2X the hugs, 2X the fun, 2X the kisses, We're 8 months old everyone!

Well, unfortunately we didn't get to do anything fun to celebrate their 8 month birthday. Ellie came down with bronchitis/RSV last weekend, and low and behold, Molly started with it towards the end of the week...leaving us with 2 sick babes:( We quickly got into the routine of breathing treatments with the nebulizer, baths every night, suctioning the gunk out of their noses, keeping them elevated, a lot of Vicks, and a lot of soothing before bedtime. Needless to say, we have clearly taken for granted how lucky we have been to have kept them healthy thus far! On the up side, I think Ellie is on the mend and Molly is not too far behind her:)

Here are some pictures of the week approaching the 8 month mark. As you can see, they are starting to get goofier by the day. It is so fun to watch how happy they make one another and how much more they are starting to interact and entertain one another. It is definitely starting to make it easier for me to enjoy a long shower without having to rush out to go stop one of them from crying!

One word...PRICELESS!

Teamwork!

Ellie making Molly laugh...doing what she does best!

I left these 2 goofballs playing while I cleaned up the kitchen...then I glanced over into the room from the kitchen and Molly had slipped down onto her back and they were both eating Molly's toes!

My sick little bunny! You can see her red nose:(

Signature sign that someone is sleepy!

Happy little Ellie:)

Sweet little Molly:)

Molly again...

7 1/2 Months

We had our "6 month" appointment last week...a little late due to my insurance with my new company, but considering the doctor tracks their development off of their "correctional age" anyway, the timing worked out perfect!

Here are their sizes at 7 1/2 months:
Molly:
15 lbs 10.5 oz
27 inches tall

Ellie:
15 lbs 7.5 oz
26 inches tall

Ellie has shot through within the past couple of months...when we went for their ear infections at 6 mo, Ellie was almost 2 lbs less than Molly...now they are only 3 oz apart! It is strange how everything they have learned has been neck and neck, and now same goes with their sizes. They rolled over within days of each other, started sitting up within weeks of each other, and now we're inching our way towards crawling...together:) Neither of them lasts more than seconds on their back before rolling onto their belly. Molly loves to go back and forth and Ellie will keep rolling in one direction. I think crawling is still a little ways out, so I'm trying to appreciate their immobility for now!

Just this past week, I got their high chairs out (thank you Aunt Krissy!) and made their official seats at the dinner table. They are now eating with us and will munch on canned veggies, fruit, and litte pieces of whatever we're eating. Watching Lola eat ALL table food has helped encourage me to have them try whatever we are having...it helps when their 6-week-older cousin is the 3rd child!

Roles have also reversed lately since Ellie got her teeth. She is now a little tougher to get to sleep and Molly lays right down, sticks her thumb in her mouth, and is out. Ellie has also been waking up around 4, and I'm assuming she's in pain cause this is new for her. Molly has been a champ and will go to bed around 7 and wake up around 7...I'm trying to take advantage of this while it lasts, as I have learned that these great sleeping phases don't always last for long!

GREAT shot of those little teeth!

Happy Ellie after bathtime:)

Molly loves petting Jackson...

Molly also fell in LOVE the other night...she couldn't take her eyes off Carter<3

My sweet little sleepy Molly

So happy again!

Ellie munchin down her little puffs, just like their cousin Ayla liked to do:)

Proud Molly eating on her own:)


***We are also excited to announce that we will be getting another GIRL cousin this May!!! GIRLS ROCK!!!!***

Mr. & Mrs. Parr

A couple weeks we headed to Meeker to celebrate the new, Mr. & Mrs. Parr! With the storm that was coming through the mountains, it took us about 6 hours to get there...resulting in road closures on the way home from accidents...but well worth the drive and quality time in the car!

Steve and Sharon had a close, intimate wedding celebration with family only. This may sound like it would be small, but I think it was the largest "close family only" wedding i've ever been to! The pictures below explain what I'm talking about...enough said.

It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a great dinner and reception. And even though what comes with having my precious baby girls is me having to opt out of the party early, the rest stayed up to the wee hours of the night dancin' and partying their booties off:)

The Parr side of the family...

Sharon's kids and millions of grandkids!

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Parr

Apparently Ellie loves beer:)

The guys...before all the shots!

The Dodds family (w/o Jackson)

Yaya and Ellie

Our amazing babysitter Emily!

The dad with his kiddos:)

2011-->2012

Before we headed into 2012, Papa was able to come visit for a couple days and spend some time with the girls. Even though I still had to work and he wasn't here very long, it was still a short but sweet visit:) We didn't do much, considering how much work and effort it is to take the girls out to eat, I figured us hanging out at home on the floor was our best bet...at least until next time when they'll probably be in high chairs!

We rang in the New Year by having everyone asleep and in bed by 10:00pm, which I didn't complain about:) A good nights sleep resulted in happy babies for NY day! They got to partake in NY day brunch at the Brown Palace...their 2nd visit there! I'd say these girls are off to a good start by getting to have tea and brunch there! As if they don't already hog all the attention out in public, dressing them up really puts them up on a pedestal for people to "ooo and aww" at:)

Papa with Molly and Ellie

Ellie and Molly

Sippy cups!

You never know what you'll find while doing laundry!

Happy New Year!!!

I loved Ellie's facial expression while Molly poses for the camera!

Oh hello Jackson!

TURKS & CAICOS

So 2012 has already made a great start to the new year! Braden planned and surprised me with a "surprise vacation!" Many people have asked how he pulled it off, cause he did a great job at it! He went behind my back and worked out details with my boss so I would be able to take the time off. He planned the location with customers from the shop. He managed to find out passports...fortunately neither of them had expired yet!

When we showed up at the airport, I still had NO idea where we were going. The front desk lady participated in the surprise as well and had me step away from the desk. The security check point proceeded to say "I see you will have 4 layovers..." as he knew it was a surprise as well.

We got onto the Miami flight and I would have been perfectly happy with that being the final destination, but it was not. Then when we got to the final gate, the screen showed "Provo, Turks & Caicos." I was so surprised and excited that was where we were going!

Needless to say, the trip was AMAZING! Unfortunately, the second night there I was up all night with either food poisoning or the flu, which was not fun, however, I was able to spend the entire next day napping by the pool...sounds rough huh?

We both missed the girls a TON, but it was a short trip so we were able to enjoy it knowing we would see them soon. They reported back to us that they were having a blast at Yaya and Bompa's house, so as long as they were having fun, we could too!

Happy New Year!

I'm not sure how 2012 is going to beat 2011, but I'm willing to find out!