dance moves

shake shake.  break it down.

bath time

1st big boy bath time

video to come soon.

dinosaur boys

dinosaur pajamas and a big dinosaur toy!  

take note of addison's feet in the top right corner of the first picture - gabriel threw the balls out of the dinosaur and addison chased them.  what team work!

clap on

addison clapping

update

addison

weight:  18lbs 3oz

height:  27.5"

gabriel

weight:  17lbs 8oz

height:  27"

i only wish that i had measured my biceps after the boys were first born so that i could give you a regular report on whether my muscles are growing with the boys.

picture post

family time

brother bonding - i didn't even have to pose them for this

christmas stockings

our tree - it's fun to watch the presents grow with each visit from the ups and fedex elves

one of my favorite ornaments

another favorite

another favorite

some decor

a tradition in the making

picture post

who needs fancy toys?

silliness x2

thanksgiving craft fun

Guy Taylor Allen

a new favorite little boy entered the world today.  Guy Taylor Allen 8lbs 4oz born at 9:33am, son of my cousin David and his wife Natalie.

6 months

six months ago today was a tuesday.  it was a warm and sunny day.  kevin had been encouraging me to have things in order (afterall, i had a scheduled c-section coming up that thursday) so i spent that morning completing the last few tasks:  camera batteries charged - check.  camera and batteries packed - check.  copies of birthing plan packed - check.  i had spoken with my mom over the phone at least two or three times that morning, assuring her that i felt great and that i was certain the babies weren't on their way that day.  i poured myself a cold glass of milk, toasted some left over hamburger buns, and made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  it tasted so good and since there were two babies in there, i decided to have another.  i had finished my lunch and was completing my random tasks.  i got up from the computer desk to clear my lunch plate and that's when i felt it - this feeling that made me think:  1.  that's different.  2.  that kind of hurt a lot.  3.  i should sit.  4.  i should call the doctor - he told me he wanted to know.  5.  how long till that happens again?!  and that was it.  off to the hospital for a non-stress test, and a visit from my doctor telling me things were underway and this would be the day (that rhymed).  from there things went fast... papers signed, IV's in, disconcerting visit from scary anesthesiologist man (he wasn't pleased that i'd had lunch and never seemed to hear me say that i went into labor AFTER i ate lunch), phone calls made (my poor mom - i had her so convinced that the babies weren't coming that day that she decided to do some gardening down by the lake away from all phones), donned ugly pink hospital gown, kissed my husband, wheeled to the OR, spinal tap, lights, camera, action... and then there they were.  Addison Cole Daniels and Gabriel James Daniels - the most precious baby boys and they are all mine to keep.  

It has been the most wonderful six months of my whole life.  My sons, what joy they bring.  Happy 6 months, boys!

addison

gabriel

adopted a baby

some exciting news from our home front... we've adopted a baby!  she has come to us from north carolina but was born in boston.  we've known for a time now that she was on her way, but were unsure of her arrival date.  we welcomed her into our home late last night and she's beautiful.  

from what i understand she has a love for jazz and she likes to be tickled.  she's of chickering descent and she's quite grand.  

this morning kevin introduced her to the boys...

babies

i sat on the couch holding gabriel close against my chest while addison lay asleep in his crib upstairs.  showing his strength and curious nature he snuggled close but kept his head up looking about all the while.  i propped my feet up and closed my eyes, the previous night had been a long one.  with my eyes closed i could sense gabriel looking about, turning his head slowly from one side to the other.  moments passed and then he gently laid his head down on my chest.  a rush of warmth filled me.  the sweetness of my son snuggled up against me, there is nothing like it.  i sank into the couch a bit more and my thoughts began to wander. 

i'm sober.  i can't find the words.  i reach into the depths of myself to pull out something.  something of impact.  something that will make you understand.  maybe a fact, a story, or a description of the thoughts racing in my mind, but all i find are three simple words that matter the most.  vote pro life.  

1st snow

some first snow.  it's beautiful, but i don't know if i'm ready to give up the crisp air, crunchy leaves, and dry pavement.  

view from driveway side

view from back porch

for the grandma's

addison talking.  

gabriel.  love this face.

addison - our talker.

gabriel & daddy.

pre 5am contemplations

my pre 5am contemplations....

i'm tired.  don't idolize sleep.  why are we up before the sun?  don't idolize sleep.  did i put them to bed too early?  i'm so tired.  oh, that's where i put kevin's piano books (looking at the top shelf of the built-in corner cabinet).  i could use more sleep. where does the expression forty winks come from?  i think i'll google it.  i'm soo tired.  wikipedia is great.  i wonder if carol is on her way to work yet. must.get.more.sleep.  oh yes, they're sleeping.  good night.

more things

things someone should've told me!

