ThankFULL

The whole Yoder Clan! We had a great, relaxing Thanksgiving... with great food as always! So nice to just spend the day with family.

We have lots to be thankful for... LOTS!

Max in his 'big boy' shirt.

I had a great surprise visit from one of my very best childhood friends! Kali and I were inseparable for really the majority of my life... and now it is so cool that we both have boys!! It was so great to see her, makes me miss her more.

Kali's little guy, Kyson, is sandwiched between Max and Luke. He's 5 months and so sweet!!

Max after his bath... flirting with mom.

Rollin' Times TWO!

Max rolling over... since video is nearly impossible to upload on here I did a quick photo shoot of his roll.

Stage one... on tummy about to roll.

Stage two... rolled.

(The dates on all these pictures are obviously off)

The big hunters... dressed in camo to send good luck daddy's way. It worked! He came home today with a 9-pointer!

Mornings around here are the best. Smiles are so easy to come by!

Very proud to announce that Luke rolled over tonight! Caleb and I were so excited because tummy time is not his favorite and he has had some troubles with it. He finally rolled tonight. A very slow and tiresome roll, but he made it at last! Also, today the boys are six months old. Seems so crazy. They are still only just shy of three months, adjusted age. Can't believe they have been in my life for a half of a year already.

Will write more soon! Off to bed. Doing a little reading with Caleb for his bible study. I would really recommend reading the book of Colossians. It is a quick read, only four chapters and super, super interesting. Good night all!

My Models!

Sara Thiry from Wonderful Life Photography came last week to take some pictures of the boys. She has some done that I added and I am so excited to see the rest!!! She did such an amazing job and it was so fun to hang out with her for the day. Make sure to check her out here ... Wonderful Life Photography.

And the best for last.....

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The super cute ties the boys are wearing are from Morgan Poppe at The Scarlet Poppe... check her out here.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

On Sunday night (November 14) Max rolled over for the first time. Pretty funny, really. I put him on his tummy so that he could show Uncle Jake how he lifts his head up and ... before I knew it he rolled right on to his back! We all screamed (Grandma Cookie, Uncle Jake, Grandpa Cook-ey Everything) and scared the poor little guy. I put him back on his tummy and he rolled again, to the opposite side, back on his tummy and he rolled AGAIN to the other side. I got some good video of it. Too funny to watch his reaction when he lands on his back!

This last Saturday the foursome had their first play date. It was so fun to all get together and 'force' the boys to play together! haha! I will update pictures soon. For some reason the internet keeps timing out this morning! Back to bed for a couple more hours before the day starts...

SnOW!

Caleb (the dad) loves snow...

Ashley (the mom) and Jake (the uncle) love snow... promise, even though it doesn't look like it here. My mom ALWAYS over dressed us! That Grandma Cookie! haha!

For as long as I can remember I LOVED waking up to the first snow! It always made me feel so ... happy! Not sure why. I know there are a lot of people that live in our 'neck of the woods' that despise the white stuff and cold, but I have to admit, I really enjoy this time of year. The cozy atmosphere that snow causes just makes me want to bake, snuggle, snowboard, exercise (really, not sure why), and snuggle, oh I said that already! Can't wait for my boys to wake up and get super excited by the snow... I know they'll love it.

So, speaking of snuggles, when I woke up this morning to snow I hurried to get the boys and brought them in bed with Caleb and I. It was the perfect Saturday morning! For the first time I REALLY, REALLY felt like a family. Luke and Max all sandwiched in between Caleb and I. Lots of grunts, morning yawns and LOTS of smiles! It was great! I must say... I love my family. :)

Doctor appointment on Thursday... Luke is now 9 lbs 10 oz and Max is 10 lbs 7 oz. Both still gaining, but not quite as fast as before. The doctor was a little concerned because I told her how long the boys were sleeping at night. (Bad idea). She recommended that I wake them in the night to feed them. She said they shouldn't be sleeping for stretches longer than five hours. I think, if my kids are sleeping longer than five hours... I should be freaking out with excitement! haha! No, I understand what she is saying because they are preemies that are always catching up, but I also think they need their sleep. So... I will compromise. More or less... I am going to make sure they get extra feedings during the day and not let them sleep longer than 7-8 hour stretches. After the grueling 2 to 3 months of every 2-3 hour feedings, that included nursing, bottling, and pumping, half hour break and then repeat... I think we are ALL just tired and catching up on some sleep! However, bottom line, I want to make sure that my boys are growing as they should. That is my responsibility. So, pray that my little ones will keep gaining! AND that my milk will be full fatty fat to fatten them up! :)

Go have fun in the snow today and drive safe!

