Our pride and Joy

There is so much I need to get done this evening, so this post is going to be short.

Saray got her second tooth not even a week after getting her first one. Joshua is working on his two top ones. Hopefully they will pop through sooner rather than later, for all our sakes.

You know the real reason you came here was to see pictures, not to hear me ramble on...so here are the pictures :)


Joy = Joshua

Our little sweetheart

Saray, Joshua and Charlie

Just hanging after a walk


Easter 2009


They light up our world

7 months old

Where does the time go? I realized today that in just 5 months our little miracles, Saray and Joshua, will be ONE! We've already crossed the halfway point! I keep trying to remind myself to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy each and every moment of TODAY with these two precious babes. The laundry can wait just one more day or at least until both are napping and those stinkin' dishes can wait as well, but my kids they will not wait on growing up. They need me to read them books, interact with them and play peek-a-boo 100 times in a row, etc. I don't want to miss it, any of it. I don't want those dishes to more important than my kids. Hearing my kids laugh should be way more important than having an organized house. Lord, help me to treasure these moments.

Okay about the kids:
Joshua has become a chatterbox; he talks when he wakes up from his naps, he talks when he goes down for his nap, he talks when he plays, he talks when he eats, basically he talks all the time. We love it! It's such a sweet sound to our ears. He is really starting to get strong. For the longest time he didn't really feel the need to move, but now he's arching his back to see this thing or that thing behind him or over there. It won't be long before he is rolling all over with Saray.

Saray loves Joshua so much. She laughs or squeals with delight whenever she sees him. It's so fun to hear them laugh together. Joshua will make a noise and Saray just thinks it's hilarious. They are such buds. When they are laying close to each other, Saray likes to touch his face or grap his hand or foot (whatever is closest) or she'll roll all over him. Lots of laughter come from Jer and I as we watch Joshua and Saray interact. Saray is such a mover, everyday she moves more and more and explores everything (including the humidifier). She studies everything so intensely. She'll look at something for minutes at a time just studying it, touching it or licking it if she can. Oh! Saray got her first tooth the other day!

They have finally recovered from RSV. Nasty stuff. We're just glad that they are back to their normal selves.


Enjoy the pictures! Keep an eye on www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour for a ton of new photos...


Joshua - 7 months old

Saray and Joshua

Mommy and twins!




Finally a current picture of the 4 of us!

Great Grandma Chapeau, Grandma McMahan
met us for a quick visit in Sioux Falls

We stopped to give the kiddos a break from
their car seats...Saray had a great time!

Our happy boy, Josh

Saray loves books - 7 months old

Joshua and Saray


They sure do love each other...

Saray doesn't quite understand the word "Gentle!"

Notice: Saray is digging her nails into Joshua's arm...

6 Months

It's been just over a month since my last post, sorry about that! It's been crazy busy here; the days fly by before I have time to think about what day it is. Our days seem so much more fuller, even though Saray and Joshua generally go down for the night between 7:30 -8:00. My nights are consumed with preparing a very late dinner for Jer and I, making baby food, washing/folding laundry and lots more dishes than before (due to feeding babies!). Once all that is caught up, the night is spent and I am ready to climb into bed, who has time to sit down and write a blog that doesn't sound all mumbled.
This past week Joshua has been sick with RSV, so he's been sleeping very poorly at night, so I haven't felt like I've gotten my break. We were hoping Saray wouldn't get it, but yesterday, sure enough, Saray was coughing and running a fever. Grr. When you have sick kids the days just seem extra challenging and more chaotic than you'd like them to be. More tears are shed, way more fussing to listen to, there are noses to wipe (which they hate), more clothes to change due to more bodily fluids than usual, more times to pump since they're appetites are decreased. Oh the wonderful, fun filled days (and nights!) when the kiddos are sick. Makes you really enjoy the days when they are healthy. But somewhere in the middle of all that, I find joy. The kiddos still manage to smile and giggle a little, which makes it a bit more bearable.

Saray has found her freedom in movement; she is rolling EVERYWHERE! She literally goes from one side of the nursery to the other and back again. She often finds herself up against the wall or an open door or the leg of a crib, at that point she looks at me and screams,as if telling me to tell whatever is in her way to move! Her song is..."I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it!" Saray is getting stronger; she is sitting up by herself for a few minutes and sitting up to reach a book if she is leaning against my chest between my legs.

Joshua is my mellow, mellow boy. He is such a snuggle bug, he would lay there and snuggle all day if you'd let him. He loves being diaper-free, he gets super excited and kicks his legs and just smiles and squeals with delight. He often gets a bit mad when you put his diaper back on and even his clothes. Joshua is rolling from his tummy to his back and is rolling to his side, but for now he stays where you put him. He is very ticklish, his feet his thighs his chin, sides, everywhere really. He has such a fantastic laugh, it's so contagious.

On Feb 28th, we all were in my sister Alesha's wedding. I was a bridesmaid, Jer was an usher, Joshua was the ring-bearer, Saray was one of the 3 flower girls. Joshua and Saray were pulled down the aisle in a red wagon. They were fantastic even though they were really tired. I don't have any pictures yet, but once I have some copies, I will post them.

I suppose you're wanting to see a few pictures, so here you go. Remember you can always view a ton of pictures of Joshua and Saray at www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour

This is what happens when you hit a spoon full of peas...

So serious sometimes!

Saray really enjoys balls

Super smile!

My first time trying to feed both of them at the same time,
they got a little messy, but now we have it under control!

