tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35934519105061891312023-11-16T08:07:34.341-08:00Hall FamilyJennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-25744706746491972672008-11-08T12:32:00.000-08:002008-11-25T13:51:02.706-08:00A Spooky Night in Arkansas...<div><div><div><div><div><div><br /> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHqjUjXbmuztSWTAJrZDCe9DvDGbt5rK7V6YnzDFzNfMpIobwo4K0nGFWv2btS4rzSfYT6JFsfbcYlrRo4-GROqE-uXddxOG24fZXlKTESkiCw3iAKIKFvvVLaf1vkSjuiUjhD7HTllao/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272702943447403394" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHqjUjXbmuztSWTAJrZDCe9DvDGbt5rK7V6YnzDFzNfMpIobwo4K0nGFWv2btS4rzSfYT6JFsfbcYlrRo4-GROqE-uXddxOG24fZXlKTESkiCw3iAKIKFvvVLaf1vkSjuiUjhD7HTllao/s320/fall+and+halloween+035.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div>****So, sorry this entry has taken so long to post, but something was wrong with the camera, or the computer (I am not sure which, Josh fixed it) and I couldn't get picutres to download. So, a month later, here is Halloween and some other fun stuff:<br /><br />In order to not freak Parker out too much, Halloween is SPOOKY, but not SCARY at our house. Parker loved seeing anything having to do with Halloween and, with his eyes really big, saying, "Ooooo! Spooooooky!" Sam's Club has now become "The Spooky Store" because of all their big blowup Halloween decorations. We went to Sam's frequently throughout the month of October, just to walk around and look at the "spooky stuff." (Also for a little mommy sanity, we just needed to get out of the house! I love Sam's because their carts hold all three of my kids!) Hopefully the Christmas decorations will do the same for us in the coming months! :)<br />So, I decided early in October that Wyatt and Brynley were going to be The Frog Prince (Wyatt) and Princess (Bryn). I found super cute costumes on e-bay (my favorite place to shop these days) for $.99 each. Done and done. Now for Parker. Well, as soon as I got Wyatt and Brynley's costumes in the mail, Parker started asking when HIS costume was going to come in the mail. What did he want to be? A frog, just like Wyatt. Okay, so the search was on for another frog costume. Easy enough, Wyatt's was an Old Navy costume, and there were more on e-bay in Parker's size. But day by day, I got outbid on all of them. Sidenote: I refuse to pay more than the full retail price for anything on ebay, especially if it not new! The same costume that I got for Wyatt for 99 cents was selling for $25.00 in size 3T. Ridiculous! THey only cost $16.50 NEW in the store! (Is my frugal side showing too much?!) SOrry, but I don't shop on e-bay for a second-hand costume to pay more than I would for it new. (And by th e way, there were no frog costumes at Old Navy this year, I checked.) So, long story short, Parker was going to be Spiderman instead, although he still said frog when I asked him. October 30th. I was driving by a consignment shop here in town, and had a sign that said 50% off Halloween costumes. Oh, yes, guess what I found? The EXACT same frog costume I had been looking for! (And for only $5.00!) Granted, it was one size too big, but all we had to do was tuck the legs in a little, and PERFECT! I had my TWO frog princes and my little princess.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H6PEU99ViMtgqZagFlPghEGlhIQ4ee6hFY8jlMt1xiKlZWbv7i43ORgmjfI3N9NmxawXd1M1PXFz5zGmjF5N5MzksL9yRz_pral-Gr6ehUz7995_XNyMbGDQu3VlU_30YyvQQBta7SO6/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272704568881477890" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H6PEU99ViMtgqZagFlPghEGlhIQ4ee6hFY8jlMt1xiKlZWbv7i43ORgmjfI3N9NmxawXd1M1PXFz5zGmjF5N5MzksL9yRz_pral-Gr6ehUz7995_XNyMbGDQu3VlU_30YyvQQBta7SO6/s320/fall+and+halloween+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Wyatt did not like his costume at first, but once we got outside, he was very happy.... </div><br /><div><br /> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GBa_8j1kB7UwmsdtOAKlhY7qUd8TaA8HLNZj36EoioFHYtSKhvlfVf85sx4M-WvoUgeVBBjHSHJoIUfBH5pG4Qxg0RR9zOT0oGxcthujeA6GUnKQduGpw4Tc_Er1W4g3gsOMmZkl_AZ5/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272706218913188322" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GBa_8j1kB7UwmsdtOAKlhY7qUd8TaA8HLNZj36EoioFHYtSKhvlfVf85sx4M-WvoUgeVBBjHSHJoIUfBH5pG4Qxg0RR9zOT0oGxcthujeA6GUnKQduGpw4Tc_Er1W4g3gsOMmZkl_AZ5/s320/fall+and+halloween+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">Wyatt a nd Brynley love the stroller, and as you can see by the smile on Parker's face, he LOVED the trick-or-treating!<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8DV0VIlleAhNiZo24JuyYSBZRtJLNWB3OnvgQpavxaxb_yx_L8yny0k_wmYoxrwzSTh1nTlZmmRkqcjWaNC54FyxUiOORKFTVWAYoVC7mi0qbyKgkDmiGxDLXH6UJmNeDfYr50BcPtZx/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272708846927807586" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8DV0VIlleAhNiZo24JuyYSBZRtJLNWB3OnvgQpavxaxb_yx_L8yny0k_wmYoxrwzSTh1nTlZmmRkqcjWaNC54FyxUiOORKFTVWAYoVC7mi0qbyKgkDmiGxDLXH6UJmNeDfYr50BcPtZx/s320/fall+and+halloween+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">We had quite a crowd at our house that night (yes, we DO have friends!). Lots of friends from the ward brought their kids to our neigborhood to trick or treat and ended up staying and hanging out. It was a great little party! The weather was nice enough that we just left the front door open so we could hear/see when trick or treaters came, and one kid looked in our house and goes, "Wow! Some party here!" Coming from a third grader, I still take is as a compliment! :)<br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">So, I am losing out on my "Mommy Time" since Parker has decided he doesn't want to take naps anymore. I am still able to trick him into it most days by letting him watch a movie on the couch and fall asleep out there. I don't know how long it will last, so here are some picutres of my house at my favorite time of day, say, around 3 in the afternoon:<br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDCWfXZ8q4Li0EWLq3ZEyjzUL0x9Yyp1bMzBG2Ugj7J_Z7EJSFzTN2MMH8Gqio8FPq8LstEy7Xdiu6ByMAq4zFldwcsduSKp7eMi4cUO6nXU_FlMklI3ploYtklJQHQqbxcIJjJLLUaUV/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272711130153086178" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDCWfXZ8q4Li0EWLq3ZEyjzUL0x9Yyp1bMzBG2Ugj7J_Z7EJSFzTN2MMH8Gqio8FPq8LstEy7Xdiu6ByMAq4zFldwcsduSKp7eMi4cUO6nXU_FlMklI3ploYtklJQHQqbxcIJjJLLUaUV/s320/fall+and+halloween+027.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><br /><br /> </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsANNYjX-RCPErZ9ohB6vhZ1vjztuji_3AGLZIMgpJMk65TrD6dQcg3y_Em08D6dXYY_vtHAgCWragb366peHV3-Z_n2_jL3-CVxn91ccOHue9TZWiw4Z0jwIi4EB0aEzLr0UkNNWwsTCS/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272711338596792930" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsANNYjX-RCPErZ9ohB6vhZ1vjztuji_3AGLZIMgpJMk65TrD6dQcg3y_Em08D6dXYY_vtHAgCWragb366peHV3-Z_n2_jL3-CVxn91ccOHue9TZWiw4Z0jwIi4EB0aEzLr0UkNNWwsTCS/s320/fall+and+halloween+028.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><div> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopyfx7fggm_gPqF2zZMQarDFY9yaZRL4GzhXQ6iIjwXih8K2O9SYnmBUP8kY3okeVhIXfJuZyhFCGOJLRQvCwrQ_kM95kK3G8-nnP03OV2DtToRsWwRTh2li0ih-Z4ywiGCe6fr4gM1gZ/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272711593744910514" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopyfx7fggm_gPqF2zZMQarDFY9yaZRL4GzhXQ6iIjwXih8K2O9SYnmBUP8kY3okeVhIXfJuZyhFCGOJLRQvCwrQ_kM95kK3G8-nnP03OV2DtToRsWwRTh2li0ih-Z4ywiGCe6fr4gM1gZ/s320/fall+and+halloween+029.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">Okay, aren't they so serene and peaceful and adorable? :) Here are some more fun times we've had lately:</p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwm2jM9liUZVJtX-rpIn70wl5u2qxn4RaUJUZgW45uvbxS7gBFRqZ2WmprGfbkU003Z0kLCWS5JX3_e8yHqHWFa1TH5j3iOxF6OBuomy-Ee73YhR-oIpTnTZWfLeRFFYMy1IBl6_iXuxE/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272713267974923266" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwm2jM9liUZVJtX-rpIn70wl5u2qxn4RaUJUZgW45uvbxS7gBFRqZ2WmprGfbkU003Z0kLCWS5JX3_e8yHqHWFa1TH5j3iOxF6OBuomy-Ee73YhR-oIpTnTZWfLeRFFYMy1IBl6_iXuxE/s320/fall+and+halloween+033.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center">Parker wanted to make brownies! It was fun, and this was his favorite part! Here is how Wyatt and Brynley helped:</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZgc5-i59X0uItx54wIhKZoNnTBQUXlkClEasQxeyP6u58qu2K8iKAQVXDZsulmPSA_lk8A1u2GtO8Z4MIIxTFCDKolZ1b_k22ZDjSvmuLj1AUkn-4NTGa6iF_opP_WTe9JH8vU5UuuMO/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272713697705863586" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZgc5-i59X0uItx54wIhKZoNnTBQUXlkClEasQxeyP6u58qu2K8iKAQVXDZsulmPSA_lk8A1u2GtO8Z4MIIxTFCDKolZ1b_k22ZDjSvmuLj1AUkn-4NTGa6iF_opP_WTe9JH8vU5UuuMO/s320/fall+and+halloween+050.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Brynley reorganized all my lower level drawers. Great idea!</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3tM5VTomJuUJFp1gjBLIPUcxdU-5tYue6QzscK7i9MCUB0cBgRcq48t63C3NlW-w2qWHZTih9_fMIFoZ5acwkfHbXNQR4jZe8Xhxe47YWRVQ2XI0IovUJMtA5B1pomnBpGjKKyA77awK/s1600-h/fall+and+halloween+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272714101914836338" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3tM5VTomJuUJFp1gjBLIPUcxdU-5tYue6QzscK7i9MCUB0cBgRcq48t63C3NlW-w2qWHZTih9_fMIFoZ5acwkfHbXNQR4jZe8Xhxe47YWRVQ2XI0IovUJMtA5B1pomnBpGjKKyA77awK/s320/fall+and+halloween+044.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Wyatt found all the outlets in the room and made sure they were secure by pulling on the cords as hard as he could! Thanks, buddy!</p><p align="center">Yes, this is why I look forward to that 3 o'clock hour, but it's not to say I don't enjoy every minute of it (almost)! I'll post more pics after THanksgiving!