First Word Revealed!

We had a lot of good guesses, but...

Sandra nailed it! :) Even if you don't normally watch YouTube clips, wach this one for a little pick-me-up in your day! ;)

The Book Worm, The Lawnmower and A Guessing Game...

The Book Worm

The girls and I read books together. They really seem to like it; however, I have never thought of offering them a book.  Until yesterday. I sat Adia down and sat some books in front of her.  She was thrilled!

She sat and turned pages, looked at pictures, etc.  She didn't have a lot of control, but she really liked the experience.

Jada, she enjoyed the books too. :)

Yum, Yum!

The Lawnmower

When I put the girls on the blanket in the yard, Adia is continually enamored with the grass.  It can occupy her for long amounts of time.  Because I don't see her eating it, I usually allow it.

"No, I wasn't eating grass..."

Jada spent her blanket time looking up at the sky and sucking on her thumb.

Love those eyebrows!

Now, On to the Guessing Game!

On June 28th, one of the girls said their first word.

Comment and leave your guess:

Who said the first word?

Which word was it?

I guess to make it a game, there should be a prize...Hmm...will have to think about that...

The Difference a Month Can Make

I have never posted the girls' 6 month pictures, now I have taken their seven month pictures a few weeks ago, and you haven't seen that cuteness yet either!

Six Month Pictures:

Poor Jada, she had just woken up and this is when their neck muscles weren't quite as strong.  It was too much hard work to keep that head up for long!

Seven Month Pictures:

Hungry Kids, Stuffed Church
I encourage you to watch this. Make it past the first 30 seconds because I almost didn't.  It is very thought-provoking and convicting to me.  God has made it very clear that I am at a new brink and I best move to obedient action.

I will have this posted at the bottom of my blog as well...

Who Will Care for My Children?

I lay in bed on Saturday night, not able to sleep and my mind wandered to if I could survive on a deserted island. (Weird, I know). I started thinking about if I could find food, fresh water, find a way to catch fish, etc. Then I imagined trying to put the girls down for a nap in the sand, not gonna happen! I started to seriously think about survival with two babies in tow. My mind went to not being able to find proper nutrition for them. I know how fussy they get if they are an hour late for a feeding and I imagined them going all day, as I frantically tried to learn to climb trees to get some kind of fruit. Suddenly, it was like I was punched in the stomach.

I have been around poverty a lot. I have seen it first hand in the U.S. and abroad.  I have lived among it in Mexico. When I see it firsthand or through pictures or hear stories, I process it as “fact” and a sad fact that we, as the body of Christ, should be pouring ourselves into. However, that night in bed, it became personal, like it hasn’t for years. I imagined Jada and Adia slowly becoming listless as their hunger pains grow and then watching them wilt away as day after day, I can’t provide the nutrition they need. Oh God. The pain of even imagining it was too much. Then, facts that I have presented countless times on education, infant mortality rates, lack of clean drinking water, AIDS, slavery, prostitution, came alive in my mind, imagining walking to the edge of a filthy river and letting my children drink, knowing we are all getting disease because of our thirst, but this being our only option. I heard the words in my heart, “this is reality for so many”. I cried in pain as I thought about all the mama’s that experience this. Oh God, be merciful, may your name be known!

I had just done an LSM presentation and talked about a Mom had AIDS and her children were HIV+. She knew she didn’t have much time left and was hoping to get them into a Loving Shepherd Ministry Home of Hope. As I remembered her and look into her eyes in the picture, these words echoed around my head, “Who will care for my children?”

As I recount this, I weep, I have a sleeping child in the room beside me and a happy, bubble-blowing child on the floor behind me, we just finished our morning solid foods and bottle. I get to watch them get more alive and chunkier each day. I am thankful that this has once again affected me to the core, it has changed once again from fact, to a fact that shakes me to my soul. May God continually break my heart with what breaks His.

Sculpture Saturday-A Beginning of a Series

I really like our town in the Summer.  We live a few minutes walk from the downtown area, which means we can walk to our farmer's market, restaurants, antique shops, bank, library, post office, etc.  We are also a few minutes walk from the park, pool and 4-H park.  (We are missing a horse pull currently). ;) I grew up in the country and have still not gotten used to living in town, but I do like to walk places, especially now that I don't have to load up two girls into carseats! 

