Boys, Boys, Boys!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-22T20:38:00.001-08:00

This year for Halloween I thought it would be fun to dress Canon up as a "HOT DOG VENDOR" and then Graham and Hudson were the "Mustard" and "Ketchup". I had a lot of fun gathering all of the different parts and pieces to their costumes. So sad though, I couldn't get Graham and Hudson to keep their hats on and that was the best part of the outfits. Canon had a great time and I think this is the first year that he really understood the concept of going door to door, he was motivated all on his own to "keep things mov'n". We had a great time and as always, filled up on way too much of Auntie Stephs yummy Halloween treats.
Hudson, being forced to model his ketchup hat.....

Canon was running to fast from house to house, we had trouble keeping his candy in the box. This was my fault I guess, because that is a pretty big "loot" opening ... I learn as I go!

Canon with his sweet cousins right before the main event.

Our favorite Hot dog Vendor... we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs with this!

It's finally cold for a change!

2009-11-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

We have been waiting and waiting to come out of hibernation from the Arizona heat. We have been wanting so badly to go crazy and burn some energy off in the backyard and we finally got a day when it was pretty chilly... It heated up again about 4 days later, but we enjoyed the weather will we had the chance. I put the boys in several layers and tried to keep them in their hats and I couldn't resist the opportunity to take some pictures of these boys...

Hugs~ Hudson keeping entertained for several min. by something he found very amusing. He can keep his attention on one thing for a decent amount of time. He is very good at keeping himself busy.

Yes, even in AZ we still have a tree here and there that gives off some fall leaves.

Graham attempting to eat a weed that he found... that boy puts anything and everything into his mouth.. I am constantly keeping my eyes out for his next "trick".

Lil Hudson's nose was actually cold enough to get a little red.. see it was cold!

Canon likes to go to the outskirts of the yard and hide in the bushes... He can be a little interesting to figure out at times.

For once, a serious face on little Graham... so deep in thought about something.

Trip to the farm!

2009-11-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

So... it was going to be a lazy Saturday and we had NOTHING planned. I think we were even still lounging in bed when we got a call from our dear friends The Franklins. They had invited us to an impromptu trip to Schnepf Farms. The trip was great and we had lots of fun enjoying our time with our friends. I think Canon was basically smiling the whole day! Maybe this can become something for the boys to look forward to every fall....
Hugs~ Daddy and Canon at the end of a huge slide... needless to say we did this over and over.

Getting ready for a train ride with mommy!

This is one happy kid.....seriously!

Pinetop in September

2009-11-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

We decided to head up to Pinetop for the holiday weekend in September and we were joined by grammy and papa. The weather was in the low 70's most of the time and we made some great memories. We so enjoy retreating to this little bit of paradise, and we just enjoy good food and great family moments! Canon trying to fill some pretty big "daddy" shoes!

Papa had his hands full that week... but I don't think he minded to terribly.

Mommy loves her boy.

Precious Hudson

Happy Graham

Canon enjoying a snooze in Grammy and Papa's bed with a movie...Life doesn't get much more precious than this!

Brycen and Patty had a great afternoon making 2 dozen mall pretzels ...butter and salt or Cinnamon and sugar version... I was their taste-tester.... Yummy!

Thank you for the funny times and special memories! We love sneaking away to the cabin!

July 4th In Pinetop

2009-11-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

We were able to get up to Pinetop for this 4th of July and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being up there for the main event of the picnic at the country club. It is always the perfect afternoon filled with good food, egg-toss contests, petting zoo, and other fun activities! All we are missing is the baseball and warm apple pie. I look forward to this all year and we always have a blast!

I love these boys!

2009-11-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

Just a few random shots to show that we have been busy having fun all of these months that we have been MIA.

Have'n fun at cousin Addy's 2nd birthday party.

Chill'n with his curls.

Trouble... right before it strikes!

Party in Grahams Crib....!

Hudson asleep at the wheel!

Always so happy and smiley...always!

Twins 1st Birthday

2009-11-22T16:52:00.001-08:00

Hudson.. in the party stance!

Sweet, Sweet Graham.

Oh my word... has it really been since June that I last posted something? I don't even know what to say about that. Here are some WAY overdue pictures of the boys first birthday party. We had a great time and they absolutely dove into their chocolate cakes. Can't believe that we are already through the first year. Brycen and I couldn't have done it ourselves. Thanks for all of the tireless hours and for so many helping hands.

Hugs

Let's take some pictures!