</p></div></div></div></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-1090226064319325682008-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:002008-10-28T13:52:19.694-07:00Some time off in Utah<div>I can't believe it is almost November already!! Time really flies. Maybe that is my excuse of not blogging for the whole month.... But speaking of flying, we took the whole family on a trip to Utah this month. I was pretty nervous about flying with all three kids, but it actually went pretty smoothly. The twins didn't scream or bother too many people (According to us. Other people on the flights mayhave had differing opinions.), Parker was good about staying in his seat, and I didn't get airsick (thank you, Dramamine!). It was so fun to see Josh's family and my brother Chris and his family! Most of the Hall family had not met Wyatt and Brynley, and they made a GREAT impression by getting everyone who get near them sick with a stomach bug that we thought they were over before we came, but obviously were not. I still claim it was something people ate and NOT my kids who got them sick, but we seemed to have passed it to both Hall and Karpowitz family, leaving our family as the only probable carrier of the bug. So sorry to all who got sick!<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>We did enjoy the time we got to spend with our family in Utah. Here are some fun pictures of the trip...thank you Lindsey for taking all the pics, we stole them from your blog!!<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfs3oNn9z_Rrhbb7ijgTBhpJakUamM2_r1npHV0ikePkgMuAX6gQPo7IKUS4rJxgOMvfLhTf-m_1uRASkePmOOxO6LY2XjKesP4inrFOavwzq66cXzxjXUlXrMVyfgVwMEh7v16tktnzH/s1600-h/Josh,babyshower_028%5B2%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261625572911106146" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfs3oNn9z_Rrhbb7ijgTBhpJakUamM2_r1npHV0ikePkgMuAX6gQPo7IKUS4rJxgOMvfLhTf-m_1uRASkePmOOxO6LY2XjKesP4inrFOavwzq66cXzxjXUlXrMVyfgVwMEh7v16tktnzH/s320/Josh,babyshower_028%5B2%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="center">Wyatt and Brynley playing outside.</p><div><br /></div><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqmaqm5spVCOp2jh1nWGqIHV3UcLCkCSYftg7oRNrHpYXkEnSiQA5t4mnx2FZuOb2PdIBqJu5sxIgfGqe3YZ_0-f_SYRo2lSgnBaci3AQezIwyRMISlO7bRvlflPJKBciPMhTzhwZnJNx/s1600-h/Josh,babyshower_023%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262309337956441314" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqmaqm5spVCOp2jh1nWGqIHV3UcLCkCSYftg7oRNrHpYXkEnSiQA5t4mnx2FZuOb2PdIBqJu5sxIgfGqe3YZ_0-f_SYRo2lSgnBaci3AQezIwyRMISlO7bRvlflPJKBciPMhTzhwZnJNx/s320/Josh,babyshower_023%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center">Parker's new hobby: skateboarding!</p><div> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1wOYGSXQYR5y1RXawQo1dA87twD2r6sKk8-wsK-4xVD9zkH7u-fzK2HI2hCcRIXMKBwXuFNOMs-B3aQL2VMN8QL8rJBeun5Tu9a-HXaiCpWwaKVQEKA4PwlkQlKrGRh4GZ_k7PHNPKj-/s1600-h/Kiddos+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261626613901405778" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1wOYGSXQYR5y1RXawQo1dA87twD2r6sKk8-wsK-4xVD9zkH7u-fzK2HI2hCcRIXMKBwXuFNOMs-B3aQL2VMN8QL8rJBeun5Tu9a-HXaiCpWwaKVQEKA4PwlkQlKrGRh4GZ_k7PHNPKj-/s320/Kiddos+080.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br />Parker's "best" day! He looked forward to the BYU football game for weeks, and when we got to Utah he had to wait until the very end of the week to go. He was SO excited!</div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiEW4midUMq_zPYicXDfHZDLvgV5482y45IGlaW3sAXFssNZgbzDP8CcotidjlXvAb_d8R5fS4I9fZcAWrtPqDO9gWY6P9bxErxyRe-u8p-giXqDFHLnKyyJwuMCwTgI2LORvhv77Ncpe/s1600-h/Josh,babyshower_068%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262291175990700354" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiEW4midUMq_zPYicXDfHZDLvgV5482y45IGlaW3sAXFssNZgbzDP8CcotidjlXvAb_d8R5fS4I9fZcAWrtPqDO9gWY6P9bxErxyRe-u8p-giXqDFHLnKyyJwuMCwTgI2LORvhv77Ncpe/s320/Josh,babyshower_068%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWVUCyalfXfuqKDz1yCq5xSU55k9EIxg0dDV6ef11gkl92GFu0H6hdH0v16WEFNLv8WvsFr1LouJKYY1ywlIXhrVtzsuLeqirQO4030Nqve2pjphR_wauaEhhtQYG5Qy8nv4tFekn5hyphenhyphenm/s1600-h/Josh,babyshower_066%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262291390334458274" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWVUCyalfXfuqKDz1yCq5xSU55k9EIxg0dDV6ef11gkl92GFu0H6hdH0v16WEFNLv8WvsFr1LouJKYY1ywlIXhrVtzsuLeqirQO4030Nqve2pjphR_wauaEhhtQYG5Qy8nv4tFekn5hyphenhyphenm/s320/Josh,babyshower_066%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div align="center">What can I say? These are the cutest babies ever! I can't believe they are already 10 months old!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi036zei7fUBYwP0MJG4hrFaYk8XgGmYoSbY7HXBRku5Kj_1FU9uFSP62YnQLg-Kd35Jok0e36tJXpn5FBMx-RS-uiIcR4WYxuYf2Xqsn6ruTuUpChY8pBJO82Ueb133vdq5CYWs6vIQoFb/s1600-h/Kiddos+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262292157307868210" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi036zei7fUBYwP0MJG4hrFaYk8XgGmYoSbY7HXBRku5Kj_1FU9uFSP62YnQLg-Kd35Jok0e36tJXpn5FBMx-RS-uiIcR4WYxuYf2Xqsn6ruTuUpChY8pBJO82Ueb133vdq5CYWs6vIQoFb/s320/Kiddos+088.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br />Josh and I had the rare opportunity to go on a date while we were in Utah(thanks to some great babysitters! Thank you Lindsey and Linda! I think the last time we went on one was in January for our anniversary! YIKES!!) Here we are riding the lift. It was SO pretty up there! The trees were starting to change colors, and it was starting to cool off, too. </div><div><br /> </div><p align="center">I know that everyobody likes pictures more than my blabbing on the blog, so here are a few more cute ones from the past month:</p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKH1P7p1N2KgmiaWYdw8i7EKXVzeQndqlek99_qtGyLnB6rqWk0dMGF0i3QwV_h4oM960CxkcjLyE9P8p6fMRwptRAoM0aKbPfZDy_sBZ9WNbu-jyumkUSTVUoODHcjJBFQlsAFWnafUg/s1600-h/Kiddos+098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262298863931482242" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKH1P7p1N2KgmiaWYdw8i7EKXVzeQndqlek99_qtGyLnB6rqWk0dMGF0i3QwV_h4oM960CxkcjLyE9P8p6fMRwptRAoM0aKbPfZDy_sBZ9WNbu-jyumkUSTVUoODHcjJBFQlsAFWnafUg/s320/Kiddos+098.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center">Juice anyone? The babies are learning to drink from sippies. Parker is showing them how it's done. </p><div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIJIMzZtqJ5pzCAG7ltAw99EZ2lRVbvqh0ONQLZyy5l0v15ELcFUsu8-r1WAcImMYpDxtdu1aXk8PzV8h3cQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div><br /><br /></div><p align="center">I wish this video were longer, my camera kept shutting off because the batteries were low. Wyatt and Brynley like to bounce, and have recently figured out how to bounce together!<br /></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzQHuEdCRcKOojkNadAYdq7woqyiZH9nEjzhQ95shNVwikWsF-47Dj0w59bBsvk786AV-QDO7YvFBRjCPFTY0Fxy-Gl-hvT-a-xXfGfLPGoDlqn8xarBaxrAE6UbptlcWUy5N6CDjQ69Z/s1600-h/Kiddos+119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262307681365090114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzQHuEdCRcKOojkNadAYdq7woqyiZH9nEjzhQ95shNVwikWsF-47Dj0w59bBsvk786AV-QDO7YvFBRjCPFTY0Fxy-Gl-hvT-a-xXfGfLPGoDlqn8xarBaxrAE6UbptlcWUy5N6CDjQ69Z/s320/Kiddos+119.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="center">The train table in Parker's room is a favorite place for everyone to play. It is the perfect height for the babies to stand up. Unfortunately, sometimes playtime is disrupted by differences in opinion on how to play. Parker likes to BUILD train tracks and play trains, and the babies are basically in the "seek and destroy anything they can find" play mode. Still cute. </p></div></div></div></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-14659189706646880602008-09-28T12:18:00.000-07:002008-09-30T08:56:02.293-07:00My Baby Is Three!<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_28OGY0bsjmaYNP9HpXDGPKZrueYgz9hxGgic0tKZMdqh9SeJEelMwvrXzykaxl0UOyKZwWzyIRAfygbIPMHFq9zbaq3EGgIFQnGT_A-X8pmx6YxdSidt75qnyrjFOIcqiyDq3lAENRs7/s1600-h/Kiddos+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251842941709398258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_28OGY0bsjmaYNP9HpXDGPKZrueYgz9hxGgic0tKZMdqh9SeJEelMwvrXzykaxl0UOyKZwWzyIRAfygbIPMHFq9zbaq3EGgIFQnGT_A-X8pmx6YxdSidt75qnyrjFOIcqiyDq3lAENRs7/s320/Kiddos+077.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />Today is Parker's birthday, and I can hardly believe he is three years old. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was wondering when I would EVER have any kids, and look at me now! THis past year has been such a whirlwind of change in our house, and mostly all for the good. Parker has gone from my baby boy to such a big boy (but still always my baby!). He is so good and loving and full of positive energy, but as he has gotten closer to three, he has also definitely learned a thing or two about having his own opinion, flexing his own muscles, and in a nutshell, having a will of steel!<br />For his birthday, Parker had his favorite breakfast (waffles) and since he went to Mom's Day Out, got to have a little party at "school." I brought in cupcakes, and let me tell you, feeding seven three year olds chocolate cupcakes is a messy job! Later in the day, our friends the Kubals came over, who have three kids that are Parker's best friends, and we opened gifts and had cupcakes and ice cream. To top it off, we went to a High School Football game. Parker has been begging to go for weeks, ever since football season started, so we thought it would be a great birthday activity. Here is another photo of Parker playing with one of his birthday presents:<br /><div><br /><br /> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5W7bTyzDo4KwqWYZa4y6V9dGcQf4vZYBUxL9GnSH79k9GoYxyhVeXXxT97q1d7AomqQd825CKHveTTZl-HS_97_4qwK1-0UE37lI0Zs8zeGIDabE4sc8f7ybvp6ejWBUPMzKjBvV2lFS/s1600-h/Kiddos+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251840442095479138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5W7bTyzDo4KwqWYZa4y6V9dGcQf4vZYBUxL9GnSH79k9GoYxyhVeXXxT97q1d7AomqQd825CKHveTTZl-HS_97_4qwK1-0UE37lI0Zs8zeGIDabE4sc8f7ybvp6ejWBUPMzKjBvV2lFS/s320/Kiddos+072.