Remembering Me-Me

My beautiful grandmother "Me-Me" (my mom's mother) went to be with Jesus on Saturday morning.  She had battled with Alzheimer's for over 10 years.  Such a tragic, terrible disease.  But we have hope because we know that Jesus is her Lord and Savior, and that she has life eternally!  Free from sickness, from pain and tears!  She is fully restored and redeemed.

Me-Me with Emma when she was about 6 months old

It is still a little hard to say goodbye this side of eternity...she meant so much to me and will always be remembered.  She loved my Granddaddy so much, and he stood by her side and cared for her as long as he could.  Some of my favorite memories...

• Racing with sister to the screen door, creaking it open to hear Me-Me call "You-hoo!".  She always did.
• Her hands, wrinkled and soft, spotted with age.  Anyone else remember their grandmother's hands?  I loved holding them, looking at her fingers.
• Watching my mom and her together.  I just loved watching them talk with each other...such a sweet, close bond.  
• Me-Me's gentle voice, always kind and patient.  Even Alzheimer's couldn't phase her gentle personality.  I never heard my Me-Me raise her voice.
• Orange cake.  It is the only cake I ever remember her making.  I'm sure she made others, but it was everyone's favorite and always present at family dinners.
• Teaching me to snap green beans.
• Canning crab-apple jelly from crab-apples picked from a tree in her yard.  I thought it was the most amazing thing.
• Week-long vacations at Me-Me and Granddaddy's house in the summer...just me and sister.
• Cinnamon toast for breakfast 
• Sweet tea with lemons...along with Dr. Pepper for my granddaddy (his favorite).  
• Playing Old Maid, Go Fish, Uno, Monopoly...
• The cards she sent me on every birthday and valentine's day.
• Paintings and sketches she made...she had such a talent for it.
• Watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy while eating "dinner" (lunch)
• The irises she planted in her yard...Mom moved some of those same bulbs to her house.
• Times she helped me write letters to their sponsored child across the world.  The love of Jesus truly shone out of her heart.
• Watching her face light up every time she met Emma.  Even though she never remembered her, each time she was overjoyed to find out she had a granddaughter.
• The last conversation I had with her (over a year ago).  She didn't seem to recognize me in the beginning, but for moment she smiled at me and said, "oh honey, you're all grown up!".

We will never forget you, Me-Me!  Thank you for all the memories you gave me that I can share with my children and grandchildren.  Thank you for all the love you poured out to us, for all the times you listened and consoled, all the times you taught us to care and love others.  We are rejoicing that you are Home, dancing with Granddaddy!  Looking forward to the day we will see you again!  We love you!

Baby Dedication

Last Sunday we had a little baby dedication service at church for the boys.  We were so honored to have our family and some of our oldest friends join us for this special occasion.  We laid hands on the boys and prayed for their lives...for their protection, their future spouses, and most of all that they would know and love Jesus, and that He would be glorified through their lives.

It was nice to pause and remember how vital my prayers for my children are.  I love the book, "The Power of A Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian.  It is a must read and great resource for every parent.  We can't handle the responsibility of raising these children alone- or in other words, I don't want to rely on my own wisdom and strength, because I will fail miserably.  I need supernatural power from God to help me through my days, grace when I mess up (which is SO often), and faith to know that He is sovereign and faithful.  These children are His, and I am so thankful that he has entrusted them to our love and care.

Sadly, this is the only picture we got of the day.  Thank goodness for Jared's iPhone!   

Differences

Having twins, there are certain questions that people ask all the time.  I don't mind these questions, but it is just something that I can expect to happen whenever I get out with the boys.  "Are they identical?" (there still isn't an easy answer to that question), "Do twins run in your family?", "How do you tell them apart?", "Did you use fertility drugs?"  (ok, that last one is getting a little personal, but I just grin and assume that they don't realize that it could strike a nerve with some people that did).  But, I do love these questions because it presents an opportunity to tell their story.

Another common question asked is "How are they different?".  They are each so unique and special!  It has been so interesting to watch these boys grow and mature, and to see the personalities that God has planted in each one of them.

My boys at 12 months...

Ethan is a clown.  He is so funny...sometimes it takes him a little bit to warm up to someone new, but once he does he is all smiles and giggles.  I LOVE his laugh...could listen to it for hours.  Or longer.  He is very ticklish also.

Ethan is very loving these days...when he eats dinner in his booster seat, he grabs my arm and hugs it with both of his wet, sticky hands.  And then there is the kisses he has been giving.  He pulls my face to his, lips open wide, laughing joyfully.  Sigh.

This boy is very independent, though.  He doesn't fuss much when I lay him down for a nap, likes to get down and explore.  But when he is done exploring, he crawls back to me, pulls himself up on my leg and tries to crawl in my lap.

True to his name, Ethan is my "strong man".  He has always been the first to reach a milestone (usually by a few days or so)- sitting up, pulling up, etc.  I remember sitting in a rocker chair holding him in the NICU, telling him what his name meant (strong and steadfast), and how strong God had made him.  He was the one that has the most trouble in the beginning, but he is a determined boy and has come such a long way!  He has just began to cruise around the furniture a bit recently...David hasn't tried yet, but I know he'll be there soon!

   Ethan is a great eater...he will down almost anything I put in front of him!  And lots of it!

He is an amazing sleeper (they both are- thank you God!), but Ethan has a particular way he likes to sleep every night.  Turned on his belly, sucking his thumb, holding onto and pressed up against the bumper.  Every.  Night.

He doesn't say much clearly yet...sometimes "mama" or "dada", but he is working on it!  He loves to laugh almost as much as his sister, so it is hilarious to see them playing together!

