because I also have to fit Kali and Owen. (3) My car, for when I go pick them up in the afternoons, because it gets better gas mileage. (4)...and Mom's Car, for when she needs to come to town for things.

With all of that it was time to break out the other car seats and spread around the others. I drive a Nissan Xterra. It is a very narrow car, and there is absolutely NO room left in the back seat.

I thought that I had a tight squeeze in my back seat, until I helped Mom install car seats into her 4 runner. She had to put in 3, to include Kali a seat also. Can you see all three of them?

There are two facing backwards and Kali's in the middle facing forward. Mom said that to get in, Kali has to climb in from the front seat. It really cracks me up to see this in her car. You couldn't even fit a gnat in the back seat.

Lazy Labor Day

We started our Labor Day out on the patio.It was such a nice and cool morning.

We wore our football pjs and prepared to watch a game later in the day.We ran our cars through the water puddles, ...

...and we left the cutest footprints on the cement.

What a perfect morning!

Heath and Hunter's New Pal

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.

"Plans for good and not for evil, to give a Hope and a Future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome Home Kayin. We are so glad to report that Mom and Dad's friends Kurt and Melissa finally brought home their new son, Kayin. Mommy and Daddy have been telling us for a while that we were going to get a new playmate, so we have been patiently waiting (as patient as 8 month olds can wait). We finally got to go play with him this evening. He is great and loads of fun. He is about 6 weeks older than we are, and he moves around a lot more than we do. Mommy says that he is "adorable and so precious," but we tend to think he is "rugged and manly" just like us. Either way, we are all glad that he is here and that they all had a safe trip to and from Ethiopia.

Within Reach

What do you do when all your Puffs are gone?

Steal your brother's puffs, of course!

Amthor Poop Sagas - Take 1

This morning started out like a typical Sunday morning. About 7:30, I woke up to the sound of the boys awake and playing in their cribs. Chris and I playfully argued over who needed to get up and get them. When I looked over at the video monitor and saw that Hunter had pulled himself up and was stand at the edge of the crib. I pointed this out to Chris and we both smiled, so proud at our son for being able to pull himself up. Then we noticed that he had no diaper on. This is his new trick, he has learned how to take his diaper off. Laughing, Chris got up and went to get the boys. I rolled over and pulled a pillow over my head, and relished in the thought of having 30 more minutes of sleep since Daddy lost the battle.

That's when Chris returned and stammered, "Umm....Crystal....Hunter pooped." "Well, Change him," replied from under my pillow, but then I realized that I had just seen the child on the monitor with out a diaper. I jumped up and ran to the nursery and this is what I saw:
Now, I know how we all like to read blogs that have lots of pictures, but I will spare you those. Just know that this child and his entire bedding, blankets, bumper pad, and teddy bear were COVERED! He had it in his hair, on his hands, and everywhere in between! It was even between his toes! Doesn't he look proud of himself?

To remedy the situation, Chris jumped in the shower and I brought him the "stinky boy." He scrubbed the boy while I stripped the bedding, stain treated everything, and threw it in the wash.

I know this is not the last time that I will have to deal with this disgustingness, but I'm positive is is something I will NEVER get used to or enjoy. Oh! The Joys of Parenthood!

Our first Black Eye!

It was only a matter of time, I just didn't think it would happen this soon. Check out Hunter's right eye. It was so hard to get a good picture.
He fell off the couch while the Babysitter was changing his diaper. She reached down to wipe up some spit-up off of Heath and when she did, Hunter did a flip as fast as lightening (her words, not mine) right off of the couch. She said that he just cried for a minute. It probably scared her more than him.

Probably a good thing I wasn't there... I might have freaked. Mom feels really bad about it and I have reassured her numerous times that it is OK. I promise I won't fire her as my babysitter.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I think bruises are cool, and one that is on your face that you can show off is just super cool. Not that I wish bruises on anyone (especially my boys), but once you have them...aren't they cool?

The First Hunt of the Season

Ok, so the answer to your question: Yes, it makes me nervous to be around the guns with my babies. However, with the father these boys have...I have a feeling they will go hunting A LOT. We didn't stay too long because it was getting close to bedtime for Heath and Hunter, but while we were there they loved it! The gun shots didn't bother them a bit and they had a blast watching Warden and Dove retrieve the birds.

Any good Hunter (and Heath) wears camo, so we were prepared!

Happy 1st Day of Dove Season

Today is the first day of dove season, which to most doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but when you are married to the Game Warden it is a big time of the year. It now means that he will be super busy and will not be around to help much. Dove season is followed by Bow Season, followed by Deer Season, followed by Mule Deer Season, followed by Varmint Season and it all comes to an end about the end of February.

Happy Hunting and remember to buy your license!

On to the pictures:

Hunter had a blast trying to feed himself mashed potatoes. Heath wanted nothing to do with the mess (or maybe the taste of Dad's mashed potatoes). Hunter on the other hand had a blast, as you can tell. Look at that silly grin. Sweet boy!

On a side note, our friends Kurt and Melissa left on Saturday to pick up their son in Ethiopia. We received word this morning that they have him and he is an active 10 month old. Crawling everywhere. They will be back on the 9th. Pray that they can all survive the 20 hours of flying to get back. I can't even imagine what that would be like with one of my boys, let alone a child you just met. Heath and Hunter can't wait to meet their new friend. This is a picture of the cakes from their baby shower.
Yeah, two cakes...it was a very big shower.