Logan. Taylorsville. Ogden?

While we were staying in Provo, our little family ran into an old friend of Billy's.

Friend: What are your kids' names?
Billy: Logan and Taylor.
Friend: Ha! Are you naming your kids after cities in Utah? Logan. Taylorsville. What's next? Ogden?
Billy: Haha! No, it was a coincidence.

For a few days, we completely forgot about the conversation, but as we were driving to Layton, it came up again.

Billy: Hey, look, we're driving through Taylorsville.
Me: I didn't even know there was a city named Taylorsville until your friend mentioned it.
Billy: Yeah, there is. Hey, do you remember when he said we could name our next boy Odgen?
Me: Yeah, I actually really like it. When he said it, I kinda laughed because I knew he was totally joking, but I wouldn't mind naming our next boy Ogden.
Billy: Really? I thought the same thing, but I wasn't sure you'd like it.
Me: Then let's keep with our tradition of naming our boys after cities in Utah.

Looks like the next boy we have will be named Odgen. Thanks Billy's friend for the suggestion.

Logan & Taylor are 13 months!

This month has flown by really fast. It is hard to believe that 1 month ago, Logan and Taylor turned 1 year old. Before we know it, they will be driving off to college… I wish I could freeze time to this moment because I love this stage so much. The boys are so playful, fun, curious, and cuddly.

This month, Logan:
- got his 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th teeth
- said “ball”
- Got caught playing in toilet water at his cousins’ house
- had his first dental check-up (and hated it)
- pooped in the bath tub (with Taylor in it)
- Slept through most of our 17 hour-drive to Utah
- Met four more cousins, the only ones he hadn’t met yet
- Helped to pick fruit and veggies in grandma’s garden
- Crawled on the trampoline
- Saw horses for the first time
- Got on the ski lift to admire the views of Sundance and its surroundings
- Saw Provo Lake and the Great Salt Lake
- Did a great job during our 1 then 2 hour-flights
- Said goodbye to daddy for 2 months
- Sat in his new convertible car seat
- Loves to walk and run while you hold his hands
- Started watching Baby Einstein, and loves it
- Could never get sick of climbing up stairs or furniture
- Loves taking baths or going to the pool
- Could push his ride-on all day
- Loves watching other kids play
- Hugs and cuddles when he gets tired, and sometimes just because
- Loves dogs and other pets
- Eats just about anything, especially if one of us is eating it

This month, Taylor:
- got his 8th tooth
- ate rice from chopsticks, roasted chicken, potatoes, and pasta
- had his first dental check-up
- Slept through most of our 17 hour-drive to Utah
- Met four more cousins, the only ones he hadn’t met yet
- Helped to pick fruit and veggies in grandma’s garden
- Crawled on the trampoline
- Saw horses for the first time
- Got on the ski lift to admire the views of Sundance and its surroundings
- Saw Provo Lake and the Great Salt Lake
- Did a great job during our 1 then 2 hour-flights
- Said goodbye to daddy for 2 months
- Sat in his new convertible car seat
- Loves to walk while you hold his hands
- Started watching Baby Einstein, and loves it
- Could never get sick of climbing up stairs or furniture
- Loves taking baths or going to the pool
- Could push his ride-on all day
- Loves watching other kids play
- Kisses a lot (and sometimes bites)
- Loves dogs and other pets
- Is becoming a better eater (better late than never)

Cafty projects

I totally can't take credit for this one - well, I can't take credit for the idea, but I can take credit for the execution. You put it on the baby and hold on to the suspenders to practice walking. That way you don't have to lean down and hurt your back.

I also made a Halloween countdown, because I don't know that I'll get to do it in Maryland.

And since I was working on countdowns anyway, I made a Christmas one, too. Ha!

This one is for Billy. It's a countdown to the time we see him again, at the end of October, after 2 long months of rotations. Boo to husbands going away!!! It's got some pictures of him with Logan and Taylor, and me with Logan and Taylor. I wanted to put some of just him and me, but I didn't feel like digging into old pictures. It's also got some coupons for massages and dates, and some cute love notes.

And that's what it looks like covered up with dates.

New videos

Just a few recent videos of Logan and Taylor doing what they do best... play.

Here's Logan pushing his little car. We're still working on getting him to sit on it and push himself using his feet. But this is just as well for walking practice.

And here's Taylor playing some ball. He was so proud of himself, and so were we, when he figured out how to put the ball in the basket to make the crowd cheer for him.

These little guys are getting more and more fun every day. I love them to pieces.

First birthday party

Today we celebrated Logan and Taylor's first birthday party. I had been planning this party for 6 weeks. It was a bitter-sweet day, a day I had been anticipating and dreading at the same time. It was exciting to see my little boys all grown-up =), but they're not my little babies anymore =(.
We had a few friends and family members over, ate some pizza and brownies, watched Logan and Taylor play with their cake, open their presents, and eat suckers from the pinata. It was fun!

I decorated these cakes with icing and fondant.
The birthday table, where people also wrote little notes for Logan and Taylor.

Logan and Taylor playing with their cousin, Kai, in their boat.

Logan wasn't sure what to do with this cake. He later tried to flip it off the tray.

Surprisingly, Taylor did have a taste of the cake and icing.

