Juliana and Olivia's First Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, we decided to go to Uncle Doug's and Aunt Anika's home in Catalua, GA. The trip for us would be a total of 6 1/2 hours one way. We started off at about 3:00PM on Tuesday and arrived at our location at 11:30PM. We ended up stopping for a bit to visit with a friend and pick up an item we left at their home the last time we visited. We arriving at J+O's uncle's home (Mike's brother), the girls were wide awake. We ended up staying up letting them play for about another hour.

The next morning, Wednesday, we spent the day relaxing and getting settled. Mama went for a 4 mile run without the girls while daddy entertained them for awhile. When the evening came around, Juliana and Olivia's cousins, McMillen (10) and McKinnon (8), spent the time holding the girls and feeding them. The rest of the family arrived shortly after putting the girls to bed. Oma and Opa, Uncle Dave and Aunt Marlene and Elliott. There was quite a houseful and a lot of noise. Mike and I were really surprised on how good our girls were. We knew they could sleep through noise, but it was definitely proven on this trip. We were very proud of them.

 

McKinnon with Olivia

 

McMillen with Juliana

 

Cousin Elliott

On Thanksgiving day, Aunt Nik and Mama ran 2 miles in the morning. It was so nice to get out in the fresh air and prepare for the day ahead of us. Lots of food! The girls were spread out on a blanket with a toy. They actually did really well with sitting up. We have been trying to practice this for several weeks, but the girls would refuse to sit up. They wanted to lay down. Not on Thanksgiving! They wanted to sit. That is a huge step for our little ones. As the girls played on the floor, Uncle Doug was giving motorcycle rides to Oma, Uncle Dave, and the boys. When Uncle Dave got back from his ride, he tossed a football around with Daddy and cousin McMillen. Oh what fun everyone had!

 

Olivia

 

Uncle Doug with Cousin Kinnon

Uncle Doug and Oma

When Friday came around everyone had their fill of excitement and it was time to wind down. Some went shopping, others stayed behind doing homework, kitchen work, or taking a nap. That evening the family gathered in the living room to practice for the church service that we were putting on. This is when it became rough for Juliana and Olivia. They wanted to stay up but they were so tired. They were completely off schedule and were crying. We felt so bad for them, but eventually they gave up and let us put them to bed.

Saturday was nice, we went to Sabbath School, which consisted of mostly the Colburn kids. Juliana, Olivia, and Elliott (2). We had a fun time singing songs, but it wasn't long before the girls were taking a cat nap. After performing the church service, we went back to Doug and Anika's for lunch. The girls went down right away and slept for 2 1/2 hours. I think they were really tired and needed the sleep. That evening, we celebrated Christmas. Juliana and Olivia had to go first since we were putting them to bed right away. They received so many precious gifts. They were very excited to receive their very own cell phones. No, not real ones, but the toy kind. Juliana and Olivia have been playing with them for about 3 days straight. They love that they can be like Mama and talk on the phone.

 Olivia in Sabbath School

 Juliana in Sabbath School

Mama and Olivia

 Olivia

 Olivia and Juliana

Great things come in small packages!

Sunday came in a flash and it was time to go home. We ended up getting home around 8:30PM. We changed the girls into their PJs and fed them a bottle. They went to sleep really fast and slept really well. Overall, it was a really good trip and the girls did an excellent job traveling. Our next big trip is to Michigan for Christmas. It will take us 10 1/2 hours. This will be interesting, but the girls look forward to meeting their Grandpa and Grandma for the first time. It will be fun.

A Special Sabbath with Daddy

What a wonderful day we had Saturday at church. Since we had Adventist Education Week at school Mike was able to preach at Kingsport SDA Church on Adventist Education. What an amazing job he did. It was a great message. We are very proud of daddy. Juliana and Olivia were great little girls. They were held by some friends and didn't cry or make very many sounds at all, which is great since we were near the front row. I have been so amazed, along with many others on how well behaved my children are. I only pray that this will continue as they grow up.

 

After the service we had a Thanksgiving feast at the church. There were so many amazing things to eat. Olivia and I had a good time eating sweet potatoes. Right now, both girls take after their Mama with liking sweet potatoes and squash. Daddy is not one for it. :) Olivia sat there and let me feed her but the moment I turned my head, she had both hands in the sweet potatoes and smearing it all over the table. I only had to laugh and try to wipe her clean. I actually love watching my girls experience new textures. Exploring is part of learning in my mind. I can see that my girls are going to be kinesthetic learners, I hope they will develop other learning skills as well.

In the evening, we decided to relax as a family. I was actually trying to get rid of tonsillitis. While we lay on the couch, we had the girls watch a "Baby Einstein" dvd. I was really impressed with this video on "First Sounds". It used several different languages describing objects. I loved the exposure. It even uses classical music through the whole dvd and many colors. I was really impressed. After our dvd, it was time for the girls to go to bed. So, bed, bottle, and snuggle time (Mama's favorite time). Sometimes our girls won't fall asleep with their last bottle, so after they finish we lay them in their beds and hand them a little toy. They quietly play and fall asleep in no time. We usually have to give them something to play with otherwise they will cry and keep each other up. Which is not fun for their parents. :)

Not much has gone on in these past couple weeks, but we look forward to our Thanksgiving at Uncle Doug's and Aunt Nik's house. We will be traveling in a car for 6 hours one way....this should be fun.

Our family wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for you.

7 Month Check Up and More

On November 5, the girls went to the doctor for their 7 month check up. When we got there, I undressed Olivia first and took her to the scale. Baby girl weighed in at 16 pounds even and 26 inches long. Juliana was then weighed in and she was 16 pounds also and 25 3/4 inches long. As the doctor's visit progressed I was told that my baby girls were really healthy and growing well. I decided to ask the doctor about feeding solids to the girls. He told me that the schedule I had them on was really good, as long as they were getting a least 32 ounces a day. It is sad to say that I have quit breast-feeding the girls as of a week and a half ago. I was not producing very much and it became more work then benefit. I will be honest to everyone and say I took it hard. It was the one thing I felt that connected me to my children that no other woman or man could do. I have now, since then, come to realize that there are more things in my girls' lives that I will be able to do that no one else can. I breast fed them for their first 6 months and am proud I made it that far. I love my girls very much and will do everything in my power to be there for them when they need me.

On the topic of movement, Juliana and Olivia have been progressing very well. Juliana still stays in one place but will roll over often. Olivia on the other hand has discovered she can roll to any toy that is out of her reach. I placed her on the floor this morning while I gave Juliana her bath. When I came out to the living room, she had rolled off her boppy and made her way off the carpet and on to the wood floor where she laid there kicking her feet holding a toy. I don't think it will be long before she is crawling and then we will start having fun.

Olivia

Mama and Juliana

 




This past weekend Juli and Livi experienced their first snow. We woke up Saturday morning to giant snowflakes falling from the sky. We put hats on the girls and took them briefly out in the snow. Juliana tried to touch them and Olivia didn't like how cold they were. We hope that someday soon they will get to put their hands and feet in it and make a snowman. (Well, I guess the snowman will come later when they can walk.) Well, life as you have seen as been good and the girls are healthy. As I have mentioned many times before, we are blessed to have these little packages of joy.

Olivia not enjoying the cold.

Olivia not sure about the snowflakes.

Juliana in the snow.

Juliana clinging to Mama.