Hot Fun in the Summertime!

Wow, where has the time gone? Is it really almost the middle of July, and is August really just around the corner? If I don't hurry with this update soon, Daniel and Lauren will be having their birthday and I won't have even covered Sarah's 4th birthday on here yet! That's right, folks, Sarah turned 4 a few weeks ago! Happy 4th birthday (a little late) to my sweet, sweet Sarah. Sarah, you are pure joy (most of the time) to have around, and daddy and I are so grateful that we get to have you for our oldest and first girl. You will always be my princess, and my baby Sarah, no matter how big you get :-) Enjoy these pictures from Sarah's Minnie Mouse birthday party!








This is sort of backtracking, but at the end of May we took our first family trip to Disney World! Thanks to Mimi and Paw Paw, we had a fantastic condo to stay in with a fabulous pool (which the kids would have gladly spent the whole week in, hanging out under the water fountains). Jeremy and I were able to take Sarah to the Magic Kingdom for two days and spend some individual time with her, which was really special. We also took the whole crew to Animal Kingdom one day, and everyone did so much better than I expected! What a fun week!

















And we can't forget the 4th of July! We went to a pool party at my parents' pool, and then we came back home and took it easy for the evening. No fireworks this year, but maybe we'll give it a try next year! Happy Birthday America :-)

Hoarders meets My Strange Addiction

If my calculations are correct, then by the time they turn one, Daniel and Lauren will have used approximately 5,000 diapers. That is a LOT of diapers, in my opinion (not to mention a lot of changing, wipes, diaper genie refills, etc.). How long do you think this stash will last us?

I can't stop buying diapers! Knowing that we will eventually use them, and taking into account my new hobby addiction to finding great deals, I just can't stop buying buying buying! I just hope I really am getting great deals and not only hoarding diapers. At any rate, I've just about run out of room so it's time for a diaper break for awhile. I'll pick back up in a few months...

Happy Mother's Day!

Someone shared this poem with me at a church play group and I have been thinking about it this week in anticipation of Mother's Day. I am so blessed to have three beautiful, precious children to love on every day! Hopefully more frequent blog posts will follow soon---I have a lot of ideas (and copycat ideas) in my head, I just need to find time to get them on here! The pictures you see here are from our fun session at Portrait Innovations this morning--first time trying to get professional pictures of all three kids. They did fabulous!

Loving Jesus

I started my day early,
Before the room was light.
I lifted my son from his crib
And wished it was still night.
But as I held him close and said,
"Hi, Kenneth, precious one,"
I knew that as I greeted him,
I greeted too God's Son.


When my daughter woke up later,
Calling, "Mommy! Mommy! Down!"
I picked her up and hugged her
In her worn Elmo nightgown.
I know she felt the closeness
That a mother's touch affords.
I welcomed not just Ellie,
But so, too, the Lord of Lords.


That day, I mixed some formula
And opened jars of peas.
I fixed some "pizza butter" bread
When she grinned and said, "Pleeeeease."
I heated up some leftovers;
I had to nuke them twice.
And when I fed my children,
I was feeding Jesus Christ.


I made some funny faces,
And "played puzzles" on the floor.
I dressed kitties, ran around outside,
And played with them some more.
We laughed and jumped and tickled,
Making memories to be stored.
When I spent time with my children,
I spent time with my Lord.


I wiped up sticky cereal
And washed the dishes clean.
I straightened, picked up, put away,
And dusted in between.
I did six loads of laundry
And folded it like new.
When I cleaned for my children,
I cleaned for my Savior, too.


When my children were both crying,
I held them in my arms.
I cuddled them and whispered
That I'd keep them safe from harm.
I told them how their Father saved them
With His perfect Lamb.
When I comforted my children,
I comforted I AM.


Later on that evening,
I put them in the bath.
I washed their little bodies
As they kicked around and splashed.
I dried them in soft towels
And put their jammies on.
When I had washed my children's feet,
I'd washed the Holy One.


I cooked and cleaned and rearranged,
Made beds and taught and played.
I made sure that we had food to eat
And that we often prayed.
I died to self. I made a home
From ordinary things.
But when I served my children,
I served the King of Kings.


To some, I have done nothing,
But to two, I've done the world.
I made eternal difference
To my precious boy and girl,
And to the One who watches over
Every pathway that I've trod.
For when I've loved my precious children,
I've loved Almighty God.



~Megan Breedlove

8 Months Already?!?!?!

I just realized today that, for real, Daniel and Lauren are 8 months old! Where did the last 8 months go? I mean, between the feedings, diaper changes, tear wiping, bathing, dressing, fight refereeing (yes, even infants fight with each other and their big sister apparently), and snuggling, I just can't imagine what happened to all that time! Time flies when you're having fun, I guess :-) As much work as they are, having twins is definitely "fun" in my book---I live and thrive on work and stress (yes, really), and without it, I create it anyway. I think that's why God blessed this family with twins---He knew it would suit me just fine. It ain't always pretty, but it's always pretty busy! There's never a dull moment over here!