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Here are some things to know about Parker on the day he turns three:</div><br /><div>1. He still loves to hug and cuddle. Sometimes int he middle of the day he will just run to me with his arms outstretched and say, "Hug! Hug! Hug! Hug!" I love that. </div><br /><div>2. He says the CUTEST and FUNNIEST things! One of his newest sayings is, when we tell him thank you for doing something, he says, "Well, it was MY PLEASURE!" Or, he will walk up to me and say, "Hey, Mom, how've you been?" He is also very observant of things. The first time he pooped in the potty by himself he said to me, "Look, Mom! I did it! And it looks just like a big potato!" (Sorry, for the visual, but it was hilarious!)</div><div>3. He loves all sports. Parker will play just about any sport possible and available to him. We play basketball, football, soccer, baseball, bowling, and golf on a daily basis at our house. We have trained him well too, and when there are sports on TV he always looks for the cougar or the jayhawk. And no matter who is playing, that is also who he cheers for. "Go Cougs!" "Go Jayhawks!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div>4. Parker will not eat fruits or vegetables. It has been about 9 months now, and Parker refuses to eat them. Occasionally, he will eat corn, and once in a blue moon, he will take a miniscule bite of jello with fruit in it (one of my "great" but failed ideas for sneaking fruit into his diet). We have tried many different tactics to get him to take just ONE bite at dinnertime. None have worked yet. He will happily go throughout the evening with nothing more to eat or drink (except water). He will happily give up toys, movies, books, and privileges to avoid the one bite of fruit or veggies. We have tried everything short of forcing them down his throat, which sometimes I feel like doing when he flatout yells at me, "NO FRUIT!". Sometimes I sneak baby food veggies in with his mac and cheese, or mix some applesauce into his jelly. I think my mom has one word for me in this area: payback. :) </div><div>5. Parker is into trucks and cars in a very big way. When we drive in the car, we are constantly identifying the different kinds of trucks and diggers and tractors that we see. Parker knows the difference between a cement truck, a fuel tanker truck, a transporter truck and a dump truck. If I say, "look at that big truck!" He says, "No, Mom, that is a CEMENT truck." He loves to play with his Hot Wheels cars, too. Josh intorduced him to YouTube, and if you type in "rally car crashes" you get compilations of stunt drivers crashing their race cars, which Parker loves to watch while crashing HIS cars off the computer desk. He asks to watch "crashing cars" many times thorughout the day.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>6. Parker is on Prayer Patrol at our house. He is the best reminder that we cannot take a bite to eat without saying a prayer first, and he won't go to bed without one either. Recently he has started saying the prayer again, too. (He had stopped for a while.) He is a great example in that way! Also, recently the twins were sick, and not eating, and Parker could tell I was concerned about it. He said to me, "Maybe we should say a prayer, Mom, so Wyatt and Brynley can eat." It was so sweet, so cool to see that he was actually understanding a little bit about how prayer works! He also lets Josh and I know that Wyatt and Brynley are not good at folding their arms and closing their eyes during the prayer. We're working on that....</div><br /><div>7. Parker is a great big brother! Besides the occasional "push the babies over and see what happens" Parker is fabulous with the twins. He is so excited that they are actually starting to play and interact. He is usually good about sharing his toys, and he loves to tickle them and get in their cribs with them. He also talks to them in a "baby" voice the way he hears us do it. Since Brynley is our little princess, Parker refers to her as "princess" on a regular basis. "Mom, Princess is crawling on my cars!" Or, "Mom, Pretty Princess has a big booger on her nose!" Wyatt is known mostly as just "Wy" or "Wy-Wy" and Parker thinks it is funny when we get tot he letter "Y" in the ABC song, and he will sing "W, X, Wy-Wy and Z!" I know that it is inevitable that my kids will argue and fight sometimes, but I am also so thankful that I know that they love each other from the beginning.<br />Of course, ther is always more I could add, but for now, I will post a couple of Parker's more recent and cutest smiles....<br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeIHuCo0ebmp0GrRpGKRtUjzNWiz5Ggfu2rYx2bxpgpf2XywdHbEwciGWrs4CIEsVVwnv2ZNElonEiLSBZTZ0HLDcXyBJJ5R5F89ZriqGcNJR3siwjTFhAtV7ozm4LlddNENIjnti9brj/s1600-h/Kiddos+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251841374133453634" style="CURSOR: hand" height="317" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeIHuCo0ebmp0GrRpGKRtUjzNWiz5Ggfu2rYx2bxpgpf2XywdHbEwciGWrs4CIEsVVwnv2ZNElonEiLSBZTZ0HLDcXyBJJ5R5F89ZriqGcNJR3siwjTFhAtV7ozm4LlddNENIjnti9brj/s320/Kiddos+074.jpg" width="242" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center">First day of "school"....<br /></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh-oEIuaOv0lG2a9Q5EdXaCdQCj7FTw3lFOoWCUHHfL9FiR-5hLS9l1xJyYUoazE0wbYO81gwAI_tuYHzO0ZYx8s5Kk8Rfd01dVd3trxKAlxDJDl2lWsHvCeumqIYqMg7c7OUV1PMwmCs/s1600-h/Kiddos+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251840917154465762" style="CURSOR: hand" height="240" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh-oEIuaOv0lG2a9Q5EdXaCdQCj7FTw3lFOoWCUHHfL9FiR-5hLS9l1xJyYUoazE0wbYO81gwAI_tuYHzO0ZYx8s5Kk8Rfd01dVd3trxKAlxDJDl2lWsHvCeumqIYqMg7c7OUV1PMwmCs/s320/Kiddos+023.jpg" width="319" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByIUhq5k02W4OdviXF7mscMay6J2EiO6Z9BNZZHmxATunsIeXichpI1kfhQQysc4h89InuUBRG90G5FDnqUw2HsmJffW0WEcTrknIh1AyZWJiloidVKMXEI_7mY_Yp9bGsQ32N7wwGtFw/s1600-h/Kiddos+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251842061003736610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByIUhq5k02W4OdviXF7mscMay6J2EiO6Z9BNZZHmxATunsIeXichpI1kfhQQysc4h89InuUBRG90G5FDnqUw2HsmJffW0WEcTrknIh1AyZWJiloidVKMXEI_7mY_Yp9bGsQ32N7wwGtFw/s320/Kiddos+016.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-22595879946451033862008-09-02T12:37:00.000-07:002008-09-03T10:42:23.454-07:00Potty Training and more...<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ybg8MKMzlfst6olLSAX9Yaxaf5lsZ8vePLtaSOAcNbRm0EITDKIJp6LFgJDggbk2t5QnIy2zB0EPs9LLN4ChMPKgE0ImJWL8ri3qGm22DZKbzFjtNqAtvK_HOI5AonaJHPvrhFdCE-l/s1600-h/Kiddos+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241515518918099746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ybg8MKMzlfst6olLSAX9Yaxaf5lsZ8vePLtaSOAcNbRm0EITDKIJp6LFgJDggbk2t5QnIy2zB0EPs9LLN4ChMPKgE0ImJWL8ri3qGm22DZKbzFjtNqAtvK_HOI5AonaJHPvrhFdCE-l/s320/Kiddos+054.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>So, last week I decided it was time to try potty training Parker. Actually, HE decided he was ready to try sitting ont he potty. He has been showing signs all summer that he was ready, but when asked to sit on the potty, he would run screaming into the other room. Last week I spent Monday just talking about how "tomorrow we are going to try sitting ont he potty." He seemed a little bit interested, and at least didn't scream when I brought it up. Tuesday morning off came the diaper and on came the pull up. First I tried having him sit on the potty every 30 minutes. No luck. He would go in his pull up right after he got up from the potty. So off came the pull up and onto "big boy underwear." This was actually a good thing, because Parker was thrilled to be wearing "THomas" and "Diego" underwear. But, after 3 pairs of wet underwear and no success in the potty, back to the pull up and down for a nap. So far no success. I debated on whether or not to continue after he woke up, but decided I better at least be consistent for the day. When he got up, off came the pull up and back to big boy underwear. Then, to my surprise, about 1/2 an hour later, I walk into the front room (where his potty was, we put it there so he could watch a show and "relax" while trying) and he is sitting there going! All by himself! Wow! Could it really be this easy? He has been going ever since! Granted, we haven't left the house in underwear yet, because right now he will only go in "his" potty, not a regular toilet. We also have not tackled "number 2" yet, but I'll save those details from this blog so that you will continue reading...<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbe8Wp6mhmRvZoVDKycoZHn7gE0YayXR5oZn68zjYeQwYo4zH8WlVuCNy_LfPGj6PL14cYmROOxyNn5Ns6lT2i_DP3I8qHsmU9RPNA5czQP7ONKhbMjyJ8PQlKslxcqs03xPbT_0K0I6_/s1600-h/Kiddos+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241517281556954050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbe8Wp6mhmRvZoVDKycoZHn7gE0YayXR5oZn68zjYeQwYo4zH8WlVuCNy_LfPGj6PL14cYmROOxyNn5Ns6lT2i_DP3I8qHsmU9RPNA5czQP7ONKhbMjyJ8PQlKslxcqs03xPbT_0K0I6_/s320/Kiddos+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div align="center">Here is Parker showing you that he can sit on the potty. He really is smiling, even though he looks to be in pain!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Another "fun" part of the day here at the Hall home is dinner time for the twins. As anyone out there with multiples can attest, the only thing worse than a hungry crying baby is two hungry crying babies. I have found that the easiest way to feed them is at the same time, alternating bites from one mouth to the other. This way one is taking a bite while the other is swallowing, and, if I am fast enough and create a speedy rhythm, I can keep the food coming at a fast enough pace to keep them from crying. It is not that I don't feed them enough or that they are so starving, but they really get jealous when they see the other one getting a bite when they are not getting one. (This is not a good sign for the future I have decided.) When we started feeding them baby food, we also learned very quickly that it was easier to feed them with no clothes on. Carrots and sweet potatoes are hard stains to get out, and bibs definitely do not provide the needed coverage to keep the food off. Maybe wrapping them in saran wrap would work, but that is also a choking and suffocation hazzard, so we opted for nudity. Okay, not full nudity, we keep the diaper on, otherwise there would REALLY be a mess to clean up!