2009-06-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I get enough energy to put the boys in the tub, get them looking spiffy, and then attempt a photo shoot in order to get some updated pics of the boys! Today was one such day and so I have some current pictures of these three boys. They sure make me work hard for a living... they ARE my joy!

Lil Hudson has been a bit of a surprise.... he has been a little more watchful and quiet than I thought of him. He is very content and less anxious about his little world. It is so fun to experience each of these babies and everyday I find something different about them... they are each one of a kind and we love them dearly. All three paint our days and nights in so many bright, outrageous colors!

Graham has really come out of his shell and he is showing so much personality these days.... He loves people, loves to cuddle, and loves to explore. I can always find him making a mad dash to the closest cord or outlet... and he will put ANYTHING in his mouth! ( needless to say he keeps me very busy).

There must have been something amazing on t.v.... otherwise I can't imagine why mommy wouldn't be more interesting to them....:)

Canon is such a proud big brother... and 95% of the time takes his job as oldest brother VERY seriously..................keep'n the troops in line!

"Ruba dub dub... three men in a tub"

No lie, some moments are totally overwhelming and even in those times I am completely overtaken by the blessings we have in these three boys! What an awesome responsibility Brycen and I have to raise three godly men, let alone get them all to adulthood. Thank you Jesus for our three babes!

HUGS ~

Swim Day with our cousins!

2009-06-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

Peanut Butter and Jelly for all....

" MUSCLES"

Sweet Kylie....

"Spunky"Addison with her Peanut Butter Face....

Even though we have entered the first few weeks of June, we are still spending our mornings outside in the backyard. We are trying to squeeze every last bit of nice weather out of this month because we know from experience that is going to be unbearable before we know it! We decided to have Ky-Ky and Addi over for a little swim and a little muscle competition. These days are precious and I just had to grab the camara to document this! Hope you are all enjoying the start to these summer months, we know we are!

Hugs

Graham causing trouble...

2009-05-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Aftermath...

I thought... what could Graham possibly do in a walker in the bathroom....a few secs later he came strolling down the hall with the toilet paper roll trailing him. He continued on until the roll was emptied... a perfect picture moment! He's gonna be the one getting into trouble "quietly".... and I'm going to need to kkep my eye on him! I love you Graham.

POCKETS...

2009-05-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

So today was the day we introduced Canon to his pockets... and once he understood, he didn't want to be without them....Look at that stance....love that boy!

My Friend Kristin & I turning 29!

2009-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

2009-04-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

First EVER Diamondbacks game with mom and dad!

Easter Morning.... TROUBLE!

Excited for his first Major League Baseball Game!

"Asleep at the wheel"

1st Sucker!

Candid Pictures by Kristin Brooks!

2009-04-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

2009-03-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Canon would be lost in this world without his basket-o-cars! (seriously)

Hudson hang'n out at Cameron's game...

Sweet Graham...

Not really much to report from the Snyder home. The boys are all doing so well and growing so fast. Can't believe that it has been over 6 months....! Brycen and I got out for dinner and a movie last weekend and it was some much needed alone time.... The weather has been absolutly amazing the last few weeks and we have been spending a major part of each day in the backyard or at the park.... So thankful for this home and yard!

Canon can be found setting by his cars at almost anytime of the day... It is the first thing he asked for in the morning and the last thing we are pulling him away from at night... I love little boys.

Love and Blessings from the Snyder home...

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-16T14:48:00.001-08:00

Even though Valentines Day wasn't flowers, candy, and romantic candlight dinner, it was precious to me! I spent the evening with the four most special man in my life and felt like the most blessed lady in the world. Who needs diamonds when we have these beautiful blessings! Happy Valentines Day from the Snyders!

Hugs

5 Months Old...!

2009-01-29T12:11:00.001-08:00

Graham just hanging out...being a perfect little man!

It's Tuesday... Grammy's day to play with the boys.

Hudson @ 5 months old!

Graham @ 5 months old!

I can not believe that we are already at 5 months. Their home visits from the nurses are going great and by all accounts they are healthy, happy, and growing like weeds. Hudson is usually leading the way on their quest to "DEMAND" food, but I guess that's what a couple of growing boys need. They are sleeping less and less during the day, so this tends to leave me scrambling for ways to keep the chaos to a minimum.. yeah right! As hard as things are some days, I am constantly reminded of the many blessings Brycen and I have in the form of these three boys! I find myself day dreaming of the future and praying that they grow up to be soft kind-hearted, loving boys who know their Savior and choose to love others. Some days we have a bit more patience for the task than others but we now that God will be faithful in this as He was faithful to bring these boys into the world healthy and full of life.