Last week, we had our local photographer, Michaele, come to our house to take some pictures of Daniel and Lauren. This is the second session in the four-session "first year baby plan" that we are doing. The weather was perfect, so we got to do most of the pictures out in the yard, and it was tons of fun (tons of sweat, too!). Daniel and Lauren both put on their best smiles, just not at the same time. We got tons of cute pictures of them individually and a few cute ones of them together. Here are some of my favorites:




















In case you've been wondering what milestones Daniel and Lauren have achieved, here is an update:

At 8 months, Daniel...
*weighs 20 lbs, 5 oz.!
*is a ball of fun, fun, fun
*likes to sleep, but
*likes to wake up and try to play/test out his vocal chords around 5 am sometimes...
*loves drinking a bottle and doing huge burps afterwards
*tolerates baby food but really would rather eat finger foods
*is very good at drinking water from a sippy cup when he wants to
*can sit by himself and is just about to crawl
*still has no teeth and is working very diligently to grow them by chewing on everything
*has a giggle that will melt your heart

At 8 months, Lauren...
*weighs 17 lbs., 8 oz.
*is a ball of energy (sometimes fun, sometimes sad, sometimes loud, sometimes silly, but always lots and lots of energy)--she puts her whole heart into everything she does and is going to wear her heart on her sleeve for sure
*does not like drinking a bottle anymore
*loves eating any kind of solid food put near her (even ice cream--shhh!)
*can sit by herself and is just about to crawl
*still has no teeth, which is good, because her gummy smile and the facial expressions that go with is are priceless

Have I mentioned that I love my kids? Let's not forget Sarah, either.

At almost 4 years, Sarah...
*is just about the best mommy's helper I could ask for
*loves baby dolls, birds, cats and pretend play that involves all of those things
*lights up when she sees her friends outside playing and can't wait to join them
*can be quite impatient sometimes (but, really, she's 3!)
*can walk but falls and gets a boo-boo almost every time she plays outside (she has her daddy's clumsiness, I think)
*sleeps (finally!) all night, usually, and does so tucked in nicely in her comfortable big girl bed on a beach towel on the floor of her room (that's a battle that's just not worth fighting at this point). She says when she gets a little bigger she'll be able to sleep in her bed but right now she feels she is just still too little ;-)
*can talk your ear off and boy, you better be listening or she will tell you over and over and over again
*is a young scientist and impresses Jeremy with her inquisitive nature and astuteness about the world around her

A Hope and Future for This Blog

I'm still here! Lately, blogging is always on my "to do" list but always is one of the things left undone. I'm not posting any pictures tonight, but I am writing just to let you, my whopping 5 followers, know that (one day) I am going to become a better blogger. I really enjoy reading other people's blogs, and I hope that (one day) people might enjoy reading mine. I'm sure you 5 will regardless :-) Stay tuned for more frequent updates and as always, lots of pictures of the three cutest, most entertaining children in the world!

At Long Last an Update

For the few of you who actually read this blog, or used to and stopped, since I hardly ever update anymore, here is the update you've been waiting for....drumroll........not much new going on in the Gulley household. Jeremy is loving his job at Kennesaw State University and thankfully does not have late-night classes this semester. Sarah finally tells me that she has fun at school, and I am SO grateful to her teachers for providing her with a safe place to learn and socialize several days a week so that she does not a) get bored to tears at home with me all day or b) drive me crazy with her constant need to go-go-go interspersed with her emotional "outbursts" (which I have chalked up to the fact that she no longer takes a nap---I'm thinking of reinstating the nap/rest time tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes). Sarah is really so much fun to be around and it's nice to occasionally get to sit down and play with just her or watch her play which is just as entertaining. She comes up with some pretty elaborate pretend play themes!

Daniel and Lauren are growing, growing, growing. They had their "4 month" check-up early last week although they are actually 5 months. Aside from each having ear infections and Daniel having a pesky cough that won't go away, they are healthy and strong. The doctor called Daniel "big head" and says Lauren is one of the strongest babies she's seen, but overall, they are right about average on the growth charts, with Daniel being slightly larger and Lauren slightly smaller. Daniel's new skill is playing with his feet, and I find him doing just that anytime his feet are exposed. It's so cute, but I have yet to get a picture. Lauren's trick is still doing her "crunches" and trying to sit straight up and stand straight up. I think she could hold herself up standing at the crib if I worked with her a bit on it. She is a girl on the move and does not like to be still, stop, or sleep. She is too worried she'll miss out on something important, I guess. We have been loving this warm weather lately and taking lots of walks outside in the stroller. Unfortunately, Daniel for some reason stays pretty cranky in the stroller, but Lauren will not make a peep the whole time we're out--she LOVES being outside!

Two weeks ago, we had a local photographer come to the house to take some baby pictures of Daniel and Lauren. I am posting a few of my favorites here. She's going to come back three more times during their first year and then put together some keepsake frames of their first year. Hopefully we can sneak Sarah into some shots next time for some spring/Easter pictures ;-)

Although Jeremy and I continue to feel sleep deprived, things are getting better day by day. I've found several ways to "get out of the house" which is also helping keep me sane and always having something to look forward to (it's so weird not working and now my only "deadlines" involve cleaning the house paying bills, and doctor appointments). We have been visiting at Kennesaw United Methodist Church and so far we love it there. I've started going to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meetings there, which is a great time for me to take a "break" with other moms while the babies are well-cared for in the nursery. We've also been going to a playgroup there twice a month. There, Daniel and Lauren are the youngest babies (Sarah is in school when we go) and it's fun to see the "older" babies/toddlers and how obsessed they are with the little babies.

Enjoy the pictures and hopefully I'll start updating more regularly!