Opening presents - good times.

First sucker for Logan - he had 3!

First sucker for Taylor - and lots of slobber.

Billy tore the pinata open, it had lots of goodies for the kiddos.

Thanks, Taty Marie and Tonton Fred for getting us these awesome books in English AND French. You always know where to find great stuff that the boys will enjoy.

This dog can move his ears and bark, and the boys love it.

Thanks, Bon Papa and Bonne Maman. These ride-ons are so fun, with their wheels and buttons to push. We will ride these all the time.

Logan & Taylor are 1 year!!!

I cannot believe that exactly one year ago, I was laying on a table with a curtain below my chest, waiting for the OB/GYN to cut me open and pull out my two little baby boys.
When I look back at pictures, I cannot believe how much Logan and Taylor have changed, learned, and progressed over the past year. They are both so fun, active, loving, curious, and smart… I love it! I love everything about my two little baby boys.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I first held them, not really knowing what to do. Before I knew it they were cooing, smiling, kicking, laughing, rolling over, crawling, pulling up,...
Some days, I want to relive all these moments, do better, not repeat mistakes, and never let these moments go. But at the same time I look forward to creating new memories that Logan and Taylor will never want to forget.
I love them both so much. They are so loving and forgiving. I now understand why the Lord wants us to be like little children. There are times when I am very frustrated because things aren't going my way, but then there are tender moments and all my frustrations simply melt away.

Logan's stats: Height: 29-3/4 (51%), weight: 19 lb 15.5 oz (12%), head cir: 18-1/2 (69%)

This month, Logan:
- points
- drinks from a straw cup
- imitates sounds, especially animals’
- climbs onto objects to get to things
- pulls on the couch cover to get to things
- fake laughs
- obeyed a commend (accidental? maybe!)
- walked in the sand
- pushes the ball and chases it around the room
- rode the car-cart at the grocery store
- climbed up the stairs
- fed mommy some food
- recognizes his name
- understands NO (and occasionally obeys)
- talks a lot, and even says 2-syllable words
- enjoys smashing and smearing his food on the tray
- still loves to snuggle on mommy’s chest while sucking his thumb
- slaps the table or makes noises to communicate that he wants more food
- went to the mall play area
- had a party thrown just for him (and got a nice birthday kiss)

Logan is also moving away from pureed baby foods and toward adult finger foods. He eats just about anything, waffles, pancakes, watermelon, blueberries, meatballs, cheese,… even cake and suckers. At one year of age, Logan’s favorite toys are balls and stuffed animals. He loves to cuddle with his bears. He also loves to dance and play peek-a-boo or our own version of tag. He communicates so much better than he used to and it makes it much easier to give him what he wants and needs. Logan is one word: affectionate.

Taylor's stats: Height: 28-1/2 (14%), weight: 17 lb 13 oz (1%), head cir: 18 (32%)

This month, Taylor:
- points
- drinks from a straw cup
- imitates sounds, especially animals’
- climbs onto objects to get to things
- pulls on the couch cover to get to things
- fake laughs
- obeyed a commend (accidental? maybe!)
- walked in the sand
- pushes the ball and chases it around the room
- rode the car-cart at the grocery store
- climbed up the stairs
- fed mommy some food
- recognizes his name
- understands NO (and occasionally obeys)
- throws the ball
- got his first kiss on the lips and lick on the forehead- from Skylie
- pooped in the tub with Logan in it, too
- can stand for up to 5 seconds
- teases Logan to get him to chase after him
- gets really excited when daddy comes home
- got 2 more canines (for a total of 7 teeth)
- enjoys being picked up and “fly” in the sky
- climbs whoever is holding him
- loves to rest his head on mommy’s tummy, especially her bare tummy
- slaps the table or makes noises to communicate that he wants more food
- went to the mall play area
- had a party thrown just for him

Taylor is also moving away from pureed baby foods but not transitioning well toward adult finger foods. We are working on that with a feeding specialist. He did have a little bit of cake and some suckers on his birthday, though. At one year of age, Taylor’s favorite toys are balls, stuffed animals, and anything else he can push around the room. He loves to tackle his bears and then snuggle with them and kiss them (or bite them). He also loves to hang out in his boat and read books. He communicates so much better than he used to and it makes it much easier to give him what he wants and needs. Taylor in one word: active.

Trip to the zoo

This last week, our little family went to the Omaha zoo with Billy's brother, his wife, and their son Kai. We had been to the Des Moines zoo before, but this was our first time going to this zoo. It was huge and impressive. We will only be out here for another year, so I am glad we got to check it out.

The millions of fish
Baby gorilla

Photogenic gorilla

White tiger

Show-off monkey

Scary shark

Adorable penguins

Dangerous hippo

Breastfeeding monkey

Billy and I on gorillas

Our family in front of rhinos

Taylor, the tiger

Logan and his daddy

Taylor and his mommy

Checking out the penguins

The giraffe

Daddy and his boys

Mommy and her boys

Our family

One year photos

This week, Logan, Taylor, and I went to Sears to get their One Year Photos. It was not an easy task to get them both to stand, sit still, look at the camera, or smile at the same time. But I gotta say that the photographer did an awesome job.

(For some reason I could not get these pictures to flip...)