Happy Birthday!

The girls had a great day celebrating their first birthday! It's hard to believe that one year ago we were seeing their sweet faces for the first time. The joy they have brought to our lives is immeasurable and they are truly the best part of life.

The girls spent their birthday at Nana and Papa's because I was in a training class. We got up bright and early and I stopped for donuts on the way. Yum - they love sugar! MM stuffed an entire donut hole in her mouth. For lunch Nana made some homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, and brownies. The girls chowed down and then opened presents. Nana and Papa gave them some books, maracas, and a carrier for the car to put their toys in while they ride back and forth. They love them! Especially the book that has a dog that looks like Jack and you can pet his ears.

For dinner we met Lanie and Pop at the Mexican restaurant and Lanie let us drink from a straw for the first time. We even got to drink Sprite and eat tacos and white cheese. After dinner we came home and opened more presents. Ruff and Angelia sent us our very own bulldogs and the Cahills sent us cute hairbows and snack cups. We gave the girls their very own ball pit! What a great birthday. Can't wait to party some more this weekend!

To my sweet MM, you started out as our little wallflower but you have slowly grown into our little firecracker. Your inquisitive mind keeps us on our toes and you make every day a joy as you experience new things with such a passion. "What's that?" I love that you laugh when others laugh even though I know you don't get the joke, you are a free giver of hugs, and you have are so easy going when your sister swipes your toys. You prove that great things come in small packages! That squenchy nose will forever make me smile. You are my sweet MM.

To my sweet Kennedy, you have a way of lighting up a room with your smile. Your quick smile attracts strangers wherever we go - it is captivating. You are a leader and usually go about things in your own independent way. You love to be outside, to see new places, and to experience life. You are a joy to us because of your sweet disposition and you are my cuddler. I love your chuckle most of all - like you just heard a private joke. You are my sweet Kennedy.

Happy Birthday my sweet girls!

From Dixon with love

On Egg Bowl Saturday we were lucky enough to get to meet our newest friend, Sadie Ethridge! She is the most beautiful little girl and looks just like her Daddy. Sadie told me that she secretly wants to be a Bulldog and that she is so glad that she got to watch her first Egg Bowl at our house so that she could cheer for the Dawgs as they beat up on the Rebels! Maybe one day she can live in Starkville with our girls :) Seriously, we did enjoy finally getting to meet Sadie and getting a few minutes to chat with her Mom and Dad. MM and K were all decked out in their cheer outfits and clearly it did the trick. Dawgs win 41-27!

Rachel, Sadie, and the Rowlands (pardon my hair - it was an exciting day!)

Sadie brought birthday gifts! I love Kennedy's sweet face in this pic
Sweet baby Sadie

Yay Bulldogs!

Holding Daddy's football signed by this year's team!

Thanksgiving 2009

What a difference a year makes! Last Thanksgiving I was as big as a house and miserable. I must have looked miserable, too, because I remember my sisters pampering me with pedicures and I still got mad at them because they kept telling me I wasn't going to make it much longer. They were right! I had the girls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving last year. This Thanksgiving was MUCH more enjoyable. I could even enjoy my dinner without heartburn! I will say that this year was much more exhausting, though. Wow it's hard to keep your eyes in all directions as these little girls crawl and walk everywhere.

We started off the day with lunch at the Conerly's (Taylor's grandparents). The girls had SO much fun playing with their cousins. Poor little sweet Lydia survived the tornado of my children - they're so used to pushing and pulling on each other that it's a shock to only children. Addison had a great time entertaining the girls and Landry was trying to figure out how all of his toys got to Mammaw's :)

After lunch we headed to my parent's (Nana and Papa's) for dinner. Jonna was marching in the McDonald's parade in Chicago and the Germanys were with, well, the other Germanys, so it was a smaller crowd than usual but still great. We did get a special visit from cousins Randy, Freddy and Bettie, and Aunt Wilma - can't believe I didn't snap a single pic of them! We had an exciting dinner - MM barfed at the table after choking on cranberry sauce while the noise from the Ball Choo Choo played in the background but it was all good. We enjoyed our day with family and that's all that matters!

Conerly great-grandchildren (Colby, Lydia, Landry, MM, Kennedy, and Addison) Kennedy and Pop

Nellie holding baby Colby and Mommy Chanci

How sweet is little Landry's face??

Come play, MM!

I don't think Kennedy sat down all day...
Leaves!

I love that K's hand is resting on MM's knee...

Aunt Shera and Uncle Mike holding MM

Sweet Sisters

My big girl (ps...that's my old toy! it's definitely survived the years)

We capped off the night with a swing

Me Want Cookie

Finally we had a weekend at home and we are in full swing getting ready for the girl's first birthday. We're having a milk and cookie party so we started today making cookies to freeze for the party. Sugar cookies are a family tradition in my family so we used Nana's recipe to make a double batch for everyone to decorate at the party. yum! I let the girls taste cookie dough for the first time, which is a favorite of mine, and play in the dough. Not quite sure what MM didn't like about the cookie making process, but she wasn't a fan. She'd rather observe. Kennedy had a blast getting messy, though!

first things first, MM's top 2 teeth!

Ooohh...cookie dough!

MM's breakdown

Me want cookie!

Haha - can't get enough. The two-handed shovel.

Only Daddy makes it better

Having fun in the mess

Mommy and girls

Goodnight kiss!

Fun with the Germanys

While I have been teaching at Tougaloo this semester, the girls have been spending time with DitDee, Todd, and Tanner. They have SO much fun! They are absolutely worn out when they get home from all the entertainment. DitDee is so creative and always has fun things to do. Check out their first ever craft project here.

What's That?

We have been quite busy since I last posted. The girls spent the weekend with Lanie, Pop and Ms. Ann while we went to Starkville to watch the Dawgs play. Lanie has the magic touch because as soon as we dropped them off it seemed like she called to tell us that MM was walking! I didn't even think she was really close, but sure enough she was so brave and will let go between things now and take quite a few steps. Go girl! The girls really enjoyed their stay and we always enjoy Starkville. We returned on Sunday and enjoyed a lazy Sunday with girls. They are finally kicking their colds and were in the BEST moods on Sunday.

I am dedicating this post to their favorite question, "What's that?". It's the first thing they say when they wake up and probably the last thing they ask before they close their eyes. They are so curious and they're doing amazing at repeating your reply. MM wants to know who is in every picture she sees. "Who's that?", she says. They are saying sock, "Rock, rock", duck, Jack, two, thank you, bottle, ball, etc. It amazes me how they are really connecting words with objects.

The other big news is that we have more teeth! MM finally cut her top two teeth! Her little scrunchy nose grin looks so precious now with 4 little teeth clamped together. Kennedy also cut more top teeth. I promise to get some pics. I had to take a work trip to DC on Monday and just returned so I'm lacking on the pics. I'm sure we'll make up for it this weekend. Can't wait to have a weekend at home to enjoy with the girls!

Merry Christmas to me!

I got my Christmas present early this year! Taylor gave me a new camera (a Canon Rebel) so that I would have it for the girls' 1st birthday and the holidays. I love it! The pictures are amazing! Today we had a little photo shoot for fun and here are some of my favorites. I will say it's quite hard to pose two curious little girls AND snap a picture before they move! But, I look forward to practicing a lot and playing dress up with the girls. Thanks, honey! What a great gift! Now invest in Hobby Lobby because we'll be buying lots of frames!