6 Month Professional Pictures

These are just a few of the pics we had taken of the boys at the six month mark. The quality stinks because we had to take a picture of the picture. I'm too cheap to pay the six dollars to view it online, not to mention I felt like I was getting the upsell from the crazy picture lady so I refused based on principle as well.

I want to thank my fellow bloggers and .org readers for introducing themselves. Your kind comments really made my day, I had no idea that there was anyone who was interested in what I had to say besides our parents, siblings and those that I force feed it to when they come over. Maybe the world is a much friendlier place than I thought it was....I like that.

Weekend Pics

Going on a walk

Can we please get on with it and leave the yard?

Jake with a mohawk

Anderson with hair horns, kinda hard to see

Come out, come out, wherever you are

Me and my little guys

Daddy and double trouble

Jake is happy!

Anderson isn't!

Anderson and Jake are changing every day. Thier newest love is their stroller rides around the neighborhood. Previously when we tried to sit them up in the stroller they would get the sun in their eyes and after a few minutes slouch down and look all uncomfortable. So we would usually walk them in a reclined position and they would fall asleep. Lately they have been sitting up and loving it. They love checking out all the sights and sounds around them. Even when we were chased and barked at by a dog they weren't phased in the the least. Kevin says it's like when the Fraggles left their Fraggle Rock caves. It is like a whole new world for them outside.

They decided the blog needed a makeover but as you can tell they have tried a few different designs and just couldn't come to an agreement. Artistic differences, you know how that goes. For a few days there the blog was different by the hour but I think they finally found what they liked (Shhh....we stole it from another blog). We have also noticed we have some blog stalkers that we don't know from S.C, Canada (Alberta), D.C, California to name a few. Yes, we are watching you.....anyone care to reveal themselves? As long as you're not creepy we'd love to know whose reading our blog. Feel free to leave us a comment.

New Pics

Showing off our pearly whites.

Anderson James

Jake Thomas

Anderson standing up on his own as Jake watches in amazement.

Mmmm..... Peas

Jakers liked them!

Anders not so much!

Mommy tickling Jake

Jake pulling Mommy's hair

Worth reading:

http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_ffaf_ie

Brotherly Love

Jake and Anderson holding hands while watching Seasame Street

Mini wrestling match..."I told you to put your helmet on Anderson!"

Eating our teething ice popsicles

Today Anderson and Jake had their 6 month appointment. Each weighs about 17 and a half pounds and is about 27 inches in length. Dr. says they are doing very well and she is pleased with their progress. They got the green light to start their vegetables so they had peas for dinner. Jake liked them but Anderson wasn't as thrilled.

They also went for a helmet check-up this week and there was good news with that as well. Anderson's head is completely symmetrical in just under 6 weeks (average is 6 months)! The dr. said we can stop the helmet if we choose or we can wait one more month to ensure that he doesn't regress. So we decided he will continue to wear it till our next appointment which is August 10th...yay Anderson!

Jake has made significant progress as well. His orignal measurements showed his skull measurements from one side to the other to have a centimeter and a half difference, hence a flat spot. He now only has three quarters difference in his measurements which means he is halfway there! Unfortunately he will have to wear it longer than Anderson but we are so happy that the helmets have benefitted the boys so much! Jake has also made progress with his physical therapy for tortocolis. He is now able to turn his head 10 degrees further to the right then he was able to 6 weeks ago.

Kevin and I see so many children/babies at therapy with such debilitating and tragic physical impairments. Some of the children even have traches and are on breathing machines or are completely wheelchair bound. It makes us feel immensely fortunate and extremely appreciative to have such healthy boys.

Recently Kevin and I took the boys to the park for a walk and a ride on the baby swings. As we walked around the park we passed another family with two toddlers. The parents were Americans and the toddlers were both Asian. They were a beautiful adoptive family that brought tears to my eyes. Kevin and I were both thinking the same thing. That could have been us.....and that would have been wonderful as well. Adoption was something that we would have been doing this summer had life not unexpectedly changed. But it just got us to thinking, why us and not them? Moral of the story...children are such a precious gift and for those who read this blog who have never struggled with infertility consider yourself a lottery winner. There is no pain and anguish like that of infertility where everyone around you effortlessly creates what your heart longs for and that you slowly die on the inside for.

http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_ffaf_ie

Me...stepping off my soapbox.

Happy Half Birthday Anderson and Jake!!

Anderson James in his Elmo party hat.

Jake Thomas loves his "cool kids wear helmets" onsie from Uncle Jared.

Anderson and Jake are 6 months old today! Kevin and I went out for Mexican tonight to celebrate thier half birthday and to treat ourselves for surviving the first 6 months. I think Anderson and Jake were mad we didn't go to Chuckie Cheese because they crabbed, moaned, and occasionally screamed through the whole dinner. Let's just say we were both still chewing our food as we walked out to the car. Kevin ordered all you can eat tacos...what a waste!

That's alright, we still worship the ground they spit up on!

Great Grandpa Guitar

Great Grandpa Guitar with some of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Anderson James and his Papa James.