Hugs

The Snydleys

Random January stuff...

2009-01-29T12:01:00.001-08:00

Zoolights @ The Phoenix Zoo with the Gilchrists...

Yes, we acutally left the two younger ones at home... !

Josh, Marisa, Brianna, and Logan .....a very dear family to us!

Dressed for a colder evening in Phoenix!

Wouldn't have been fitting to watch the Cardinals win without wearing our Cardinals gear...!

Pinetop For Some Snow...!

2009-01-29T11:48:00.001-08:00

Daddy and Graham enjoying a lazy morning infront of the fire!

Graham and Hudson relaxing after a "hard" day.

Canon's first experience with the white stuff!

A little unsure at first...............

The day after Christmas we decided to go up to the cabin in Pinetop for a change of pace and surroundings.. We pretty much stuck close to the cabin because of all the snow. Brycen and I did take turns going by ourselves to the local movie theater... yeah! We made soup, took bubble baths, played in the snow, watched movies, made fires, and anything we could think of to make it a great first "snow experience" for lil Canbino! Just a quick trip but so worth the preperation of packing up those circus!

Hugs

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

The only Christmas tree I wanted to fuss with this Christmas Season...

Just after Christmas Eve Service....

We had a quiet low key Christmas this year and just tried to really focus on Family, Friends, and the true meaning of the seasons... baby Jesus birth! All of the boys were dressed up for Christmas Eve service and this year we did something different and went to Auntie and Uncle's church. We spent Christmas morning @ Grammy and Papa Snyder's house and spent the morning diving into a beautiful brunch spread. We then went over to grandma and grandpa MacKinney's house for some relaxing dinner fun and a good fire... We missed Jill and Jeremy this year, but it was the California Families turn to have them... sad! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and we wish you all a eventful and successful new year.

Hugs

2008-12-23T16:29:00.000-08:00

Night out with the husband!

He's growing too fast...!

Graham on the left....

The first part of December has been a busy one ( just like everyone else's December)... full of dinner parties and Christmas shopping. Brycen and I have even had the oppurtunity to go out to dinner a few times with the babysitting help of our parents.

I can't believe that we are going to be celebrating with three when last year we only had one little man to look after. God has been so good to our little fam and we are very grateful for everything he has brought us through this last year... We have been helped by some many friends and family and I can't believe that we are coming into 2009! Lots of love from our home to yours.

BIG HUGS....!

Thanksgiving 2008!

2008-12-22T14:46:00.001-08:00

Special Cousins @ the zoo.

We put Auntie Jill to work the whole weekend!

The Phoenix Zoo... I love Giraffs

A VERY proud grammy!

We had a very special Thanksgiving weekend with both sides of the family. Uncle Jeremy and Auntie Jill came over from California and spent the weekend getting to know their two new additions to the niece and nephew list. We were able to spend a bunch of time with family and on Sunday we went to the Z00 with grammy, papa, auntie steph, uncle kenny and cousins. We had a perfect day with 5 well behaved children and and a wonderful pot roast dinner to finish off the weekend. Thanks to everyone who worked around us and understood that these babies can make even the simplist of outing into a major deal...

Hope everyone had a special Thanksgiving weekend!

Hugs

2008-12-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Grammy Snyder made his special birthday cake...!

Big boy Canon munch'n on some birthday cake.!

Canon's 2nd birthday party was a fun CASUAL time of friends and family gathering in our backyard for some cake and ice cream. He had such a special time being with some many of his favorite people, and he even got a bit shy while we were singing happy birthday to him! He is such a delight to our little family and is completely taking on the role of BIG BROTHER... we love you little Canbino.

The Snyder "5"

My Three Sons...!

2008-12-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

Graham and Husdon ready for bed...

HUDSON

GRaHam... CAnON....& HUDSoN

Forgive the major gap in time from my last entry... I'm sure I don't even need to express the crazy times that three precious boys can bring... Canon is now 25 months old and Graham and Hudson are 4 months and 1 day old. It is hard to believe that all of this time has already past, but all three boys are adjusting well and falling into a fairly good routine. The twins were measured a few days ago and Hudson weighs 15 lbs 3 0z. and Graham weighs 14 lbs 11 0z. These boys are having no trouble putting on the weight and growing big and tall..

