And the Verdict Is.....

Our girls are identical twins! Ed's mom, MaryAnn, was so generous to pay to have the DNA tests run. Affiliated Genetics sent us a test kit in the mail. I swabbed their cheeks and mailed it back. They tested 15 different STR DNA markers and they all came back "concordant". So, with "greater than 99% accuracy" we can say that they are monozygotic--from one egg. Actually, I think that they are "mirror image" identical twins, because their hair whorls spin in the opposite directions. So, one is likely to be a lefty. I was surprised by the results, but Ed had guessed it all along. He is usually right about things. Both of us are excited, as we think it will be fun. What do you think, would you have guessed identical?

Children of the Covenant

Yesterday we had Caroline and Abbey baptized.  In this picture I am holding Caroline, and Ed is holding Abbey.

It was extra special, because it was Ed's first two baptisms ever.

We were thrilled to have a bunch of family come for it.  In this picture are Steve Crow, Louise Crews , Molly, Ann Louise Eubanks, Me, Caroline, Jack, Ed, Abbey, MaryAnn Crews (Mimi),  and Jerry Frank Crews (Doc).

Some family friends gave the girls these beautiful monogrammed bibs.  

We have a family baptism gown that Ann Louise, Ed, Jack, and Molly all wore.  I was torn about how we were going to handle having two girls and only one dress.  A smart friend suggested that one girl could wear the dress, and one could wear the long and very pretty slip.  The slip is sleeveless so it needed something under it.  The dress above was perfect.  It was a dress that I wore as a child.  Since Abbey bears my mother's maiden name as her middle name, we decided that Abbey would wear my dress with the baptism gown's slip over it.   

Caroline wore the outer gown, since her first name is "Anna", taken as a form of "Ann", her grandmother's name and a strong family name on Ed's side.  

I really like having our children wear this gown that has a family heritage.  More than that, I am glad that God has made way for them to be included in His Covenant Family.  I am so glad that God makes promises to me and my children.

Our Creations

The snow was too powdery to make a traditional snowman.  So, we used Molly's new ball to make impressions for this snowman.  The big icicle that Jack was holding in the last post made a good pen for drawing the arms, hat and face.  Part of it made for a good nose, too.

Here is Jack lying inside of my angel.

Here are our angels together.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but I don't think I've ever had such a good angel.  It has been rare that I have made one that didn't have grass poking through. 

Okay, so that is it for the snow pictures.  I guess this is what happens with a record snow, especially from a Southern girl like me.  Isn't digital photography great?!  Thanks for hanging in there with me through the series.  

We Had Tons of Fun

Look at the smiles in these pictures.  Also notice Jack's missing tooth.  

Molly had a hard time walking in it, but gave it her best shot.


We walked down the street to the empty field.  Jack loved being the first one to play in this big space.

We found some huge icicles.

Even the post-snow activity was fun.  Molly enjoyed this almost as much as the snow itself.

One more snow post to come and we'll be done.  :o)

Bundled Up

We were given these precious cold weather suits.  I didn't think we would get to use them, but I was wrong.  Unfortunately, neither baby was very impressed with them.  Abbey is more upset in this picture, because she was cold.  She had already had her turn outside.  Caroline was still waiting for hers.

They sure did look cute, though.  Caroline is the adorable one in the picture below.  

Unfortunately for Abbey, we took her all the way out into the yard. Ed held her as he sat against the slide.  She was fine at first, but then the cold wind got to her. Right after this picture she started crying. Poor thing. The things they have to endure for posterity's sake.

We wised up when we took Caroline, only stepping her into the edge of the backyard.  Ed was all bundled up and ready to hold.  What a great sport!

We (really, it was Ed that convinced me) were smart enough not to put them down in the snow. We had done that with Jack and Molly for their first snows.  But, those weren't record amounts. Isn't he a good and wise daddy?   

It Was Very Deep

They were only calling for two to three inches.  It started snowing on Saturday afternoon and was coming down hard.  Jack had a fun time playing in it as it was coming down.  He came in after awhile and by bedtime, his tracks were covered.  I measured before bed and found that we had 6 inches.  There was a chance for more overnight, but it wasn't snowing when I turned in.  

On Sunday morning, my tracks were covered.  Jack and I were delighted and amazed when our ruler disappeared when we tried to measure.  The official total for Oakland, according to the news, was 18 inches.  It was just over twelve in the spot we measured in our front yard.

Everything was covered.  It was beautiful!  Notice how high the snow comes up on the legs of the chair.

We had to wrap grocery bags around our calves, because the snow was higher than our boots!

The fire hydrant we saw on our walk.

The news said this was the biggest snow in Oakland since the 1960's.  Wow!

I Like My Life

This afternoon, I have been thinking about how I am so thankful for the life the Lord has given me. It really comes as a surprise to me that I could feel this way at this point.

When I was pregnant with Abbey and Caroline, everyone told me how it was going to be soooo hard the first year. I can remember one mom of twins--one--that told me that it would be good and fun. I was really terrified and almost dreading it, because of the reactions I got from both moms-of-multiples and other folks. And, that was before I told them that I was homeschooling Jack. When I told them that, if I had the courage to do so, then they looked at me like I was truly crazy.

But, here we are four months in. Last night I was up with Caroline watching Letterman. It dawned on me that it had been a while since I'd seen Letterman, much less Craig Ferguson, who comes on later. In the early months, these guys were nightly companions. Those were sweet times. They were sleepy times, but sweet, too. Now they are past me as a regular feature.

Abbey and Caroline are "coming alive." They are looking around, smiling, figuring out how to use their hands and voices. It is a fun time. I get a bit nervous thinking about when they become mobile, but I also get excited thinking about when they start talking. I remember how scared I was before they were born. I see how God has helped me through. I remember to take one day at a time. I relax a little.

Jack is learning. He is reading well. He knows about bugs, jungles, times long ago. He can add and subtract some. He is making friends at our co-op and hoping to make friends on his coach pitch softball team when that starts. I love teaching him. I get frustrated. I yell. I ask for forgiveness. I love watching him learn. He likes it, too.

Molly is not lost in the shuffle. She is learning to play alone. She is learning alongside Jack. She is growing and maturing. She is loving her twins.

Is my life full? Yes! Is it sometimes crazy full? Often! Do I get tired of the crying and the bottles? Yes! Do I lose it sometimes? More than I'd like! Is it worth it? Totally!