Jake and Great Grandpa Guitar

Last week my Grandfather met the boys for the first time. He is in a nursing home and my aunt was able to have him brought to her house for a short visit. It was wonderful to see my grandfather and have him meet the boys. Although he is unable to communicate very well it was plainly obvious that he loved being amongst his family and seeing everyone.

Teeth, teeth everywhere

The boys were very busy growing teeth this weekend! This morning Jake had his first little tooth break skin on the bottom left. Ironically the same tooth Anderson had that came through first. So here's the breakdown:

Thursday's tooth check: Nada
Friday's check: Anderson's bottom left tooth appears
Saturday's check: Nothing new
Sunday's check: Anderson's bottom right tooth appears
Monday's check: Jake's bottom left tooth appears

Now let's hope they both have their Daddy's "class A bite" (quote from his dentist) aka perfectly straight teeth without braces or retainers. The good Lord knows Mommy's genes had nothing positive to offer in that department. Just ask Papa and Nanny Guitar what cost more, Tammy's dental/orthodontic work or her college education. At least one of those expenses had a successful outcome. :)

Playing after Bathtime

Anderson sitting up all by himself.

Jake showing off his new 2 second trick.

Jake doing his tummy time after a bath.

Anderson feeling free as a bird.

Anderson now has both of his bottom teeth poking through!

Tootie update

Well I spoke too soon, even though Jake is the drooly one we saw a tooth poking through tonight on the bottom of Anderson's gums. Yay for a first tooth!

Tooties and Helmets

Jake (L) and Anderson (R) in Daddy's Alma Mater

Jake Thomas in his latest helmet sticker....wassup HOTTIE!

Anderson James with his usual smile. I swear as soon as he sees a camera he lights up.

The boys had a one month check up for their helmets today. They are both doing great, their heads have grown about a half an inch in the past month! Those are some big melons, the orthotist was shocked. Anderson has made awesome progress, his flat spot has really started to even out. Jake made progress but the poor little guy has a more stubborn head. His noggin is much more misshapen than his brother's head so it will take a lot more time to see any major changes.

Both boys are teething. Jake is showing all the classic signs....cranky, stuffy nose, drooling like a dog, etc... His gums are looking pretty ridgy so I don't think it will be too much longer before a tooth appears. Anderson seems to be teething as well but not nearly as uncomfortable as his brother.

Happy Father's Day Kevin!

A little boy needs Daddy For many, many things:

Like holding him high off the ground where the sunlight sings!

Like being the deep music that tells him all is right

When he awakens frantic with the terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain that rises in his heart

And shows him how he might get home when all else falls apart.

Like giving him the love that is his sea and air,

So diving deep or soaring high he'll always find him there.

I can already see the admiration and love that Anderson and Jake have for you and I am always in awe of your patience and unconditional love for your family. Happy First Father's Day!

ilywamhasfeae!

More Pics

Daddy and Anderson (mini Kevin) on the People Mover.

Jake stacking rings after the game. I LOVE this pic!

Family Pic

Anderson and Jake dressed for the game.

Anderson and Daddy.

Jake and Mommy

In front of the carousel at Comerica Park.

Today was the big Tiger's game down at Comerica Park. The boys did great! We had to park a distance away so we took the people mover and the boys enjoyed the ride. They liked looking out the windows and checking out all the people. We strolled around the park for awhile and then went to our seats. Soon after sitting down to watch the game the crowd cheered for a play and poor Jake was startled. We had a hard time settling him down because every time he calmed it would happen again so we decided to take them on the carousel for a ride. We play ride the horsie on our knees at home so they got to do close to the real thing on the ride. They seemed to enjoy that as well. It was a great first family outing and we are looking forward to future visits to the games as the boys grow older.

Growing up and Growing Big

Anderson and Jake jumping around together to their Seasame Street CD.

Anderson trying rice cereal for the first time.

Jake also trying cereal for the first time and loving it.

The boys have graduated onto baby food. They had their first tastes of rice cereal today and they appeared to enjoy it. Jake enjoyed it so much that we actually had to cut him off. Both of them opened their mouth for each spoonful and suprisingly most of it stayed in their mouth.

Their newest hobby is jumping together to the songs of Seasame Street. They love to bounce around in their jumperoos and listen to the music. On Thursday we will be taking them to the Tigers game for Kevin's Father's Day gift. We don't expect to stay long as the boys will probably tire out early on but it should be a great experience with them nonetheless.

First Sippy Cup Experience

Anderson James

Jake Thomas

Playing together and having fun.

Trip to Rochester Park

Anderson enjoying the baby swing.

Jake looking sleepy while swinging.

The boys didn't actually swing like this, they would've been knocking heads.

Jake rolls over!

Jake and Anderson are definitely twins! Jake rolled for the first time the same way/circumstances that Anderson did one week ago. He was even wearing the same onsie that Anderson was wearing when he did it.

I was putting Jake down for his nap and he wasn't very happy about it so he squirmed and screeched till he pushed himself over to his back. He was very surprised by his own actions and immediately stopped crying and began to giggle. Since the morning's big event he has done it two more times! I didn't catch it on camera like I did Anderson so sorry no pics! I will try to get one in the next day or two.