Thank you for the GREAT advice Sara!!!

Maria finished her latest round of antibiotics for her ear infections on Saturday.  By Sunday she was already pulling at her ears and fussing again.  My sister in law, Sara, suggested we take her to a chiropractor to help her ears drain.  I never knew a chiropractor could do something like that for a baby.  Gary took Maria in to Dr. Mehringer yesterday and we seen an improvement almost immediately!

My mom said Maria just babbled all day long after Gary dropped her back off.  This morning she woke up smiling and babbling!  I couldn't believe it!  We have our happy baby girl back!  She will go back to Mehringer tomorrow for another adjustment. 

Thank you so much for the suggestion Sara, we would have never considered it otherwise! 

Hey Ladies!

The look Henry is giving says it all!  He is so his father in this picture - quite the charmer :)

Mamaw's Angels

All of mamaw's angels

Emma holding Maria, Eden and Mason holding Henry

Christmas Eve

Here are some pics from Christmas at Mamaw and Papaw's.  Henry enjoyed all of the attention he was getting and Maria was sleeping through most of it.  Aunt Jen got Henry "Oh, the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss.  She wrote Henry a very sweet letter in it and made me cry like a baby!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Christmas takes on a whole new meaning now that we have Henry and Maria.  It is such a beautiful thing!  I will hopefully be posting some pics and video later today.  We hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!

Maria's ENT Visit

Maria will need tubes.  She will be getting them put in on January 13th at the St Clare Hospital in Fenton.  Until then, looks like we will have a Miss Maria Madpants to deal with :)

Maria has ENT visit today!

Gary and I have been counting down to this!  Maria finally goes to see the ENT specialist today.  She got another ear infection last week and the poor girl has no voice left from all the screaming she did.  We were warned that the dr has his tube surgeries scheduled out past 3 weeks.  We are hoping he can get her in sooner. 

Pics from the Lodge

We had so much fun here!!  It will definitely become an annual tradition for us :)

Momma Time

Momma took a break this weekend.  Me, my best friend and my sister headed out to the Four Seasons Lodge and spent the day at Spa Shiki - I WAS IN HEAVEN!!!  Daddy stayed home with the kids, I was able to get a quick pic of daddy with Henry before leaving.  So sweet!!

Maria got run over by a reindeer...............

and we think it was an inside job :)

Family Photos

We had some of the family over last Sunday to try and take some Christmas pics - we had all the kids crabbed out by the time it was all done.

Henry & Maria at Cole's Christmas Program

Henry and Maria were sooooo thrilled to at the Christmas Program last night :)

Cole's Christmas Program

We went to Cole's Christmas Program at St. John's last night.  Cole had a piano solo and did a wonderful job!  Here are some pics of Cole's performance.

Denny's Graduation

We are so very proud of you Denny!  You are going to do great!

Thank you Aunt Sheila!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Aunt Sheila!!!  Henry and Maria had their 4 mth well appointment today and daddy forgot all about it.  We had to call Sheila at the last minute last night to see if she could help me out with their doctor visit. 

She was such a huge help.  She took care of Happy like my Pappy Henry while I handled Miss Maria Madpants :)  They got their second round of immunizations and did great. 

Maria still has her double ear infection so she is still going through her Miss Maria Madpants spells-poor girl :(  She goes to the specialist on Dec 21st, we can't wait! 

Henry is 12lbs 11 oz and 24 in long.  Maria is now 12lbs 10 oz and 24 1/2 in long.  They are growing so quickly!

Maria's Turkey Day Hangover :)

"Oh, my pounding head!"

Three in a row

Me changing Henry, Gary changing Maria and Jodi changing Evan.

Diaper backward spells repaid.  Think about it :)

Please bless my great grandma

Maria with her hands folded in prayer

Aunt Shannon

"Only an Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend." -Spanish Proverb

Some Photos from Turkey Day

Momma's back to the gym!

I have been looking so forward to getting back to the gym.  Now that the kiddos are sleeping through the night for the most part, I got my membership reactivated last week.  Since my body is in "twin shape"  I wanted to wait until there was a slow time at the gym before I went back in for the first time.

I chose last night, figuring it's Thanksgiving, who in their right mind would be working out after stuffing their face?  I couldn't believe how many were just as out of their mind as I was! 

I couldn't believe how different it was to work out.  A "I just delivered twins" body does not look so graceful on that equipment :)  I have never had to "adjust" a belly to fit on or around equipment.  It was quite comical. 

I didn't realize how weak my ab muscles still are.  I got on one of the ab machines and gave it my all and all I could do was laugh out loud!  I couldn't get that thing to budge! 

I was given a few "WTF?" looks.  I wish I could find a shirt that says "Excuse this mess - Postpartum body in training"

Congrats Denny!!

My brother, Denny, has passed his test for a Class A Police Officer's License (I think I got that right).  His graduation will be Monday. 

He has been working hard at finishing his classes/training and his wife, Lisa, has been so supportive. 

With my job, I see what Law Enforcement Officers have to deal with and I respect them that much more.  It takes a person of great strength, patience and determination to do what they do.  Although I do worry about my brother doing such a dangerous job,  I am so proud of you Denny and I know you will do great!  I love you!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Gary and I are still adjusting to getting to places on time with 2 kids :)  We were so busy cooking, cleaning and getting the kids ready for their first turkey day that I forgot to post a Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful time (and wonderful food) at my mom's yesterday (will post pics later). 

We are so lucky to have Gary's mom, Bert, schedule their family get together's around everyone else.  Bert checks with all of her kids before setting a get together time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It is so wonderful to spend time with both sides of the family without feeling like you have to hurry up and leave to make it to the next one.  Thank you so much Bert!

We will be doing the Maune Thanksgiving tomorrow, we can't wait!

Wal-Mart Firsts

We took Henry and Maria to Wal-Mart for the first time and it tuckered them out!  Mom and Dad also had a "Wal-Mart First"  We went to Wal-Mart without running into Andy! 

Look at those eyes!

He's already learing how to work momma with those eyes

From great oaks, little acorns grow!

Henry looking just like daddy!

You better recognize! :)

Henry and Maria are beginning to recognize faces more and more each day now.  It was very obvious this weekend that they recognize their Aunt Sheila.

She came over and vistied with them Saturday evening and was over Sunday afternoon.  As soon as Henry seen her again on Sunday, he started lighting up like a Christmas tree!  I was feeding Henry when she came over so she went to Maria first and that was driving Henry crazy!

Both Henry and Maria were loving aunt Sheila being there.  For those of you who do not know Sheila, she has one of those smiles that once you see it, you can't help but smile big yourself.  Henry and Maria just love watching her and her smile :)

Growing Up So Quickly!

They are growing up so quickly! We got the ok to start Henry & Maria on cereal.  We had our first feeding last night.  They both did so well!  Maria was eating like a Maune - she gobbled up the first bite and the moment I took the spoon away from her mouth, she was crying.  I can't believe how something as simple as feeding them cereal was such a proud and bitter sweet moment :)

You Forgot Something Daddy!

Maria was all packed & ready to go hunting this weekend

Mini Me Hunters

Looks like Henry & Maria will be following in our footsteps with a love for the outdoors!