David...

Oh, David.  David is so smiley...and he warms up quickly to others.  He makes the funniest faces!  Sometimes he will roll his eyes up and blink those long lashes, smacking those lips "ba ba"...he knows he's a charmer. :)

David is a mama's boy.  He does not want me to put him down for nap.  Or for bedtime.  Or for playtime.  Throws a little fit when I do so.  It amuses me (for now) because he gets so dramatic about it.  It has been hard to leave him at the nursery and small group the last few weeks, though.  The boy just loves his mama.  He has been giving lots of sweet, slobbery kisses lately.

This boy is already testing mama, though!  I know that he understands "no" (both of them do), but when we let the boys have free reign in the family room, he goes straight for the forbidden areas- the fireplace, the lamp cords, the blinds.  After I tell him "no" and remove him from the area, what does he do?  Goes right back to it, turns his head and blinks his big eyes.  Ethan, on the other hand, will come back to me when I tell him "no".  He is a mess! :)

David is more laid-back than Ethan...not so much in a hurry to get to that next milestone.  He is never far behind, but he waits to see his brother master it before he attempts it.  They both started pulling up right around their birthday...David about a week later than E.

David eats just about anything these days, too.  He is slightly more picky than his brother (he gagged on avocado, while Ethan thought it was ok).  Some of their favorites now are cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, pears, chicken, pot roast, green beans, peas, black beans, and cheese bread.  Oh and pumpkin chocolate chip bread!

He is such a great sleeper, too.  The only time they wake up at night is if they are sick.  I really wonder how that happened??  Maybe because they had to learn to ignore the other one's cries when they were younger? I don't know, but I sure hope it continues!!  David is not really a bumper snuggler like his brother, but he is a thumb sucker.

And David is the "talker" of the two...so far.  He says "mama", "dada", "daisy" (our dog), "emma".  Not very clearly yet, but I can make it out :)  I can usually tell the difference between David's and Ethan's voice...David is slightly lower.  I love their sweet voices!

I think David likes my camera...actually I know he does because he makes a bee line for it every time I have it out.

And can we talk about how much they look alike?  Same little outie belly buttons, same dimple in their chin, same hair color and amount, same number of teeth, same blood type, same hazel-blue-grey eyes...and both of their left eyes are slightly lighter in color than their right.  I just started telling people they are identical.  I don't know for sure, but they certainly still look a lot alike.  I do see small differences...the shape of their eyes and their faces is a little different.  That is how I tell them apart.  But, apparently some identical twins can be in separate sacs and each have their own placenta during pregnancy.  There is a genetic test that can be done to determine identical/fraternal...maybe one day we'll have it done, just to know.  I'm in no hurry, though.

Love watching these boys play!  David giving Ethan kisses here...

Ethan on left, David on right

Lean on me...

Eating puffs (Ethan on left, David on right)

Ethan pulling David's hair...

David...

Ethan and David's 1st Birthday Party- Dr. Seuss Style

Our baby boys turned one year old on August 23.  What a joy it was to celebrate their precious lives and all that God has done!  We marked the occasion with a small "Thing 1 and Thing 2" family brunch at home- complete with Green Eggs and Ham, of course!

Also on the menu:  fresh fruit bruschetta with orange honey cream, hashbrown casserole, and sour cream biscuits.  Almost all of the recipes came from this blog.  Have I mentioned I love their recipes?

The fresh fruit bruschetta was thin slices of french bread, brushed with butter and cinnamon sugar, then toasted.  Next, the slices were topped with fresh strawberries, mango, kiwi, and peaches and drizzled with a orange-honey sour cream sauce.  It was yummy and turned out really pretty.

Green Eggs and Ham {aka Mini Egg and Ham Cups with roasted red peppers, spinach, green onions, lots of cheese!}

Hashbrown Casserole - this was the favorite of the day...it was completely gone and everyone kept talking about it.

Sour Cream Biscuits

 Drinks:  Pink Ink, which was Raspberry Limeade {the Yink likes to drink pink ink...anyone?  No one knew what I was talking about!}, we also had orange juice, sweet tea, bottled waters.

The boys' smash cakes (strawberry with vanilla buttercream)

The dessert table with strawberry cupcakes, sugar cookies, "red fish", and twizzlers.

My funny boys eating lunch! (David in the front, Ethan in back)  Emma used to make this same face :)

 The boys weren't sure what to think of their cakes...they didn't eat much of them.  Ethan was a little more into it than David.

 Encouraging David to dig in!

 Emma helping out her brothers...

 This is right before Ethan dropped his cake on the floor.

 Birthday Presents!

 It was a little crazy trying to get them both to stay in the same place...they were crawling in different directions.  As usual!

 Sister took on the hard job of helping open presents :)

 The drum from Aunt Issa and Uncle Todd was a big hit!

 I love these boys!

 Daddy loving on Ethan.

Thanks to all the family that could make it to celebrate their big day!  You all are a blessing in our lives, and we are so thankful for you.

Ethan and David:  Mommy and Daddy love you dearly!  You light up our lives, and fill us with so much joy and laughter each day!  God has worked in and through you both in mighty ways...He has used you to bring us closer to Him than ever before. Through your lives, He has opened our eyes to His unending grace and love...it is such an amazing, precious gift!!  Boys, my prayer is that you would know this grace...that you would live in the depths of it, and that it would shine out of you to the lost in this world.  You are mighty warriors for God.  You are set apart, chosen and loved with an everlasting love.  Never measure your success by this world's standards...love God with everything you have, and love people.  That is what matters.  That is what is eternal.

Love you Ethan.  Love you David.