That's My Boy!!!

Check this out...

Yes, that's an EMPTY 5 ounce bottle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I don't think I could be any more proud of him at this current moment!  He amazes me every day!

The List Keeps Growing...

Yesterday we found out that some x-rays they took of Bennett's neck, before they could start therapy to stretch it, came back with some issues.  The radiologist said that there was concern for instability at C1 and a possible malformation of the vertebrae.  While yes it's concerning to hear things could be wrong with your child, this one was the last bit of news I could take with a good attitude.  I just feel like Bennett has been through so much and is such a trooper.  I would put him up against any baby to be the happiest baby ever!  I feel like all I hear is what's wrong with Bennett with all the appointments we go to, and I am just waiting for the day when someone says "Everything is great, we don't need to see you anymore."  I feel like we need to stop adding to the list of things Bennett needs to work on (he already has plenty and we do good to fit it all in sometimes) and just let him be a baby, and I don't want to feel like a bad parent for doing that.

Thankfully after going to Scottish Rite today, which by the way is an AMAZING hospital (I would know...we have been to all DFW has to offer), they feel that his neck is fine for now and that we need to have it looked at again in 9 months.  At that time they will probably have to sedate him for a MRI.  I'm just thankful they didn't want to do that now since he has only been off oxygen a short time.  They also told us that unless we just wanted to for cosmetic reasons that they didn't see a need for him to get evaluated for a helmet.  That was great news to us too because I was dreading having to take it on and off after seeing how much he hates us to put his arm brace on every night.

I know it sounds silly, but I see Bennett as a 'normal' baby despite everything he has been through and I'm just ready for him to get to feel like a 'normal' baby.

Family Pictures Take 1...

We finally decieded it was time to go take our first set of family pictures!  Weeks of planning went into this trip...finding a location, picking out outfits, returning outfits, strageticaly planning our schedule so the boys would sleep on the way there and be in good moods when we arrived, and hunting for a photographer that didn't charge an arm and a leg.  None of that matteres when you get there and the babies start crying before you even try to take the first picture.  I can always rely on Bennett to give me a smile, but he just couldn't turn his frown upside down.  Blake for the most part was great, he loves being outside!  He slept for an hour and a half in his stroller...that is unheard of at home!

My friend Lindsey, who was my neighbor in the hospital, took our pictures for us and she brought along her adorable twin girls, Addison and Elle, and the cutest toddler ever, Luke!  We had a great time with all of the kids and it's always fun to get out and do things with another mom of twins!  She is an inspiration to me and is Super Mom in my eyes (this girl can do it all, and without help)!

We started with family pictures first incase the boys didn't last so at least we would have one of the 4 of us together!  Good thing we did, because it went down hill after this!

Bennett tolerating us...

Blake tolerating us...

...then came the sad face!

Luke, Addison and Elle (don't ask me which one is which!)

Bennett during our picnic lunch

Lindsey, Luke, Addison and Elle

Silly Luke :-)

My future daughter-in-laws!  How sweet are they!

I love this smile that Blake gives us!

We had to take what we could get at this point!

Bennett found his smile for a minute!

So I like to consider this our practice run for Family Pictures Take 2!  While at the Dallas Arboretum Lindsey and I bought a season pass to take the kids back and take more pictures.  I am determined to take the boys back and put them in the pumpkins in redicilous outfits until they smile!

Adventures at 6 Months Old!

It's hard for me to believe that the boys are already 6 1/2 months old!  I was just thinking the other day that I will need to start planning their 1st birthday in a few months!  Where did the time go?

Blake's Stats:                                            Bennett's Stats:
Weight:  17 pounds 3 ounces (38%)         Weight:  17pounds 2 ounces (37%)
Height:  27.75 inches (85%)                      Height:  26 inches (28%)
Head Circumference:  46 cm (94%!)         Head Circumference:  43.5cm (37%)

Blake's 6 Favorite Things at 6 Months:
1.  One on one interaction...He would be happy as a clam to have undivided attention all day.  He is going to be our social butterfly!
2.  Being outside...It's amazing how Mother Nature can calm a baby so quickly.
3.  His Swing...inside or outside and the faster the better.  He is our dare devil!
4.  Bounce-a-roo seat
5.  Bath time!  No matter how tired he is he always finds the energy to play in the tub!
6.  Going for walks in his stroller...we try to go every day!

Bennett's 6 Favorite Things at 6 Months:
1.  His hands.  They have replaced his pacifier except when he is going to sleep.  He is becoming a proficient thumb sucker too.
2.  Tummy time mat...he could lay there forever and play
3.  Waking up...he is the happiest little guy first thing in the morning.  He gives me the biggest smile every time he sees me look over his crib rail!
4.  Baby food.  I am so thankful for this one!  He laughs and talks the whole time we eat and if I'm lucky I get a shower of baby food when he blows me raspberries!
5.  Making faces at mom...he has learned how to stick his bottom lip out to get attention and when you look at him he just smiles and laughs. 
6.  TV...I set him in his bouncy seat while he finishes his tube feed at least once a day and he watches The Mickey Mouse Club...he loves all of the colors an the music!

Mom's Favorite Things at 6 Months:
1.  Listening to the boys talk to each other.  They really take turns going back and forth!
2.  Watching the boys hold hands when I put them on the play mat next to each other.  It's so sweet and just reinforces my theory that they will only love each other and never fight!
3.  Seeing the boys experience new things for the first time.  It's so great to see someone discover the world and all of the great things it holds!
4.  Giving the boys a bath...and getting one at the same time!  You almost need a rain coat if you don't want to get wet!
5.  Rocking my boys to sleep!  There is nothing sweeter than holding a sleeping baby.  They will never be too old for this in my book!
6.  Looking forward to the things I will get to do with them.  I'm currently looking forward to taking them swimming for the first time next summer the most...with how much they love bath time I can't wait to see what they think of a pool :-)

Here are some pictures of our advenures at 6 months old!

First Hair Cut!

Today we took Blake for his first hair cut!  It may seem a little early for a first hair cut at 6 months old, but he was born needing a hair cut.  Today was more of a trim to tame the wildness, but nonetheless still his first hair cut.