Hugs from the Snyders

Halloween 2008...

2008-11-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

Well... Brycen and I survived our first trick-or-treating experience with the boys. Canon was a little monkey for Halloween which I would say is very fitting. Graham and Hudson got dressed up for the event as well and we all have a good time. Stephanie and Kenny had their annual Halloween party and we had a blast. We always enjoy spending time with family and friends, and when you add sugar to the mix life just couldn't seem better. Thank you Darel and Patty for the extra help in making sure that ALL of your five grandbabies were looked after and well taken care of.

As far as the twins update... we had a doctos appointment on October 28th and the boys both weighed 10 pounds 5 ounces. They are doing so well and just growing like they should be. We are so thankful for their health and they are such good babies.

Hugs from the Snyders!

A visit from Great Grandpa Macy!

2008-10-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

Grandpa MacKinney.... on the Bee Ride!

The Train Ride...

Bestest Buddies......!

Great Grandpa with his arms full!

Great Grandpa Macy just finished a visit from Indiana and we were so excited to have him with us. We made sure to put him to work with twin feedings and lots of "playing cars" with Canon. It blesses my heart so much to see the interaction between my dear grandpa and his great grandsons... I only wish that my grandma were here to give me all of her wisdom in raising twins and all that that entails. I miss her a great deal!

While great grandpa was here, my parents took Canon and he out to Schnephf Farms (sp) and had a blast. I am pretty sure that was Canon's first time meeting a goat! It was a special time for Canon to once again be the center of attention and I think he was more than okay with the ratio... 3 adults to 1 Canon. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa MacKinney for taking such good care of little Canon and giving him such a special time with you!

Hugs.

2 months old and going strong!

2008-10-22T08:57:00.001-07:00

Pictures by Kelly Kennedy

http://www.one3p.com/

As of October 21st these boys are officially 2 months old and I can't believe how time flys. The Lord has been very gracious to Brycen and I as we are already able to sleep through the night with them. We give them their last feeding at 10 p.m. and they eat again at about 6:30 a.m.. I am no good to anybody if I don't get a good amount of sleep and the Lord knows this! Hudson and Graham continue to grow in size and personality and we are more and more connected and grateful for these boys everyday. Bedrest feels like a lifetime ago and so insingificant compared to these major miracles... I am happy to be out of that season of my life... make no mistake! These boys keep me very busy and as of Monday I am without our nanny Super-Julie.... she is already very much missed and we will always be indebted to her for the awesome job that she did with the boys. She became a true friend to me, and a major blessing to Canon and the boys!

Hugs from the Snyder Five!

Canon the big helper!

2008-09-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

As if the Lord hasn't already answered so many prayers for us, He has been faithful with Canon's transition as BIG brother. Canon loves these boys and always wants to love on them. He doesn't show aggression towards them and he watches how the adults take care of the babies and tries to duplicate it. It melts my heart everytime I see him interacting with either of his brothers and I am so thankful for such a kind hearted little boy. We are getting along pretty well over here and getting a fair amount of sleep, which is a big deal to me.... I need my sleep! Sometimes I can't believe that this is my life and other times it seems like this is the way it always was. ( or was meant to be) We are happy, healthy, and savoring every second!

So far so good!

2008-09-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Graham Bennett ~ about 5 lbs 10 oz.

Hudson Brandt ~ about 6 lbs 11 oz

Canon has been amazing with his brothers... so gentle!

I love these boys with all my heart!

Well, Hudson, Graham, and Canon are now under one roof and we are starting to get into some type of routine. Things are going surprisingly well and Brycen and I have even left eachother alone with the three boys... ! It might not sound like a major accomplishment but Brycen and I felt pretty excited about things. Hudson came home with us last Wednesday and we are so thankful to the Lord for all that He brought him through. Thank you to everyone who prayed for healing and a fast recovery. There is no doubt that the Lord was in charge the entire time. We are managing to get good amounts of sleep ( only by the grace of God) and our house is not as chaotic as I had expected... All in all we are doing well and are so grateful for all of the meals, visits, and prayers!

The boys are here!

2008-08-28T22:09:00.001-07:00

Hang'n out with Hudson Brandt!

Graham Bennett with daddy, 4 days old and he is home!

