Shower of LOVE!

The invitation to Katy's Baby Shower! Remember- she isn't finding out if Baby K is a boy or a girl! Hopefully we will know towards the end of September! The cake to match the invitation! I mean PRECIOUS!
Katy and her mom- "Cheers" with special baby shower cups!!!
The HOSTESSES: me, Mommy to be- Katy, Amanda, Christen, and Jen! This was a great group of girls to host a shower with!
The food spread! YUM!
My best fish village friend- Christen!
Let the present opening begin! Katy got lots of goodies for Baby K! The Haynes girls can't wait to find out if we are going to have another best friend or a boy to fight over! :)
Look- a UTMB tee! I'm going to have to find one for my girls to support their daddy!!Our present from Christen, Lindsay P. (not in picture) and me: Since Galveston just isn't the same without the K Family- we thought we would give a Galveston themed gift! I am telling you this city gets to your heart! :) We got lots of t-shirts of everything on the island that Katy and David loved and had it made into a T-shirt quilt! I love this! I had one made by my mom of my sorority t-shirts! I think Katy was touched by our gift! We definitely miss her smiling face and fun times on the island, but I know after a short car ride- we will see each other often! The Lord has provided me with such great friends here- a bond that no hurricane can break!!! I love you girls!!!!
Mr. Dunn at the shower- he couldn't miss the chance to shower his baby girl with love! We loved having him too! Here he is getting a little practice with baby Henry. :) "Papa Hot Rod" has got it down pat!
The next day was church- it was so fun going to church with everyone again! Although Ken had been on call Saturday night- he said he felt well enough to go to church (on 2 hours sleep)- what a trooper! I think he really wanted to see people outside of the hospital setting! Here is a picture of David (Katy's hubby and baby K's daddy) meeting our girls for the first time! Mattie thought he was so sweet! I love watching these men just gush over babies! So cute!
After church, Katy's dad took us all to lunch at Star drugstore! I love that place- you can get the best milkshakes there. It is like you jump back in time! :)
We enjoyed getting to spend time with all of you! Can't wait to add little Andy or Lilly to the mix!

SQUASH it!!!!

Here are few pictures of our first taste of "real" food! Although, I had a small taste and that is not what I would call it! :)
I am going to be by the book with this one though- so only Gerber products for a while. A fleeting thought of mine: wishing I was one of those moms that made the girls baby food- pureeing (sp?) it and everything, but I was quickly reminded I have 2 babies and well Gerber really has the baby food department down pat- we will stick with that!!!
Now- I have a 6 more months to evolve Ken and I's eating habits to a bit more vegetables and a lot less carbs and sweets. This is probably easier for him than me :(
I really want my kids to be strong and healthy- minimal McDonald visits and relatively no candy (I have a potty training theory- involving M&M's- so I am holding off on all candy until then!) Plus as a dentist's wife- I feel it is our duty to our children to teach good dental behaviors from the get go! I am passionate about this- so no sneaking them candy or buttered bread! HA! I am sorry I really did just ramble for a bit! My thoughts at 1:14am. It is sad- I am up for no reason. Everyone else in the house is asleep. Sweet dreams all!

Doctor, Doctor- Give me the news!!!

Well it's that time again- we had our 6 month check up!!! Both the girls did GREAT! We met our new Galveston doctor for the 1st time- Dr. Noble. He was so nice and just really took his time talking me through our coming months and what we will be doing! Here is all of our info:
Hailey
12lbs 13 oz
23.5 in long

Mattie
13lbs 4oz
24.6 in long (she's tall)

How funny is this picture- the girls are on the patient table, but they had me put them in little hospital gowns. Too cute! I should have brought a bow with me!

The girls are doing great- even ahead of the game considering they came 7 weeks early! I asked the doctor about the fact the girls aren't sitting up yet- but he reassured me that they are right on target and that alot of full term babies don't until 9 months. I felt much better! It is tough not to look at other babies around you and say "should mine be doing that?" The big event now is- starting baby food!!!! I'll post pictures soon of that entertainment. We are starting with squash. We will do this for a week then add a week carrots, sweet potatoes (Mommy's favorite), peas, and green beans. After we have gon through all the veggies we will start adding fruit. The doctor did emphasis NO- eggs, honey or real milk until age 1 or later!!! No worries though- I don't want to rush these girls into anything especially if it is a health risk. We feel very blessed that Mattie and Hailey are healthy and right on target developmentally! More soon! HUGS!!!

No if, ands, or buts about it!

Some may say that Mattie and Hailey favor Ken, some say the girls favor me, some say they see both of us in them, but there are no if, ands or buts about who they sleep like- ME! Ken caught the girls napping the other day and he will tell you I sleep one of 2 ways- either with both hands above my head (Hailey) or with one arm covering my eyes (Mattie). Cracks me up and I'll take it. They are so cute when they are sleeping- and this is how they both sleep every time. Isn't that funny? I just love seeing their little personalities shining through!

Here are a few clips of the girls doing what they do best- being babies!!! :) Enjoy!!!

