Happy birthday Little Presidents!!!

And then they were ONE!!! Where has this year gone? At times it felt like time was standing still - pumping/feeding every 2-3 hours, changing diapers every 2-3 hours, the less than restful nights.... For the most part, those days are behind us and now we have two gorgeous, thriving one year olds!!!!! 

This year has been nothing short of rewarding. We have watched our little 4 pound babies grow into active, loving, playful 18 pound toddlers. They are so much fun and we love each moment we get to spend with them. Even the poopy diaper and crying moments :) 

Pierce, you are walking peanut!!!!! You look too small to possibly be toddling around but you are! Mommy calls your walking the zombie walk. You put your hands out in front of you for balance and you wobble a little but you get where you want to go and FAST!!!You love to eat and still shovel your food into your mouth all at once. We have to give you a few pieces at a time or you try to cram it all in at once. You love anything with cheese just like your daddy. You love to climb the stairs in the playroom and you sit in the second step because it makes it easy for you to stand up. You kill us with your facial expressions and your one tooth grin. You are quite a flirt and will smile at anyone who gives you the slightest glance. You hate having your diaper changed but calm down when we give you your bottle of lavender to hold. You love your walker and plow into anything that may be in the way. You still have your piercing scream but it usually only comes out with diaper changes or when you're really tired. You are a pretty good little napper. You take short naps but as soon as we put you down, you usually fall right to sleep. You say "mama", "dada" and "nana" and you love to shake your head "no". You're pretty good with a sippy cup and you're still a good little nurser. You're so busy these days that mommy loves her cuddle moments with you although they are few and far between. You're go go go all day long!!!!

1 year STATS for Pierce Alexander Job

Weight: 18# 8.5 oz.    (8.9%)

Height: 28 in.              (1.6%)

Head: 47 cm.              (73.69%)

 

FIERCE PIERCE

Knox, you're a little reserved and haven't quite wanted to let go of whomevers hand you are holding in order to walk. You are getting there though! You've taken a few steps on your own :) you still love the two stairs in the game room and will climb them all day long. We've tried repeatedly to show you how to come down yet you still like to come down face first! It's a little scary for mommy and daddy. You are a great eater and I hope and pray it stays that way. There are very few things you don't like and you're great at picking up one piece at a time. You now have 3 teeth (two on the bottom and one on top)  with one that's about to pop out any second. You've been drooling like crazy and your finger has constantly been jammed in your mouth lately. You love flipping the pages of your books and you love to bounce. You pull up on everything and will bounce away to any song or beat or just because! You love your paci and when you wake up in the morning, we listen to you coo and hit your paci against the side of the crib. You like to have one in your mouth and one in each hand. It's quite comical! You aren't a huge fan of diaper changes and like to turn over onto your belly and then sit up on the changing table. You are a decent napper but take a little while to go down. You like to stand in your crib, scaling it, paci in hand before bouncing and then finally lying down to rest. You say "mama", "dada", "eh?", and "nana". You're a super cuddler and will wrap your arms and legs around us and cling to us like a koala bear. 

1 year STATS for Knox Collier Job

Weight: 18# 10.5 oz.  (9.93%)

Height: 29 in.              (14.36%)

Head: 46.5 cm.          (59.69%)

KNOXER BOXER

You two are our biggest blessings and our biggest joy in life. Before we conceived you, we were losing hope that we would ever be parents. Thankfully,  God had other things in mind. We thank Him EVERYDAY for bringing you into our lives and entrusting us with two beautiful souls. We hope and pray that you grow up loving and knowing Our Savior and that you are happy and healthy. We will do anything in our power to make your dreams come true. This has been the best year of our lives and we look forward to what's to come. Happy first birthday to our sweet little presidents. 

Weekend with Tutu!

I worked Tuesday and Thursday last week so the LPs were with our amazing nanny, Lena. 

