We're 12 Months old!

AKA 1 year old! We made it! Woohoo! And we still refuse to look at, and even smile at the camera for these monthly pics.

New Year Resolutions

OK, here we go. There are the uber impressive New Year's Resolutions for 2011. Let's see how they do!!

1. Ok, be 100% debt free and save lots of money. Isn't this everyone's?

2. Eat more local, organic products. Maybe even start participating in a CSA

3. Exercise REGULARLY. Am already missing those breastfeeding calories! (stopped BFing on their first birthday)

4. Learn how to sew. My lovely Mommy got me a fabulous sewing/embrodery machine for Christmas, now all I have to do is learn how to use it! I am soooo excited to, though!

5. Learn photography. I intend to take a photography class this year. Since I got my new camera in September, I am anxious to learn all about it.

6. Oh, and raise the best kiddos ever!!

I will check in on these from time to time. Gotta stay with them!! What are yours?

Snow Day!

The babes got out in the snow for a little while, and only when it got up to 40. Although there wasn't a whole lot of snow left, I wasn't going to let them get out it in until it was a bit warmer. They had fun though! They got a baby sled for Christmas, so they had a ball going around in it.

Why, they even love it going around the house!

Weekend Project

Did two things this weekend that were pretty cool. First off, Jake's mom gave us this little table and chairs that she bought for the kids. She came up this weekend to help us turn our sunroom into a playroom (project#2), so I decided to tackle the table project. It is AMAZING what a little paint can do!

I painted the table white with a chocolate top, and each chair pink and blue. I then went to Michael's and bought little letters for their names and a wooden cat and dog. I then painted the letters chocolate to match the top of the table, and glued them and the cat and dog on each chair. They turned out soooooo cute! I love it.






Project number 2 was turning our sunroom into a playroom for the kiddos. As much we love our sunroom, it just isn't used very much. And boy, did we ever need a place for their many, many toys! So, our went the wicker furniture, and in went toys, toys, and more toys. The only problem now is keeping it warm. However, as long as the sun is shining it is fine. Today it was around 40-45 degrees here, and it was quite warm in the sunroom. I guess they can play out there when the sun is out and inside when its not. Anyway, its a good fix for now!

1 year (sniff, sniff) doctor appt

Well, we still are not big babies. SIGH. As much as I try to stuff avacados and pasta down them.

Jules
Weight: 16lb, 4oz (not even on the charts *sigh* below the 3rd percentile)
Height: 29 inches (49th percentile)
Head Circ: 17.5 inches (26th)


Basically she is skinny minny tall thing. She has been since birth. However, she has been sick this week with an ear infection, (and 102 fever! our first one for either babies!) so he thinks that is probably why her weight was so low. I will take her back in one month to check.

Josh
Weight: 18lbs, 11oz (4th percentile)
Height: 28.5 inches (12th percentile)
Head Cir: 17.9 inches (25th percentile)


They are both growing really well, so the doctor says they are perfectly fine. I know, I know, I just want them to catch up, ya know? They were born small and early, and have actually almost quadrupled their birth weight. But still...

Partytime!

I am going to pretend for a moment that I was asked to be included in the Hostess with the Mostess blog, b/c my party was so rockingly awesome. Alas, it was not. But I was in love with it!!
I knew basically this entire year I was going to do an Elvis/50's type theme. How could I not? They were born on Elvis' birthday! I would like to tell you that I had it planned for months and months. But, honestly, aside from the invitations, I pulled it together last minute in the week beforehand.

Well, hello Elvis!!

We decided just to do family. If we got into the friend thing, we were looking at lots of different circle, and lots of people. And honestly, no one really wants to come to these parties anyway. I designed and printed the invites myself. They were so cute. I photoshopped Jules in as Marilyn Monroe, and Josh in as Elvis. HeHe. (a small aside, I am OBSESSED with Marilyn Monroe. Loooooove her. Jules will def. be dressed as her one of these days)




Then I printed off a bunch of black & white pics of Elvis, Marilyn, and James Dean, with borders of black, teal, red, and pink. I then asked my mom to bring a bunch of old 45's, and I started decorating. I made garlands using string and clothes pins, and then used the remaining pics as table decorations. We even had a record player and played Elvis songs all day. We got plates and huge wall stick ups of Elvises, jukebox,and guitars from Party City. I knew in my head what I wanted, and it actually turned out just right! That NEVER happens!

record player!

