11 Months and Counting Down

On Tuesday Quinn and Riley turned 11 months old. I think I'm in a little bit of denial...hence my reluctance to write about it. I just cannot believe that they are so close to 1 year. In fact, tomorrow starts their birthday month and the count down to February 26th. We took 11 month pictures on Tue. and this one is a favorite. I love how they are standing up together looking out the window. They loved it too! I just think they are looking so big and grown up (not like babies) and that makes me a little sad (well a lot sad...but in a good way).

Here's the best puppy picture I could get. You really need 2 people to get this picture these days but I was doing it on my own. They are just so much bigger than puppy!

This is one of several ride-on/push toys they got for Christmas. It was so funny the day we discovered that we could put Riley on to ride and Quinn would push her. In fact, I think she added just the right weight resistance so it doesn't go too fast for Quinn on the hardwoods. However, there is a rug in the hallway that he has to push a little harder to keep her moving... notice his face?
They both absolutely LOVE it! They cannot get enough! We will turn them around at the end of the hallway and Quinn will just keep pushing her back and forth. I love it because it saves my back from when I was bending over to push. Now I just stay close to make sure everyone is safe!
It's hard to get them to stay still in one place, but if I put Riley somewhere (chair, exersaucer, bouncer) Quinn will come right over to "talk" and play with her. They interact SOOOO much these days! It is adorable and so fun that they always have a playmate. Quinn, however, does not like it when his sister decides that whatever he has she must have. Even if he lets her take a toy out of his hand and goes to get another one, she will come after that new toy. We are working on that!

I just love her little eye lashes! We go back this week for another helmet check as well. She's been wearing it for just over 2 months so we are hopeful that she is getting close to being out of it!

I love this picture! This is my curious and thoughtful little boy that is busy busy, but also likes to sit back and think. I feel like I can literally see the wheels turning in his mind when he is figuring out something new.

We are pretty much all done with baby food! We've come a long ways since we didn't even start cereal until 6 months. At 9 months I started slowly working in more table food and this last month they have really been eating great. They still eat baby cereal for breakfast with usually applesauce and yogurt mixed in. However, they eat table food for lunch and dinner. It's nice, especially since I try to make things that can be eaten with their fingers. Lately they have had dinners of chicken pot pie, meatballs, chicken enchiladas, chicken and noodles, and lots of veggies. Here Quinn had chicken enchiladas and peas for dinner. See it all over his face?

Riley enjoyed the chicken enchiladas and peas too! Can I just say beware of black beans the next day...their systems were cleaned out pretty well (TMI, I know).
This is one of my other favorites from Tuesday's photo session. I just love the way they are both looking at one another and you can see the interest they have in each other. I pray that they will be good friends in years to come and will always know that they can count on their sibling. Quinn and Riley,

You are 11 months old, in fact it's almost February, your birthday month and I cannot believe that we are here. I recently was at the hospital where you were born and stopped in the NICU to see Quinn's very first nurse, Beth. Walking in there, I felt like it was just yesterday that you were born and I had to go to the NICU every time I wanted to see you. That is something no parent is prepared for, but I'm so thankful for those nurses and doctors who took such good care of you and helped you get home to your dad and me.

You both have brought me so much joy over the past 11 months. I am a little sad that we will soon be leaving your baby year behind. It has been such a wonderful year full of so many miracles. Getting you both here safely, getting you out of the NICU on the same day, and watching you grow and change and learn more and more every day, all miracles!

Quinn you are still in size 3 diapers and mostly 12 month clothes. Riley you are still in size 2 diapers and mostly 9 month clothes, I wanted to move you up to size 3 (you are the weight) but they were just so big on you still. You two are great eaters, great sleepers (going to bed about 6:30 pm, sleeping till 7ish am, with naps at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm), and great players! You both are busy busy moving and learning and having such fun together! We have dance parties and move all around the house! If I am holding Riley, Quinn you crawl over and insist on me picking you up too. I usually do since I know there will come a day when you won't want to be held much anymore and I want to treasure these moments now while you do.

I want you to know how much I adore you both! I love being your "mama", as you Quinn are saying more and more. Riley you still love to say "dada" and we know you are a daddy's girl! I love spending my days with you and watching how you grow and learn. You are such blessings to me, even on the tough days when you are sick or teething (or both) I love being with you. I am praying that the month of February 2010 will slow down a little so I can savor each of these last days of your baby year.

Love,

Mom

Welcome Preston Banks Fitts

Preston Banks was born yesterday at 1:16 pm. He has been doing so great that they decided to go ahead with surgery today. The Lord has been answering so many prayers and it is so amazing to see him at work! Preston Banks is still in surgery so your continued prayers for surgery and his recovery are appreciated. You can visit their blog to leave words of encouragement and check for more news.