Me Time

TA -DA... our Christmas outfits... we are still working on finding pants. But then I wonder why? If it were warmer here around Christmas time, I would just skip the pants. It's too cute without them! haha!

Model: Luke Yoder in 'American Living' found at JC Penney

Propper-upper: Grandma Cookie in clothes full of spit up

In LOVE with the shoes!

The infamous ... side view!

All tuckered out... full and content, just got fed...

So (below), Luke wore the outfit on the right in the NICU and even when he got home some. It is preemie sized on the right and now we have the same outfit in 3 months (left) and it is just amazing how big he has gotten. And to think - the outfit on the right he only wore right before going home. It was way too big for him to wear for the majority of the time in the NICU!

Max and Luke... listening to Daddy tell them stories!

Really!?!

The boys have been sleeping so good lately! It almost scares me!! Last night they went down at 9:00 pm and then I had to wake them up this morning at 5:00 am because ... 1) I was wide awake and ready to feed them and 2) I was stunned that it had been 8 hours since they last ate! I just fed them, got them down, and am enjoying a little 'me time.' I should be in the shower, doing laundry, etc. but it just feels nice to eat my bagel, update the blog and take a second to relax. AND I love listening to them breath when they sleep... little angels, for the moment... :) It is nice and quiet in the house right now. All I can hear is the wind outside, the occasional grunt from the boys and the regular, you know, house squeaks. Caleb is gone... he was off to bible study at 5:00 am. Seems like an 'ungodly' hour, but truthfully, when I have done bible studies early in the morning it is great! A great way to start the day! AND because it is so early, and shakes your routine a bit, it can really solidify it as more of a commitment in your day. So that being said... here is a verse I looked at this morning...

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4: 32

My niece memorized this verse when she was in preschool, and every time I come across I can see her singing it... be kind, one to another, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, just as God in Christ has forgiven you... dooo, doo, doodle-y, do. Ephesians, 4 ---- 32! haha! Oh, to have a child like faith! :)

Sammie Sue... I love you, you know!

Giggles

We got our first giggle tonight! Luke surprised us with a couple quick chuckles. So stinkin' cute!!! Every little milestone is so awesome! Love it...

Luke with a side grin

Max, smile was a little too late!

We are headed for a check up on Thursday and I can't wait to see what the boys weigh. It has been a while since they have been 'officially' weighed so I am anxious to see how big they have gotten since our last visit. I don't think it will be nearly as significant of a change as the past, but hopefully something. Since they are going longer stretches at night now (THANK GOD) I am nervous that their weight gain will be affected. Still... the little extra sleep is so heaven sent!

Girls' night... last Thursday was girls' night out at my sister-in-law's home. It was so fun to be together with everyone! We had a great time talking and catching up. Hope to do it more soon. OH, and Dawn... I can't wait to read that book you are going to write about all of us! haha! (She was commenting on how she should write a book about the group of us... all dealing with a new life transition... either marriage, baby, babies, pregnancy, etc.)

Luke and Daddy

Caleb and his 'mini-me'

They looked so cute on Sunday in their big boy shirts and sneakers!

Little man Max. Looks so similar to my brother as a baby here!

Mother/Juggler

Caleb informed me that I look tired... duh!?!

Brothers...

Ying -n- Yang

My kids are about as much alike as salt -n- peppa! I think that is one of my favorite parts of having twins. As one is screaming, the other is smiling at me. Their personality differences are really distinct too and it is very interesting to watch them and see how they react. One similarity... they are both sweet and cute... and now a little chubby!

Ying & Yang sleeping...

I know it's not Christmas yet, but it is November :)

We have had a physical therapist at the house a couple times this week. She is from the 'Birth to 3' program and is helping my boys catch up. It is very nice to know that I have such good resources right here in town. I was overwhelmed with information when I was in Duluth and the boys were in the NICU and once I got home I felt a little lost. Many people like to believe that since the boys are bigger now... things are all fine. Unfortunately, until they are two we will be dealing and combating different developmental and physical delays. Hopefully if we catch them soon we can correct them before they will have any problems. Bottom line... there is no denying the fact that the boys were born at a state referred to as 'extreme prematurity.' (25 weeks = WAY too early!)

Working on our exercises from PT... Max is trying to encourage Luke to get that head up!

C'mon Brother!

Almost Luke...

Max is doing really well with the exercises!

Well hello world!

My little man... Max

The boys in their 'Mad Bomber' hats knit from Grandma Cookie :)

Very excited to get out tomorrow for a little girls' night at my sister-in-law's house. Can't wait to see everyone! A little something bellow for all my girlfriends... many of you might think I'm too young for this, nursing explains the contrary.