Joshua - happy and mellow

Saray learning to sit up

Joshua - 6 months old

Saray always attacks Joshua

Saray - 6 months old

Teething, sippy cups and overalls…

Joshua and Saray are keeping me very busy; it seems as though it has gotten even busier now that both Joshua and Saray are eating solid foods. It takes twice as long to get them feed since I have to breast feed both of them (mind you, they won’t nurse at the same time…) then offer solids and then breast-feed again. It takes about an hour and 30 minutes just to get both of them nursed and fed. *phew* I know it will get better once they both are comfortable eating solids. Saray really loves cereal and peas. I don’t think she has decided about carrots yet. She absolutely loves the freedom of a sippy cup; she even is controlling it with her hands (with a little help of course). Joshua finally started on cereal after taking a week off from trying, he seems to enjoy it much more now. Joshua thinks a sippy cup is a chew toy, so I guess we’ll stick with the breast-feeding or the bottle.

Joshua cut his second tooth on Sunday (Feb 8th), just a few short weeks after getting his first tooth. They sure do grow up and change constantly. Saray is a drool queen and chews on everything she comes in contact with, but no teeth yet.

Joshua and Saray are absolutely amazing babies. Jer and I took them to Rapid City for the day this Saturday, they were fantastic! We went shopping, then we stopped by a bridal shop to see if my dress fit for Alesha’s wedding (after 4 trips to Rapid it FINALLY fit!) and then we went to Olive Garden for dinner. They were simply awesome! How blessed we are to have such content babies.

Enjoy the photos from the few photos shoots we did. Notice that not every picture is “picture perfect”. Saray often slips into the laying down position and Joshua droops into the “I am so done” position. They are so fun to capture. I will try and post more day-to-day pictures next blog.

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5 months old

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Joshua and Saray are 5 months old…crazy how that happens.  All of a sudden the long nights and countless feedings start to become more of just a memory…it’s all a little bittersweet… but this season that we are headed into is going to be so much fun!

Saray and Joshua are doing amazing at night; most nights they sleep 9-10hours, they wake up and feed at 5am and go back down until 8:00 or 8:30am.  Totally do-able!  (Thanks to the Baby Wise method…)

Last week we started them on cereal; Saray loves it and opens wide.  Joshua on the other hand is still trying to decide what he thinks about cereal.  5 minutes into it he’ll start to talk, which is when I notice he has NOT swallowed the last few spoonfuls of cereal, which in end means he’s done.   Saray loves the sippy cup (I find that funny as she doesn't like the bottle) yet Joshua just gums the sippy cup nipple and happily declines. 

Oh!  Joshua cut his first tooth last week on the 21st!  That just blew me away; he wasn’t fussy or drooling much at all.  He has managed to bite me a few times – no fun - but he’s learning that is unacceptable.

   Enjoy the photo album! 

Happy and Content

 

Joshua and Saray are such happy and content babies, and when I say this I don’t mean that they are happy and content only when being held.  They love to pla  y with their toys by themselves yet they enjoy hanging out together or with us.  They are such amazing babies, I couldn’t have asked for better babies.  The Lord knew that I needed happy babies; I think I would lose my mind if I had 2 colicky babies, even if I had one that was colic. 

Their little personalities are really starting to show.  Joshua all of a sudden has become a real ball of fire.  He constantly moves when he is nursing (which is hard to handle sometimes when you just want him to just focus and eat).  He’s little arms & legs go all over the place when he is happy and excited.  Oh and he loves his thumb, he is officially our little thumb sucker, no doubt about it.  And he will only suck his left thumb…maybe he be a lefty like his mommy!  Saray has to keep an eye on everyone and everything.  She will strain to see what’s happening behind her or to the right or to the left…even when nursing.  She’ll arch her to see where the music is coming from.  She is finally starting to giggle for me (she has giggled for Daddy, Grandpa and Auntie Alesha)….what fun that is!  She is bound and determined to grow up fast, you can just see it her eyes. 

 

19 weeks old!  (1-9-09)

4 Months Old

We had Saray and Joshua weighed on the 19th of December. Saray weighed in at 10 lbs 2 oz and she is 24 inches long. Joshua weighed in at 10 lbs 15 oz and he is 22 1/4 inches long.
Saray giggled for the first time on Christmas day with her auntie Alesha and Grandpa Ivan. She has yet to giggle for me. Although last night Jer let Saray touch his face (the facial hair is always so silly I suppose) and she thought it was just hilarious! Joshua is so vocal and he's getting louder and using lots of sounds. Saray is still a bit on the quiet side but she studies EVERYTHING. She has just started enjoying the exersaucer, she can even spin herself around in the seat. Smart kiddos!
We had such a wonderful, special Christmas. There was/is so much joy in our hearts this Christmas season. Remembering the real reason behind this season always makes my step lighter but also the joy of our growing family. Having the twins around sure warms our hearts. Also, my parents have a foster child, Alli (she's 1), well anyway, everything is approved for Alli to officially be apart of the Culver family. The adoption date is set for Feb 13 (the one year mark when my parents got Alli). Also, my brother Gabe got married on the 30th, so we have another new sister as well. Our family just continues to grow, grow, grow.

So beautiful...my girlie

Joshua brightens my day with that silly smile

God answered our prayer...baby(ies) by this Christmas.

Santa and the twins

This photo has NOT been edited, she truly is this strong...3 1/2 months old

My bright-eyed wonder...Girlie

"Get her off me, Mommy!" - Joshua and Saray 16 weeks old

"I think I'll just eat the seat..." - Joshua

My little happy man...J-man!