Wednesday we went and toured another Mother's Day Out at First Baptist Church in Colleyville.  Their program is known as the Sonshine Academy and they allow you to bring the kiddos one day per week. This is perfect for us so that I have one day during the week to run errands, clean the house and just get things done! Plus the LPs get to learn about our Heavenly Father and play with other kiddos! It's truly an answer to prayer. 

Thursday evening, my mom drove into town. I had gotten off work a little early and was able to stop at a little Mexican store, Mariposa, that I really wanted to check out. I was able to get some things for the birthday party that I think are going to make it look amazing! 

Nick kept the boys up so that we could play a little before putting them to bed. They were so excited to see Tutu and they were showing off their new skill... Walking!

Mom had him in a fit of giggles!

After we put the LPs down, we enjoyed an incredible bottle if wine:

Mom and I put the whole bottle back with no problem. And even better, no hangover! It was that good. 

Nick went to visit with his Uncle Aaron so mom and I made a little game plan for the weekend and just enjoyed each other's company. 

Friday morning we got up with the boys and Nick headed into work. Melanie, our designer, came over and staged our house for the party. It turned out really awesome. She also found us a rug that we love!!

After the LPs first nap, mom and I packed the boys up and we ran errands. 

We went to TJ Maxx and got some things for the spare bathroom and Tutu bought the boys their Halloween costumes! They are going to be monkeys!!! She bought their Halloween costumes last year too and would like to continue to do so. I love it!!!

After TJ Maxx, we stopped by Kohl's. We carried the boys in and they rode in their first cart!

Pierce HATED it!

Knox didn't mind :)

We then drove to Southlake Town Center and had lunch/dinner at Mi Cocina. The boys devoured their quesadilla and got a bottle of regular milk. 

This sweet couple stopped to talk to us. They have a set of 18 year old twins!!! Lewis and his wife:

We then walked over to the Impeccable Pig and did a little shopping. The LPs had missed their afternoon nap and they were passed out as soon as we got in the car. 

When we got home, we unloaded and let them sleep a little. They both woke up a short time later and we played until bedtime. 

After we put the LPs to bed, mom watched the boys so we could go visit with Landon and Lauryn. They had sweet Everly Belle on September 10 by c/s. She's beautiful and L2 are naturals at the parenting thing. 

Nick and EB

Sweet nugget. She weighed in at 9#5!

After visiting with the Parhams and Meyers, we headed home and hung out with Tutu before calling it a night and heading to bed. 

Saturday we got up with the LPs and did our thing. We played and they ate and then nap time ensued. During their nap, we all got ready and when the boys woke up, we got them ready and headed to get their first haircut!!!

We went to Cool Cuts for Kids and Sarah cut their hair. They got to sit in a cool car and "drive" it while Ms. Sarah worked her magic. They boys did pretty well in my opinion. They sat pretty still while Ms. Sarah had the scissors but as soon as the clippers came out, the tears came streaming down their faces and they wanted out!

After their haircuts, we stopped and picked up lunch and then we headed home and Tutu took over. She was up to the task of watching the boys so we could run errands and Nick and I cannot thank her enough!!!  Thank you Tutu!

First stop was to get my car inspected. It was due for an inspection in June. It's September....  I was also in need of an oil change so boom! Done!

Next stop was Home Goods in Irving in search of this bar stool:

Unfortunately, we were only able to find one but at least we now have two. We are going to continue our search. Hopefully we will find a third. 

Target was next door so we hit that up too. We got diapers and wipes for the LPs along with some snacks they like and some planters for the backyard. 

After Target, we headed to Lowes. We spent FOREVER at Lowe's. At least it felt that way to me. Anyway, Nick picked up some things he needed and then we spent more time picking out flowers for the house. It all looks so nice but man alive we were there for a while. 

Mom told us she was good with getting the boys down for the night so we had date night! We went to Bonefish Grill and it was delicious. We enjoyed a drink at the bar and then dined Al fresco. I had scallops and shrimp and it was amaze balls!!! Nick had a filet that was pretty tasty too. 

