One Year of Amazing Moments

I look back at this past year and I am absolutely amazed at how quickly it went by.  I am also absolutely amazed at how much two little people can grow and learn in one year.  I am also absolutely amazed at how much I have grown and changed too.  I will forever be grateful to these two little people for making me a Mommy.  When you enter the realm of parenthood you have no idea how selfless you will become.  At some point it may bug you to give up everything that was "yours" but after a while all of that doesn't matter anymore.  Life is about your kids, as it should be.  I am thankful my children took away my selfishness, my tendency towards a "high maintenance" life, and my need for things.  All I need now is my little family and what an amazing family it is!

After watching the twins for us recently my Dad said to me, "Your Mom and I think that raising twins is more then double the work of one."  I laughed.  I have no idea if that is the case but it got me thinking about the past year.  I could measure this year in the insanity of raising twins.  That would include the number of dirty diapers x 2, hours of lost sleep x 2, hours of crying x 2 (me and them), bottles washed x 2, finished cans of formula x 2, and the list goes on and on.  Most parents probably measure the first year in milestones: smiling, laughing, eating, sleeping well, crawling, playing, getting teeth, waving, pointing, walking, talking.  While I do measure this year in those wonderful moments I get to add another layer of celebrations to it.  These are the celebrations that come with raising twins.   I remember the first day I was alone to care for the twins.  All the help (read: Grandparents) went home and John was back to work.  I was so nervous and thought I wouldn't be able to handle all the needs of two tiny babies.  We survived and I celebrated it!  I will also never forget the day I mastered the double feed.  We suddenly had 45 more minutes every two to three hours to do something else besides feed.  I celebrated that!  I remember working so hard to get them on the same nap schedule which was the best gift I think I've ever received...a moment of peace during the day.  I celebrated it!  I remember a day when John was home from work and the two of them started chasing each other and laughing for the first time.  John and I were dying laughing and I turned to him and said, "How boring would this be if there was just one?  There would be no one to chase."  That day I truly celebrated my life with twins.  This list could go on and on and on.  I guess the point is while some parents of multiples call this first year "The Haze" or "The Fog" because they were so bogged down in the work of it they don't remember most of it.  I choose to celebrate all of it.  Every minute of it.  Every accomplishment made by us as parents and by the twins.  Because while it is double the work, we are the lucky ones, because we have double the blessings!

Guess who is walking?!

The video is a little dark but you can still see the little man take some great steps.  We are so proud!

Happy First Birthday George and Clara!

On November 11th we celebrated the twins first birthday and it was quite a celebration.  We had SO many surprises.  John's Aunt Sandra flew in from London as a surprise.  My brother flew in from Atlanta as a surprise.  And while we knew John's sister Christina was coming her husband Sayed surprised us too!  We were overwhelmed with how loved these two little people are.

George David November 13, 2009

George David November 11, 2010

Clara Elizabeth November 14, 2009

Clara Elizabeth November 11, 2010

We had a great family celebration on the twins' birthday this year.  Here are a few photos from their big day:

 We love our Aunt Christina!

Our Great Aunt Sandra always spoils us when she visits!

Presents!

Mom and Dad gave us our own red wagon

The Whirlygig Cake - A Family Tradition

Grandmas with our first taste of cake

Happy Birthday To You!!

 Yum Yum!

 Yum Yum!

 Happy Birthday Buddy!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Pictures from the first birthday party to come...

My Birthday

I had such a wonderful birthday weekend.  We enjoyed a day of house hunting on Saturday while my parents watched the twins.  We found three contenders and are headed back to walk through again on Friday.  John and I had our first date in two months Saturday night.  We went to this little wonderful french restaurant called Chez Nous to celebrate my birthday.  We stayed the night with my parents and then went to brunch on Sunday morning with my parents and John's parents.  It was a beautiful day and we ate outside at an Italian restaurant on Lake Houston.  On top of all of these treats, my wonderful husband let me put my feet up and relax way more then usual.  I was one spoiled lady!  Unfortunately we were not so great with the picture taking but we did get one good one with Mommy and the twins!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Halloween Weekend

We had such an amazing Halloween weekend.  The weather was perfect so John took the day off and we went to the zoo.  It was the twins first trip and they really enjoyed it.  Here are a few photos:

 Daddy's Little Girl

 George loved loved loved the carousel ride

 Clara was a little unsure about the carousel

Clara loved this cow

 Happy Babies!

