Watch out world!

Yep, she's walking! Grace has been toddling about the past few days. It's pretty cute. When she really gets going she puts her arms straight out in front of her, just like Isaac did when he was just getting started.



So focused.




My dear friend Julie & I took our kids to Mobius Children's Museum earlier this week & had a blast! Isaac & Gracelynn especially loved the musical instruments up on the stage.


Grace was playing the two jimbae's at once & dancing while she played. 'Atta girl!


You can't really tell from the picture, but Isaac had a hand drum in one hand & a tamborine in the other & couldn't decide how to play them both at once. It looks like we have a couple of percussionists on our hands!



I know they're not great shots, but I had to get a couple of pictures of our playmates. Olivia is with I&G in the pic above & Belle is in the pic below with Grace. They are such sweet girls - we always have a good time together & sometimes Julie & I even get to talk!



Our morning at Mobius was my first introduction to the exercise that I'm going to be getting chasing these two around. It's one thing when they go in opposite directions at home, but out in a busy, public place it is a whole different story!

A few of their favorite things...

We've finally been able to be outside the last few days - I love the sunshine!! While it has still been pretty chilly, it gives us hope for days to come. Grace & Isaac love to be outside, I would say it is among their favorite things, for sure, but for now, here are a few of their indoor favorites.


Isaac already takes after his dad (and mom!) in his love of books. He sometimes makes sounds as if he is reading to himself. We love it!


Grace frequenty entertains us with boughts of clapping and laughter. She has the greatest new laugh, it is a really deep sounding "ha, ha, ha," it is hilarious!! She now knows that we think it's funny, so she does it all the time.



Yep, Isaac is off and running. He's been walking for over a month now & he loves to chase & be chased. Grace is taking more & more steps on her own - we're confident that we'll have some high speed double chasing going on soon.



Gender roles already?! Apparently so, as Gracelynn loves to be in the kitchen when I'm cooking. She takes the apron out of the bottom drawer & has figured out how to put it on by herself. I think it looks like she's trying to read me the recipe in this picutre. :)





I had to include these two pictures to show just how much fun this pair has. One of my favorite things is to listen to them play together when I'm in the other room. For some reason they wanted to play in the kitchen all afternoon on this particular day & were being especially cuddly with each other. Isaac really likes to give his sister kisses - he bit her once; she screamed & he burst into tears - it hasn't happened since. Now, I only hope that they continue to have such a fun, loving relationship throughout the years.

What a difference a year makes...

I've admittedly been pretty nostalgic as the spring weather has me thinking back to our daily trips between the NICU & home this time last year. It is hard to believe Grace & Isaac were so tiny & fragile-I can hardly keep up with them these days! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from their month in the hospital. It was a challenging time, yet somehow a sweet time as well.

Sweet Boy


This was the first time we were able to hold them next to each other. The first couple of weeks they had to be in separate isolates while they were under the billie lights (jaundice), and being so carefully monitored. One of the nurses let us unplug their monitors for a few minutes so that we could all be together. Notice their size in comparison to our hands.


This is still one of my all time favorite photos.


This is Gracelynn all plugged in. The cast looking thing is her IV all wrapped up. They had to wear the "goggles" while under the billie lights & the things stuck to her chest are the leads for the heart & lung monitors. Until they were out from under the lights, they always had to be naked & could only come out from under the lights for 30 minutes, twice a day.


Adoring Daddy


It was incredible to move them from individual isolates, into the same crib. When we laid them next to each other, they were suddenly more calm, alert & peaceful. Bonded from birth, amazing.


They finally slept peacefully as well.


Grace & Isaac doing their going home dance. This was moments before we loaded them into their car seats for the victorious drive home!


At home at last - sound asleep in Grammie's arms. Thank you Lord for these little miracles.

Colorado

In mid-March, Mom & I took the kids down to Colorado to visit the Holmes crew. Unfortunately, our family had been sick with the stomach bug & passed it onto Mom. She had to quarantine herself to the bedroom for a couple of days - BUMMER!!
Other than that we had a great time together. We went on a number of walks, played at the park, and even tried finger painting! The first attempt was with real (non-toxic) paint, but all three kids just wanted to eat it...so, we tried round two with pudding. It was a mess, but a good time for sure. We are so thankful for our families & that we enjoy being together so much - not to mention the joy of having cousins so close in age. Now, if only Colorado weren't so far away...