Sally's first word

Sally said her first word this morning... She said "Dadada" while she was playing with her toys this morning. We are so proud of you Sal!! LOVE hearing your sweet, dainty little voice. I love that you are a daddy's girl. You are a joy! 

Just like you love your daddy, you love your pacis. When I woke you up from your nap, you were holding three pacis. Sassy says thats just what I use to do when I was your age! :)

9 month milestones

It's official... we have a crawler! Mary Kate started crawling Sunday night, the 17th, and she was very proud of herself. We are very proud of you too, Mary Kate! Your dad and I love watching both of you meet and conquer milestones! It is such a joy, and it is like watching small miracles happen everyday! Sally is not far behind. She is up rocking on all fours. Sal can also get herself into the sitting position on her own as of today. It is still a little hard for her, but she did it for the first time today! Both girls are pulling up on things to get themselves up on their knees. When I go to wake them up in the mornings, Mary Kate is sitting in bed with her feet through the bed rails waiting on me. One morning, she was sitting at the end of her bed just watching Sal. Right now, the girls' favorite game is peek a boo. They get the biggest smiles on their faces. I would pop out from behind chairs a thousand times a day to get those smiles! Here is another picture of Mary Kate crawling. Right now, it is a slow and steady crawl. I know in a couple of weeks, I wont be able to keep up with these girls!

Sal rocking away 

9 month check up- not so still anymore during our checkups! Babies got a great report!

Sally weighed 15 pounds 4 ounces

Mary Kate weighed 16 pounds 3 ounces

I will leave you with some big ole grins playing peek a boo! 

Botanic Gardens

Today, on the girls' 9 month birthday, we went out to the Botanic Gardens. Ford and I had never been there before, besides for wedding receptions. What a great place! It is a gorgeous day and we loved walking around with the girls and taking some pictures. The daffodils were blooming, which is the first sign of Spring! Yay for 70 degree weather! 

Sally's progress

Sally had to have an MRI on her spine last week. She was so brave and did amazingly well. She couldn't eat before the MRI for 4 hours before because they had to put her to sleep to keep her still. She really rose to the occasion. I am very proud of her. She also had to be stuck twice in her left foot to get IV access. She  got great results and we are just going to continue doing PT and follow up with her doctor in 3 months. Great job, Sal! I love you!

This picture wont mean much to anyone else but the wrinkles on the left side of Sally's back are a product of a lot of physical therapy. Praising the Lord for our physical therapist, Morgan, and for Sally's great progress.

 On the way to the MRI

About to get her IV

a few more pictures/9 month birthday!

Sally and Mary Kate, I cannot believe you are 9 months old today!! Happy 9 month birthday, sweet girls. Your daddy and I love you to the moon and back and back and back! We can't get enough of you. We are especially loving watching you explore and conquer your world. What a gift! Lord, thank you for these amazing gifts! They are everything I ever dreamed of and more!

 In the dresses, Ford and Martha brought the girls from Paris

Waiting at the Dining room window for our daddy to get home!

 Trying to entertain them with spoons while I get their food ready

 Enjoying the sunny, yet chilly weather in March in Memphis

Mary Kate is obsessed with tags! 

Visit from Columbus/Virginia

 Grandma Dot and the babies (Sal left and Mary Kate right)

 Sal and Grandma Dot

 Grandma Dot and Mary Kate

 4 generations

We had a great time getting to see my Grandmother and Aunt Sunny from Columbus, and my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jim from Virginia. We all met at my parents house and had lunch. They were so sweet to the girls! Thankful for these times with sweet family members. The girls loved seeing yall and so did I!

fun pics

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the babies recently... They are 8-9 months in these pictures.

 Mary Kate left, Sally Right

 Sally left, Mary Kate right

These girls LOVE dinner time. They are eating fruits and vegetables. They eat just once a day for now, but we will be increasing that soon. Mary Kate does not like anything green at the moment. They both really enjoy sweet potato, carrots, apples, and squash. When we first gave them pears, Mary Kate kept shaking her head. I guess she had to get use to the sour taste. It was hilarious!

 Mary Kate

 Sally loves sticking out her lower lip. She has the sweetest little pout. I had to document it! I love it!

 Mary Kate and Delta

We are not crawling yet, but it is any day now! They are loving being "almost on the move". 

Last but not least, learning to share in the bath tub. If you look closely, you can see Mary Kate has gotten her two bottom teeth. Sally has not gotten hers quite yet. 

First Valentine's Day

We had a great first Valentine's day with the girls. Here is a picture of the girls opening Colonel and Sassy's gifts. Both set of grandparents spoiled the babies on their first Valentines.

Uncle Clarke

One of the most wonderful things in the last few months was having Uncle Clarke in Memphis. It was such a blessing to have him here for so long to get to spend time with us! Sally and Mary Kate LOVE Uncle Clarke. They think he is so much fun. We got to spend such sweet times with him while he was in the States. If the Lord had done things according to my plan, Clarke would have been here for their birth. But the Lord's plan was better. I loved having him here when they were around 6 months old because they have been so interactive and fun! I felt like Clarke really got to know them. We are so proud of him and the work he is doing. We love you very much Uncle Clarke!!

At avon park the night before Clarke flew back to Lviv

The girls made/ate Valentines for Clarke to take to orphans in Ukraine

Dado went to be with Jesus

One of the things I am so thankful for is knowing my grandparents and great grandparents. These loved ones have meant so much to me over my life. My sweet grandfather, Dado, went to be with the Lord in January of this year. He was such a wonderful man- quiet, yet witty, and he loved the Lord and my grandmother with all  of his heart. I am so blessed that he made the trip to Memphis for the girl's baptism so that he could meet them. They loved Dado. They especially loved his sweet little clicks and noises that he made to them.

When we heard Dado had gone to be with the Lord, Ford and I decided we really wanted to be at his funeral in San Antonio. I was very nervous about taking the babies on such a long trip, but they did great. They did wonderful on the plane. We had a layover on the way there in Atlanta, and that went smoothly too. You should have seen us trying to make it through security with two infants. It was a sight. One lady told me " they are cute, but they are not going to be cute if they are sitting next to me". Really, lady??? When we landed in San Antonio, the pilot gave the girls' their first set of wings. Colonel was very proud of this!

I am so thankful we got to be there to support Grandmary through such  hard time, and to see extended family that we have not gotten to see lately. So thankful we got to celebrate Dado's life. Here are some pictures of the trip...

4 generations

plane ride- Sal (L) and Mary Kate (R)

Grandmary and Sally and Uncle Clarke

Grandmary and Mary Kate

The girls waking Ev up