Weekend FUN !

This past weekend it was nice to be home again and to be able to spend some family time together. By the time Friday comes around I am usually ready for the twins and I to get out of the house and go. Gracie, Bailey and I always look forward to Daddy coming home and being able to spend time with us. On Friday night we went out to a local Mexican restaurant. The restaurant usually has a live band and so the twins love the music and all the bright colors.

Gracie and I getting ready for our Friday night date!

On Saturday we did our morning chores and then all headed out to one of our favorite parks, Windermere park which is just down the road. We love the park because it allows dogs and it even has a doggy play area where Dixie can meet new friends. The twins love watching their doggy fetch sticks in the water. Gracie giggled and giggled every time Dixie would jump in the water. Daddy talked to Bailey about the outdoors and how he looks forward to taking him camping with him as soon as he gets big enough!

Mommy and Gracie watching Dixie fetch sticks!

Daddy talking to Bailey about the great outdoors.
Sunday was very exciting because it was the first time that we all went to church as a family! We have been very thankful for Preston's parents watching the twins on Sundays so we could attend church service. We were encouraged to wait until the official flu season passed before we brought the twins to church. We were so excited and nervous at the same time to take the twins to Waumba Land. Waumba Land is our church's environment for the youngest children up to four years old. It helped so much that I had volunteered in Waumba Land for a few years and I knew that we were taking Gracie and Bailey to a wonderful and loving setting. The goal of Waumba Land is to teach children that God made them, that God loves them and that Jesus wants to be their friend forever. It felt great to start teaching Gracie and Bailey this very important message. I have to admit that walking into church service my hands felt so empty and a part of me want to go back to get the twins. After walking into the service, I saw some of the girls in my women's small group and it was so nice to have familiar faces to take my mind of leaving my little one's for the first time. The twins teacher said that they did great and we are looking forward to many more Sundays.

Happy 1st Easter

Holidays are SO fun with little one's and especially with two to dress up. I am blessed to have the best of both worlds with having my handsome Bailey and sweet Gracie. We were still in Gatlinberg, TN for Easter and so we were able to celebrate it with our expanded family which was fun. I loved seeing all the little one's in their Easter attire and to hear them talk about their Easter goodies that the bunny had amazingly left at the hotel. Preston's dad and his dad's first cousin, "big Parker" did a wonderful Easter service where the Easter scripture was read and they talked about the importance of knowing our savior and also about the importance of family.

Our First Easter together

Gracie and Bailey holding their Easter Baskets.

The Bunny had left them each an outdoor swing when they arrived home.
McFarland Family Easter with our two newest members, Gracie and Bailey!

Our First Family Reunion

This past weekend we attended the Parker Family Reunion in Gatlinberg, Tennessee. The name "Parker" comes from Preston's side of the family and was his grandmother's maiden name. It took lots of organizing while packing for our four day stay in a hotel. With having twins it means we have to pack just about double everything and bring somethings along that you might could do without if you just had one baby. We had so much cargo that the twins actually stayed in their own hotel room that adjoined to our room. I guess I would consider our babies a little spoiled since they are only 8 months old and already are getting their own hotel room. Some may think their own hotel room was a little much but when you stop and think about two pack n plays, an exersaucer, a highchair, toys, changing station, and a place needed to wash and sanitize 10 bottles a day, then having their own room really was needed. Gracie and Bailey did wonderful on the car ride only requiring one stop in NC at McDonald's for a quick bottle. It is fun to see the reaction of people when we stop as just about all the workers stop working and make goo goo eyes over our sweet little one's. I have learned to bask in these moments as a reward for all the hard work that the twins require on a daily basis.

The first thing we did upon arriving at our hotel was take the twins for their very first SWIM! They loved the pool but both had expressions that they were not quite sure about this over sized bathtub.

We enjoyed some really good dinners in downtown Gatlinberg.

The twins turned 8 Months old during our stay. Happy Birthday Gracie and Bailey!

We enjoyed a family picnic at Chimney Tops camp ground although it was really windy. The river was beautiful and the woods were peaceful.

Preston and his brothers, Parker and Brian and his sister,Kara.

Uncle Parker and Aunt Nicole loving on their nephew.

Bailey is not too fond of his stroller and prefers for this form of transport. "Yes this would be why his mommy is so skinny!"

Our little tourist all ready to hit the town!

The Parker Family!

Family is a gift that I always hope that Gracie and Bailey will keep close. Their Daddy Bob has done such an excellant job at researching our family and documenting it through pictorial slide shows. Gracie and Bailey are lucky that they were have pictures and discriptions of their "roots." We are very blessed to be a part of an amazingly supportive and loving family.