"The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth." Psalm 145:18

Prayers Needed...

Some good friends of ours, Dan and Elizabeth, found out at 32 weeks of pregnancy that their son has a diaphragmatic hernia. He has a hole in his diaphram that has allowed some of his intestines to come up into his chest cavity and push over his heart and lung. This is a very serious condition that will require surgery soon after he is born.

The Lord has already been at work in this situation by just allowing them to have this "extra" ultrasound that found this condition because it was not showing at their anatomy ultrasound. Elizabeth is scheduled for a c-section on Wed. January 20th to deliver Preston Banks. Because his condition is known they will deliver at an amazing hospital with all the doctors and facilities that they need to take care of their little boy.

Please lift them up in prayer as they prepare to welcome their sweet son to the world and deal with all the uncertainty that lies ahead. They are finding their strength in the Lord and their faith in Him has been an encouragement to witness. Preston Banks has a big sister, Mary Wallace, who is almost 2 and dealing with many changes in her life. Please pray for this whole family, for the Lord's strength to carry them through the coming days and weeks, for wise doctors and parents, and for peace that surpasses all understanding and comes only from the Lord!

Visit their blog to leave them prayers and words of encouragement and to also get updates once their son arrives.

Keep reading...a few new posts below...

Random

Back in Nov. my good friend Kelley found out that she was having identical twin boys (children 3 &4) and shortly after learned that her boys have twin to twin transfusion syndrome. She had to go on bed rest, be monitored very closely, and even went to Texas for surgery to try to save her boys. The Lord has been so good and this surgery has been very successful at treating this life threatening condition. We went ahead with making plans for a baby shower believing that the Lord is capable of this healing but also knowing that it may not happen if she is on complete bed rest or in the hospital. She would be almost 29 weeks so we knew that they boys could even have arrived already if their condition got worse.

So, it was so amazing to have this baby shower the other weekend and have Kelley there to enjoy it all! She's not even on bed rest anymore! Her boys are doing amazing. They are both growing, are close together in size, have good amounts of amniotic fluid, and she's over 30 weeks now! We are just rejoicing and asking for continued prayer for the rest of her pregnancy and the boys delivery (that we pray is still weeks away).

We got a cute family picture after the shower and I just love it! She and her husband, Jonathan, also dated in high school and we all went to church together. I love that every adult in this picture is holding a child, and yet soon there will be 2 more to hold! Maybe their big sisters will hold them...

Sienna is about 8 months older than Quinn and he was just loving her!

I walked into my room recently to find this... I took a picture with my phone and sent it to Geoff with the message "What gave her the impression that this was OK?" Guess the fact that I've got my hands full with other children, she didn't think I would notice...can taking care of my kiddos be my excuse for the unmade bed?!? Can I train Haley to make the bed...

Playmates

This is a sneak peak of our Prince and Princess first birthday party coming up...so cute!

They have been really cute playing together lately! It has been so fun to watch them interact. They make each other laugh all the time and if I want them both to be somewhat contained all I have to do it put Riley in the exersaucer because Quinn will come over and pull up and stay right there with her. Enjoy these pictures of Playmates:

Yes, we do have lots of pajamas days...especially on those really cold days when we don't leave the house :)

Praying for Hatii

I know that you all have seen the news and are praying for the people of Haiti. My heart hurts for them and all that they are enduring at this point. I am lifting up prayers for peace, comfort, strength, and that the Lord would sustain them as only He can.

I have been reading a blog called Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center for some time. The writer is a lady who lives in Haiti with her family and provides care for children suffering from malnutrition, as well as other basic medical services. They are located near Port-au-Prince and she is sending updates about the conditions there as well as the needs they have. Please stop by her site and send her words of encouragement and prayer as she is "on the front lines" of helping during this crisis.

I know there are lots of organizations that you can make donations to as well. If you looking for a place to give, you can make a donation to their organization through her site. It is a blessing to reach out to those that are suffering with prayers and financial help knowing that the Lord will use it all to His glory!

Christmas Fun & 10 Months Old

Is it 2010 already? Happy New Year! Well, I guess it's not a good thing that I'm starting the new year behind in my blog updates but I'll try to do better. Getting our new computer (thank you Santa) later this week will definitely help! Here's some of our Christmas Fun and 10 month pictures!



I got them these matching hats before Riley started wearing her helmet. With her helmet on Riley doesn't wear hers much but Quinn does. We took her helmet off for this fun...


She just loves her brother. She is always watching him and reaching out to him. It's so cute!

Haley had to jump in the picture. Daddy with his children (all 3 of them).

It was so nice of Santa to come to us on Christmas Eve! These kids must have been super good this year for this kind of a visit!