After supper we headed home to unload all of our goodies. Boy was my car packed to the brim! Tutu helped us and we hung out watching tv and chatting until it was time to hit the hay. 

Sunday we slept in until almost 8 and got up with the boys. When they went down for their nap, mom and I got our clean on. We needed to get the house in order for the boys FIESTA next weekend! Nick worked on the yard and washed the windows. The outside looks so good and the inside is so fresh and so clean clean!

Mom and I played with the boys and before we knew it, it was time for for tutu to head back to SA. It felt pretty good to say " see you in 3 days!" 

Nick and I spent the rest of the day working around the house and playing with the LPs. It was a great weekend and next weekend - it will be epic I'm sure!

Labor Day Weekend

Saturday we spent the day praying I would not get called in!!! I called up to work and it was steady busy, so I got dressed just in case. I was blessed and did not get called in!!!!

We decided after the boys morning nap, to pack up and head to the local Farmers Market. We held the boys because they aren't liking their car seats much these days. We loaded up on all kinds of goodies: green beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peaches, plums and habanero raspberry jelly! We made it to the car and got the boys buckled up just as it began to rain!

Football season has begun and I am so excited!!! Our Texas Tech Red Raiders had their first game against Sam Houston State University and we met Uncle Brent at BJs to watch it! The LPs did great even though the game was in the middle of their nap time. At half time, we packed up and headed to the casa to finish out the game and get the boys down for a quick nap. 

 

Luckily the Red Raiders won but we have a lot of work to do. Our defense is not top notch and that's going to get us into a world of hurt if we don't step up our game. 

Brent headed home and we got the boys up, played, fed them dinner and then bathed them before putting them down for the night. 

Nick and I started a movie called St. Vincent. Unfortunately we both fell asleep towards the end and we wanted to see it!!! 

Sunday we got up, made breakfast for the boys, went for a walk and then played until nap time. Rachael came over at noon to watch the LPs so Nick and I could have a date day. We went to Studio Movie Grill and saw No Escape. It was a heart wrencher and kept Nick and I both on the edge of our seats. It was a bit of a tear jerker too - especially now that we have kids. I couldn't help but put myself in their shoes. Definitely a good pick. 

We had Rachael for a little longer so we stopped at some open houses and looked around. Even though we are no longer in the market for a new house, we like getting decorating ideas! We also stopped by target because I needed new pump parts. While there we found the barstools we want as well as chairs for the kitchen table. Now we just need to order them. 

Knox was just waking up from his nap when we got home at 5 and Pierce was in the playroom with Rachael. We played and played and played until it was time for bed. 

Nick and I had wine and cheese night and watched Big Brother. We also were excited when we found St. Vincent was playing again and we finished out the movie while I worked on some stuff for the boys birthday party. 

Monday, we were all off for Labor Day. I woke up to use the bathroom around 6:45. I heard P stirring and thought it wouldn't be long until he was up so I went and started the coffee pot. At 8:45 I woke up in a panic. 8:45!!!! Are the babies ok??? I woke Nick up and we looked at the monitor. Both boys had one arm out of their wombies, paci's in their mouths and were fast asleep. Our sweet LPs slept until 10!!!! 

We got up, played, ate and got the boys ready to go. We headed to Dallas to look for stuff for the house. The LPs fell asleep in the car so we drove around for a while to let the nap. We then headed to Zgallerie, Crate and Barrell and then packed the boys up and headed to Northpark. Nick returned a shirt at Dillard's and picked up a sports coat he had tailored. 

Our good friends Jared, Kelly and their baby, Jackson met us for a late lunch/early dinner at Seasons 52. It was so fun getting the boys all together and having some grown up conversation. The LPs did great and threw back their cheese pizza like champs!!!!

The boys took a cat nap on the way home and when we got home, we fed them their oatmeal and bottles and off to dreamland they went. 

Nick and I watched some tv and then headed to bed. It was a perfect long weekend and we had a blast together!