Our town is very known for their historic district and the city has done a lot to bring in tourist.  This year, we have the "Sculptures in the Square" campaign.  All summer long, sculptures have been put around town and tourist flock to do a hunt for the sculptures and take pictures.  One day as I was walking, I saw another carload of Senior citizens unload and take pictures of the sculptures.  They are cool, but very early on in life, when I got my first camera and developed my first roll of film, my Mom gave me a very strong suggestion: Don't take pictures unless their are living people in them!   I am pretty sure pets were okay too. So, this has been ingrained in me ever since, see a pretty sunset, put someone in it.  You get the point.

So, we have decided to become part of the sculptures. I will post try to post one every Saturday. If this whets your appetite for more and you can't wait 15 weeks for them to be unveiled, one-by-one, we would love to walk with you and show you the sculptures.  :)

Sculpture #1-"Bunnies Don't Bite

 

More Lovely Visitors...

The visitors have still been coming and still been blessing us!  I have had many visitors that I haven't posted and I am not going to get to them all.  I have a limited window to post.  The girls and I went to VBS this morning to do a short Loving Shepherd Ministry presentation (http://www.loving-shepherd.org/) and then we hung out a bit.  It was fun to see the kids' enthusiasm. 

Last night, I don't know what happened, but my dear little Adia chose to be very selective about when she would sleep, thus affecting my dear little Jada.  They are both in the nursery now.  Last night was the first night...Maybe not a good move?  They fell asleep on the way home from VBS, and I am justifying blogging right now b/c I think if I would move around to do some housework, the carseat nap would be over.  ;)

We have been BLESSED, BLESSED, BLESSED by all the visits and help.  A few weeks ago, my Aunt Teresa and Grandma came over.  It was so nice for them to be able to hold and play with the girls.

Being the delightfully, industrious women that they are, they also helped with the cleaning. 

 I mean, better than I ever clean myself. 

Grandma asked, "Do you think maybe we should dust your blinds?" 

So, they dusted the blinds, I felt really bad, but they said they didn't mind.  Grandma finished and said, "I don't think you will need to do this again for a long time!"  I didn't have the heart to tell her that I have never done it since we have bought them.

Thanks Teresa and Grandma!

Last week, Heather also took a day off work and came from Indy to visit us!  Heather and I roomed together in college and as it is with college roomies, we are forever bonded. ;)

Unfortunately, I hardly got the camera out, but here is Heather and the girls at the Farmer's Market.  Heather and Chad are expecting their first baby and I am rooting for a girl!

We talked and laughed and caught up and Heather made us some wonderful dinner, Heather-style, meaning fresh, no recipe and deliciously spicy!

Heave, thanks so much for coming!  We loved it! Feel free to use all your vacation days with us! ;)

Oops, I hear the nap has ended, so that will have to do for now!  Have a great weekend!

He Knows How To Make Me Laugh...

On Saturday, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  WAIT, that's not strong enough, I woke up in someone else's bed or something.  Have you ever had those days when you know how gross you feel inside and you keep begging for the grace to not act out on your feelings?  Well, I was having one of those and was failing miserably at accepting the grace and being a pleasant person. 

Jon was watching one of the girls on the porch and I came out to tell him something. 

There he was, just waiting on me to come out.

I had a good belly laugh and tried to refrain from criticizing that he was wrecking the Bumbo.

I know you have seen a lot of shots in the Bumbos (which, by the way, is perfectly fine after it's squashing), but I had to include this one when I am talking about things that make me laugh...the girls are interacting so much these days!

  

In this picture, Jada is trying to get Adia's pacifier.  They are back and forth all day, suddenly Jada squawks, oops, Adia took her toy.  A few minutes later, Jada cries again, Adia has a firm grip on her hair.  Adia is normally the toy stealer and hair-puller, but Jada usually tries to take Adia's pacifier.  Jada touches Adia more but Adia has a very high tolerance for it, much higher than Jada.  So, I don't feel like one is more of a bully, I just hear more about it when Jada is wronged by Adia. (A foreshadow of life to come?) However, today I put them in the same crib while I tried to clean up the nursery and suddenly, a very frustrated Adia starts squealing.  I get over to the crib and Adia is pinned up against the side, while Jada has a firm chomp/suck on her arm. 

If I leave them close, anywhere, they will be touching, rubbing, sucking, pulling, messing with each other.  It is so cute.

The pinnacle of cuteness, today during their solid food feeding, they held hands.  It wasn't one more than the other, it was a mutual experience, not for more than 30 seconds, but oh my.  I about melted. 