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoH8wZgGPwdTK2G1r_68SnIahZEHL2e4qWqAp5wOCJLQi04wfJk7ABjQj4YJCWkEextaK4Bb6BnaLiZMy4yrhV6v5ddJc4OtyGaxKjR2wv9661DBsrc3-aOg0Vj5u-BwG-v8NMJ8MrHt2/s1600-h/Kiddos+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241521017320894066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoH8wZgGPwdTK2G1r_68SnIahZEHL2e4qWqAp5wOCJLQi04wfJk7ABjQj4YJCWkEextaK4Bb6BnaLiZMy4yrhV6v5ddJc4OtyGaxKjR2wv9661DBsrc3-aOg0Vj5u-BwG-v8NMJ8MrHt2/s320/Kiddos+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div align="center">Can you SEE the amount of food on their little bodies?! It is amazing they get anything in their mouths!</div><br /><br /><div align="left">After they eat they go straight into the kitchen sink for a bath. Josh and I have set up a sort of assembly line clean up routine that works out well. He bathes the first one while I start cleaning the kitchen area (baby food usually covers most surfaces within a 5 foot radius of the babies). Then I take baby #1 (usually Wyatt because he cries when he is not first. Hmmm, is this a complex he is forming due to the fact that he was the second to be born? Dad? What do you think?) and dry and dress them. Josh gets baby #2 (Brynley doesn't mind being second, becaeu she can hang around and lick up any stray or extra food she may have missed durring the feeding. She will eat whatever whenever!) and bathes her, and I come get her and get her dressed while Josh cleans up around the kitchen sink that is now SOAKING WET within a 5 foot radius of the sink due to excessive splashing and kicking during the bath. The rest of the kitchen gets cleaned sometime before bed. Mission accomplished! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Here are a few more photos of play time around the house...<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnifx-4a79_pswTRqkRuweL92Wqv-bl9ZbQQqEwxgXHr4i9Tpe50LD37t5RwoIKn6X3AI2r4FUJLF0xkFZtc20m1sBrbNuokuX0VAoBg2yIgHPUieGVg60cu-46oZFJrQ05IUxxiJ7NK2/s1600-h/Kiddos+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241843973724721714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnifx-4a79_pswTRqkRuweL92Wqv-bl9ZbQQqEwxgXHr4i9Tpe50LD37t5RwoIKn6X3AI2r4FUJLF0xkFZtc20m1sBrbNuokuX0VAoBg2yIgHPUieGVg60cu-46oZFJrQ05IUxxiJ7NK2/s320/Kiddos+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Parker teaching Wyatt and Brynley to play "tackle." Basically, the game is that Parker runs at you and tackles you. It started out as a form of football, but soon he gave up on the football part of the game, because the tackling was the part he likes best. Wyatt and Brynley are tough, too, they pretty much just roll with the punches when they get tackled. It is a gentler form of the game when he plays with the babies, too, like a slow motion tackle that doesn't hurt them. It is pretty funny to watch! Notice Wyatt is this picture, he still fits under the coffee table quite easily. I have had to look for him a couple of times when rolls under there and doesn't come out!<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIpkAWfmtFYltTN5AyI57ByZ_yyGsQZmA-b9eLMEHWDyon6MZpU2Ck4-EZWSvKT63dKbvAkODemeciqO625PP_rUseydq0Ng6nqS3jbcLYeGDS_4TnaPlTzlG03qPBBAyGmQ0EShRrtos/s1600-h/Kiddos+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241845844746005026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIpkAWfmtFYltTN5AyI57ByZ_yyGsQZmA-b9eLMEHWDyon6MZpU2Ck4-EZWSvKT63dKbvAkODemeciqO625PP_rUseydq0Ng6nqS3jbcLYeGDS_4TnaPlTzlG03qPBBAyGmQ0EShRrtos/s320/Kiddos+018.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="center">Wyatt and Brynley in their exersaucers! Wyatt looks a little freaked out, I know. Check out those thighs on my little Brynley!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasorHmVlw50kEEJTc0DsItyEVKFaCtj_39FqazJRMTlHZvct6xXlakzgj1OxcQsM_PnkD7-KIAwMEWNZqyHoQjGrwtm_f-R5c1M6VGz2SVz_awd_2sh7ZSMUjHpZmOTrfR9fS-Dnsscxs/s1600-h/Kiddos+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241846809019102722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasorHmVlw50kEEJTc0DsItyEVKFaCtj_39FqazJRMTlHZvct6xXlakzgj1OxcQsM_PnkD7-KIAwMEWNZqyHoQjGrwtm_f-R5c1M6VGz2SVz_awd_2sh7ZSMUjHpZmOTrfR9fS-Dnsscxs/s320/Kiddos+053.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Here is what happens when Josh lays down on the floor to play with the kids on a Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure where the kids went, but at least he has found a good use for that boppy pillow!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIpkAWfmtFYltTN5AyI57ByZ_yyGsQZmA-b9eLMEHWDyon6MZpU2Ck4-EZWSvKT63dKbvAkODemeciqO625PP_rUseydq0Ng6nqS3jbcLYeGDS_4TnaPlTzlG03qPBBAyGmQ0EShRrtos/s1600-h/Kiddos+018.jpg"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI81HUsW4hm9ohKeE56eJGR5NLj5mOqhqCNqsvjrVscqfMWLQBDjFw94oFaQJ1qnKE4petAzWOTRVNrmjTuaXj_tyUWkWnNz_xQfezRl_SagaJbcbQb5Zbvy75NmDdIVd7xxXwbMQFtjkd/s1600-h/Kiddos+052.jpg"></a>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-2713730869595605242008-08-25T08:43:00.000-07:002008-08-26T13:38:32.885-07:00"Running Errands"So, I feel I have gotten to the point that running errands with the kids is a do-able activity, if I am up for the time and effort involved. True, there are still places I cannot take all three, and this never involves shopping for pleasure or fun, just the essential stuff. I have already mastered Sam's Club, mostly because the carts are big enough that I can leave the babies in their car seats and squeeze all three kids into one, and Wal-Mart, as long as Parker is wearing his "monkey backpack" (a.k.a. child leash). Obviously, I try to make the trip as short as possible, which is easy in that I really have barely any room in the cart for any items because it is already full of kids.<br />Today I tackled the post office. Parker has been with me many times, so as long as I psych him up that it is a FUN place to go ("Parker, guess where we get to go? THE POST OFFICE! Isn't that fun?! Aren't you excited?! What are you going to see at the post office?!") he survives it pretty well. With the babies in tow, I was not sure what to expect, we had just been at the gym, and it was almost naptime, so a breakdown would not be unusual. Fortuantely, there were no meltdowns! My biggest complaint was only that in the 20 minutes I spent there, 15 of those minutes were spent in the parking lot loading and unloading the kids from car to stroller and keeping Parker out of the path of moving vehicles. My "favorite" part about it all was the looks and comments I got from other people. Some smile, some stare, one lady shook her head and goes, "Whoa!" I am getting pretty used to this kind of stuff. Lots of people ask if they are twins, how old are they, and-my personal favorite-if they are identical. <br />But today at the post office was my personal favorite so far. The guy behind me in line started chatting, with something like, "Looks like you've got your hands full today!" (Parker was doing "sweet moves" on the slippery tile floor of the post office.) I said something like, "Yes, I have my hands full every day, but they are great kids!" Then he asked how old the twins and Parker were, and when I told him he goes, "Wow, were you TRYING to have more, or was it an accident?" Uh....well, "yes, we did want to have more..." I got a little worried at the direction this was going. Then he goes, " Are they fraternal or MATERNAL?" What?! I was not sure how to respond. Maternal? Does Brynley count as being maternal? I could give him half credit for trying, but Wyatt was definitely NOT maternal. So, I said, "Do you mean fraternal or identical? They are fraternal." Then, to top off the converstation, he goes, "Yeah, that's what I meant. They must be fraternal because they look different. My cousin has identical twins that I wouldn't be able to tell apart if they weren't a boy and a girl!" Hmmm...at this point I thought it best to not correct him again. Thank goodness it was my turn in line!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-50957463494783660822008-08-17T14:36:00.000-07:002008-08-17T16:48:30.515-07:00Hall Family Blog, Take two.....Okay, so at this point, I think it would be too hard for me to go back and try to cover what has been going on since my last blog post. From the threatening e-mails I have gotten from irritated family and friends that I haven't posted anything since March - especially pictures of the kids - I figured our family was safer if I just jumped back into it and tried blogging again. It is harder than you might think to find time to sit down at the computer uninterrupted, but I figured if I have time to sell things on e-bay, I have time to blog. Just as a warning, posts may be short, especially since when I sit down at the computer, Parker automatically starts yelling, "Mommy, I need your help...out HERE! "(meaning not in our room where the computer is, but out in the front room where his toys are.) His other favorite thing to do is drive his hot wheels over the keyboard while I am typing, so that may account for lots of typos in my blog posts. BUt I guess something is better than nothing. Here goes:<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5MYC2aVAI5lCCTy1xc9hKrtq7pjs7dxRl5yHY1bfbkDTjKdUPlskq-3IUM7La_IU8mMsgIiBI9E53SasojYOEMS06YUS_5ihedpriTHJEzoDX60g-ys7xeL86UiyHxBm8Pu11AESfkdu/s1600-h/kids+in+crib.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235607221769340194" style="CURSOR: hand" height="258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5MYC2aVAI5lCCTy1xc9hKrtq7pjs7dxRl5yHY1bfbkDTjKdUPlskq-3IUM7La_IU8mMsgIiBI9E53SasojYOEMS06YUS_5ihedpriTHJEzoDX60g-ys7xeL86UiyHxBm8Pu11AESfkdu/s320/kids+in+crib.jpg" width="321" border="0" /></a></p>Here is a pretty recent pictures of the kids playing in bed. Yes, Wyatt is a little squshed, but he is uesd to that with the size of his sister. SHe outweighs him but at leats 3-4 pounds. Parker likes to get in their cribs with them and jump. Safe? probably not. Fun? Of course!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMGkhFwkrXiKRD6biV1k5bs1bvDMAVOw-FctZkbl-vig-R6X0T0QDorULa1i_BsQeyQUqft3GqGPf2eKexB6JXJYISwQfTDAZXPpaZ6FxqneghdOp0q5wo-UypZftyQqsk5-zQ-49NwLs/s1600-h/wy+and+byrn+in+crib.