The Baby Tree

Station 54 -Baby Tree 2009

The baby tree has arrived... it was our little source of hope last year 2009, that come Christmas 2010 we would have two happy and healthy babes, it seems as though this little tree filled with love is our good luck charm and it seems only symbolic to pull it out each year, put all the special ornaments back on it and let the boys enjoy what helped to keep their mom and Dad strong for so many weeks at Abbott Northwestern!  I promise each and everyone of you that Nathan and Benjamin will always know how loved they are, how lucky we feel and how much gratitude we have for the friends, family and healthcare team that brought us to today... the 2010 Christmas season: two HAPPY and two HEALTHY baby boys!

Baby Tree- 2010

Benjamin loved all the ornaments

Nathan liked the Sock Monkey Ornaments

10 Months

What a difference a year makes... last year on this day I was almost 24 weeks pregnant and calling Abbott Northwestern my home!!!  The boys are 10 months old... I can't believe it.  The activity level in our house is at an all time high!!!!  Nathan is currently 18 pounds.  Nathan is officially crawling everywhere... and rather quickly, he is upping on everything, he continues to get more daring as we have found him letting go with both hands, upping in his crib, walking from one piece of furniture to another and taking steps behind his push toy!  Benjamin is currently 16 pounds.  Benjamin is crawly backwards, scooting forward on his belly, Ben learned to sit up from his belly and then pulling up to a stand.  Benjamin also loves to up on furniture and just in the last couple of days will take steps while holding one of our hands and we lowered his crib as well.  Both boys love their farmyard push toy, blocks, books, chuck trucks, instruments and stuffed animals....their favorite things in the whole world are BERKELEY and BATH TIME!. Nathan and Benjamin continue to love real food and are getting good at sippy cups.  Another new addition to our lives are gates!!!  Along with two moving babies are lots of gates!  We are very much looking forward to this holiday season... the Christmas cards have been ordered... be  watching your mailbox after Thanksgiving!!!!  As always the Shutterfly website has been updated!
Love Always
The Utechs

Let it snow!!!

Benjamin and Nathan got to play in the snow for the first time!  So cute.  Nathan LOVED it and was crawling through the snow...Benjamin on the other hand was not to sure about this cold wet snow and he was not a fan of having his little hands covered.  Brent decided it was the perfect snow to build a snowman.  What a fun way to start the weekend!!!
Love Always
The Utechs

MAMA my ear hurts:(

The boys continue to get more daring with each day that passes.  Nathan is now upping on EVERYTHING as well as walking along all the furniture.  Today I found him standing with his walker under the play gym... I have no idea how he did it without falling. Nathan is now crawling forward however he still finds rolling to be more efficient!!!! Benjamin is very frustrated because the only direction that he can crawl is backwards... he knows that this is not what he wants.  Ben also is upping on his little table, his toy baskets and his ViTech Walker.  Today I brought both boys back to the MDs office.... both have double ear infections... bummer... let winter begin!!!!  How many days until summer???
Thanks for checking in!!!
Love Always,
The Utechs

I have no idea how he did this without falling

attempting to cross over to the footstool all by himself

paging doctor Utech!

Helping mommy and daddy vote!!!

Happy Halloween 2010

Nathan and Benjamin were monkeys this halloween, they had a blast this halloween season!

Nathan and Benjamin at ECFEs Halloween Party

Nathan and Benjamin with their buddies at our ECFE Halloween Party!

Monkey Pumpkin from Christine and Stephen

Gramma's two little monkeys

carving pumpkins with daddy

Pumpkin head

Look mom I can stand up!

I'm getting all the attention while my brother is sleeping!

Nathan Andrew

With our friends the Scotts

Nicholas and Nathan

Sammy Ben and Peter

Wyatt and Ben

Two little monkeys

Look at the cool pumpkin mommy carved!!!!

Thanks for checking in!!!  We hope that everyone had a wonderful Halloween!!!

Love Always,

The Utechs

9 Month Pumpkins

Benjamin and Nathan are 9 months old... where did the time go?  The boys are growing and changing by leaps and bounds.  Fall has been a very fun time.  We made trips to the pumpkin patch, Ben got teeth, we had our 9 month check ups, both boys got flu shots, puree foods are now old news and finger foods are the BEST, rolling, kneeling and pulling up happens daily/minutely!  Last weekend Brent was able to spend the weekend in St. Louis with his two best friends.... that meant I spent the weekend as a single mom... thanks to those that helped out (grandparents, Katie and Grace)!  All went well!
Thanks for checking in on us!!!
Love Always,
The Utechs

Nathan working on his crawling

Nathan 9 Month Photo

Uncle Stephen and Auntie Christine's Pumpkin to the boys... 2 little Monkeys 

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Benjamin and Berkeley hanging out

Cute little pumpkin heads!

Mommy and Benjamin!