Hudson Brandt 7 days old, staying in Intermediate Care

As of August 28th we have Graham home with us and Hudson is still up at the hospital and we are hoping to have him home very soon. The doctors are saying that Hudson is making great improvements and we are so happy to hear this. He is not having to have any assistance in his breathing, and his infection in his lungs seems to be almost cleared up. The main thing that we are praying for and focused on now is his feeding. We need him to be able to eat a good amount without the help of a feeding tube. He also needs to be able to keep his energy level at a safe degree after he eats. Right now he is becoming very sleepy and worn out after he eats. Other than that, Canon is doing very well with all of the changes and he is being so gentle with Graham. We are feeling so blessed and can't wait to have all of our family in one place for the first time.

Thanks for the prayers!

The night that changed everything!

2008-08-28T21:17:00.001-07:00

Night out with the Brett and Kristin!

After several days of mall walking, going to Costco, and making many trips to Target... I was under the assumption that I would not be having these little ones any earlier than my c-section date of September 1st. We decided to have dinner with our friends Brett and Kristin while it was still easy to get out for a quick bite. As soon as we got to dinner I started having pretty steady contractions...about 10 an hour but tried not to make too much about it. In the second hour I had about 10 more contractions and started to think that maybe this was the night. We finished up dinner and headed out to the parking lot to say our goodbyes and thought we should grab a picture of this last night before the boys came. We headed home and grabbed a few things and that early morning at 1:56 & 1:57 Graham Bennet and Hudson Brandt joined our little family. Graham stayed with me while I was in recovery and Hudson went up to NICU with dad because he was having very labored breathing. The next few days were difficult and there have been many challanges with his health ,but the great news is Hudson is doing so much better and he will hopefully be home in a few days. More in the days to come...

Hugs and kisses!

Twins Room in progress!

2008-08-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Grammy Snyder made the bumpers, crib skirts, and window vallance!

Okay, has it really been so long since I posted something? I don't even know where to start and I don't want this to be the longest post in history but so much has happened in the last few weeks. I went in for my regular dr. appointment at 35 weeks and the ultrasound showed that the amniotic fluid was low for both babies... that bought me a couple of days in the hospital while the babies were monitored and we waited for the fluid to come back up. I came home August 14th and I was told that I had no more need for bed rest. The doctor basically told us that I had no activity restriction and should go ahead and try to have these babies. Oh I forgot to say that during my hospital stay I had to be given tributalin on two separate occasions to stop contractions. Let's just say after speaking with my doctor we agreed that if I start to labor again there will be NO stopping of anything!

We had a great appointment yesterday and were told that baby b is 6 pounds 9 ounces and baby a is 5 pounds 5 ounces. What a miracle that they are so big... never in a million years would I ever have imagined such an amazing outcome. The fluid looks great and I had the cerclage taken out yesterday. As you can imagine, the last couple of days have been filled with malling walking, trips to Costco, and my favorite Target!.. I am having contractions almost every hour but they only reach a certain intensity and then slow down. Well, that's the latest from over here... we are ready to meet these little men.

Hugs...

36 weeks~ 2 days

33 1/2 weeks along!

2008-07-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

I think my face says it all... "are we done yet"? I have had several requests for a more recent preggo picture, so here it is...this is 33 almost 34 weeks pregnant. I never thought that I would have made it this far, but here we are. I am now going into the doctor twice a week to be monitored for contractions and also watched by the doctors themselves. We had a really good update on our Monday appointment -July 28th I believe. The ultrasound told us that twin A is approx. 4 lbs 3 oz. and twin B is approx. 4 lbs 5 oz.. They are both doing "practice" breathing and continue to thrive which is a major answer to our prayers. We are set for a c-section on Monday September 1st at 10:00 a.m., but if you ask me... these little men are coming before then. we are getting very excited and somewhat anxious at the same time. Things could happen any day now. Thank you for all of your prayers, we know that we would never have made it this far without the Lord's protection and blessing over this little family. Only He knows when and how this will all happen, we just need to trust, trust, and trust some more! Hugs from the Snyders

~33 weeks, 4 days~

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing.

2008-07-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

One of Canon's new ways to entertain himself and others is dancing in the living room to the country music playing on the television . Just thought this would be a kick to watch!

Friends come in all forms!

