{two months!}

(Ben on the left and Landon on the right)

My cutie patooties are already two months old today! They are looking more and more like their own unique self every day. There really is nothing similar about them. Landon weighs more, Ben is more patient, Landon has darker hair, Ben is quieter, Landon is constantly moving, Ben likes to lay back and observe the world. I am having so much fun watching them grow!

{the daily grind}

My first day back at work since April 7th. *yawn*

Say a prayer for me. LOL :)

{smiles}

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Originally uploaded by {mandyford}

Love to see the boys smile :)

{long time no blog}

Wow...I've been away from blog land for awhile now. Obviously things have been busy taking care of two infants, but we are loving it and finally getting adjusted. Of course now that we're more comfortable I have to start back to work on Monday, and the hubby goes back the next week. Taking the boys to the sitter is totally freaking me out. Ugh...but we did find a great lady that lives close to my work and will be great for the boys. Doesn't make me any less nervous though.

I finally got most of the nursery decorated! Here are a few pics...and a few updated ones of the boys. They will be 8 weeks old tomorrow! They are starting to respond more to us and are more active and alert...so much fun to watch them grow and develop.


The shelf is an old drying rack that I painted white. Chair from IKEA.


The dresser is from IKEA and the cute cabinet was my parents...it has been recycled so many times and is perfect for storing their diapers, sheets etc. I love the brown and white polka dot fabric I found for the doors. The aqua suitcases are from Hobby Lobby.


Ben looking like a little man :)


Landon smiling..melts my heart!


My friend Stacy had a baby boy, Calvin, on July 15th...isn't he a cutie?!


Thanks for checking in everyone! I've missed you! :)

{happy day}

So many reasons why today is a happy day...

The boys are a month old today!

They slept in their crib for the first time last night...and we slept in our bed!

I'm wearing a pair of my regular jeans...its a miracle!

We took the boys with us out to eat AND to the mall tonight and there were no catastrophes!

Dan's brother is coming to visit with our niece and nephew on Friday...we haven't seen him in over 2 years so we are so excited.

The weather was gorgeous today...cool and sunny.

Life is good. :)

{me time}

Look at my new mommy hairdo! :) I love it...and it was sooo needed. Nothing like a fresh haircut to make a girl feel like a new person!

Dan and I got out of town yesterday and had a great time. His mom watched the boys and we went to West Chester to go to IKEA. We got a chair for upstairs so we can feed the boys at night...much needed. It was only $50 and sooo comfortable.

We also went to a huge grocery store called Jungle Jim's nearby so Dan could stock up on new beers to try...they have a HUGE selection. Finally we went to Target...oh, and we had lunch at Sonic. Mmmmmm :) It was great to get away, but so strange to be without the boys for that long. Parenthood definitely changes your perspective on everything.

The boys will be one month old tomorrow! It is amazing how much they are changing every day. They are a lot more alert and we are trying out new things like their activity mat and the bouncer. They still don't enjoy the bouncer a whole lot, but I'm sure soon they will get into it (hopefully). :)

{funny faces}

No matter how tired I am, these faces make me laugh hysterically and make it all worth it. :)

{big victories}

The past few days have included some big milestones for the boys...their first trip to the park and their first trip to a store! I never knew such small things would amount to so much pride and feeling of accomplishment! LOL :) We took them to the park on Sunday and took a walk around the pond in their stroller. And yesterday we got up the nerve to go into Kohl's with them and thank God they were perfect little angels. Landon had a major puke fest in the car on the way home, but thankfully he saved that for the car and didn't do it in the store. :) These trips have done Dan and I a lot of good mentally...we were both starting to feel very trapped in the house all day. We're going to attempt another trip today...maybe to Walmart!

{settling in}

This is the face of a new mom that is finally figuring things out. I picked up the boys today and for the first time I felt the love that I have been praying for these past two weeks. And what a feeling that is. Sure, my hair didn't get washed today, but I do have a cute headband on, and I really don't care because the boys are so worth it.

We took them out Sundayon their first outing, other than doctor's appointments. Dan's great aunt had us over for lunch and the boys did great. We even got to take a nice 2 hour nap while all of the ladies watched the boys. :)

I feel like Dan and I are finally getting this parent thing, and that's a great feeling. I know there are still many hard days ahead, but I'm optimistic that the good times will far outweigh those.

This is my new favorite picture of the boys...their Aunt Faith posed them like this. :)

{melts my heart}

Dan with his boys...he is such a wonderful dad already.

{prayers}

If you have a spare minute today, please say a prayer for me. Babies are doing great, but momma isn't doing so well. I knew the baby blues were common, but boy when they hit you it comes out of nowhere. I am blessed with two beautiful babies and I'm hoping it won't take too long for me to fully understand that blessing. I'm sure all of you mommas out there can understand how I'm feeling.

{bathtime}

We've made it through the first few days and although it has been rough it has been amazing and wonderful, and like every other parent says, totally worth it. We've been so blessed with family helping us...both of our moms and Dan's sister have stayed over and Dan's Grandma brought us a yummy dinner tonight with an extra casserole to put in the freezer. The boys are so perfect and I'm in awe of how God creates these little miracles.

We had a fun first last night...gave them their first baths. Dan's sister was photographer while we did the dirty work. Landon had to christen the bathtub (and the kitchen wall) with a nice stream of pee near the end, which was hilarious. Dan made it fun by sporting one of their bath towels...I can always count on him to keep us laughing. The boys didn't really enjoy the experience but it was really fun for us. LOL :)

They will be a week old tomorrow and I can't believe it. I can already tell that they are going to grow up way too fast.