Hailey

Mattie

Teething Bunnies!!!

Well- I think we officially hit the "Teething Phase" with the girls. Mattie and Hailey will put anything they can het their hands on in their mouths- makes me be a little more aware of vaccuming often! :)
My super sweet cousin- Val heard me talking about this when she was doing my makeup for Lauren's wedding. She said she knew of just the thing- Teething Bunnies! I had no idea what to expect, but I just got them in the mail the other day and the girls LOVE them!!!!! It is crazy. I told Ken that I think it is like cat nip for babies! :) Here Hailey is enjoying her bunny! Thanks Cole Family for thinking of us! You are our Nashville Guardian ANGELS!

Mattie loves to hold it- and chew on all parts- cracks me up!!

6 months old!!!!

Mattie and Hailey are officially 6 months old! Can you believe it?!?!?
What a wild ride we have been on so far- in just six months! Here is a little info of all the things you have been up to in your first 6 months of life.
You have learned so much! Right now you both love to smile at EVERYONE! I think you girls are going to be major flirts in the coming months. You both can roll over and love to do that! You both love to be held by anyone, but I know in my heart you love to be held by mommy and daddy the most. Mattie, you have found your feet and laugh when they are near your mouth. Hailey you love to stand. Daddy swears you will stand before you will sit. You both are teething a little, but no teeth yet. Also, hair is coming- slowly but surely. We have started eating cereal with a spoon. You love that- especially if I mix it with juice! Both of your smiles bring joy to my heart- all day! You have taught your Daddy and me what unconditional love really is!!! You are both snugglers- I love that! We have moved 12 hours away from your grandparents- your first LOOOONNNNGGGG car ride. You have stayed in 2 hotels. You have had your first plane ride- to Nashville to be "honorary" flower girls in Aunt Lootie's wedding! You have been to the ocean (but no officially in it yet- gross). You have made lots of sweet baby friends. You have both brought so much joy into this world! I am so blessed to be your Mommy! I love you girls!!!

There's a LIGHT...

at the end of the tunnel-that is! This weekend The Haynes family drove up to Montgomery, Texas to visit our sweet friends The Neagles! Jack just finished his OMFS residency at UTMB and has opened a new office in Conroe! It was AMAZING! Brooke helped decorate it- we share a mutual love of design (especially zebra print!) There wasn't a single detail that went unnoticed! Here we are with their sweet family- Ally is about to start 4th! Isn't she precious! Addy is almost 3 and just cute as a button! She is SO entertaining! I can't believe in just a short while we will have 2 of these little girls running around! I sure wish you guys were still on the island, but it is great to know we are only a short drive away!

Dr. Ken and Dr. Jack with the girls!
:)

Ken and I feel truly blessed for the friendships that we have made in Galveston!

Favorite Vacation Spot(s)!!

Excellence Riviera in Mexico!!! Ken and I went here on our honeymoon! This place was absolutely AMAZING!!! We will definitely go back! It was an all-inclusive resort with several restaurants, great views, incredible pools, and a great spa! It was worth every penny. Did I mention it is for adults only- no kids allowed here! Which was a great break for the teacher in me. I think we will definitely have our favorite kid friendly spots too! Disney World- The Haynes' are coming in about 4 years!!!! Here I am at the spa!One of the many places to eat.

Amazing pool hammock! I want one in my back yard!

San Antonio, Texas- Y'all!!
My parents took us here last summer! We had a blast! We stayed on the Riverwalk, did the boat tour (so worth it), visited the Alamo, and had amazing Guacamole! I love this city!

Ken and I at the Alamo- I found out a week later that I was pregnant. Funny how you remember those things!

Charleston, South Carolina is a definite favorite of ours! I love the city, the food, and the water! I think I could definitely live here other than how far it is from home. Ken and I always have the best time when we vacation here. :)

We go fishing at night- I had a big one, but my line snapped- so sad.

Lots of sightseeing- here we are at the Citadel.

Eating at California Dreaming- Highly recommend it!

We also did a little shark fishing- Yes- I am holding 2 sharks, no i didn't like it!

I actually caught the shark Ken is holding but I wouldn't take my picture with it- I was afraid I would drop him and lose a finger, toe or a leg!

*Ken and I both love to be on the go, so once we are done with residency I am sure you will hear about lots of our family adventures! Other cities I love are: Galveston (but I live here currently), Chicago, Destin, and Key West!!!

Our slumber party at The RIggan's!

Oh what fun we had while Mommy and Daddy were at the wedding, we spent quality time with Aunt Dena, Uncle Matt, Aleyse, and Grammy! Mattie and Dena- so sweet! Bring on the cousins!

Grammy and Hailey just hanging out! Thanks for helping us out- the girls had so much fun (they told me!) It was so good seeing everyone!!! Come visit soon.

Here's Ken with our neice Aleyse! She is such a big girl! Time sure flies!!!

Honey and G-Daddy had to swing by to say good bye before we headed back to Texas. :)