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235608270100874210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMGkhFwkrXiKRD6biV1k5bs1bvDMAVOw-FctZkbl-vig-R6X0T0QDorULa1i_BsQeyQUqft3GqGPf2eKexB6JXJYISwQfTDAZXPpaZ6FxqneghdOp0q5wo-UypZftyQqsk5-zQ-49NwLs/s320/wy+and+byrn+in+crib.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Another cute one of the babies. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMGkhFwkrXiKRD6biV1k5bs1bvDMAVOw-FctZkbl-vig-R6X0T0QDorULa1i_BsQeyQUqft3GqGPf2eKexB6JXJYISwQfTDAZXPpaZ6FxqneghdOp0q5wo-UypZftyQqsk5-zQ-49NwLs/s1600-h/wy+and+byrn+in+crib.jpg"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeayneOyOntBJ4rwBcS5L2C66JOGvIWt65SOJk8xCN5t8tKHtK9CwlczOGetInlNEcI1bO4-HuPTM39MLPlrcxonNS8JgBAqgcfIv6wsK2nsOkeO9u4pPILXvr8IybRmGaFAxeVEgE8vB/s1600-h/wy+at+hospital.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235608975420201298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeayneOyOntBJ4rwBcS5L2C66JOGvIWt65SOJk8xCN5t8tKHtK9CwlczOGetInlNEcI1bO4-HuPTM39MLPlrcxonNS8JgBAqgcfIv6wsK2nsOkeO9u4pPILXvr8IybRmGaFAxeVEgE8vB/s320/wy+at+hospital.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center">This is a picture of Wyatt in the hospital over the summer. He has been back to Children's Mercy twice for laser surgery on his throat. When he had RSV back in February, he was on a high-frequency ventilator for 3 weeks, which did a number on his thoat. He has accumulated scar tissue that gets in the way of his eating and breathing. It is not permanent, but may take a while to heal properly. The laser surgery "cleans out" the scar tissue and hopefully helps the healing process. He is a trooper, and has done well with it all. As you can tell from the picture, he also likes to flirt with the nurses!</p><p></p><p><br />Below is a cute video of Parker singing "Popcorn Popping". This is his favorite song to sing before saying a prayer at bed time. Josh and I watch this over and over and laugh every time. The quality isn't great (doesn't really look like Parker), but we recorded it with Josh's phone, and not the video camera. Here it is below for your viewing enjoyment. Listen for the key change....</p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPm8-pDHJrfuemr0UaxuqWrtVvlzvKi5c0JEqZ5bHJ0co0KOPePTgonb82xGMT6Qsc8mv1K7kzevJfwsl_Sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><p></p><p></p><p>Here is one more bonus video for you. Sorry, low quality again (these are all video's from Josh's phone). Parker loves to play in the back yard and he's loved watching the Olympics. He say's, "I want to watch Michael! I want to watch Michael"! Meaning Michael Phelps. He also loves watching re-run's of the X games. Anything that involves bikes, skateboards, rally cars (especially the rally cars), and lots of flips, twists, and crashes. Gone are the days of Dora and Diego, Wonder pets and the Backyardagains. Now it's only the Olympics and the X games. Here is the video, doing his own "sweet moves" and going for the "gold medal"...</p><br /><br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzG4M_YGbhrATSNG6KJTEpNmJWW3eNx3V3zi9OWTEf9bs5Q9miInWV42e8sF5bBdrcrsc-KPm9nM2bOlJfXHQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p></p><p>As a side note, Josh took this video while I was out, and I had Wyatt with me, he was not drowning somewhere in the pool. Hopefully you noticed that Josh was holding onto Brynley while she was in the pool (with one hand on her, one on his phone taking video?!! I did not approve this). Josh says I should try taking all three kids to the pool by myself during the day when we need something to do, and that "it wouldn't be THAT hard." I respond by pretending he didn't just say that. Does he mean that, like him, I could hold onto each baby with one hand and cheer Parker for jumping into the pool alone?! I think not. :)</p><p>More to come, this time I promise...</p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-81865926647841993912008-03-19T13:41:00.000-07:002008-03-24T14:30:45.002-07:00To Make a LONG Story Short...Okay, so I realize it has been almost two months since I have posted anything on our blog. Most of you probably know the reasons why, but if you don't, here is a quick overview of the past two months....<br /><br /><br />Early in February Josh had to go out of town for a week on business. With the twins being just a month old, I decided to not take my chances doing it alone all week, and drove the myself and the kiddos up to Lawrence to stay with my parents. We got there on Monday evening, and by Wednesday it was obvious that something was not right with Wyatt. He started out with a little cold, but it soon escalated into him not eating, beigng very lethargic, and having some breathing troubles. We took him into the ER, and was soon sent to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. By the following day, he was diagnosed with RSV. Because of his small size, he did not do very well fighting the virus on his own, and by the following day, he was transferred to the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) and put on a ventilator to help him breathe. Needless to say, Josh got on the first plane to Kansas and joined up with us before the week ended.<br /><br /><br />A few days after this, Brynley started to show symptoms, and actually stopped breathing while Josh was home alone with her. He called 911, and within 5 minutes an ambulance came and had her stabilized. She headed over to the hospital and became Wyatt's roommate in the PICU. Brynley's case of RSV proved to be much milder than Wyatt's. She came home from the hospital after four days. Wyatt, on the other hand, had a pretty rough time. He stayed on the ventilator in the PICU for two weeks, and then, once he stared improving, moved to the regular floor for a few more days. His hospital stay lasted three weeks.<br /><br />It was a very stressful time to say the least, but we also are so thankful for all of the support and prayers we had from so many people, especially my parents. We returned home to Arkansas at the end of February; our little 5-day trip ended up lasting almost a month. <br />Now that we are home, we are trying to get things back to normal (whatever that is!). Wyatt is still having some issues with his breathing and throat as a result of the ventilator. None of the problems are permanent, but it has been taking him a little while to really heal from the trauma. Besides a swollen throat, Wyatt is doing great! He has the biggest, cutest brown eyes and is still very inquisitive and alert. He loves to flirt and is full of smiles. Brynley, who I loving call "Chubbers," is thriving. She outweighs Wyatt by a couple of pounds, and is a cute little rolly-poly. She also smiles and laughs and coos the cutest little sounds. She loves to watch the mobile in her crib and to be held close as she falls asleep. We are so blessed to have these two little miracles in our family.<br />Once again, thank you for your support and prayers! We are happy to be through the rough stuff and get on with life. Hopefully I will be a little better at posting blog updates now, although it is still hard to find 5 minutes to myself at the computer! :)Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-35806521070723611202008-01-20T14:18:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:41.839-08:00Survival Mode....but loving it!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviNBetcCm9HXrMFD4F7lOHjqjNRUPMt8PXFBXn85ixIhlr41VkLZIUdCEgJtP0UY3DRbdZIh_pLWV_4Ahi4gTwLgPePrTfYJrLALatVHENRsdHjUiPuRsZSanZM0PsiO98CpIN2bbxS2N/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157687077591493890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviNBetcCm9HXrMFD4F7lOHjqjNRUPMt8PXFBXn85ixIhlr41VkLZIUdCEgJtP0UY3DRbdZIh_pLWV_4Ahi4gTwLgPePrTfYJrLALatVHENRsdHjUiPuRsZSanZM0PsiO98CpIN2bbxS2N/s320/Twinsbirth+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Survival Mode...that is how we have been living for the past week! Until last night I think I have been running on about three hours of sleep a night (after a week, that really starts to catch up with you!). Last night was my first night to get 4-5 hours of straight sleep, and I feel like a new woman today! Let me give you a recap of the week:<br /><br />The babies are doing great. They came home last Saturday afternoon. I think the only thing scarier than leaving the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hospital </span>with a new baby is leaving with two. (We are supposed to take care of these? At the same time?!) They have to be fed every three hours, which I was very anal and exact about for the weekend, and then relaxed a little when we took them into the pediatrician on Monday and saw that they are gaining weight just fine (Wyatt at 5 lbs and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brynley</span> at 5 lbs. 8 oz.). Now I am only semi-anal. :) I did stop setting my alarm at night to get up to feed them. Sure, they still wake up about every three hours, and have their days and nights mixed up, but as long as they get in their 8 feedings a day, I am a little more relaxed about letting them sleep (and letting me sleep). My parents were here for a while, both while they were int he hospital and then after they came home. Between Josh and I and my parents, we were able to get them fed, changed, and burped in pretty good time. So, basically, if I can have a team of four people on hand, I can manage. After they left, I had a little nervous breakdown, then pulled myself together and things have gone pretty well. Josh's mom came on Saturday, which has been fabulous to have the extra pair of hands and loves on hand to help us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_2cLsUMe7gmVFHv6S_dKmbP2yJ02FywhNLRQO2yxHGAz18dF0fBmD0-8n4SZ_2tZv6gw221hIqL1JmYZrifCyQsXYaH8ZMD21tI4ULlQKOZQGm4aCzfvfIUlVa9l1QevmJkRjOl-fAk6/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157687446958681362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_2cLsUMe7gmVFHv6S_dKmbP2yJ02FywhNLRQO2yxHGAz18dF0fBmD0-8n4SZ_2tZv6gw221hIqL1JmYZrifCyQsXYaH8ZMD21tI4ULlQKOZQGm4aCzfvfIUlVa9l1QevmJkRjOl-fAk6/s320/Twinsbirth+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Parker has been great with all of these changes. Here he is in his favorite new toy, the bouncy seat. He can almost catapult (spelling?) himself out of it. He absolutely loves the babies, which is great, but was a slight problem when he came down with the croup the first night the babies were home (yes, just to make that night even MORE exciting for us!). We had to spend the next few days trying to keep him away from the babies and from giving them hugs and kisses, which he was not happy about. I feel bad that we had to confuse him so much : "Look Parker, here are your new brother and sister, don't you LOVE them? Come here, give them a kiss." "Wait <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Parker</span>, stay in your room and watch another video because you are sick, and don't touch the babies!" Poor kid! :) He is better now and has been so loving and cute with them. He likes to drive his hot wheels all over them, and to help burp them the best.