Getting Stronger

Both of the girls are now holding their heads up when they lay on their bellies. (Alyssa facing right, Hannah facing left). It is so amazing to watch them do something new each day. One day this past week, Alyssa was lying on the jungle play mat and reached up for the hanging toy. It has a ball that makes music when they spin it. I was in the kitchen and heard the music. I turned around to see Alyssa reaching and spinning it. It was awesome. I grabbed the video camera of course. Another amazing thing I was able to catch in tape was Hannah rolling over by herself for the first time. She has been practicing for a week or two rolling to her side and we would help her over a little. This night, she rolled to her side, got her leg and bottom over and then with a little more effort she got the top half over. She looked up and smiled at us. I was so happy I cried. I know all babies do these things and all babies are an amazing miracle to behold, but to me, my babies are especially amazing. J

Our Family

Here are 9 of the 10 girls that are in our family now (one was on a home visit). They are terrific. Each one has a special place in our hearts. We are loving this experience, and really feel that we are making a positive difference in their lives. This picture was taken at the VA Hospital in Asheville when we took them to help in a service project for Memorial Day. Our ward had a picnic for the Veterans and the girls helped to serve them and just talked with them a little. It was a nice day and a good learning experience for them. The girls names are (top left to right) Chelsea, Jessica, Andrea, Jamie, and Carrie. (bottom left to right) Jimbo, Taylor holding Alyssa, Staci, Tori, Beverly holding Hannah and me.

The Big Girls

We call them the big girls and the little girls. The big girls are so great with the babies. They play with them, feed them, hold them, walk around with them when they are fussy, and even paint their toenails. It is really nice to have 20 extra hands when you have twins.

Sisters

Gidget is a part of the family too. She is good with the babies. If they are on the floor for Tummy time, she will lick them and smell them. When they are asleep in our arms, she will lay on our lap with them. If I leave their activity mats on the floor, she will lay down on them. I don’t think the babies are aware of her yet. The other day when Gidget was sniffing Alyssa she reached out and grabbed Gidget’s ear. Gidget squeaked and ran away from her. She is a little skiddish of the now. Hopefully, she will be fine with them as they continue to grow and play with her more.

They should be on the big screen!

Our beautiful babies! They love photo sessions! I have so many great pictures of them it is hard to pick which ones to post. I hope you are enjoying them. Check often for updates. (Hannah has the bracelet on)

Beautiful angels

They are growing and changing so much everyday. Jim and I are so blessed to be able to watch all these little mirables everyday. They are starting to laugh and play peek-a-boo with us. They are starting to recognize each other too. They stare at each other and smile. It is so amazing. They were worth the wait.

Aren’t they so adorable!

This is their first little Spring time outfit. They were Easter gifts from Aunt Tami (Jim’s Sister). I love dressing them in cute little outfits. I try to make sure they have plenty of pink on when we go out. I can’t wait until they have more hair so I can put bows in their hair. No matter how much pink they are covered in, someone always says, “one boy and one girl?” or “are they both girls?” I think they are too beautiful to look like boys. Hopefully, it will be easier to recognize them as girls once they have hair. I try not to let it get to me when people ask me that. I guess it is better to ask rather than say something like "Isn't he a handsome fella." That would be bad. :)

Exercise Time

Alyssa and Hannah love playing on their activity mats. I got one that is ocean and one is the jungle. They love to look in the mirrors and kick the toys hanging down. They have discovered that if they kick, it makes noise and music for them. They are getting so big and changing everyday. I love getting down on the floor and playing with them. They are such a joy.

More changes in the Scherck family

Guess what everyone, we have moved again! Not too far just into another house. We had one set of house parents quit and so our bosses asked us to take the house with 10 girls. It is a bigger house and we are quite enjoying the experience of having 10 girls. They are great and are all very helpful with cooking, cleaning and helping with the babies. Last week was Spring Break and we had a great time going to Gatlinburg and Dollywood. I rode all the roller coasters with them and had a blast. We are loving this new life and really feel we are making a difference in their lives.

More Pictures

Hello all! I found a cool way to put more pictures on here. Thanks to my friend Carrie M. for the idea. :) I hope you enjoy these slide shows. I love watching them and making them. If the slide shows stop, just click refresh on your address bar and they will start again. :)

Birthday Pictures

The big day! Our precious babies entered the world on the evening of February 6, 2008 at 8:47pm. What a glorious day. We will treasure these wonderful memories forever.

Beautiful Babies

Our little cabin

Here is our cute little cabin we are living in now. It is really cute inside too. The walls are all wood and the floors too. We are in the top and our school girls have their own bedroom, living room and bath downstairs. They come upstairs for meals and family time. It is really nice. The stream in front is beautiful. We also have a little pond with fish in it. The girls actually caught two catfish the other day.

Alyssa (Sweet Pea)

Here are some pictures of Alyssa. She is our snuggling sweet pea. Gidget loves to snuggle up next to the girls too.

Hannah's First smile

Wow! Hannah has really started to look right in our eyes and smile at us. This is a little smile. Sometimes she gives us a great big one. Alyssa is smiling too, but I have not been able to catch her with the camera yet. She is not as laid back and easy to photograph like Hannah. If I lay Alyssa down to take her picture, she usually starts crying. :) I will keep trying. I love to take pictures of them. Everyday they look a little different or make a new adorable face I want to capture and remember forever.

Pictures of the girls together

It is so tough to get a good picture of them both together. One is usually awake and quiet and the other is crying. Here are some attempts. I think they are still beautiful even if they are crying. :)

Sleeping Princesses

Hanging out in the Boppy

The girls both love to hang out in the Boppy during the day. We only have one so they have to take turns. Usually I have one in the Boppy and I carry one in the Snuggli (like a baby backpack). I love watching them. There are so many cute faces they make when awake and asleep. (Alyssa covered with blanket, Hannah is the cutie on duty)

My new life as Mommy

I am loving it!! It is the best thing in the world, to be a full time wife and mother. I am so grateful for this blessing in our lives. Even though they keep us very busy, I would not trade it for anything.

Alyssa loves Daddy

Alyssa, we have discovered is a "high needs" baby. She needs to be held, she needs to be worn in the Snuggli, she needs to be feed by Daddy. She is a fussy eater and cries and thrashes around a lot when she eats. We thought it was an allergy to the formula. We tried several different formulas until we finally realized it didn't matter what she eats as much as how she eats. She has a specific routine of eating, burping and snuggling that she likes. Daddy figured it out first (probably because he is high needs too.) :)