2008-07-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Canon's Monkey-duck

Canon has found comfort and friendship from a unique and unsuspecting new friend. He travels the entire house with his monkey-duck at his side. He reminds me of a little mama kangaroo... I don't know. We are now just a few short days from reaching our 32 week mark and it feels so good to have successfully made it this far. That being said....at out doctors appointment on Monday we were told that I will be having my c-section on September 1st which is 6 weeks away. This is great news for the babies and they should be at such a good weight and so healthy by 38 weeks. I had never before Monday dreamed of carrying these twins to 38 weeks and it was a bit much too handle at first. We are very thankful for the protection and healthy conditions of these boys and hope that I can make it all the way to 38 weeks. Hugs!

~31 weeks and 5 days~

2008-07-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Canon's 1st official haircut......!

When I was at the doctors office last Monday I asked if it would be okay to get a hall pass to get our son his first official hair cut. I was given the "okay" to head out with Brycen and Canon for the momentous day! He was the PERFECT little boy the whole time and seemed to love every second of it. His barbers name was Stella and we went to "V's Barbershop" for this special occasion. They gave him a little certificate at the end that says that he has graduated from babyhood and has made his way into boyhood... a little bittersweet for Brycen and I to read.... ! Daddy also got his hair trimmed and it was such a precious father-son treat.... I walked out of there with the two most handsome boys in the world! I would say it was a "hall pass" well spent!
Love from the Snyders!

~29 weeks, 6 days~

How we celebrated the 4th of July!

2008-07-05T13:54:00.001-07:00

Stay'n COOL on the 4th!

I know... I know....I'm on bedrest, so what am I doing taking pictures of Brycen and Canon at a pool right? Well, we are very blessed to have some great friends that literally live about 700 yards from us and they have allowed us to cool off in the pool. As you can imagine the weightlessness of being in the water is an amazing feeling for me and I gives me some relief from the increasing pressure. We were so excited to hang out at the pool because it was an "outing" that we were able to do as a family. ( it feels like a lifetime since the three of us did something together outside of the house). We had such a good time and ended the day with fireworks! There is a large park about a mile and a half from our house and they ended up doing fireworks there this year. We were able to have Canon see fireworks for the first time just by sitting/laying in our front yard and we had a great view. I felt like God put those fireworks there just for us and just for our current situation. Hope you all had a beautiful 4th of July and were able to stay cool and relax a bit! We love you!

~29 weeks, 6 days~

Those boys are putt'n on the lbs...

2008-07-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Teri celebrates 29 years and I celebrate 29 weeks!

As you can see from the above pic.... I made it to 29 weeks and a very precious friend of ours, Sarah, decided to help the occasion with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robins.. yummy! On Monday the 30th I had a very encouraging doctors appointment and Brycen and I got some great news. We had an ultrasound to measure the boys and make sure they were on schedule with their growth... they were! Twin B was just 3 0unces short of 3 lbs and Twin A was over 2 1/2 lbs at 2 lbs 9 ounces. What a blessing to know that everything is on track. I also found out that I passed my 3 hour glucose screening and I do not have gestational diabetes....Yeah! Last but not least, the doctors is giving me a new goal of 35 weeks and they are encouraging me to see that as the new place to "get". They say that I am physically doing great and are happy that at this point I am not needing any medicine to keep contractions away or stop labor. Great news all around and we left that doctors appointment feeling so blessed and overwhelmed by Gods protection on those babes and myself. Hugs!

2008-06-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Canon making his way to Pinetop.....

A quiet moment... so precious and rare!

We have made it to our 28 week goal and we are praising God that He has protected these little babies day in and day out for all of this time. I am feeling great and a bit big these days and would definitely say that the nights are getting harder to get through and a bit uncomfortable. I know that this is only a small stitch of time and then before we know it we will be a house full of babies. Yikes! Brycen, Grammy, Papa, and Canon are finishing up a weekend in Pinetop full of Golf, movies, yummy dinners, and walks. Thank you Grammy and Papa for letting the boys come up and get a change in their routine. I believe they will all come back refreshed and ready to "tackle" these last several weeks!

Hugs and Kisses...

~28 weeks~

How to pass the time....!

2008-06-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

We are nearing the end of week 27 and can't believe that we are almost at 28 WEEKS! I know that we are not out of the woods, but there were some days when I wasn't sure time was going to creep all the way to the present. I had my weekly ultrasound for the fluid check and the boys are both doing well. The ultrasound showed that both boys are head up and I am definitely feeling the extra pushing on my ribs these days. ( I'll be sure to thank those boys some day for that! )

Grandma MacKinney came over on Wednesday ( her day to watch Canon ) and she brought a play pool with her. As you can see, the two of them had a blast and I even dangled my toes in the water as I lounged in a chair. Has anyone else noticed that it is hotter than blazes outside? I have been so sheltered these last several weeks by how brutally hot it has been and I am willing to accept that as my "silver lining" for now. Sometimes it's good to be in the dark about something!