Lots of Lovin's

On Sunday after church, we went to my parents house.  Everyone was going to be there, except my brother Jay, who is spending the Summer in Nebraska.

The girls are the first grandchildren on my side of the family.  Needless to say, there is lots of excitement about this.  We were there before the rest of the family and this is what happened upon seconds of them walking in.  :)

After a few minutes, this was the scene...

It is a good thing there are two babies to soak up all the attention!

It is fun to have people be as excited as I am about all their new development.

The girls have learned to give kisses and kissed everyone multiple times (Kiss pictures coming in another post).

Aunt Kris gives Adia a kiss

Here is a sneak peek of their kisses, they usually involve a completely open mouth and the girls suck on somewhere on your face.  Here Uncle Chad receives all Adia's lovin's.

 

Great-Grandma gave the girls beanie baby bunnies, which they loved because the ears are perfect for chewing on!

I wish I had a picture of the 6 people watching the girls eat, but I think my Grandma taping and my Mom's expression says it all. :)

The girls also experienced their first 4-wheeler ride.  We thought they would love it

I forgot to factor in they were already pretty overstimulated.  Adia gave it a thumbs down.

Jada gets ready to go...

I guess she did about as well.  :)

It's okay, they will be farm girls in no time.

Please Pray: Our friends Zach and Jenny have just found out he has stage 4 colon cancer and spots in his liver and both lungs, possibly his spine.  Zach is 27.  They have two young children and are incredible examples of a Godly family to us.

Sometimes It Seems Like They Know Something I Don't

Recently, their interaction has increased and it almost seems like they have special twin secrets.

So precious! I can't wait unti lthey can talk so I can hear what is going on in those little conversations!

Dear Jon,

Happy Father's Day!

We love you so much!

"The Wilt"

Here at the G*r*t household, space is a little limited, inside and out.  While this is very cozy, it leaves us using every square inch and pushes our storage creativity.  On the South side of our house, Jon has ingeniously put a garden.  It is a long narrow garden with a small herb section down one side finished out by flowers and the other side is our "salsa" garden.  We try to grow different variety of tomatoes, bell peppers and lots of different hot peppers. It has a cute brick path down the middle. 

It always feels very magical to me, sure more space would be nice, but weeding it is a cinch (mostly because Jon weeds).

Adia went out with me this morning and we saw that EEK, our tomato plants are having the same problem they did last year!  They spring up beautifully and I get so excited about having fresh tomatoes and then...dun, dun, dun.  They start to wilt.  Not every stem of the plant.  It is the oddest thing.  Take a look...

And Jon, my dear green-thumbed husband is at a loss for what to do.  We treated for the typical problems.  The tomatoes rot as they ripen.  One of Jon's clients was up last year and we had her look at them.  She said, "Oh, you have 'the wilt'".  That's it, diagnosed, we have 'the wilt'.

  I don't want 'the wilt'.

I want big, fat, juicy tomatoes. 

Our neighbors plants were very close to ours and were fine.  (She shared her bounty with us).  :)

All of you gardeners out there, what would you do?

Adia got so sleepy outside.  She was pulling leaves off a chili plant while she could hardly keep her eyes open! 

So, if you have any ideas, Jada says,

"Call Me!"

or you can just leave a comment.  Her phone gets poor reception.

Zoo Day!

On Saturday, our family had our first zoo day.  Those of you that know me well know that I LOVE the zoo.  Last year, I begged Jon to get the family pass.  After further discussion I realized we wouldn't get the value out of it, so I decided to bide my time until kids before I would press the family pass again. 

Guess what, two kids later, we have a family pass! We even have the buddy pass, so if you want to help me with the twins at the zoo, call me! (Yes, I am thinking of you, Amy K).  ;)

So, I am not sure if the girls really saw any animals.  I think they did see the sea lions, geese and horses.  Otherwise, they just watched us point to the animals.

We chose to go on a HOT day.  I feel like hot is an understatement here.  I mean, crazy muggy, sticky heat.  Like we had to go into the rainforest exhibit to cool off.  (Yes, I am exaggerating, but it felt about the same as the rainforest!)  Jon decided to take the girls through the mist-thingies every chance he got.

They liked them. :)

My, my, I must add on to this post. Cheerios are strewn across the floor, laundry needs done, readoption lawyers need to be found, but I must let you in on my gleeful excitement!  My Zoo Pass came in the mail!  Did you know we get discounted entrance to zoos all across the U.S?  Oh my. My poor children are going to be so sick of animals...or become zoologist.  ;)