A Monday Miracle.

The girls slept from around midnight until 9:40. (This is a major improvement over 4 am!)
Because I woke up before 7 and actually got out of the bed, I have been super productive:

My hair is clean...frizzy but clean.
Two loads of laundry were washed, dried, folded/hung up, and put away.
Dinner is cooking in the crockpot.
I cooked and ate a real bowl of oatmeal, not the instant kind.
Cloth diapers are stuffed and ready for baby bottoms.
The kitchen is (relatively) CLEAN.
I called the insurance people to check on some stuff.
I researched marathon training (and maybe cute runner headbands).
I sterilized some of the feeding equipment.
I drank an entire cup of fresh coffee without having to reheat it in the microwave ONCE.

Now I'm going to spend some time wiping these cuties' noses.

Top Five: Books I Should Probably Read.

Annie Downs does this really fun Top Five Friday thing where she lists all sorts of things from rom coms (romantic comedies--it's ok, I had no idea either) to guilty pleasure music. I am not nearly as fun as Annie, so I don't dare think I could be as creative as she in Top Five topics, but I've been sitting in a rocker all night and I think this one will be fun.
She invites bloggers to link up with her and write about her topic. Yesterday's Top Five was places to have brunch in Nashville. My extent of a Nashville experience is my Aunt Terry's house which really is in Franklin. And brunch, people, seriously? I'm doing good to get a piece of dry toast and glass of water in me most mornings in this crazy phase of life. (I do love the idea of brunch though. Sigh, fancy coffee and an omelet or French toast. Please let's go now.)
So--books it is.

Ahem, here we go...

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Somehow I managed to sneak through high school without having to read this classic piece of southern literature. I don't have any negative feelings towards this book, it's just that our paths have never crossed. I have it loaded onto my Kindle ready to read.

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Again, surprised I slipped past this one in school. A few years ago I went on this mission determined to read "the classics" one Spring and summer. I only made it to two: The Grapes of Wrath (also by Steinbeck) and Pride and Prejudice. I was surprised to like The Grapes of Wrath as much as I did. I think Of Mice and Men deserves a chance too.

3. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

I mean if Garfield has his own version, I should at least respect literature enough to read the original. And, Dickens's Great Expectations is one of my all-time favorite stories.

4. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

This is Steve's recommendation. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but for years he's been telling me I should read it. So, we'll see.

5. Something else by Jane Austen

It took me five tries spread out over several years to read Pride and Prejudice. It finally clicked for me in the summer of 2009. Lying on the white sandy beach in Destin, I could have stayed forever lost in the anguish of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy's relationship. It was magical. I want to go back and stay there for a while.
I've heard great things about Emma and Mansfield Park. But I'm sure every novel Austen wrote is wonderful. I've just got to pick which one I will enjoy next.

Seven months.

Holland has 2 teeth, scoots around all over the room on her belly, and talks up a storm. She often says "ba-ba" and "da-da" with an occasional "ma-ma" in there. She is CONSTANTLY moving!

June has 1 tooth, is content to lie on her stomach, and also talks quite a bit. She also says "ba-ba" and "da-da" with some other sounds mixed in there. She makes these sweet noises usually when we're in the car or on a walk. We call it singing. She will lie on her tummy and kick her legs so hard. I think she thinks she's going somewhere!

The girls are growing so much! I know they weigh over 15 pounds each. Their legs hang over the ends of the car seats which makes the in-line stroller a little crowded these days. They eat baby food in their high chairs-- usually a messy adventure.

They are great babies on the go. We go lots of places, and they are usually pretty calm. They love to smile at people who pay attention to them.


We have to referee now when both of them are down on the floor. They are constantly rolling over one another, grabbing each other's ears, or grabbing each other's faces.


Being outside is probably their favorite. This past Saturday we spent the morning walking around Brick Streets with Tee-Tee and the afternoon at the Hillcrest baseball games. They loved it. And they both got their first tastes of grass!

Ten on Ten: April.

7-ish: coffee mmmmm....

8-ish: Oatmeal! First time and they loved it! (June top, Holland bottom)

9-ish: Holland almost crawling

10-ish: Cadbury mini eggs (Let's be honest--this could have counted for a number of "hours" today.)

11-ish: Holland loves to make a mess of lunch! Bananas/pears/apples everywhere!

12-ish: rocking and reading

1-ish This cute thing is supposed to be asleep. (June)

2-ish: Catching up with Sheldon and Lennard

4-ish (missed an hour...oops): sweet potatoes!

7-ish (missed several hours): sleep!

Cuteness.

I mean, is this not one of the cutest things you've ever seen?

Her sister is pretty stinking cute too.