SLEEPY ELIJAH

Elijah couldn't quite make it through lunch this afternoon. Tired boy!



Snoring and all...

14 MONTHS OLD!

Elijah says,

"We are 14 months old! Can you believe it? Time keeps on flying by and we just keep growing and growing. Mommy still calls us babies, but Grandma Cox insists that we are toddlers. Whatever that means anyway!? I now weigh 21 pounds 5 ounces!"

Will says,

"And I now weigh 21 pounds 1 ounce! I usually weigh more than Eli, but I was sick and didn't eat as much as I normally do. So he had his chance and he passed me up! I need to eat some more so I can again be the "BIG little brother!"

Eli and Will say,
"Here are some photos of us goofing around. Mommy said she couldn't decide which one was the cutest so she put them all on here. We love to dance and be silly. And our favorite thing to do is play peek-a-boo with each other!"

VOTE!

Get out there and exercise your freedom and the right to vote!!

Let's not take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. Remember the price that was paid so we can enjoy these rights. And think about the fact that so many people in the world aren't given an opportunity to vote and voice their opinion.

Also remember that our children are our future. Be proactive to make change for our children and future generations to come. Many citizens today want the benefits of society but do not do their part in making good things happen. Life is about giving, not taking. So make yourself part of the solution, not the problem.

We all have a responsibility to make the world a better place, so educate yourself, and go VOTE now!

Eli and Will voted for the first time today. Okay, well, they did a great job helping mommy vote anyway! Here you can see them proudly wearing their "I VOTED" stickers!


This photo captures a lot of what happens in daily life. At least once a day, I see Elijah looking over at Will with that look on his face as if he's asking, "Will, WHAT are you doing?"

BLESSINGS

I heard this touching song yesterday at a wedding and it brought tears to my eyes. I googled it and found this man and woman singing a cover of the song. Absolutely beautiful! The lyrics are amazing. I hope it touches your heart as it did mine...



Blessings by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe


'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Candy? Yes, please! But we didn't really get any as there was no trick-or-treating for the Vincelli family. Although we did have fun handing out candy to all the adorable little cuties who ran our doorbell!

We'll save Will & Eli's first official trick-or-treating for next year when they are both walking! Crazy to think that will be their third Halloween already!

And even if we had planned on trick-or-treating, that wouldn't have happened as Elijah had a fever and was miserable. (He was sick on his 1st Birthday too and now on Halloween. It's just not fair, Eli!) Poor little monkey. He was not happy at all and especially not in his costume!

This photo captures some of Elijah's "happiness"...


But Will was lovin' being a bear!


"Waaahhhhh!!! Get me out of this!" (Maybe he wanted to be the bear?)


"Yippee!! Can I wear this to bed? And tomorrow too. And the next day and the next day!"


The happy Bear picking on the sick Monkey.


There was just no way we were going to get a good photo of them together tonight.


Maybe we'll try for some happier photos when Eli is feeling better...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Hope you all had a spooktacular day!

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN MIRACLES...

If you don't believe in miracles, perhaps you've forgotten you are one.

Elijah's First Steps

Elijah took his first steps on October 18th! Way to go, big boy Eli! But we didn't get it on video because I was at a friend's house. This video is of Eli walking last night. He's getting braver!

PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS REMEMBERANCE DAY

Today (and as I do and pray for everyday) I'm remembering and honoring all those precious babies gone too early who are dancing with Jesus in Heaven and pray for their mommies and daddies who mourn their sweet angels. I pray they keep holding on to until that day when they are reunited together again forever in heaven.

1 in 4 women experience a miscarriage in their lives. That means that every single day in the US, 2,000 women lose a baby to pregnancy/infant loss. That’s 700,000 a year, a quarter of all females in this country. The loss of a child sadly seems to be an incredibly taboo “hush-hush” subject in our society. Women are often forced to suffer in silence. But a day like today is helping to change that. You are not alone! You are loved. I am here for you and so many others are here for you!

Today is a special day to reflect on the loss, yet embrace the love. Today is honoring those babies who passed on during a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, a stillbirth, or as a young infant. While these babies’ lives were so brief, they were also very meaningful. Every life, no matter how brief, forever changes the world.

God bless you, precious angel babies, you are so very loved.

I have many friends who have experienced miscarriages and/or infant loss. I will name a few below to honor them and their babies today. (Please forgive me if I should happen to leave out any names because I know I cannot think of each and every name at this moment. Know that I do pray for you.)

Niki, Cassidy, Kim, Debby, Heather, Heidi (twin babies Charlie & Savannah), Nicoleen, Angie (baby Hope), Jill, Patty, Rebecca, Tessa, Shannon, Bethany, Katie, Lori, Lindsey, Emily, and Jenny

Please go to www.october15th.com for more information. "Remembering Our Babies" was created to provide support, education and awareness for those who are suffering or may know someone who has suffered a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, a still birth, or the loss of an infant.

1 YEAR, 1 MONTH, & 1 DAY OLD

No, Eli doesn't have a redneck smile, there are cheerios in his mouth! This was keeping them entertained for a few minutes, so we were all happy. And yes, I let them eat off the floor. (If you would have told me even 6 months ago that I'd eventually let the babies eat off our floor, I wouldn't have believed you.) I've entered a whole new stage of mommyhood! :) Yippee for me.

Happy 13 Months, Will & Elijah!

How much longer am I allowed to call you my babies? I know people say once you are one year old you become a toddler. But I don't believe it. You are still my babies! I consider 18 months to be a toddler, so I still have 5 more months of babies...