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWqMv8ID2siKQi5LcUYuDftHQvl5pOSepOBo8y8iPoy3gjMbH4HWgok6jAguwbxZ5-gZ1IvoX5hyphenhyphengL15aBxUgF_3GbUOxzpE-k7yFtmcnNdUe5sn7JXRBFltkpLzZm8Xkg6jGrVsgQxNC/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157687756196326690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWqMv8ID2siKQi5LcUYuDftHQvl5pOSepOBo8y8iPoy3gjMbH4HWgok6jAguwbxZ5-gZ1IvoX5hyphenhyphengL15aBxUgF_3GbUOxzpE-k7yFtmcnNdUe5sn7JXRBFltkpLzZm8Xkg6jGrVsgQxNC/s320/Twinsbirth+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkXMRRIEbP-RTuA-zEOErtdT1COdp8CzFq5jLoq9bzDQrrRfzB-Cy0Bksqqus43CyBvdwbj1UU5izLOw-Div9ZHiSWU0JX6viYzcrUqPN-McFqK7krEcoT6KK1g3qu-nRh9Q8Hhe1xUXG/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157688314542075186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkXMRRIEbP-RTuA-zEOErtdT1COdp8CzFq5jLoq9bzDQrrRfzB-Cy0Bksqqus43CyBvdwbj1UU5izLOw-Div9ZHiSWU0JX6viYzcrUqPN-McFqK7krEcoT6KK1g3qu-nRh9Q8Hhe1xUXG/s320/Twinsbirth+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Here are a few more pictures. Wyatt (on the left)has the biggest, roundest, most exploring eyes. He can already lift his head up and look around. Yes, an overachiever! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Brynley</span> is an overachiever at sleeping, especially during the day. She still makes the cutest cooing sounds, and could also challenge any grown man in a burp or farting contest. (How does that come out of something so small!?)I am hoping this week they will do better at the day-night cycle, but I know that can take some time. They have not even hit their actual due date yet, so any progress in that area is good at this point. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">THey</span> are really sweet babies, very good natured and happy, especially when being held or rocked. Our family has truly been "double-y" blessed.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-63572336229718854512008-01-10T20:40:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:42.225-08:00They're here!!<div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrlJ9BCgAjscZeihA4W6ZYqz5CuDU85IkwZmrIYXov6ZzCwxiCs_ZEcHvUY2Wd1l7VhfKO9lhPZXoilavf3fB65O-BxIQuXsYNgh6ndUV5YoX1ao7TiZAzCTTbDKxPWJ2r7xu6P6aRE7d/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154238231737707730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrlJ9BCgAjscZeihA4W6ZYqz5CuDU85IkwZmrIYXov6ZzCwxiCs_ZEcHvUY2Wd1l7VhfKO9lhPZXoilavf3fB65O-BxIQuXsYNgh6ndUV5YoX1ao7TiZAzCTTbDKxPWJ2r7xu6P6aRE7d/s320/Twinsbirth+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Okay, so I know many of you have been waiting patiently (others not so patiently) for me to post pictures of the babies. Here are a few...finally! Life has been so crazy the past few weeks, I just haven't been able to take the time to do it until now. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Brynley</span> Grace is on the left. Isn't she beautiful? She was born first at 10:53 p.m. on Sunday, December 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>. She weighed in at 5 lbs. 5 ounces. Her brother Wyatt James (on the right) was born one minute later and weighed 4 lbs. 11 ounces. He is just as sweet and handsome as he can be! Here is a short update on what has transpired over the past few weeks:</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I had been feeling contractions on and off for a few weeks, so on Sunday December 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>, I decided to sit down and actually time them while Josh and Parker were at church (I was still on "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bedrest</span>" at home). I was timing them at anywhere from 12 to 6 minutes apart, so I thought maybe I would make it to the next day (Monday) when I had a doctor's appointment scheduled. Unfortunately, I really started to feel like maybe they were getting stronger, so we decided to head in to the hospital just to be safe. When we got there, they told me that I was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dialated</span> to a 4-5 and 90% effaced. I would not be going home, but having two babies that night! YIKES!!!!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Within 2 hours I was being wheeled into the OR and getting ready to deliver by C-section. I cannot describe the mix of emotions running through me at that time. I was scared out of my mind, both at the idea of having two babies and at the idea of being cut open (the anesthesiologist said I would feel pressure but not pain. Yeah right! I've heard that one before!). I was so happy that I did not have to be pregnant for one more day, and also at the idea of meeting these two precious babies that were going to be a part of our family. I was laughing at Josh who was standing outside the door trying to make me laugh while they were giving me my spinal, and laughing even more when the nurses shut the door on him until they were done because he was distracting me. I missed Parker and was worried about how he would do spending the night away from home (and away from me!) and how he was going to react to not being the only child anymore. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">quick</span> process, and fortunately the anesthesiologist was telling the truth, because I really did not feel any pain. I just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">listened</span> and prayed to hear those little lungs start making some noise (which they both did quite loudly). The downside here was not being able to hold them right away, I was wheeled away to recovery and they were taken to the nursery for evaluation. Until the next morning, the rest is kind of a blur. </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>As of today, they are still in the hospital, they had to stay some extra days to learn to feed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">through</span> their mouths. They were put on feeding tubes at first because the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">doctors</span> did not want them <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">to loose</span> too much weight. They were hooked up to heart rate monitors for about a week, but all of that is gone now, we are just waiting for them to make it 24 hours eating completely without assistance <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">from</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">feeding</span> tube. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">They</span> are growing and the doctors have been pleased with their progress from day one. </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Even though I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">only</span> see them twice a day for a few hours <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">right</span> now, it is so fun to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">their</span> cute personalities already starting to emerge. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Brynley</span> is very laid back and a sleepyhead. She is still the bigger of the two and she makes to cutest little cooing sounds. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Wyatt</span>, he is my explorer already. He is usually awake and looking around at everything, and tries very hard to lift and move his head when he hears voices or noises to see what it is. I am just so in love with them, I can't wait to get them out of the hospital and home.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>I will post again when the babies actually come home, I appreciate all of you and all of your support, love and prayers in the past few months. I know we could not have done it without you! Thanks!! </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>A few more pictures...<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcnpp2I79DfzaEmh5bmZ6hm4zBcZeBO8pTsSgd1mzXCV6WG5DdfWAaLg0Wbbu6ff2a-9WDqjJY0ah7BmvEFIYyXp8Z2gPHD73VUhonCsbiL4p3B0c8Y7ev0CXnFe5-zy2qEK10nzDyo1M/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154240065688743154" style="WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" height="209" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcnpp2I79DfzaEmh5bmZ6hm4zBcZeBO8pTsSgd1mzXCV6WG5DdfWAaLg0Wbbu6ff2a-9WDqjJY0ah7BmvEFIYyXp8Z2gPHD73VUhonCsbiL4p3B0c8Y7ev0CXnFe5-zy2qEK10nzDyo1M/s320/Twinsbirth+002.jpg" width="324" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>Here is Josh and I jsut before delivering. Look at that huge tummy!!