The girls love to grab, pinch, scratch (not on purpose, of course) and laugh at each other now. Their favorite thing to do though, is have Whitney body-slam Lauren and then pin her for 10 seconds. She usually wins, but Lauren doesn't mind.

My girls turn eight months old today. Two days shy of 2009. I've rang in three new year's with the hopes of getting pregnant and having the family I've always wanted. In those three years, I learned the value of patience, hope and love. Going through fertility issues somehow brings a couple closer - sharing in the pain of not being able to create life together. It also makes you stronger, as you have to be supportive and stand tall for each other, hoping.

2008 has truly been a year of patience, hope and love - and my girls have been the biggest blessing I could ever receive. They are my life, my heart and soul, my grace and my joy. Each day I see them smile at me - so glad to see me each and every minute of the day. Their smiles and laughs ensure me that I'm doing right by them, making them happy, and that's all that matters to me. I love that I can see new things every day. Lauren's hair is growing so fast, while Whitney is grasping the concept of crawling. I'm amazed by how they just "know" to do things, without even having been shown how. It's fascinating to see the instinctual things they do when they're eating or playing on the floor. Two little creatures, belonging to me and learning all they'll know from me. I've changed so much as a person. I've "grown up." I've learned what it means to truly love, unconditionally. What it means to sacrifice, even though I don't feel as if I've sacrificed a thing. I cry more - as my heart is full up. Things are more precious to me now. More important.

I have to remind myself that these two glorious, precious human beings were created from Scott and me, by trial and tribulation, perhaps even science. But mostly I know they were created out of patience, hope and love.

Visiting with family on Christmas Eve's eve:






Before/after church on Christmas Eve:





Christmas day:

On our way to Indianapolis on the Friday before Christmas, we noticed that the temperature gauge in the car said it was a brisk 29 degrees outside - but it was raining, not snowing. "Odd..." we thought, since the roads weren't slick and people were driving pretty typical. When we got to the exit for I-465 (a major highway rounding the entire city, like 275 here in Cincinnati) Scott noticed it was getting a little slick and decided to drive more cautiously and slow down quite a bit (after all, we had the babies in the car!). We came over a hill and saw a dumptruck sliding onto 465 from an on-ramp. He was trying to avoid a truck that had slid on the overpass and hit the guardrail. The dumptruck turned sideways and prompted us, along with other drivers in the 5 lanes of traffic to slam on brakes and try to avoid hitting him. A minivan swerved in attempt to miss the truck, turned sideways and came toward us - as Scott was trying to stay in the far left lane, away from all the commotion. Needless to say, the minivan hit us, spinning us around. We came to a stop at the bottom of an on-ramp FACING the 5 lanes of oncoming traffic. Getting hit by the minivan wasn't the scary part. Seeing hundreds of cars, trucks and semi's barrel toward us, not knowing the overpass is covered in black ice. Scott wanted to drive up the median to go up the on-ramp (we would have been driving UP it, the wrong way) but we were scared we would get hit. We couldn't back up into grass because 2 other cars that got hit were behind us. So, there we sat - praying we wouldn't get plowed into by speeding oncoming traffic who were trying to avoid all the sliding cars. Finally after about 10 minutes (after I called 911 twice) a few fire trucks came and blocked the first 3 lanes of traffic so we wouldn't get hit. There were 6 cars total in the accident, but thankfully nobody was hurt. I of course freaked out not for my own safety, but that of my babies. After 5 hours of cleanup, statements and accident reports, we arrived at the Clidences around 3am. Whitney went right to bed, but Lauren felt the need to stay up an extra hour and tell her grandparents about the eventful night. :)

Ps. Thankfully, we were driving a dealer car. :)

Our friend Sophie came to visit...we were good about sharing, but we were also good about chewing on her pretty jeans...

There's something to be said about sitting in just your "undies," and being spoon fed. Must be nice.

I was feeling rather fat today, after having eaten pizza for the third time this week. But then, I found this picture of me and immediately felt MUCH better. I mean, at least I can now wear shoes and button my coats. :)

"Sisters don't need words. They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling." ~ Pam Brown

Our second Thanksgiving was on Saturday with Pampaw Zumbaugh.

Harley likes to sit on the stools and watch TV. He's funny!


Whitney and Pampaw playing on the floor.



Cousin Allyssa couldn't wait to see us!


Pampaw decorated a tree outside. We were mesmerized by the pretty lights.


Lauren needed her spa treatment from the long, busy weekend.

Thanksgiving was celebrated with Granny Murray, aunt's Sadie and Carmen and Uncle Billy on Thanksgiving day. Below, our busy day...

Aunt Sadie, slaving all day to prepare the wonderful meal that mommy ate 3 plates full of.


Whitney, trying mashed potatoes for the first time. She liked them, despite the weird face.


Uncle Billy who hadn't met us yet! He didn't want to share us.


Aunt Carmen came in from LA to see us. She spoiled us and held us most of the day.


Granny Murray got to get some love, too.