2 Year Birthday Pictures

This year I decided to take the boys 2 year pictures myself. I know I could've taken them anywhere to have them made, but I wanted to capture them doing what they do best- playing on the farm! They are crazy about the farm- John Deere, tractors, the garden, running around without shoes- true boys! I'm by no means a professional photographer but I was very pleased with the pictures. This picture was my favorite- probably it captures everything I love about having 2 little boys! Jonas is driving and Nolan was riding in the back! Nothing describes my boys better than being barefoot on the farm riding in a John Deere gator! For that reason, their daddy and I just got them their own John Deere gator power wheels! Words cannot describe how much I love my boys and how much I love being a mom to the 2 most precious boys I know!

Jonas & Nolan's 2nd Birthday Party

Saturday, we had the boys 2nd birthday party at our house. Their birthday was last weekend on Father's Day so I pushed their party back a week. It just would've been too hard to do a party and visit everyone for Fathers day in the same weekend and I figure that the boys are only 2 and really don't know the difference anyhow! The boys were napping when people started arriving so I went to wake them up & get them dressed. Jonas peaked out the door since he heard everyone talking and looked at me and said "CYCLES!!" He could see presents and got excited! After cooking a LOT of food last year for their party, I decided to do pizza, chips, & cupcakes this year. Boy, was it SO MUCH easier! Everyone ate, watched the boys open presents, ate cake & ice cream, and played outside. We all had a good time and the boys were spoiled rotten with such great gifts. They are obsessed with trains, tractors, and CAT equipment and got more than enough of all of it! Their big presents were: scooters with helmets from Chris & I, a playhouse from Mimi & Poppy, tricycles from Nana & Papaw, and a powerwheels truck from Pops & Barb- and boy did they love it ALL! Enjoy the pictures- there are a lot of them but Aunt Cindy wasn't able to come so I had to post more for her! Thanks everyone for making my boys special day worthwhile and for loving them as much as you all do!

Homemade chocolate cupcakes with caramel buttercream icing- I love to bake :)

All ready for the mess...

I made it easy on myself- pizza, cheese puffs, & chips

Drinks

New "cycles" from Nana & Papaw

The boys & Anna Grace eating

Kylee, Kinley, Lily, Olivia, Jonas, Nolan, Anna Grace, Emery, Abby, Benton, & Sarah


The boys were spoiled!

Jonas opening presents with mommy

Time for cake with help from Mommy

Jonas feeding Anna Grace the first bite of his "cake cake"

The boys new playhouse from Mimi & Poppy

Little miss Teagan watching

The boys got a new ride for their birthday from Pops & Barb- they were told chicks dig guys in trucks!

Anna Grace, Nolan, & Jonas holding hands to go run thru the sprinklers

Kids playing in the sprinklers

Kids were everywhere...in the yard, on the deck, EVERYWHERE

Look at her mushing on Jonas' cheeks!

Nolan & Anna Grace giving goodbye kisses inside the playhouse

My living room after the last people left...now tell me again why I cleaned before the party?!?

Another year has come & gone...

The picture that changed my life....

I can remember it as if it were yesterday...I had been so tired. I would come home from a 12 hour shift in the ER and fall asleep and not wake up until the next day! I just thought I was exhausted- yes, I'm a nurse and NEVER even thought I was possibly pregnant, go figure! This went on for 3 weeks!! Finally my mom (the wiser one!) said "Mandy, do you think you could be pregnant?" "NO!" was my immediate response followed by me hanging up on her, running to Krogers, buying a test, coming back to an empty house (Chris was out of town), peeing on the stick, and crying!! Tears of complete joy, surprise, and pure happiness! I also remember that first office visit and the ultrasound... Ultrasound tech says "There's the heart beating...and, uh, there's baby #2!" My response- "WHAT?!?!" What she said next was a blur...all I could think about was that God was giving me a double blessing and if he saw me fit to have twins- I could do it! Oh how I LOVED being pregnant...and if you know me well, you know it was a hard and horrible pregnancy. Preterm labor at 20 weeks, hydronephrosis, preterm labor at 24 weeks, and the list goes on... But I cannot tell you the shear joy of feeling my boys inside of me- and yes, I said they were boys from the start! How I would talk and sing to them, dance in the kitchen , read them books, and just lay there watching them dance in my belly! I would tell people that Jonas was going to be my laid back baby as he didn't move a whole lot & always seemed to sleep on my schedule. Nolan, on the other hand, was wild! Lets just say that hasn't changed :) I prayed daily for 2 healthy babies and was more than blessed! Baby boys- You are my daily strength, my shining stars, and my whole world! Bad days always turn around just by seeing your faces. How my heart melts when you say "wuv you mama"... I cherish each giggle, smile, and tear. I love you more than you'll ever know!

I made it thru the 1st trimester with 2 babies...I was so scared that 1 would disappear- especially since the drs told me it was likely as not all twins are found as early as mine were...

The first picture I took that I actually felt pregnant

Growing...(and I thought I was huge!)

Days before delivering twins...all belly but my boys took everything I ate!

Still smiling thru the contractions....

Happy Birthday precious Jonas Kade (mommy's 1st born)

Happy Birthday sweet Nolan Kole (you were a whole 25 seconds behind your brother)


I never left your side...(mommy & Nolan)

at the hospital night & day...( mommy & Jonas)

1 month old

So in love....

2 of my most favorite pictures of my babies


My boys on their 1st birthday...


My boys on their 2nd birthday.... Amazed at how much they've grown!

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Dad- words could never express how much gratitude or admiration I have for you. Your unfailing love and endless encouragement amazes me. You make it so apparent how proud you are of your kids. I remember in college how my friends would laugh when my cell phone rang at 8pm sharp everynight- "Mandy- your dad's calling to tell you goodnight" they would say...I was never embarrassed- I always felt so lucky to have a daddy who still called to tell me that he loved me and good night even though I was away at college. And much to my surprise, that has never changed! (I kind of thought once I got married, you would stop calling- but my phone still rings everynight at 8pm) You understand that people mess up and have never faulted me for my mistakes but showed me how to learn from them. And even though I know I'm not perfect, I know that Cindy, Russ, & I all are in your eyes & I'm proud to have you as my daddy! Happy Fathers Day- I love you!

Gregory- You came into our lives and picked right up. You have never cared that we were not biologically your children- you treated us as we were yours all along. I hope you know how much you mean to me. You always see the good in people and that's something I wish I could say for myself. I'm thankful to have you in my life and even more thankful that the boys have their "Poppy" who they LOVE so much! Happy Fathers Day- You deserve it! I love you!!


Jot- You have always been the one person Chris truly admires. Happy Fathers Day!

2 years ago....

Its so hard to believe that 2 years ago at this very moment, I was in bed sleeping not knowing that my water was going to break at home in just a few short hours! How I wish I could relive that day over and over. I took a shower, got ready for bed, read a story to my boys who kicked furiously inside of me as they did every night when I read to them, and fell asleep. I went to bed early as I did the majority of nights that I was pregnant. I was always so wore out, I never made it past 10pm! How I miss feeling them inside me- the kicks, feeling them playing with each other, and I LOVED when they got the hiccups! And to think that my little boys are already turning 2 absolutely breaks my heart! Baby boys- I hope you always know how much your momma loves and adores you both- now & forever....


My precious Jonas Kade

My sweet Nolan Kole finally letting out a loud cry

The day we brought them home...I called them my little burritos :)

The boys last year on their birthday...how they'll changed & grown so much...(tear)