OH Tobin!

Well, the new year is bringing out quite a change in Tobin. Gone are the days of dependancy. Hello Mr. Man. Goodbye moments of accomplishing anything while Tobin is safe in a pack-n-play. Now, he gets out when he wants. Who knew he was such a big fan of half-full vaseline containers? Well, now we do. Adios feeling of your child being safe in his car seat. You are being replaced with a boy who can (and does) Houdini himself out of the top half, no matter how tight his parents secure it. So long comforting feeling of being able to shut doors. Greetings to a 17 month old who can open them. Child protective door knobs one might think? Nah, he can pull those apart. And now apparently clothes are optional and only to be worn when he feels like keeping them on.

And boy are we pleased with ourselves and our belly!
Goodbye old crib. Remember the sweet days of a bottle? Well, if mama and daddy planned on keeping me in this tiny thing while my legs hung out, then too bad. I showed them that I am now able to climb out in a matter of seconds with out any strain (or fear) at all.
Hello big boy bed. Now guests really have no place to sleep!
I'm so used to tight quarters that I feel the need to self-impose putting baby in the corner.
I gave daddy the scare of his life when he went to check on me. I wasn't on the bed, on the floor, or under the old crib. He even checked the window to make sure no one had come in or gone out! Alas...the last place there was to check was where I was! Can you spot me?
Good times everyone! After waking up to two parents on their hands and knees, I was extremely proud of myself. I thought I was in for a midnight play session.

Christmas and the 60's!

There is so much trouble he could get into right now he just can't contain himself!

With the patience only she has, Nana (AKA Nan to the girls and Nanny to T-Bone) helped the girls create their very first gingerbread house!

Although they were so proud of their edible home and couldn't wait to eat it, they both found that gingerbread houses are sometimes better left to be enjoyed by the eyes only.

Christmas morning was full of fancy frills, crowns, crafts, etc. Santa really out did himself. Thanks, Santy!!! (One of Santa's three names according to Obse).
She will not be outdone by the wrapping.
Not just one, but TWO new nail polishes ladies and gentlemen!
Apparently his water bottle and plastic spoon stocking stuffers didn't go over so well after all!
Nothing quite like wearing new snazzy outfits with high heels after the presents are opened! Thanks Aunt Jo!
We recently survived our 2-day cold spell of a winter. Much to Jason's chagrin, even Newman got covered with a baby blanket.

Apparently these crazies didn't get enough presents at Christmas. They had to have a 60th anniversary 4 days later.
Nothing would make T happier than if daddy would just turn him around and let him push that lawn mower.

The Play, The Player & The PJ's

Last weekend was a great pre-Christmas time with family. Jason, me and the girls, along with our friends, Uncle Jason and Aunt Michelle, went to the Christmas pagent at our Church. Our seats were right up front, so we had a great view of everything, even the live animals. Never in my life have I enjoyed a play more than that. Seeing the amazement plastered all over the girls faces was truly special. They were in awe. They kept leaning over to ask me the best questions, like if the backdrop was "real stars?". My favorite of the night, however, was when they asked..."Mama, is that really Jesus???!!!" They were thrilled! For a play that kept adult audiences engaged and moved, it did the same for Obse and Sela. The lights, the music, the fancy costumes of the modern half and the Biblical characters of the second half...nothing was overlooked or unappreciated by them!

The next day we got to celebrate Christmas with Jason's side of the family. Oh, how the girls have been longing for some high heels. Well, their Aunt Julie went through her closet and wrapped up 6 pairs of high heels for the girls! They had no clue they were not brand new. To them, they were exactly what they had been wishing for. In fact, they each were wearing a pair of their very own "new" high heels when we stopped by at their night at grandma and big papa's.
Well, this little man has his great grandma (and big papa) wrapped right around his teensy finger. They have a routine now that if he's there when he wakes up from his nap, they need to each get a snack, something to drink and rock in the big chair until he is fully awake and ready to play. What's even more pittiful is that I don't know which one of them enjoys this more. And you may notice that in the picture there is an extra cracker sitting on the shelf. That's because Tobin likes to "look over there and make sure there is more for him." And sadly, I myself wittnessed the little player doing exactly that! Ridiculous!

The girls got to wear their pj's to school for their last day before Christmas break. Boy, did they think that was fun and silly. And not only that, they had been counting down to Friday all week because "...we are going to have a par..y (sometimes you don't quite hear Sela's "t" sounds) and have SOOO much fun!" Since Friday nights are spent at Grandma and Big Papa's house, we tried to tell them that as they were already in their pajamas grandma was going to just put them to bed after school. But they weren't falling for our shenanagins. Sometimes, we just can't pull the wool over these babies eyes!

A Very Proud Mama!

These babies are just amazing! On the way home today Sela proclaims to me that she doesn't like Christmas for presents, but because of Jesus. Then Obse brings home the point that Christmas is not about presents but about God and Jesus being born. Really??? Are these kids truly this awesome...my answer is YES! But I should also clarify that story with their plans for their Target $5 "credit card" they got from Nana and Papa for "Obsela Day" and their letters to Santa. With their "credit card" of 5 whole dollars each, they are debating between a cell phone ("a real one mama"), a camera, and a swimming pool. And for Christmas, they wrote to Santa that they would like some "make-ups" (that's how they say it), some real high heels (not the kid ones they have) and a fancy purse. But that's just in case there's extra presents, Santa, because they know the real reason of Christmas.

They were very full of proclomations today of all sorts. As Sela informed me that she does not like homework, and that they both DO NOT appreciate certain aspects of independence like making their lunch...this same lunch that they once begged to be able to help make. Instead, making lunch is "not easy as pie" as they were suckered into believing. But TV... now that is really something they both agree upon to be mutually enjoyable for all.



Yet another reason to be proud is that Tobin is learning to feed himself with utensils. His favorite still remain his hands, with grown up silverware placing a close second. And might I add that the boy is showing strong signs of being ambidextrous! This could be just the push he needs to actually win the Heisman trophy one day, not just be in the running!

Pics of the kids...some with 4 legs

Here are just a few pictures of the kids. Due to a catastrophe with our camera (it was sat on by one of the adults in this family, I shant name names) our picture productivity has been very low. But thanks to Aunt Julie and her amazing picture skills, and some pictures from earlier, here are some breathtaking shots of the babes!

ER vs. OBSELA DAY!

Here she is...our very own long overdue blog. What better way to start it out than our first ER visit? Tobin got himself quite a cornucopia of diseases, what with a cold, fever, bad ear infection and bronchitis. It's been nothing short of heartbreaking.

But we prefer to counter the bad with the really good and fun...hence celebrating Obsela Day today! It's the girls day to have completely dedicated to them! They are out of school, watching Christmas movies, going to lunch followed by some playground time, some good ol' fashon home movies of themselves, and big girl bike riding...the fun never stops. Then tonight is pizza (in the TV room) watching a movie with the whole fam. There are even going to be a few presents thrown in. Good times, my friends!