I just pushed Brycen and Canon out the door for a long weekend up in Pinetop with Grammy and Papa Snyder. I am excited for the boys that they are able to get out of the heat and get a change of location. I am also excited that I have a quiet house for the weekend... YEEHAW!

Hugs from the Snyders!

~27 weeks and 4 days~

2008-06-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

">26 1/2 weeks preggo......!

Hello all, looks like we are moving right along and doing really well in the Snyder Home. I had another really fast ultrasound today and the babies are doing well. Heartbeats are strong and their amniotic fluid looks good. My next major doctors appointment doesn't happen until June 30th so it will be a bit of a waiting game until then.

I am finding that the newness of this situation has worn off and I am a little bit crazy these days as I am sure Brycen can tell you, but hang'n in there just the same I guess. I am always reminded that I could be letting all of this time pass in the luxury of a hospital room and it gives me a brightened perspective. We are a week and a half away from our second short term goal of 28 weeks and we are so thankful! Twenty-eight weeks has shown to be a good milestone for babies... there is a 90% survival rate of a baby born at this stage, and they typically catch up with other kids their age by 2 years old. Thank you for all of your continued prayers and love... it means the world to us to know that these boys are loved even before they have arrived.

~26 weeks 4 days~

Another good report!

2008-06-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Monday Night~Girls Night...

It has just been a few days since my last post, but they have been full days! On Monday night some of my very favorite girlfriends in the world decided that we could have our Monday night coffee at my house. It was quickly turned into a girls night/baby shower and we had a fun time just hanging out and talking about babies to come. Thank you to Teri for organizing it and all of you ladies for making the effort to help me forget about bedrest...mentally anyway!

I also went on a "hot" date with Brycen to the Drive-in movies and we saw the new Indiana Jones flick. Don't worry I took plenty of pillows and pushed my set all the way back so as to not compromise in my bedrest "duties". It was so refreshing to get out of the house and be alone with my hubby! We had a lite breeze the whole time and the weather was very nice... thank you Lord for that small gift.

Last but not least.... I had a good report from the doctor today at my checkup. I can report that the babies heart beats are very strong and they both have a good amount of amniotic fluid in their sacs which indicates that everything is working as it should and the medicine that I am taking for contractions is not negatively effecting the babies fluid. The Doctor said that we are doing very well and the best thing that I can do is just continue to be consistant with the bedrest. She said that the cervix is closed and the suture is doing it's job. All of this is great news and I am thrilled to report that there is nothing "dramatic" to report. As always, thank you for your continue prayers. Please pray specifically that I don't lighten up on the bedrest, but that I continue to take it very seriously despite all of the good news. Hugs.

~25 weeks 4 days~

A Specail Guest.......

2008-06-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I had some extra special company with my lil' sista coming in from California to help with Canon and join me for some quality girl time! As you can imagine we spent the majority of our time in bed watching movies and gabbing out everything that sisters gab about. We ate lots of candy ( mostly due to the generous donations of Papa Darel ) and gave ourselves manicures while we watched the following; Memoires of a Geishia, Shrek 3, Ratateolli, Raising Arizona, Stranger Than Fiction, Skeleton Key, and I'm sure there were others... We had a great time just being girls and getting caught up.

Canon wasted no time showing auntie the ropes and getting her involved in all of his little adventures. They had bathtime fun and auntie spent most of the weekend attempting to hide her cell phone from a very sharp 18 month old! Brycen and I are very thankful for Jills company this weekend and are so grateful for all of her help with Canon. One things for sure... there is no shortage of love for that little boy. Hugs!

Kylie's 3rd Birthday Party!

2008-06-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone was wondering how Canon is handling all of the changes...wonder no longer. He is moving right along with new experiences and Kylies's 3rd Birthday party was one of those special times. On Sunday night Brycen and Canon joined everyone at the park for some pizza, watermelon, and a water splash pad. Brycen told me that Canon went crazy in the water as you can see from the picture.... It makes me happy to know that life doesn't stop and fun new experiences can be found for the little gipper even with mama on bedrest.