 George was fascinated with all the fences...who know why.

Georgie loved the aquarium

On Saturday Daddy carved a pumpkin with the twins.  George didn't mind the mess of cleaning out the pumpkin, but Clara was such a priss and wouldn't get those cute little hands dirty!

The finished product...

Our Happy Family

On Halloween our parents came over to spend time with the twins and see them in their Halloween costumes.  They were Pebbles and Bam Bam from the Flintstones.  We even went to a few of our neighbors' houses to Trick or Treat.  I think the twins enjoyed their first Halloween!

 Happy Halloween!

 Trick or Treat

 Candy!  Maybe next year kiddos.

 Bam Bam

Pebbles

Great Food, Great Friends, Great Fun!

Jake, Maria, and beautiful Allison joined us for dinner last weekend. John fired up our smoker and made a great meal.  It was so fun to watch the kiddos play together.  I think there is a long fun friendship in their future!

 George's first kiss with Miss Allison!

 Watch out Allison here comes trouble!

Ring Around the Rosie

Busy Busy Babies!

It's been awhile so I think it is time to update everyone on what the twins are up to these days.  One thing is for sure they are mobile, mobile, mobile!  It is unbelievable how quick these two stinkers are!  We have an area blocked off that is basically baby proof so when they go in two different directions I know they are safe.  They do chase each other and laugh.  They also crawl to each other just to give kisses then head back to what they were doing.  It seems that George and Clara enjoy music because both dance and clap when a good song is on.  The other day Clara started dancing to this old school rap song when we were driving to the pumpkin patch.  John and I just about died laughing.  Both are pulling up and cruising along furniture.  They also use just about anything to push around so they can walk, including kitchen chairs and end tables.  George took his first two independent steps a few weeks ago but has yet to repeat that adventure.  Both can walk holding just one of our hands and can stand alone for short periods of time.  I think they will walk soon.  They just have to get up the courage to do it!

George finally has some teeth!  In the last 20 days he has gotten 5 teeth.  Poor guy has been pretty fussy some days but overall I think he has handled it pretty well.  Clara is still toothless!  Clara can say three words already.  Her first was Dada followed by Mama.  Yesterday she said Bye Bye when John left for work.  She tries to imitate words I say to her all the time. I can hear a lot of little chattering in my near future.  George does not have any words but makes lots and lots of sounds.  His newest skill is pointing at everything and saying, "Da?" so that we name what he points at.  Some words he finds quite funny.  The most recent word that caused many giggles was chandelier.  Who knew words could be so funny?  Both of them wave at people although Clara is the most interested in getting people's attention.  Imagine that!  When we are at the grocery store she is constantly making new friends and drawing attention to us (as if we didn't get enough all ready).  She waves the second we walk into the store and doesn't stop until we leave. She makes me laugh! 

Clara and George are both eating independently now.  They drink from sippy cups all day with only having a bottle before bed.  Woohoo!  Very little bottle washing for Mommy and Daddy!  The best part of independent eating is that we eat a family dinner every night.  George and Clara eat whatever I cook and we all sit down together.  Their favorites so far have been my lasagna and John's grilled chicken.  We are planning their first birthday party which is just around the corner.  I can't believe how fast they are growing up!!

As for the house, no offers yet.  We had a good open house but only one showing so far.  I know I have to be patient since it is a buyer's market right now.  Since we aren't pressured to move it isn't too stressful for us to wait.  I've figured out how to work in the house cleaning every day so the house is always ready for a showing.  Positive thoughts and prayers that it won't take too long to sell! 

Some silly photos:

 I'm ready for my close up!

 Cutie Booties! (Good blackmail photo when they are older)

 Sure George I'll have a sip!

 Hi Mom!

Georgie walking on his knees with his push toy