</div><div> </div><div>+<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsbpM_rFXuAVNK18ooti8cbCb3Av0J6BbsA725EMDArHoZGIioCdY35xH3JQUcvHukayLV40FP8avkJmE4Thyphenhyphen0KD9f2HXOg1cTd1n-9nUVrDIlJqJsgXImdFvUGG0JEsG7DG4lHZeFIH5/s1600-h/Twinsbirth+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154239687731621090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsbpM_rFXuAVNK18ooti8cbCb3Av0J6BbsA725EMDArHoZGIioCdY35xH3JQUcvHukayLV40FP8avkJmE4Thyphenhyphen0KD9f2HXOg1cTd1n-9nUVrDIlJqJsgXImdFvUGG0JEsG7DG4lHZeFIH5/s320/Twinsbirth+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here are Brynley and Wyatt all hooked up to monitors and tubes. Not my favorite picture with all of that stuff, but it really isn't as bad as it looks, it is just heart rate monitors and feeding tubes. Aren't they cute the way they sleep curled upwith each other? They often have their liitle legs intertwined. </div><div></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-71757504308133009802007-12-28T08:06:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:43.620-08:00Merry Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmioWRu29Jg8n0DK9U6_5nJjB_nYPg6PVhxz5lU0i74_vNdjaTt0tXnQHARxABilb5tKJg6Qjxw8ZPjaVK7nJqXlnSng6enMS9AvLncIaVEENKVlKXNKVkIpN8x1V2sobiEnwiEWXX89P/s1600-h/Christmas+07+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149056654342794370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmioWRu29Jg8n0DK9U6_5nJjB_nYPg6PVhxz5lU0i74_vNdjaTt0tXnQHARxABilb5tKJg6Qjxw8ZPjaVK7nJqXlnSng6enMS9AvLncIaVEENKVlKXNKVkIpN8x1V2sobiEnwiEWXX89P/s320/Christmas+07+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It was a very Merry Christmas at the Hall home this year! We had so much fun opening gifts with Parker, he was hilarious! He would open one gift, and then want to play with it, and not open anything else. We actually had to take toys away so he would finish opening them all. His first gift was a little spider man scooter (I'll include a picture below) and he rode it around for about 10 minutes before he even lookd at any other gifts! Later on, and with Josh's help, we managed to have a turkey dinner, and then we visited our friends, the Kubals. We couldn't have asked for a better day! Here are some more pictures...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEoMnmnYoU0hRTKOw_VW0BpET7TTtWRkANJkRCzdNCK6O-bTw2KXsdWeiGKJsksHfGP57uQZ-J3Fhmex1jpXbgtQhWCCDf7efNYiNam4F-H4SaLWhS7iiLhQi2KhzRQ-xfNn-NK1cHEka/s1600-h/Christmas+07+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149087685481507986" style="WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px" height="397" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEoMnmnYoU0hRTKOw_VW0BpET7TTtWRkANJkRCzdNCK6O-bTw2KXsdWeiGKJsksHfGP57uQZ-J3Fhmex1jpXbgtQhWCCDf7efNYiNam4F-H4SaLWhS7iiLhQi2KhzRQ-xfNn-NK1cHEka/s320/Christmas+07+001.jpg" width="291" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I've had some "complaints" about this blog that there are no pictures of me in my large and pregnant state, so here is one for all of you! This is me and Parker, he is showing the camera his new spider man action figure. And yes, if you can see that close, my feet are purple, they look that way all the time these days. Lack of circulation....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaD_GGQTd03iqMwilfPvy0tQYOCJcW-qsF1dw8NKjOJj2vIMNSWZS8nW7Wlrwd0UnLQO9rajPqojNmuns668Qah-cms1Crbb55D4yClLKo-NRK0GG2d9yPvbGWblXmqM6PAGCP0jlNJ5r/s1600-h/Christmas+07+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149088900957252786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaD_GGQTd03iqMwilfPvy0tQYOCJcW-qsF1dw8NKjOJj2vIMNSWZS8nW7Wlrwd0UnLQO9rajPqojNmuns668Qah-cms1Crbb55D4yClLKo-NRK0GG2d9yPvbGWblXmqM6PAGCP0jlNJ5r/s320/Christmas+07+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is Parker and Josh playing "tackle" with Parker's new football. The game is pretty basic and goes a little something like this: Josh throws the ball to Parker, Parker catches it, and then runs at Josh as fast as he can and tries to knock him over. Josh has yet to teach Paker the difference between "offense" and "defense" so Paker plays both sides. As long as he gets the ball AND gets to tackle someone, he is happy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r3bGGIF-DkahBKeJ-2A6ElgDj2FhrImy1jZEcj4-TCtJHYAimoBg3PXq3DLvBZmFhcwyttQONBNiApIVKOK9yRf7mvCEpo05NhwhXP_ocl41YH2h8ZAAt44Sn1A2GkuQwjMLai3xejtT/s1600-h/Christmas+07+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149089184425094338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r3bGGIF-DkahBKeJ-2A6ElgDj2FhrImy1jZEcj4-TCtJHYAimoBg3PXq3DLvBZmFhcwyttQONBNiApIVKOK9yRf7mvCEpo05NhwhXP_ocl41YH2h8ZAAt44Sn1A2GkuQwjMLai3xejtT/s320/Christmas+07+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is one of Parker's favorite Christmas gifts, a dinosaur from Grandma and Papa that roars and walks. He walked it back and forth on the coffee table for the better part of an hour before I couldn't take it anymore and "helped" him choose a new toy to play with. Thank you, Mom.... :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8yNCOVEis7s_qcq90C8po7mhyphenhyphenAcUr2e9IWQ8OPpQjQtqMNIzu_JVTDopcQPgIRCQfGIBICPlK1JiDsFWVFUAWqrosepbrsP12AnC2-AKt08YIEnVLoqX3JJhRKrg1PxioNBdgY1G3E5L/s1600-h/Christmas+07+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149088441395752098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8yNCOVEis7s_qcq90C8po7mhyphenhyphenAcUr2e9IWQ8OPpQjQtqMNIzu_JVTDopcQPgIRCQfGIBICPlK1JiDsFWVFUAWqrosepbrsP12AnC2-AKt08YIEnVLoqX3JJhRKrg1PxioNBdgY1G3E5L/s320/Christmas+07+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the new Spider Man Scooter. We haven't ventured outside with it yet, because it has been cold and rainy, but he's getting better at pushing with his foot. He likes it better when Josh or I push him "really fast."<br />As you have probably figured out, I have not had the babies yet. Now that Christmas is over my main priority is going to be trying to ge them out! I can't take it anymore!! WHen I saw the doctor the day after Christmas he said I had not really progressed much, and I was free to get up and around. I have realized at this point that is much easier said than done, jsut getting up off the couch is no small task! (Sad, I know!) It is hard work just to move myself around! :) I go in on Monday (New Year's Eve!) for another ultrasound and non-stress test, it will be my last chance to have these babies in 2007!! WIsh me luck, we will keep you posted!!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-56650093084886796142007-12-24T13:20:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:43.836-08:00T'was The Night Before Christmas....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FQ9wEn0EZzwnbVT-YMK6rzojwfm7u9S83u2Z7ldWre94pNmdUkS1ANK_Gs-1ZCX1lm75MUBoFwgya8lwKnneLb3-vezaSLLFx0G39BbNmVbJSjTJ_OPwRx8ENIJIcrPxkXm2BJJX7r5Y/s1600-h/fall07+039.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FQ9wEn0EZzwnbVT-YMK6rzojwfm7u9S83u2Z7ldWre94pNmdUkS1ANK_Gs-1ZCX1lm75MUBoFwgya8lwKnneLb3-vezaSLLFx0G39BbNmVbJSjTJ_OPwRx8ENIJIcrPxkXm2BJJX7r5Y/s320/fall07+039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147652689663274098" /></a><br />...And all through the house, there were no signs of labor, things were quiet as a mouse!<br />Hey all! I would have posted something sooner, but my days are so very uneventful, I am afraid I might bore you all with my life on bedrest. Here is a picture of Parker with Santa. He was thrilled to see him! His favorite movie right now is "The Polar Express" (known at our house as "the train movie") and he gets so excited when they finally get to the North Pole and see Santa. He jumps up and down on the couch yelling, "Santa, Santa! Ho, ho, ho!" He still doesn't quite get the concept that Santa is coming tonight to bring him presents, but I am sure there will be plenty of years in the future for him to look forward to that.<br />As for the rest of us, we are happy to report that there are no babies here yet. I will only be happy to report that for about 2 more days, because after Christmas comes and goes, I am not sure how much more I can take! Of course, we are so happy that I have gone this far without any major problems or early labor. I guess I should count my blessings insetad of thinking of how much it hurts just to stand up! I have a doctor's appointment at 10 am on the day after Christmas, so we'll see if anything has changed. For now, lets just cross our fingers that nothing happens until then. More than anything, I think I will just feel guilty if my doctor has to come in and deliver me on Christmas Day. I already promised him I wouldn't....Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-87786042961041249092007-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:002007-12-16T13:30:45.863-08:00Bedrest....SO, this past week was a little more eventful than we would have liked, but all is well. I went in for my scheduled doctor's appointment on Wednesday afternoon and was surprised with the news that I was starting to dialate and was having contractions every 2-3 minutes (who knew?!). My doctor sent me up to labor and delivery and put me on an IV drip of magnesium to try and slow/stop the contractions. If anyone is familiar with this drug, it pretty much relaxes ALL muscles in your body (including eyes, I couldn't even focus very well!) I stayed in the hospital until Friday, when they took me off the mag to see if I was okay on my own. In the 2 days I was there, I didn't progress any further, the contractions were slowed, and the babies actually were not pressing down as hard as they had been when I came in. So, here I am back at home...on bedrest. <br />I have not been looking forward to this part of the pregnancy, although I have known it would probably happen sooner or later. In fact, I am pretty lucky that it has happened much later than we originally thought. I will be 34 weeks on Friday, and when I was at the hospital, both babies were measuring at 4 1/2 pounds, which is great. From here we just wait and see how long my body will last! It could be 2 days, it could be 2 weeks. Who knows? It was kind of weird to be in the hospital and leave without delivering any babies, but I know the longer they stay in, the better. I am pretty bored, and realizing how hard it is to actually stay off my feet, but of course, I am really blessed with a fabulous husband who is doing SO much extra work, and not getting mad when when I tell him exactly how I want things done around here! :) Parker is having fun staying with friends a little more than usual, and we have had so many firends offer to help which we are so grateful for! <br />So, that is the latest! We will keep you updated on what happens over the next few weeks. I hope everyone is having a great holiday season, and I apologize for no Christmas cards this year, but you'll be getting a birth announcement in the near future to make up for it! Merry Christmas!