{pictures!}

Ready to go home! (these are in no particular order :)

Landon in his first Ben Haper shirt

Watching baseball with Daddy - I think this is Landon

Ben ready to go home with Daddy

Holding both my boys for the first time...what a feeling!

Our first family picture :)

Ben Burkhardt

Landon Harper - big boy!

We like to sleep together :)

I'll try to post more later!

{introducing...}

Landon Harper Ford and Ben Burkhardt Ford!

Landon was 7 pounds 2 ounces and Ben was 6 pounds 4 ounces. I had a very easy vaginal delivery which was a pleasant surprise (thank God for the epidural!) We're home and slowly adjusting...very blessed to have the help of family these first few days and weeks.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers...they definitely worked!! :)

Pictures to come!

{no turning back now!}

Well, this is it. Our last night in the house as just the two of us. My last night trying to sleep with two balls of baby in my belly. 9 hours from now we'll be checking into the hospital and getting ready for the arrival of our two babies. Two babies! It doesn't matter how prepared I have tried to make myself, it all still seems so surreal. I know that Dan and I have no idea what we are in for tomorrow...the emotions will certainly be overwhelming.

Dan got me one of my favorites for dinner...Chili's southwestern egg rolls (with a side of chips and salsa of course). I was definitely risking heartburn with that one.

We had one last exam at the doctor this morning and I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so hopefully that will give me a good headstart. I wasn't expecting to be dilated at all, since I wasn't on Tuesday, so that's a good sign.

I promise I'll try my best to post an update after they arrive, but I know things will be very hectic. So be patient with me and I promise an update with a picture or two as soon as I can! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes...I'll need them tomorrow more than ever!!

{5-30-08}

Unless they decide to come sooner, that will be the boys' birthday!! I'll be induced that morning...we go in at 6:30. *insert super tired picture of me here*. But, hopefully going in that early will mean they will arrive the same day. I could be wrong, but I really don't feel like they are going to come on their own before that. So now we have a date to look forward to, and boy am I more than ready! I don't think my poor belly can take much more of this!

{last night}

More contractions starting at 7:30
Go to the hospital at 10:30
Seriously major back pain like I've never felt before
Uncomfortable examinations
A shot of morphine that was like heaven
My first IV...not so bad
Passed out until 6 am with Dan in a chair next to me
Contractions slowed and not dilated
Sent back home...
again.

{37 weeks}

Holy cow! I really can't believe that I'm 37 weeks today. If the doctor keeps his word, and the babies don't come on their own, they will induce me next week! I really don't feel like they are going to come on their own before then, but we'll see. It all seems so surreal and I don't even know what to think or how to feel right now. I'm very anxious and nervous about labor, excited to finally see them, and especially excited for Dan to finally get to hold them.

We go for another non-stress test this afternoon, which is basically me laying on a hospital bed with a bunch of goo on my stomach so they can monitor the boys' heartbeats. It will be my big outing for the day. LOL :)

I'm very curious as to how the cats are going to react when we bring the boys home. Melvin will probably sulk in a corner for a week or so...he's very needy. Miss Chloe is a very curious cat, so she'll probably be all about sniffing them and trying to compete for lap time. Hopefully it won't take long for both of them to adjust. It will definitely be a new adventure for all of us!

Keep your positive thoughts and prayers coming!!

{super husband}

My husband already deserves the father of the year award, and the babies aren't even here yet! Seriously. He does almost everything for me right now...fixes dinner, cleans the house, does my laundry, brings me cherry 7-up with just the right amount of ice. AND he is still keeping up with the things he normally does...mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, cleaning out the kitty litter. He even cleaned out the gutters yesterday and pulled weeds...and he never pulls weeds...that is totally my arena. Thank God he did though...our yard was looking like a dandelion exhibit. He's tired and physically worn out from his job, but he never complains and is always asking me if I'm OK and if I need anything.

Never in my life could I have imagined that I would have such an amazing person to call my husband and the father of my children. I seriously don't know what I would do without him, and everytime I'm in a crazy hormonal mood and get upset about something little I feel awful because he has sacrificed so much for me and these babies. I just can't wait until I'm back to my normal self and I can start helping out with all of these chores again.

Thanks honey...I love you!!

{Mother's Day *love*}

This weekend was full of lots of love for the moms in my life...and strangely enough this year it included me! :) Yesterday we spent most of the afternoon at the park for Dan's cousin's little boy's first birthday. The weather was great and he was adorable as usual. I wasn't going to go, but after I realized that I could just sit the entire time I decided to get dressed and get out of the house. I'm so glad I did...it was a lot of fun.

Look at how cute he is in his little crown! Happy Birthday Gavin! :)


That evening my parents came over for awhile and my Mom and I exchanged gifts. I got her a silver baby cup charm for her charm bracelet and she got me the cutest necklace...a silver heart pendant with two sets of little footprints on it. Perfect! She also brought a very sweet card from my sister. It was so strange to be getting mother's day gifts!


Today the weather has been horrendous...raining all day...but it was perfect to stay inside and be lazy with the hubby. He gave me the sweetest card and a necklace to represent our two boys. It is a silver pea pod with two little pearl peas nestled inside. I just love it. :)

Dan's mom came over later this afternoon for a visit and so we could give her her gift. I found her an adorable necklace on Etsy with four little pearl "eggs" in a silver nest to represent her four grandchildren. I forgot to get a picture of her with it though...doh! Here's the photo of it from Etsy--->

I just noticed that everyone's gifts this year were silver jewelry...not a bad theme to continue in my opinion. :)

On a random note, Dan and I watched "Walk Hard" tonight...what a strange movie. The first hour or so was oddly funny and entertaining, but by the 2nd half I was asleep. That kind of humor can't keep my attention for very long.

Hope everyone has had a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy friends out there!!