A Girl's Best Friend

I took Emma to her first jewelry party last night. Ethan stayed with Daddy and watched some football. Emma Lynny Lou made me so proud. She was a little social butterfly! She's always smiley and sweet, but sometimes being in a new environment can be overwhelming for her. Not this time. She ate fruit like a big girl, and then she got right in there and played with the other kids. There were several big boys there running around, jumping off of furniture, being boys, and Emma was right there laughing and playing with them. Those little boys were so sweet to her. I saw one boy put his arm around her and she smiled so big. Then she wanted to hug him again. She gave him a sweet little kiss on his leg. She was following those boys around, smiling and laughing all the way. She is still a new walker, so she fell down hard several times and I thought she would cry, but she just kept laughing, throwing her head back and laughing like she was having the time of her life! It made me so happy.

 At one point, all the kids were standing at the sliding glass door yelling and talking to the dogs. Emma was right in the middle in front with her nose pressed to the glass. All I could hear through the roaring kid sounds was her happy laugh in the background. There was a time when all that chaos would've sent me into anxiety fits, but I loved it. The jewelry party took a back seat to the kids' party, but I did see some very cute jewelry. The poor hostess was doing all she could to follow through with the night's purpose, but bless her heart, those babies were everywhere. She kind of looked neck deep in an ocean storm, being over-taken by waves but fiercely determined to proceed. She stopped to catch her breath a few times but still never lost her place.

 I put a few necklaces that were passed around the room around Emma's neck and she beamed just like a big girl with a pretty new necklace would. :) Emma, honey, you are definitely one of the girls and you can hang with the boys, too! It won't be long and we'll have to have a little talk about those kisses and older boys!

;)

Daddy Days

Mondays are very special this semester. Rodney gets to stay home from work and spend all day with his babies. We are very lucky that his job allows such flexibility. It has been so helpful when we get into scheduling conflicts or miscommunications. They have been very understanding and more than willing to help.

Rodney is the sweetest dad. Sometimes he takes them for a morning stroll in the stroller or pulls them in their new Radio Flyer wagon we got them for their birthday. They love that thing! Last night Ethan was digging for toys in it and his little legs lifted off the ground and he almost fell inside. So cute!

Rodney is a big music man, so he plays his music all through the house and those babies get their groove on. Ethan is a fan of "the baby crawl rock" and a little move we call "the Stevie Wonder." Emma is a little more of a free style girl. She gets excited and holds on to something while she bends and straightens her legs really fast. Her crawl dance is more of a fast cat stretch move and she really gets the head nod going. It is very cute.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall during these Daddy days. It's nice coming home to see the smile on his face. Sometimes when I come home, he is rocking one of them for a nap. I love the peaceful, contented expression he has with a little head on his shoulder. Other times, I come home and they are eating. He loves to watch his grandparents feed them. He looks like he is logging every moment in a special place in his memory.

Rodney's grandparents come over for a few hours every Monday and help him with a feeding or get them down for a nap. That makes three times a week for The Hodges. Bless their hearts. I hope they aren't wearing themselves out too much. I guess they just can't get enough of those twinkie dinks! :) I know there must be a special connection for them because Nannie was once pregnant with twins. Sadly, they did not get to meet their babies, but I know they have never forgotten them. I'm sure The Hodge Twins have a special place in their hearts. I bet they have wondered what it would've been like. I can't tell you how happy I am that Emma and Ethan are able to give them a little piece of what almost was.

Rodney says he is really enjoying the time with his family and his babies. He really misses his mother, though. He mentions it from time to time...how he knows she would have loved holding her twin grandbabies and how she would've been so eager to babysit. We really wish she could have met Emma and Ethan, but we can feel her spiritual presence every day. I know she is loving the fact that her parents play such a big role in their lives. I'm sure she is very proud of her son.

She should be.

.