Mimi and Poppy Visit

This past weekend Craig's parents came down from Tennessee for a visit. They came down on Friday and left Monday morning. We all had a great time. When Mimi and Poppy got here, they went with Craig to pick up the boys. They really enjoyed seeing them at daycare. Saturday, Heather and Mimi went shopping for the boys and themselves while Craig and Poppy hung out and had fun with the boys. Later, we all went to Babies-R-Us and got the boys a new stroller, which is one of the side by side varieties. This is one whenever the boys grow out of their car seats, which is getting closer every day. After a good early dinner meal at Red Robin, we all watched Tennessee and Kentucky advance to the Sweet 16.

On Sunday, we had some more fun with the boys, and even taking a walk around the block with them as spring is getting closer every second. Mimi and Poppy met up with Granna and Grandpa Sunday afternoon. While the in-laws were all enjoying their time together, in the middle of the room, the boys were just stealing the show as usual. Jack and Mark really enjoyed hanging out with Mimi and Poppy.

Monday morning Mimi and Poppy rode with Craig and the boys to experience the dropoff line at daycare. They enjoyed it. After that, they went back to Kingsport after having a great weekend. All six of us enjoyed it much.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Picking up Jack and Mark at daycare.

Everyone all together at the house.

The boys are playing hard in the living room.

Jack is hitting the rings together in a way that is making Daddy laugh.

Does it get any cuter than me?

Poppy feeding Jack a bottle.

Man, my legs are good looking.  The women will just flock to me in the future. - Jack

Mommy is playing with us.  We love it when she plays with us.

Should we watch the biggest upset of the first weekend (Northern Iowa over Kansas)?  Nope, we would rather play.

We are two happy dudes.

Is this like a rowboat? - Mark

Hey Elton, I'm the Rocket Man!

Everyone is all smiles here.  Jack is having fun with Poppy.  Mark is having fun with Jack's pacifier.  Poppy is having fun playing with both boys.

The happy grandparents and grandsons.

Mark playing peekaboo

Mark recently learned how to play peekaboo and he really enjoys it:

A Day of Vacation = A Day of Yard Work

As most of you know, Craig and I really enjoy working in our yard.  Well, last year with me being quite pregnant with the boys by the time Spring rolled around and then being on bed rest, our yard didn't get the attention that it had in previous years.  This year, we knew we would be hard pressed to find time to get a lot done in the yard.  So, we decided the best thing to do would be to take a day of vacation from work and take the boys to daycare.  On Thursday, we did just that.  By 9:15am, we were both busy at work in the yard.  And, my parents offered to help us since they knew our "to do" list was quite long and they both enjoy doing yard work as well.  My Dad hurt his back last weekend, so he was unable to help, but Mom helped us out tremendously.  Between the three of  us, we got a lot done....we put out 116 bags of mulch, we trimmed 52 hedges and Craig mowed the lawn.  And all of this was done by the time the boys got home from daycare at 5:15!!  Wow!  We were pooped...especially me...that was the most physical work I had done in about a year and a half, since I couldn't do much when I was pregnant!  Last night, Craig even offered to make bottles all on his own.  That was the first night since the boys have been born that I haven't made bottles at night (with the exception of the 3 nights that both boys were in the hospital in January)!  I was very appreciative of not having to stand on my feet for another 30 minutes to make bottles!  So glad we got so much done and the weather was wonderful!  Welcome Spring!!!!

DeVault Bracketology

It's March Madness in the DeVault house!  This year we didn't have only 2 people filling out their brackets with their picks....we had 4!!!  Yes, Jack and Mark may be only 8 months old, but they dove right into the March Madness.  Jack chose Sam Houston State to make a run and win the championship and Mark chose UNLV.  Unfortunately, both boys winner lost on the very first day of the NCAA tournament.  We've really got to work on their basketball IQ!!!

8 month birthday

Today is their 8 month birthday. Here are some pictures of them today versus earlier month birthdays in their car seats. They are really growing up.

Day 10 of life. First day both boys are home. Jack is on the left, Mark is on the right.

 

3 months old. Mark is on the left. Jack is on the right.

7 months old. Jack is on the left. Mark is on the right.

8 month birthday.  Jack is on the left and Mark is on the right.

 

Here are a couple of other pictures from the JC Penney studio for their 8 month birthdays:

 

Jack

 

Mark

ACC Tournament

Last weekend was the 57th annual ACC Tournament.  Going into the weekend, a couple things were all but certain.  Duke would probably win (now 9 of the last 12), UNC would lose in the opening round (they did), and State would either flame out in the first round or make a serious run (they did the latter winning two and almost the third).

With it being the first ACC Tournament for the boys, they really looked the part.  Take a look at some of these pictures:

Pregame.  The boys are ready to go to daycare showcasing their team allegiances.  11 seed to the title.

Thursday 6:30 PM: The boys reaction when Daddy tells them that the game is on after their bedtime.  Jack is speechless while thinking "Wait just a minute, that isn't fair" and Mark is looking at Jack like "Daddy cannot be serious!"

Thursday 6:35 PM "It doesn't matter, State is Number One" - Mark

"At least we can watch the games on Friday with Daddy"  - Jack

Friday 9:30 AM  The boys reaction when Mommy told them that UNC lost!

Friday 9:31 AM:  The boys reaction when Mommy tells them that State beat Clemson!

Friday 9:35 AM:  What?!?!?!?  No basketball till noon.  What are we going to do?  At least we are wearing our basketball outfits.  Look at our basketball socks.  We are so cute.

Friday 9:36 AM:  We can play for 2 1/2 hours?  SWEET!!!

Friday 9:39 AM:  Mommy tells us that State doesn't play until 9:30 PM.  This stinks.  We can't watch the game...again.

Friday 9:45 AM:  Mark doesn't realize that Jack is ready to play.  Jack looks like he is going to work on his wrestling technique.

Friday 9:46 AM:  Mark thinks Jack is going in for a hug.  Does Jack have the same thought?

Friday 9:48 AM:  Nope.  Mark realizes that Jack is practicing his Figure Four that he learned from the one and only Ric Flair.  In the background, Jack is going WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 10 AM:  Jack wants to continue his wrestling prowess learned from Flair while Mark is waiting patiently for his turn.

Friday 10:04 AM:  What did Mark do to cause that look on Jack's face?

Friday 11 AM:  Is it gametime yet? - Mark

Saturday 4 PM:  We are at our friend Dave's new townhouse for our first ever ACC Tournament viewing party.  As expected, we are pulling for our Wolfpack again.  Finally, we get to watch the game between playing with all of our fun toys.

A Very Special Birthday

Wednesday March 3rd was my birthday and what a special birthday it was....my very first birthday as a MOMMY!!  I loved it!  It was SO great to hold my precious little gifts this year!  When asked what I wanted for my birthday ever since 2008, I have said I wanted healthy children.  In 2008, we had just started our fertility treatments and in 2009, I was still pregnant with the boys.  A couple of weeks ago, my mom asked me what I wanted and I said that I was still asking for healthy boys (given our month of dealing with severe congestion and then ear infections all resulting from RSV).  Well, in 2010, my birthday wish came true!!!  Jack and Mark are fully recovered from the RSV and the ear infections.  What a wonderful birthday it was!  Looking forward to many more!!!

Mark is really having a good time

For the past couple of weeks, Mark has gotten really good at sitting up.  So well that he refuses to lay down unless he is going to sleep.  He hasn't rolled over yet but can pull himself up from laying down to a sitting up position.  In the below video, watch how he pulls himself up.

Also, Heather is playing a game with him that is making him laugh and laugh and laugh.