Phones, boots, and birds

Saturday marked the approximate end of our Alltel contract, so we headed to the Alltel store to renew our contract and pick out new phones...yippee! When the salesman asked us if we wanted to recycle our old phones, presumably for aiding displaced widows in Afghanistan or orphans in Darfur, we made the responsible, humanitarian choice and gave the old phones to our spoiled children :).

Based on their glee-ful reaction, it may have been the best day of their short lives..seriously. M and S emerged from the store "talking" on their phones, making jokes, laughing, closing the conversation with "bye-bye" and then placing the phones in their pants pocket. Since then, we've obliged the boys' new obsession by charging the phones so they still beep, ring, and light up. I imagine the novelty will wear off, but for now, they don't go anywhere without their beloved cell phones.

Brand new rainboots, waiting for the snow to turn to slush for puddle-jumping.

Mysterious tracks on our front porch. What kind of animal makes these tracks? A rabbit? Guesses, please.

I hung a birdfeeder on our front porch. Matt innocently questioned the front porch placement. I assured him it would be fine. Smiggy and I had a great time watching the finches find our feeder.

Turns out, finches are messy eaters. Matt was indeed correct about the front porch placement - an entry way and hungry birds don't mix well. Above, Smigg-a-billy is thinking, "Oh, Mama. If only you would've listened to Dada."As predicted, we received a dump of Spring snow. I outfitted the boys with snowpants and shovels and sent them outside. Mason is wielding Matt's avalanche shovel - the perfect size and weight for an almost-two-year-old.

Smith, wielding a much larger, much heavier shovel.

S using his sand toys to enjoy the snow.

M giving the "thumbs-up" to forced child-labor.

My little snow-bunny,Smith, obliging my request to see his tongue.

Update

Spring is finally creeping its way into Bozeman. There's still snow on the ground, of course, and we can expect more to fall, but the days are warmer, longer, the birds are returning, and there is mud everywhere! Spring is coming...and with it comes much to look forward to.

March madness has begun at our house/between our good friends and the stakes are high. The winning bracket receives free babysitting from each of the other couples! That means 3 free date nights...I'll be filling out my bracket with a hope and a prayer :).

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I had my first midwife appointment last week. Everything went really well and the fact that I didn't have to pee in a cup might have been my favorite part if I hadn't had the joy of hearing the baby's heartbeat. My midwife is almost positive that I am only carrying one baby...hallelujah! (I have an ultrasound scheduled in April to find out for sure.) My midwife is warm and caring and I feel quite comfortable with her...she is confident that I have a good chance of delivering this little one via VBAC without complication. I am praying the following, and invite ya'll to join me:

• for one baby...I love my Amos and Smigg-a-billy and know they are evidence of God's abundance to our family, but I've been-there-done-that and would rather not do it (twins) again!
• for the baby to present head down - not breech
• for the courage, resolve, and ability to labor and deliver without drugs (yikes!)
• for no complications, red-flags, or scary stuff...any of these and I will have to undergo another C-section at the hospital.

My approximate due date is September 4 and Matt and I have decided to NOT find out the sex of the baby.

*****Got a call from my midwife while writing this post. She and her partner at the Bozeman Birthing Center have decided that they will not be able to assist my birth at the center since I am at a slightly higher risk of uterine complications from carrying/delivering twins. Dang!

She highly recommended delivering at Park Clinic in Livingston where VBAC is still an option and having a doula assist the birth. I am disappointed but am glad to have another option...if they won't take me, I might have to deliver in Billings. I have an appointment in Livingston on Friday.
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Addie and Rob's wedding is fast approaching and we look forward to being in the company of the so many family and friends making the trek to celebrate with us. On that note, our bathroom is still not finished. The wedding is in 3 weeks and my wonderful man has promised that it will be done by then. Here's hoping.

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Mason and Smith turn two April 30. I can hardly believe this except for the fact that their misbehavior and mischievousness constantly remind me that the "terrible twos" are nearly here. They are still my favorite MayMo and Smiggy, giving me kisses and cause to laugh at and adore them.

Snow day

The view from my front door. Brrrrrr!

We woke up this morning to snow, snow, and more snow. So much snow, in fact, that the crew of SchuylerBuilt Fine Homes, Inc. got to sleep in and take the morning off. It's always fun to have our Dad around in the morning. Being "snowed-in" inspired me to make real waffles (generally, we have the toaster variety) and stay in my pajamas as long as possible. (I have no plans to step out of my slippers.) It's a good day for staying home, stoking the fire, and maybe a little bit of sewing. I've got an embroidery project half-way done and a pillow cover to start.The little people enjoying their syrup-soaked waffles.

I finally ripped the tags off the boys' snowpants and put them to good use. Had to wrestle Mason to get his on, Smith was much more compliant after seeing Matt in his Carhart bibs. The three of them spent a good half-hour shoveling and playing outside in the snow. M discovered the pockets on his puffy coat and walked around looking like a little gangster with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

We lost almost an entire block of downtown Bozeman this morning. There was a natural gas leak at a downtown restaurant that was ignited when an employee flipped a light switch. The restaurant literally exploded, wiping out four other establishments and shattering windows of neighboring businesses. As far as we know, there hasn't been any casualties. It happened early enough in the morning that few people were on the streets, at work, etc. You can read more about it here and see more pictures.
Quite a day already!