8 Months!

The boys are now 8 months old. Can you believe it?!? We are so thankful for each day that we have we them and for their continued good health. I am not for sure if I would have cherished each day as much as I do know after Reed's heart transplant. I know that I would have enjoyed them every day but his 'rough' beginning of life made us truly grateful to God for His rich blessings that He bestowed upon Ryan and me.
Now, these pictures are pretty funny. My nanny came in town and brought the boys these UK onesies. Thank goodness for Kentucky relatives!
Braden was obsessed with grabbing Reed's ear.
Reed thought that it kind of tickled at first.

Braden still enjoying Reed's ear.

Reed realizing that it doesn't tickle anymore!

Braden trying to bodyslam his brother. Braden better do this while his brother is smaller than he is!!!

Can you tell that Reed is getting some meat on those bones?! He went for his cardiology appointment today and he weighs 16 pounds 2 ounces. He is not only taking his bottles now but likes to eat sometimes at 2 hour intervals. I never would have thought I would be so grateful to keep making more bottles.

Do you think that Ryan is really asleep in this picture?

Martha Lynn, Camille, me and Braden went up to church camp one day last week. I took Braden because I figured that I would not have enjoyed the day with both boys there. People asked why I took B over R but there was really no good reason other than the fact that I didn't have to remember to give medicines while at camp:-)

Braden is already ready for camp. He loved being outside all day and only took a nap on me while in the pool! Ryan came up to camp that night and we enjoyed hanging out with some of the youth group kids. I sure missed camp this year but it woun't be long before I will be sending R and B to camp as junior campers.

Enjoying some tummy time.

The sequence of toy stealing:

What happens when Nana and Papa are left alone with the boys for a few minutes! We thought about an arranged marriage for Camille and one of our boys but we decided on Saturday that this was not a good thing!! She was crawling all over them and 'beating' them up! She better enjoy this while she can because I have a feeling that it won't be too long before they are making her cry! Just kidding! I hope that Reed and Braden are best friends with sweet Camille.

Reed a little confused by Camille's forwardness at such a young age! Zach and Martha, you better watch out for this one!

Reed has been practicing sitting up this week and is doing much better. It's still a lot of work for him but he will get it!

Braden with his best buddy, Big Bird.

Do baby's know how to fake smile? When I took this picture, I really thought Reed was fake smiling for the camera.

Braden watching some Einstein in his big boy chair. They grow up way too fast!

Rollin' On

I love this picture of the boys getting ready for bath time. They love to play with each other's hands. Reed let Braden eat his fingers for a long time before he realized that it hurt a little bit!
This was right before R let B know that it hurt!
The early morning is some of the best times with the boys. They are both so rested and are in the best moods. They are both good babies but the late afternoons tend to be the time they are a little fussier.
Can't you tell that Reed just woke up!

I am not for sure what kind of face Reed is making here but I thought it was kind of cute.

I think that he looks like such a big boy here. We are so proud of the improvement that he has made over these last few weeks and we are so excited about how far that he has come.
Braden absolutely loves the outside. When they get fussy in the afternoon, outside is my first choice for curing their fussiness. I will put one of them in this bouncer and the other in the bouncy seat in the tree. That buys me a good hour of their contentment!

Braden has really started "talking" a lot. He says dada and mama but tends to say dada more often:-) B still does not crawl but loves to sit up and stand anytime he gets a chance.

Mom and I took the boys shopping today and let me tell you, Braden is a little entertainer. He had the ladies just a laughing in the store. The more they laughed, the more he put on!
A lady shopping put it pretty well...she said "That one is going to be the one into everything and his brother will probably just follow right along with him!"

Bath time is another time killer if we are in need of something to keep their or should I say my sanity...just kidding!

"What did I get a hold of?"

"It sure does taste good!"

The progression of getting tired in my jumpy chair after an hour of bouncing:
Braden still loves to ride his giraffe. I cannot believe how big my boys are getting already.

Yesterday, I left Reed on his play mat and this is where I found him. He has discovered how to roll to get somewhere.

Do you see any resemblance????

Another one of Reed's tricks is patty caking! Braden has been doing this for a while since my nanny taught him how and now Reed has caught on!

Thanks for checking on us and continuing to pray for our boys. We owe God all the glory for the progress that Reed has made over the past months and for the continued health of Braden and Reed!

New Things

That is right, Reed got his first two teeth last week! Something that Reed did before Braden:-) Just kidding...we do not compare or at least try not to!
Trying to get Reed to smile so we could get a picture of his new teeth.

Didn't quite get his teeth in this snapshot.

I do not think that B and R look alike but there are times when I can definitely see them favoring each other. I think that once Reed puts some meat on those bones then he and B will look more alike. They definitely have different body types. Most people think that Braden is a little thickster but we like to say that he is "solid." He really is pretty strong for his age an d doesn't have any rolls. Reed is skinny minny! He is now 15 lbs. 8 oz. so he working his way up.

We took the boys to the farm yesterday while my dad watered Craig and Tina's plants. They both love to be outside and I hope this doesn't change.

Braden wasn't quite sure of the hat I made him wear but he kept it on.

This Big Bird is one that we had when we were little kids. My mom kept most of our good toys and now our boys get to enjoy them too!

Reed blowing some bubbles

Ryan and I went to the lake this past weekend with friends and my parents took the boys to visit their families in Kentucky.

My dad's uncle, Uncle Charles, was the main reason for them going to visit. I am so glad that R and B got to meet him. I definitely want our boys to understand how important it is to take time to visit others and to value what they can learn from adults! If they are even half the hard worker that Uncle Charles was then they will be very successful!