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-24461250054196623142007-12-09T17:39:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:44.219-08:00Saturday Afternoon In Arkansas<p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTMMPyJ4D4Ne83dC5WbqA_rtByE_8-7XRL0YfbayrI1y5j25o4cb1lQpntSwk_P7X6ZgbEOTbJ3XHHPgRTow' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><br /><p>Saturday was an uneventful day for me (that is nothing new these days). I was feeling pretty tired (that's nothing new, either) but Josh and Parker got to go spend some quality time with friends at the local bowling alley (c'mon, it was Saturday, and we live in Arkansas!). It was Parker's first time bowling where he actually got to bowl by himself. Josh took some video for me to watch, and it was pretty cute, so I thought I'd post it for you all to see. We aren't crossing our fingers for him to hit the professional ciurcut anytime soon, but that's okay, there's always golf...</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHinGRw13dvx2yqFUqgVgvJ1IubZdu-jg5CHGJPzflLsbBElNxKFh2w9t0cKSNvkyJsFSJ1VxRjamsbiZDZipJURsaHkpHy_6XyVDcIDmsbITA7X9s1ZgSgNLdv2-iuke7L8KZmickHMX/s1600-h/SANY0143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142156500184422738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHinGRw13dvx2yqFUqgVgvJ1IubZdu-jg5CHGJPzflLsbBElNxKFh2w9t0cKSNvkyJsFSJ1VxRjamsbiZDZipJURsaHkpHy_6XyVDcIDmsbITA7X9s1ZgSgNLdv2-iuke7L8KZmickHMX/s320/SANY0143.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Coolest Kid at the Bowling Alley!</p><p align="left"> </p><br /><br /><p></p>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-33070355281543557592007-12-07T06:35:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:25:45.272-08:00<div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6M-Ne3oKs9B0iyzz2YDhrUt3_AHXN9Dne2Zh2LplY1g3FH2C6IBcRIvsve0okScJQ-CrYGTO77LVlKn9ICCLI3h-rA88KXpurMrMZRMMDkkv5qZMuFone2hHaIMHkbM7mnsBrN0yoxyC/s1600-h/fall07+029.jpg"></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS7BXgNNl4NClOqY8XCdHLuUw76859eV_eqjRAPMhKlEQpkYKcc2ribo9sEn_npj_bLVunjGhmfrc5rbVjpu990OfTgZ1G9Dpw5gbrYSStCw5wA38vaw0d1QPgL5dNOLW-HHG-1QXnYyQ/s1600-h/2006+Family+Picture+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141240486739400930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS7BXgNNl4NClOqY8XCdHLuUw76859eV_eqjRAPMhKlEQpkYKcc2ribo9sEn_npj_bLVunjGhmfrc5rbVjpu990OfTgZ1G9Dpw5gbrYSStCw5wA38vaw0d1QPgL5dNOLW-HHG-1QXnYyQ/s320/2006+Family+Picture+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Okay, so I have been putting off this blog for about 3 months now, but I think I have it all figured out so I really will try and keep up with some more regular posts. Here is our family picture from last year. It is the best one we have, and we decided not to get one this year until after the twins are born. (When you are 8 months pregnant with twins, you don't really feel like getting your picture taken for friends and family to see.) I will try and give you a quick update on the past few months:</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>I am, as of today, 32 weeks along in this pregnancy. It has been quite a different experience than when I was pregnant with Parker, that is for sure! I don't do much, try and take it easy as much as possible, but it seems to be paying off. I am doing much better than my doctor had hoped, I am not on official bedrest yet, and the babies are both right about 4 pounds right now (feels more like 10 pounds each!). If I can make it a few more weeks so they can get to 5 pounds, that would be great. Right now the goal is to make it to 34 weeks, and we will see from there. Making it to 32 is a great milestone, especially with no major complications. My 35th week is the week of Christmas, and my other goal is NOT to be in the hospital on Christmas day. I guess we'll see. I wish I had more exciting things to post about me, but this has really consumed my life for the past few months. I stopped doing any interior design consulting back in November, and took leave from my "fun" jobs at The Gap and teaching Step classes at World Gym. Hopefully I will be able to start back with some of that next year. </div><br /><div>Josh is still doing great, he has become very good at doing all the things I can't do right now, plus work full time and serve as the elders quorum president of our ward at church. I don't see how he has time to do it all, and still have time to watch every college football game, and keep up with BYU and Jazz basketball. (See, men really CAN multi-task when they want to, especially if it means watching up to 4 games at the same time!) I am so thankful for all he is doing for our family right now! </div><br /><div>Parker is turning into such a "big boy", I can't believe it! I guess he has to grow up somehwat to make room in our family for two more babies, but he is still and always will be my baby boy! He turned two on September 29th, and had a fun "friend" party to celebrate. He is very into trains, so he got a new Thomas the Train and train table. In October we enrolled him in a Mother's Day Out Program at the Church Of Christ in Bentonville. He goes on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am-1 pm. He gets so excited when he wakes up and we tell him he gets to go to "school!" (I wonder how long that will last?!). He loves his friends and teachers there, and although it is a nice break for me, I really miss him when he is gone! Here he is on his first day of "school." What a cutie!<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFeLuC4i5z0cgRiySjwJEU41p0_Z7SBsFRufM2vjzE1vhJh7A5Ups1tQY4pRPoRNC4lXTRAKd9n_ngwN-WR0nR-wK3RPiqBEqPZC6ZFP-Du5byE2ix_T8Hm56YS3ihFiF1vxYC9lu8iIi/s1600-h/fall07+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141315330839501106" style="WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 376px" height="320" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFeLuC4i5z0cgRiySjwJEU41p0_Z7SBsFRufM2vjzE1vhJh7A5Ups1tQY4pRPoRNC4lXTRAKd9n_ngwN-WR0nR-wK3RPiqBEqPZC6ZFP-Du5byE2ix_T8Hm56YS3ihFiF1vxYC9lu8iIi/s320/fall07+029.jpg" width="265" border="0" /></a></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p align="left">Halloween was great for him this year, too. He had fun trick -or-treating around the neighborhood to a few houses, but I think he had even more fun at home when the trick-or-treaters came to our house. He would yell, "DOOR, DOOR, GET THE DOOR!!" to make sure we knew someone had rung the bell. Here he is with Josh in his chicken costume (Yes, chicken costume, I fugured this was the last year that he wouldn't have an opinion about what he wanted to be, so I chose the chicken!):<br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT5Y7r5QelD_jEQ6WewLXOpI1e7r9C11_LChqqJgfkPR5LOyRhGxdraAU3XjAM54UIlA_sOx5ynQsrSFRyrnYyqTm7bKgvXinveh38GXmwbcRoBliKKqyd5XRxhCjvzHKT_naoYSIZ36s/s1600-h/fall07+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141319591447058754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT5Y7r5QelD_jEQ6WewLXOpI1e7r9C11_LChqqJgfkPR5LOyRhGxdraAU3XjAM54UIlA_sOx5ynQsrSFRyrnYyqTm7bKgvXinveh38GXmwbcRoBliKKqyd5XRxhCjvzHKT_naoYSIZ36s/s320/fall07+035.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">We can't believe that Thanksgiving has also come and gone, and that Christmas (and babies) are only a few weeks away. Parker still says "No" when we ask him if he wants to have babies here at our house, but hopefully he will have a change of heart when he finally gets to meet them. Right now, since I am quite limited in my "playing" abilities, if I can't do something with him, he says, "Mommy, babies are in the way!" or better yet, "Mommy, too fat!" :) </p><p align="left">I will try and post again in the coming weeks and stay up to date. We will definitely post pictures of the babies and of Christmas, too! Happy Holidays to all!!<br /></p><div><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFeLuC4i5z0cgRiySjwJEU41p0_Z7SBsFRufM2vjzE1vhJh7A5Ups1tQY4pRPoRNC4lXTRAKd9n_ngwN-WR0nR-wK3RPiqBEqPZC6ZFP-Du5byE2ix_T8Hm56YS3ihFiF1vxYC9lu8iIi/s1600-h/fall07+029.jpg"></a></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593451910506189131.post-83707588416808187112007-09-16T20:27:00.000-07:002007-09-16T20:58:42.842-07:00Creating a Hall Family BlogJosh thought it would be a great idea to create a Hall Family Blog, which translates to Jenni will create and maintain a family blog for us. :) Of course, I am the obvious choice for being the administrator for this blog, seeing as how I am confined to spending the greater portion of my day sitting around "relaxing" and taking it easy so that I can grow two babies! Right now I am almost 21 weeks along, and things are looking good. We found out at our last doctor's appointment that we have a boy and an 80-90% girl....what the other 10-20% is we are not sure yet, hopefull y it turns out to be girl as well! I am having a hard time adjusting to a slower pace, if you know me, you know that I am not a sit-around-on-the-couch type of gal, but I am trying hard to follow my doctor's orders. I have to keep reminding myself that it is just temporary. My doctor, who knows I'd rather be running 5 miles a day, assured me that when I hit the 36 week mark of this pregnancy, I am free to run as much as I want. Unfortunately, I am afraid that by that point I will be rolling everywhere I go! <br />Josh is doing well, he keeps himself sane from his hormonal pregnant wife by golfing and creating winning strategies for BYU's 2007 football team. We hosted a viewing party at our house for the opening season game, and then he was able to attend the UCLA and Tulsa games. His newest strategy is to not attend any more games, because they have lost evey time he has gone!<br />Parker is getting so big, we can hardly believe he turns 2 in two weeks! He likes to send Josh and I to timeout when he is caught doing something naughty, he points his finger at us and yells, "No! Go timeout!" and then runs away. I think the hardest part of parenting can be not laughing when you are trying to discipline, Parker sometimes just waits to see if we are going to laugh or actually follow through with a punishment. He is really so much fun! <br />This is my first attempt at a blog post, and hopefully not the last. Next time I will figure out how to post pictures as well!Jennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283010873548213201noreply@blogger.com1