Although I must admit, I'm really enjoying watching you become little people and saying goodbye to the "baby stage"! I am really looking forward to your toddlerhood even though everyone tells me not too because you'll be running in opposite directions and talking back. (But I don't think they understand that I am not really a "baby person" at all.) But I love you BABIES both with all my heart and I will probably always want to call you just that...my babies. I mean, is it really as cute to say, "Hi toddlers!" instead of "Hi babies!"?? I don't think so! :)

5x7 Folded Card from Shutterfly

By posting this card I just made onto my blog, I receive a free $10 credit on my shutterfly account. Wonderful! Thanks, Shutterfly!

Picture In Landscape 5x7 folded card

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View the entire collection of cards.

BEAUTIFUL BABY BOYS

I am in absolute love with this amazing drawing of my twin baby boys by the gifted and incredible Pastor Russell Allan Reed. I am truly in awe of his amazing talent. Thank you, Pastor Reed, for this precious keepsake we will treasure forever. Looking at it touches my heart and puts a smile on my soul!

WILL'S FIRST STEPS

Will took his first steps tonight! Way to go, big boy Will!

1 YEAR CHECK-UP

The boys had their 1 year well baby check with their pediatrician this afternoon. All went great. They are happy and healthy little boys, just as we already knew. We are so thankful.

They had three shots in their legs and then to the lab to get their fingers pricked for a blood sample. Poor little things. Will was screaming and crying even before the finger prick because he heard other babies crying. :( Sensitive little guy. But they both did fine the rest of the day.

Elijah
21 pounds 3 ounces - 24.12 percentile
30 inches long - ? percentile (They measured him at 31 inches, which would be the 83rd percentile. But we noticed they measured incorrectly. We measured him again at home and only got 30 inches. So that's what we are going with!)
18.5 inch head circumference - 68.25 percentile

Will
21 pounds 5 ounces - 24.72 percentile
29.5 inches long - 39.55 percentile
17.75 inch head circumference - 13.95 percentile

IT'S OFFICIAL - WE'RE FORMULA FREE!

It may very possibly be one of the best days of my life so far. I’ve been waiting and anticipating for this day for almost a year. I am proud to announce that the Vincelli household is officially FORMULA FREE! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Eli and Will made the switch from formula over to whole milk cold turkey last week, just a few days after their first birthday. Eli takes it just fine and Will simply needs his warmed up a bit to take the chill off.

Next up...bye bye bottles, hello sippy cups! (Unfortunately this is not doing as smoothly as the switch over to whole milk! Oh well, I’m just grateful they are liking whole milk! I guess I can deal with bottles a bit longer.)

But the real question is...what will do with all our extra money now?

Buy more diapers I guess.

A YEAR'S WORTH OF GROWTH

One year ago today we brought our teeny tiny preemies home from the hospital. Elijah weighed in at 4 pounds 15 ounces and Will at 4 pounds 11 ounces. I remember thinking, "They are really going to let us leave with two babies? I have no idea what to do with just one baby!"

But one year later and they have both more than QUADRUPLED their weight! I guess we must be doing something right. :)

Every month on the 13th, I took individual photos of the boys next to this big teddy bear. (Looking back, I wish I had taken these photos with them in diapers each month instead of clothes because you'd be able to see more change and growth. Oh well, too late now!)

Enjoy looking at the growth of my little dudes...

In the first photo Elijah weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces. And in the last photo, he weighed 21 pounds 3 ounces.

Elijah - Zero Months


Elijah - One Month


Elijah - Two Months


Elijah - Three Months


Elijah - Four Months


Elijah - Five Months


Elijah - Six Months


Elijah - Seven Months


Elijah - Eight Months


Elijah - Nine Months


Elijah - Ten Months


Elijah - Eleven Months


Elijah - One Year!


In the first photo, Will weighted 4 pounds 11 ounces. And in the last photo, he weighed 21 pounds 9 ounces.

Will - Zero Months


Will - One Month


Will - Two Months


Will - Three Months


Will - Four Months


Will - Five Months


Will - Six Months


Will - Seven Months


Will - Eight Months


Will - Nine Months


Will - Ten Months


Will - Eleven Months


Will - One Year!

TWICE THE FUN IS TURNING ONE!

And we're still celebrating...

There are two babies so celebrating for two days makes sense, right?

Eli and Will’s actually birthday yesterday was a hectic day. Both boys are sick with colds so I spent most of it wiping noses every 2 minutes and cuddling little whiners. Not that I don’t enjoy a good cuddle, it’s just hard when it’s times two. I spend most of the time feeling guilty that I'm not giving enough attention to one or the other. I need more arms and a bigger lap!

Side note: I was so happy because I though I was going to be able to say that Eli only had 2 colds in his first year of life and Will just only had 1. But then of course they both came down with colds just 2 days before their 1st Birthday. Seriously?!?!? GRRRR!!!!

This is what our day consisted of: drugs, Vicks Baby Vapor Rub, a thermometer, and TONS of kleenex!


But the sweetest part of our day was when I heard the boys giggling and looked over to see them both playing peek-a-boo and chasing each other around the ottoman. So adorable and so sweet!

Eli's Birthday Cupcake


Will's Birthday Cupcake


Also, I had made a precious commitment to my Bible Study group, so I had to leave when Nick got home from work. Therefore, no time for celebrating all together.

So...we celebrated a little bit today too. After all, they don't know when their real birth date is anyway!