Yes, we're still here!

Well, after a busy few months with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year preparations and celebrations, life at the Booth home has finally slowed down a bit. Hannah and Elijah have grown tremendously, and it doesn't seem like that long ago that I was able to carry them both easily in two arms with room to spare - they were just so small! But carrying them both at one time now is no easy task! Eli is creeping up on 19 lbs and as for Hannah I believe she is close to 16 now!

They are so much fun these days. Their favorite activity currently is playing in the bath tub! They LOVE to splash! Eli is very playful, all boy in his energy as well. He is VERY ticklish and laughs and laughs when we get him in just the right spot. Hannah is a little more reserved and thoughtful, she loves to touch just about everything and everyone. She will pull at anything, including hair much to my dismay! She also gives a belly laugh, but it's usually at something totally random and so we have a hard time getting her to laugh on demand! She loves when you say the word, "Boo!"

The holidays were wonderful as we spent lots of time with family and enjoyed it thoroughly. These days however we spend lots of time inside it seems, since the weather is a little too cold for the kids.
We hope you enjoyed all these recent photos! I'll try to keep this updated a little often!

Reaching New Heights!

Fall is definitely one of our favorite times of the year. Jonathan and I got the itch a couple of weekends ago to get outside with the kids and puts some miles under our boots in order to be in one of the most beautiful places (we think anyways) in the world! The Smokies are such a neat place to be this time of year and we feel especially blessed to be living right in the heart of it all.

Andrew's Bald is one of my personal favorite hikes. You start up at Clingman's Dome parking lot, which it just a few hundred feet short of being the highest spot in the smokies and you walk about 1.8 miles to a bald. A bald is an unexplained clearing high on a mountain - it is believed that the balds were created by grazing cattle belonging to former mountain dwellers such as the Native Americans and/or former families who used to live in the park. Anyhow, it's such a beautiful spot because there are only a few scattered trees and shrubs but other than that the view is spacious and wide open - it gives the the feeling of being 'on top of the world.' We took Hannah and Eli to this favorite spot and they seemed to enjoy the hike and the destination.

This past weekend we went on a shorter hike to a historical place called the Walker Sister's cabin - it is an old homestead. The term 'old' is used loosely seeing as up until just a couple of decades ago a family of sisters resided there. We had fun exploring this place - as we always do. We also got to break in a couple of awesome backpack kid carriers! They were given to us by our friends at the Happy Hiker! THANKS Barrett and Megan, we love you guys! It is such a special treat to have these, I know they'll see PLENTY of trail miles! The kids love them and so do Jonathan and I! We hop you enjoy these photos.

Growing and Growing

THE ABOVE PICS ARE I ORDER OF MOST RECENT TO OLDER PHOTOS

I look at the blog and realize that it's been WAAAYYY too long since last time I posted anything! Life with these two precious babies keeps me on my toes (or feet for that matter). What does a break look like? A quick cup of coffee in between washing bottles, changing diapers, changing 'drooly' clothing, entertaining Hannah and Eli, preparing dinner, cleaning, washing clothes, occational trips to Wal-mart, and the list goes on. With every week that passes the Hannah and Eli's personalities continue to emerge with more consistency and strength. Eli is our spunky out-going, loves people, hates to be alone baby. He loves attention and almost never passes up an opportunity to smile when someone gives him a little one-on-one time. He loves to interact and 'talk.' Hannah is our quiet and reserved one. Though quiet, she still likes to stick out her tongue and make noise at the same time, she is discovering her little voice! She is also a great sleeper! She takes multipule naps throughout the day, much to my delight! She is so observant, taking in all her surroundings. She seems to process images better and enjoys watching the Food network with mommy! She is my little sweetie.

They are now four and a half months old. Eli weighs in at 13lbs 6.5 oz. Hannah is 11lbs 1.5oz. Eli is 23.5 inches long and Hannah is 23 inches. They are both healthy and growing, which I am so thankful for, espeically as I recall only a few short months ago when getting them to gain weight was such a battle! Now Eli is eating rice cereal at night and seems to like it! OH how they change!

Being the mother of Eli and Hannah is such a joy and an honor. They are precious and I love them dearly. They definitely require lots of attention and demand nearly all of my day, but it's entirely worth it.

The kids love people so if you get the itch, come and visit us!