Moi, with a coke float next to one of the large Elvis'


I then printed off a Happy Birthday sign using a fun, retro font, and put their names on the back (thanks Jake, for that idea)


bonus points for finding the babies!



Food was simple, really easy, and fun. I wanted to do a "50's diner" theme, so we did mini burgers (sliders), mini hotdogs, mini corndogs, fries, and a coke float station. I bought the cakes from Publix. They did a fun retro cake for us, and two smash cakes for the babes.

Aunt Nancy fixing a coke float! (yes, we had a soda float station)

Josh and Jules, of course, were the hit of the party. They were all dressed up in some HUGE cuteness: Jules as a sockhopper, and Josh as Elvis. I mean, honestly, you could just die at their cuteness. A downside of the party was that sweet Jules had a fever most of the day, so she was not a happy girl, bless her sweet heart. (of all days, jeez)

Note her DIY Saddle Oxfords

We had lots of family there, which I was orginally so upset about. I didn't think anyone would come b/c it was so close to Christmas. But, we ended up having a great turnout, and it was WONDERFUL!!

Josh did everything he was supposed to do as far as the cake mess goes. He got after it immediately and was all in it. Jules, however, was a dainty little thing and only got ONE hand dirty! So funny!

All in all, a wonderful time was had by all, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day or a more perfect party (well, minus the fever) Happy Birthday Josh and Jules!!

 

If you want to see more pics, view the slideshow below!

Happy Birthday!

Dear Joshua Vawter and Julia Prater,

I cannot believe it had been an entire year since I met you little guys. In a way it feels like it was yesterday, and then again, it feels like I have always known you and knew you would be my children - I was just waiting to meet you. Even though I suffered with infertility and had my bad days, I always knew in my heart my babies were out there waiting to come into my life.

Thank you both for making me believe that the simpliest, silliest things are the ones I cherish most. Thank you for turning my into that mom that I used to make fun of, who takes about you both nonstop to perfect strangers. Thank you for making me be the mommy to you that I didn't think I could be.

I have waited on you probably my whole life. And now you are here, and it has now been a whole year. You both have grown before my very eyes, from teeny tiny babies into (dare I say) toddlers and each day with you is another little miracle.

I love you both so very, very much and have wished and wanted you my whole life. I am so very blessed that you are both healthy, happy little darlings. Thank you for making my life perfect and for creating our sweet family. We have been waiting for you and now we are complete. Happy Birthday! 1-8-2011

Love,

Mommy

Our favorite things! 11 Months

Here is our update on our favorite things at 11 months old!


Books! Still love books! I wish I could say they have a favorite this month, but they really don't. Life has been so crazy with traveling and the holidays, they haven't had a lot of one-on-one scheduled book time. So, we are usually just grabbing whatever is close and reading. They are now getting into wanting to touch the books alot, so any books that have textures or things like that they love. My favorite book to read them? I love the Disney ones (bought almost the entire collection) and Winnie the Pooh. We have the complete collection big hardbound book. My least favorite? Fox in Socks. I fyou have ever read that book you will agree with me.


Songs! Love Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood, and Band Perry, and basiclly any blonde female, for some reason. (Hmph. I'm brunette.) LOVE Wheels on a Bus. LOVE Itsy Bitsy Spider. LOVE The Alphabet Parade. LOVE Do Re Mi. LOVE Thumpkin. We sing alot. Jules likes to dance. Josh gets excited. It's muy precious.

Inantimate objects! We love the door stops. That has always been one of our faves. We love opening up drawers and doors (love this one, let me tell ya). We love newspapers and magazines (love this one too)


Toys! I maybe should have written this post BEFORE Christmas, because now we have lots and lots of toys to choose from. I have decided now to put alot of the toys away, and rotate them out every couple of weeks. So, now we have our rocking horses, which we love, and rocking chairs too. They also love anything that makes noise or music. We have a Leap Frog piano that they love, and we also got this puppy from my mom that they like. Jules (and Josh some actually) has taken a liking to a baby doll that plays music. she loves it. Josh likes it too b/c her face lights up like a glow worm. Jules also loves her little pink giraffe that also plays lullabys.They love anything that they can push. They have a couple of walkers, a Winnie the Pooh pusher, and a fire truck type thing, and they love them! Or, if you are Josh, you can just push around a box and be happy as a clam.