All the cousins with Santa. Notice Quinn falling apart! In his defense we did wake him up from his nap for this. He was not at all pleased!

Geoff and I always take a picture in front of our tree. I'm so glad that we can do this as a family!

Both of our families came to us this year. My family came on Christmas Eve and Geoff's family came on Christmas day! It was lots of fun to host and Quinn and Riley loved staying home and playing with all their new toys! The kids got these new pj's on Christmas Eve (a tradition we are starting) and I just love them.

Portions of our house now look like an aisle out of Toys R Us!

I just thought this was so cute. They are on one of the riding toys they got for Christmas.

We were having some friends over after Christmas and the kids just wanted to be held while we were trying to get ready. So Riley got to be daddy's little helper...

And Quinn got to be my little helper! I haven't worn them with this wrap since they were little and I'm really not sure how to tie it correctly but we just made something up and it worked. I need lessons if anyone knows how this works with bigger babies.

Daddy took most of the week between Christmas and New Year's off and we loved having him around! Especially at bath time because Quinn and Riley got to take them together, you need two sets of hands for this.

10 Months! Here they are with puppy! And with 2 months to go, the birthday party is officially being planned :)

For comparison here they are at 1 month...just 9 months ago. How fast they grow!

Filling out their chair :)

They got several ride on toys for Christmas, this one is a train. They don't seem all that thrilled to be squished on there together. But I think it's cute.

"This is better mom" So he's always looking so serious in pictures but I promise this child can laugh and smile. We think he's contemplating...he is very serious about his play, no one plays harder!

I tried to get him to sit down, with drums, but he wanted to stand up. He has no fear...this is a rocking chair (explains why my arms are in the picture). Isn't this the cutest outfit? Geoff went shopping for some clothes for the kids for Christmas and I got to be surprised by them. He did good!

I really can't believe this little girl is 10 months! She's come so far and just amazes me daily! Her daddy got her this outfit as well. She's adorable!

Happy girl! She smiles with her whole body!

So at 10 months Riley has finally decided that she may give this crawling a try. She still loves to roll around but she will also get up on her knees to go forward. She just makes me smile :)

Quinn and Riley,

I cannot believe that it has been just over 10 months since you first made your appearance in this world. I remember that day like it was yesterday, truly one of the happiest of my life. I look at you and see how far we have come from that day and how much you are growing. You both are the sweetest babies. You love getting hugs and comfort from your mommy, especially if you have gotten a bump.

You are into everything! Quinn you really know how to "play hard" you are focused about your play and I almost can see the wheels of discovery in your mind. Riley you love to socialize. When anyone comes over your give them your huge smile and delight in their attention. While you were in the exersaucer today your brother came over and pulled himself up and played with the toys on the exersaucer. He was intent on those toys and you were intent on him. You laughed and giggled when he would do something and I'm not even sure he knew he was the one making you laugh.

You are both having to start learning to share. There have already been some fights over some toys but you are learning to work things out. You both love playing peek a boo and yelling for more food! Hopefully we are going to learn some sign language soon (we have a DVD) so that you can ask!

Quinn, you gave me a present on Christmas Eve by saying "ma ma" as I put you to bed. It was precious and just melted my heart. Riley, you decided to stay up late with the family all there on Christmas Eve so on Christmas day you made up for it by going to bed at 4pm. We thought it was just going to be a nap but you just kept sleeping so I just woke you to nurse you and let you go right back to sleep. Your first Christmas was so much fun and your dad and I loved celebrating Christ's birth with you. We started some Christmas traditions like getting you an ornament and pj's for Christmas, and reading Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, and the story of Christ's birth from the Bible on Christmas Day. I'm sure there will be more to come, I love Christmas lights but since you still go to bed between 6 and 6:30pm we didn't have a chance to go look at them this year.

Quinn you are in size 3 diapers and 12 month clothes and Riley you are in size 2 diapers and some 6 month some 9 month clothes. You both have been fighting colds and runny noses and I think that currently you are both teething. That would explain some fussy days. But I will take them, fussy days and all!

I love you both more and more everyday! You are so much fun and it is a joy to be your mother! I thank the Lord daily for the blessing of you both!

Love,

Mom

I thought I would end this post with a cute story in pictures. Riley was playing and Quinn came crawling over to the exersaucer and decided that he wouldn't let his sister stop him from getting where he wanted to go. Apparently where he wanted to go was directly over her. He loves to pull up and stand at the exersaucer. He took a little seat to get his footing...

Stood up... and got the toys he wanted. Riley, however, wasn't so sure about the situation.

She's trying to get away...but there's no escape from this brother! Quinn had better watch out, she might be plotting her revenge.
2009 was an amazing year that brought us these two precious children. We can't wait to see what 2010 has to hold!