We have now made it to 25 weeks and I think we feel like time is moving by quickly which is a huge blessing. I have a long day here and there, but for the most part the weeks are flying by. My days are rarely the same and there is always someone dropping by to say hello or drop off a goody of some sort. Surprises like these have helped to break up the days and add some spice. Thanks to all of the friends and family adding that spice and we so appreciate your prayers and love. Hugs!

~25 weeks 1 day~

Back home again...

2008-05-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

Good news from the Snyder bedroom... I'm in bed. We had a good doctors appointment today and I have been granted yet another week in my own home. Actually the doctor told me that I am doing very well and I don't need to come to every appointment with my "bags packed" for the hospital. I know that many of you were praying today for the appointment and were hoping that I was going to be able to steer clear of the hospital. Everytime I get to come back home I am more and more grateful for the small things... like putting Canon to bed with daddy. It's the things that used to be so routine in our daily life that I am getting the most joy from these days. How could anyone resist saying good night to those precious brown eyes. Not much else to report... which I would say at this point is a good thing! Love and hugs to everyone!

~24 weeks 4 days~

We made it ~24 weeks~

2008-05-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hummm... someone looks like they are ready to find some trouble!

Brycen and I are happy to report that we have reached the first goal that we had prayed for.... makeing it to 24 weeks. For those of you who don't know, 24 weeks is the first time that the medical field will call a baby viable if they were to be born at that time. We are not out of the woods yet, but it is definitly something to be thankful for and now we can focus on getting to our next goal of 28 weeks. We know that this is all the Lords doing and we have him to thank for every day that we are able to keep these babies in the place God intended.

Our next doctors appointment is this Thursday and we are praying for another "ticket" to stay out of the hospital for one more week. Obviously we want what is best for the babies and if that means bedrest in the hospital than so be it.... the Lord knows that I would much rather be here at home with Brycen and Canon in the comforts of my own bed. Thank you for praying for the health and safety of the babies and myself...we feel the love and support and we are so grateful. The phone calls and friends and family dropping by have also been a highlight and something I look forward to in a day that can typically be pretty uneventful.

~24 weeks 1 day~

A Rainy Day!

2008-05-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

I might sound a bit selfish for a second as I tell you that I feel like this rainy day was created just for me. In the past, dark and stormy days have always made me retreat to the closest pair of pajamas and candles coupled with a good movie. Thanks to my sweet friend Harmonie, I just recieved my first Netflix movies and spent a good part of the morning snuggled in bed with some munchies and "The First Knight" ...one of my top ten favs. It has been easier than normal to stay in bed and be a good girl today and the Lord knew that I would draw new motivation and strength from a rainy day! Some of the midwest folks probably think I'm crazy just about now, but a change in the weather has lifted my spirits.

Oh... and the other reason that it has been so easy to stay in bed today is because of our super-duper nanny Julie. What a God-send she has been to our little family. Canon has wasted no time becoming her shadow and working his hardest to keep her busy. He thinks she's great and the whole thing has been one smooth transition. Praise God for the small miracles! Julie is a beautiful person inside and out and we couldn't have asked for a better answer to prayer. God is good!

Well, I'm going to get back to enjoying this perfect weather... we love you all and thank you for your continued prayers!

~23 weeks 4 days~

Hospital...? Not this week.

2008-05-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

Brycen and I have come back from our weekly trip to the doctor to make sure everything and everyone is staying where they should for the time being. We can report that it appears my body has calmed down and the bedrest has been paying off. There is no measurable difference from last week to this week which is a great encouragement, and we also got to peek at the boys. Those two little peanuts are doing really well and growing like they should. Baby A is 1 pound 6 0z. and Baby B is 1 pound 4 oz. and they are right on track with their gestational age. Praise God for the protection that He is giving those two little men! They are currently head to head and I can only imagine the crazy things they are plotting in there.

- Apparently best buddies already!

~Currently 23 weeks and 2 days~

Ready....Set....Bedrest!

2008-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

This new blog is an attempt to give friends and family the oppurtunity to experience God's faithfulness and care for His children. Brycen and I are excited to share the victories both big and small alike and to praise Him for the blessings of our sons. Knowing the joy and delight that Canon has brought to our lives only makes us hold our breath in anticipation for those next two Snyder Boys to make their grand entrance.

As many of you already know... Brycen, Canon, and I are about 2 and 1/2 weeks into our latest adventure.....Bedrest! As mommy of this crew, I am learning patience and dicipline as I let others help ( which does not come easy to me ), and try to encourage Brycen as he takes on his new role as Mr. Mom.

We are so excited to get started and bring you along for the ride!