#1  johnny jumpers and walkers:  love them.  fun to watch your children play in.  it will keep your children quite entertained.  something about that new sitting/standing position combined with the bouncing motion encourages pooping!!  

watch for the signs:  if your baby went from having the time of his life to whining and complaining, there is an excellent chance that he is sitting in poop that has crept above the back of his diaper and is nearing the back of his neck, courtesy of the bouncing.

things

things you've wanted to know but never dared ask...

question #1:  liz, what do you do when you're at walmart in the middle of grocery shopping with your boys and suddenly you REALLY have to go to the bathroom?      

answer #1:  hmm... good question.  glad you never asked.  the answer is, you don't.  you finish shopping, check out, load the vehicle, drive home, unload the vehicle, put away the groceries that need to be cold, wash hands, take the boys out of their carseats, feed them, burp them, put them on the ground to play, and THEN you go to the bathroom.  and in extreme cases you do all of the above and add in prayer.  a lot of prayer.     

got talent?

never before seen footage from that show "america's got talent".

the robot

the worm

crunchy leaves

crawling?

we went to the criscitello's yesterday (love that place) and gabriel started doing tricks i'd never seen before.  when we came home i tried to get him to perform for the camera and this is what i got:

you really should've seen him at the criscitello's, though, he was totally moving with a mission.

side note:  we've had a few sleepless nights around here - perhaps related to teething, perhaps not, i'll let you know when a tooth pops through - but after the boys spent the afternoon with libby and then the evening with sophia, they seemed to have caught the sleep anointing.  gabriel only woke up once last night and addison twice.  don't laugh when i tell you that sophia sprinkled her anointed sleepy dust on the boys heads as we slid our shoes on and headed out the door last night - it worked!  

have i mentioned lately how much we love our boys?!  oh, what joys - the joy of our home and the joy of our hearts.  i can't quite find just the right words... just... they're MY BOYS and i adore them!

one more thing.  this weather, i love.  crunchy leaves.  sweaters.  corduroy.  color.  rosy cheeks.  hot apple cider.  

ralph

he's worm food now.  well, maybe not quite worm food - kevin sealed his mouse carcass in a ziplock bag before tossing him in the trash.  we're now working on trapping his cousin, stuart.  cousin stuart managed to escape the trap last night, but not without losing some of his mouse fur.  he'll be back, they always come back!

rodent update

pesky little rodent. ralph, as we've affectionately named him, is a daring little bugger.  kevin promptly set the trap near the refrigerator upon arriving home last night - we checked it before going to bed only to find the cheese missing and no dead ralph.  meaning, as we sat one room away watching tv, ralph was working a stealth operation.  tonight we set the trap with peanut butter (cue sinister laugh).  

sleeping with bees, walking with mice

'twas two hours till sunday school, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, except me.  my teeth were brushed, i styled my hair, i donned wool pants cause there was a chill in the air.  the children were nestled all snug in our bed, while visions of nursing danced in their heads.  i awoken my hubby with a gentle back rub-y and told him it was time to hop in the bath tub-y, when above our heads arose such a clatter, kevin sprang out of bed to see what was the matter.  around our heads it flew like a flash, i reached for my shoes to give it a bash.  it was a bee, you see, and not just one or two but multiply that by three.  death, death to the bee!  

then, just moments ago while sitting on my couch a mouse, A MOUSE, ran right through my house.  i cried out to my spouse, there's a mouse, A MOUSE in our house.  so off to the store to purchase a trap, oh how we wish to hear it SNAP.  

calling all insects, rodents, and horrible pests you'll stay away from our home if you know what's best!

addison jump-up

discoveries

32 hours of driving time from eagle pass, mexas to potsdam, ny.  i decided/discovered a few things along the way.  first, i am pleased to do business with any establishment that supplies disposable paper toilet seat covers.  second, arkansas smells funny.  lastly, pflugerville is not just the sound i make when i sneeze - it is also the name of a city in texas.

lesson learned

important bulletin:  not all DC adapters are created equal.  apparently the fine print on the adapter is indeed pertinent information.  if one were to carefully inspect the label, one might find that DC adapters are not universal - they may vary in power allowances.  in the event that one would follow the instructed power allowances, one would be able to avoid unfortunate events like frying baby video monitors (hypothetically speaking, of course).  

family time

we're back from texas, or as i like to call it, "mexas" because it's way more mexico then texas.  we had such a great time that we didn't want to leave.  driving through ft.drum yesterday i told kevin that i wouldn't even hesitate to turn the car around and drive right back.  

more stories to come from our travels, but for now:

the grandkids

brothers

ready for the pool

first swim

swimming with daddy

uncle and nephew

family photo

exhausted after time in the pool

baby blues