Cherry Blossom

One of my favorite things about my home town, Macon is the Cherry Blossom Festival. I love the time of year not only because Macon is absolutely beautifully pink but because the whole town seems to be so united and in love with this festival. This year Preston was invited to a guy's camping weekend and so it was just the twins and me! I had to pep myself up for the one and a half hour car ride all by myself and I am proud to say I did it! It is funny how two 7 month old babies can be SO intimidating! My aunt Donna and Uncle Bobby came into town from Arkansas and it was their first time seeing Gracie and Baily. I loved attending the arts and craft fair downtown and it was so much fun to have my sweet babies to shop for this year. Gracie got some new bows and a bow hanger and Bailey got his very own football bulletin board.

The twins and their Cobb cousins under Grandma's Cherry Blossom tree. Gracie and Bailey had a blast playing in Grandma's back yard all weekend. The weather was gorgeous which allowed us to spend alot of time outside and in the sun porch. Gracie and Bailey loved swinging for their very first time!

Gracie and Bailey's Special Day

Baby Dedication Day

Today we celebrated Gracie and Bailey's Dedication Day. We had a wonderful celebration lunch in our home before going to our church for the ceremony. To explain a little more about the day, I have included a letter that we handed out to our family at the service. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate our decision to raise our children to love the Lord.

We were so blessed to have our family in support of this important day.

Browns Bridge Community Church did an amazing job at hosting a wonderful service for the families who were dedicating their little ones. This is a clip from the slide show that was played.

March 21, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Today is a very special day in the lives of Gracie and Bailey as we dedicate them to the Lord. We want to thank everyone for their love, support, and for being present with our family on this day.
A year ago, we would never have known the path we would travel to get to this point in our lives. Now, looking back, we can take a big sigh of relief that we are able to celebrate with our Gracie and Bailey. We can not thank you all enough for all the acts of love that helped us get through this journey.
As Gracie and Bailey’s parents, we celebrate today as one of the most important days in their life. This day means that we are choosing to raise our children in the Church. We are making the decision to be accountable to God, each other, and all of you. On this special day, we are asking you all as family and friends to help guide us and hold us accountable for this very important decision.
During the preparation for Baby Dedication Sunday, the church asked us to choose 5 values that we will adopt as a family and two ways in which we display them in our daily habits. The five values that we selected are: love, respect, responsibility, faith and self worth. Two consistent habits that we will use in our home to teach these values are spending quality time together and displaying acts of love. We believe that these values and habits will help to guide Gracie and Bailey in loving the Lord, their family, and themselves.
In looking to scripture as guidance, we turn to Proverbs 22:6 “Train your child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from it.” Our prayer is that one day our actions as parents will lead Kathryn Grace and Preston Bailey to the acceptance of the Lord as their personal savior.

With Love and Thanks,
Preston and Elizabeth

My heart was so full at the end of the day after the service when all the guests had left and it was just our own little family. I was able to give Gracie and Bailey kisses while getting them undressed and ready for bed. I told them how much I loved them and how God loved them even more. These moments will always be so close to my heart and I will forever remember how sweet my two little ones were on their special day!

Spring Time

Spring is finally here and we have been enjoying our backyard. It is so nice after being stuck indoors to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Gracie and Bailey really have not been outside hardly at all and so it is taking a little time for their eyes to get adjusted to the sun but they are enjoying it more and more each day. The outdoors have been a great dose of medicine for us all after being inside for so long while attempting to keep the twins healthy. After being on bed rest, I learned to never take anything for granted and I can remember the days where just watching the clouds or sunshine from my bed was relaxing. I now try to take time to enjoy all of the beautiful gifts that God gives us on a daily basis!

Enjoying our swing!

Gracie and Bailey taking time to smell the pretty flowers!

Daddy flying Bailey in the bright blue Spring Sky!

Aunt Laura came to visit and helped us prepare for our dedication party. We don't know what we would have done without her help!

St. Patricks Day Puppy Fun

Happy St. Patricks Day !

I couldn't miss out on this cute picture opportunity with having Gracie and Bailey all dressed up in their green. I placed a green scarf on Dixie to make all my "children" complete with their matching outfits. Gracie and Bailey fall more and more in love with their Dixie each day and she is such a good sport and and a great big sister. Dixie will usually sleep outside of their door when they are napping or sleeping as she is super protective. Dixie can always bring a smile to our faces when we are upset and she is great at keeping one twins' attention while I tend to their sibling.

Gracie petting her puppy dog, Dixie!

Bailey laughing at his silly doggy!