Swagbucks

Well, I don't like to do this, but I just can't help myself any longer - I've found a great new resource on the web, and I want to share it with all of you. It's called Swagbucks - it's a search engine that "pays" you in credits to use them. Basically, when you use it, you can earn credits that you can then put towards getting their prizes - which range from gift cards to iPhones. Anyway, I've been using it for about 6 weeks now, and I've already gotten a $5 gift certificate from Amazon and am almost ready to get another one.

If you want to sign up for it, please use this link:

http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=310345

It allows you to become my "friend" and I get credit for bringing you to the website. So, yes, I'm not doing this completely selflessly - but I really would highly recommend the site. It uses Google and Ask as its search engines, so you get good results plus ways to earn free stuff!

Okay, end of spiel - I promise it will be a LONG time before I use this blog again for anything other than pictures of the girls. Which, speaking of - here are a few new ones:

Pops and Anna in the tent in Junction
Our precious Megan

Dress up time!

Megan's 6 month photos

I know, I know - it's already been a month past her 6 month mini-birthday, and I still haven't posted the password to Megan's photos! Sorry about that...if you'll go to http://www.rachelparkhurst.com/, look under the Clients tab and type in the password "megan6" to see them. They're wonderful, as always! Here are a few of our faves:

Moved in

We're all moved in! All in all, it was a very good moving experience and we're SOOOOOO happy to be in our new home. Everyday I say to Jimmy, "Have I told you how much I love this house lately?" Everything about it so fantastic. Here are some photos of the house, and what we've been doing in it, the last couple weeks.

Our new bathroom - you can see the jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower in the mirror
Our new kitchen - my gosh, I love it! I don't miss our tiny pantry, miniscule oven, or ugly countertops for a second!

These pics were obviously taken before we moved in, but this is our living room

Our new home

Making Daddy cookies with Mommy's new stand mixer, in Mommy's new kitchen - wow, isn't Mommy lucky?!?!

Megaroo in her crib

I'm not sure what character Anna is in this photo - she loves playing dress up!

In our backyard. We've never had a proper porch or backyard for the girls, so it's been a ton of fun to see them enjoy being outside.

Nunny and the girls in their new playroom - thanks, Nunny, for making the playroom look so nice!

Introducing...Megan, sitting up!

Since Anna got her own blog post last time, I figured it was about time to give Megan her own. And there's plenty of excitement to report in Megan's world right now. The new latest developments are that she is sitting up without assistance, as of a few weeks ago, and she is eating solids for the first time. She has had cereal, peas and squash so far and has liked all of them. In fact, she gets so into her eating experience that she grunts as soon as she swallows the bite she has in her mouth and will not stop until another one comes in. She's obviously a bit of a foodie like her Mommy :)

Like her sister, Megan is fond of mushed peas
This was taken a few weeks ago, when she first could support herself...she's much more upright and steady nowadays. Will have a better picture up soon.
Playing in the new playhouse (she especially likes it when Anna peeks in the windows at her!)

A video of Megan's first bite of solids - rice cereal

In other news, Anna and Megan are really, for the first time, able to play with one another. Up until now, Megan was just a little too little for any play with a toddler. Now, though, she's durable enough to endure Anna's enthusiastic loving. Nothing makes my heart clench up with love more than watching them play together. Here are some pics:

This headlock Anna has Megan in looks painful, but Megan just thought it was hilarious

Megan and Anna "talk" a lot - who knows what they might be saying?!?

And finally, just some random pics from the last few weeks...

Me and my beautiful girls - isn't this a great photo Jimmy took?Animal cracker coma

No drama here... :)

A beautiful West Texas sunset out our window

Last but certainly not least, we are MOVING! We have sold our home and have a contract on a new home. We will move on Feb. 13th and will post lots of pictures once we get in. We are so excited to be in our new house - it's fabulous!

Myself

I am so proud of Anna! As my mom puts it, she is going through the "myself" phase - she wants to do everything herself. Although sometimes this can get frustrating for me, most of the time it is just wonderful to have her complete tasks that, up until now, I was responsible for. Check out the video below of her using her spoon and feeding herself yogurt...I love that she is such a neatnik and cleans her hands and tray at every opportunity!

Merry Christmas!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Thanksgiving

First off, we have just gotten new family pictures taken by Rachel Parkhurst (the best photographer EVER!). These include Megan's 3 month pics, pictures of the girls in their baptism dresses, and pictures of our family and the O'Neills. Check them out at http://www.rachelparkhurst.com/. Go to the Clients tab and use the passwords "midland" and "midland2" to view.

As I hope all of you did, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. For the last four years, we have spent Thanksgiving with our fabulous best friends, Will and Audrey and their kids Keegan and Avelyn. This was the first year to have four kids - last year there were only two and two on the way! - so as you can imagine, it was quite hectic and crazy. However, it was a ton of fun, as always. We went to Fort Davis for the long weekend and stayed in a great little house all together. We're so thankful, this year and always, for our friends and family who bless our lives with love and beauty.

Here are pictures from the last few weeks - Thanksgiving, baptism, and everyday pics.

Megan is getting to be such a pro at lifting her head and turning over, from front to back and back to front. It's amazing how much more quickly she does these things than Anna did - I'm sure it's from watching Anna be so active around her all day.

I can't help it - I have two beautiful girls, and I have to dress them in matching outfits. It's just too irresistible...
They are so sweet together - such good sisters.
I like Anna's posture in this pic - totally relaxed

Check out the Dorothy shoes - Anna insisted upon them!

Anna with her Mimi - she just started saying "Mimi" today at lunch!

Aren't those bonnets adorable?!?!

Cowgirl Anna

Reading with Megan and Keegan

Anna, Jimmy and Keegan having fun outside of our house in Fort Davis

Anna really enjoys sitting in people's laps right now - poor Keegan had to endure this during his Saturday morning cartoons!

Megan has the best laugh - she really gets going about halfway through this video.