Wednesday, July 18, 2012

And Just Like That...

...a year comes and goes.  We made it!  My goodness how time has flown.  It's so hard for me to believe how in just one short year's time two people can go from this: 

Just minutes before going in for C-section...

...minutes after being born...

...to this:

One Year Old!

When we began this journey, others that have been down the same road told us that the first year with the twins would be the toughest.  Now that I'm on this side of it, I believe it!  It has been quite a challenge...but even more than that it has been a tremendous blessing.  We have certainly had some low moments this past year...most being the result of severe sleep deprivation!  Thankfully we have had some awesome highs in between.  It has been quite an adventure, but one I wouldn't trade for anything.  I can't wait to share with them the story of how they got here...and how hard we fought to get them here safe and healthy...and what a privilege it is to be their mama!  

Our little family tradition...birthday morning muffins

Just for comparison here is Kate on her first birthday.  

Matthew devoured it

We had to help John a little...he wasn't as wild about it

Sissy loves birthdays and blueberry muffins!

We are ONE!!!

Later that day Grammy and Grandpa came in.  They came bearing presents:

Opening birthday presents

Our new truck!

John LOVED their new toy!

Matthew loved it too, just not at this particular moment!!

John couldn't get enough of the birthday train...

This is our neighbor Mr. Keith.  He is an identical twin himself!  He loves to tell me stories of all the trouble he and his brother got into when they were young, even though I beg him not to share them with me!!  We love our sweet neighbors Keith and Kelly.  They are so good to us!

Saturday we celebrated their 1st birthday with a pool party up at the neighborhood pool.  We had such a great time!  Thanks to our friends and family for coming out to celebrate with us! 

Daddy and John-John

Daddy and Matthew

Matthew and Nana

Sweet Greer

Thank goodness for the pool...it was a hot day!

Kate swimming with Aunt Julee

Great-Grandaddy & Grandmama

Some of the party crew...

Grandpa did the grilling for us...great job, Grandpa!

Phil, Tyler, and Papa

Matthew letting everyone know he is "one" ;) Like Matthew and Grandpa's matching floppy hats?

Sweet Mrs. Kelly and John-John


Erin and Mrs. Kelly with John

Birthday boys goofing off with Hugh

Joshua and Papa

Precious baby girl Charlotte.  Pure sweetness!!


Mommy and Daddy with the birthday boys

Birthday snacks before cake time

Smash cake #1...

...and #2.

The "Big" cake!


John really got into the whole cake thing...

...Matthew liked it too, although he needed a little assistance from Daddy ;)

Family shot

Opening gifts!  Not so proud of our football program lately, but make no mistake these children will still be raised right. ;)


Matthew sticks out the tongue when concentrating.  Opening gifts is hard work!


Sissy pitching in to help


"Wow!! Are all these really for me?!"

Two blessed little boys!

Thank you again to everyone for being there to help us celebrate!  Your support and prayers the past year and a half have meant more than we can express.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Happy 4th 2012!

Goodness but what a fun week we have had!  Fun times with good friends, and just enjoying time off together as a family.  Last Saturday we came home from a wonderful week at the beach.  Sunday we spent the day with the Sullivans (see prior post).  Tuesday evening, our sweet friends the Greers came to stay with us as they were passing through to visit family in Virginia.  We had such a good time visiting with Mitch, Shelley, and precious baby girl Ansley!  

Happy girl, Ansley, playing with Matthew and John (is she not suh-weet?!)

It's hard work playing with all these toys!

Matthew and Ansley checkin' each other out ;)

I would be remiss if I failed to mention how AWESOME of a baby this little girl is.  She never made so much as a peep the entire time they were here, and is just so sweet and smiley all the time!  I could have held her forever!  Mitch and Shelley, next time y'all come through, just plan on leaving Ansley with us :)

Best we could do ;)

Happy 4th sweet girl!

Since Mitch and Shelley had to drive all the way to Virginia they left fairly early Wednesday morning.  We headed over to Bobby and Margaret's house for swimming and lunch.

Kate and her friend Mary Davis

Daddy and boys

Family water shot

Little fish

Ahh....we love summertime...

...and watermelon!

Kate drying off with Bobby

In the evening everyone came out to our house for BBQ, our neighborhood street party, and of course fireworks!

 

Sweet boys

Cousins

Matthew has started pointing all the time...at anything and everything, and sometimes for no apparent reason.  Here I had just asked him how old he is about to be :)

John just loves Will to pieces

Lori with Joshua

Cooling off during the neighborhood party

Two sweet girls:  Kate and Emily

Neighborhood gals

Capri suns make the best treats

Daddy balloon toss

Mommy balloon toss...Kelly was gearing up to win...

...more Mommy balloon toss.  I did not win.

 Kate loves sweet Ms. Kelly

Grandmama's annual "Lady Liberty" pose :)

I'll post more on the rest of our week later...lots of good times!  We took Will and Kate to the lake tubing for the first time, Kate and I got to go shopping, Joe fishing, and Joshua got baptized!  

Both John and Matthew are crawling now.  For the most part they like to keep pretty close to us, but it is getting busier chasing them around.  They are both pulling up pretty well, too.  Each morning I go in to get them and Matthew is standing in his crib waiting on me to come get him.  Tonight as I was bathing them he pulled up on the edge of the tub and came straight out of it head first.  No worries, I was right there to catch him, but it gave me a little scare nonetheless.  The difference between boys and girls has been astounding to me.  So far anyway.  My sweet, mild-tempered little girl just wasn't quite this busy nor adventuresome at this stage!  These two little guys really keep us on our toes!  
Matthew now has several words he says quite well: mama, da-da, nana, bye-bye.  He is pointing at things and saying, "Dat?"  Every time I go to buckle him in his car seat he starts waving and saying "bye-bye."  So cute.  John says mama, da-da, uh-oh, and bye-bye so far.  This Friday is their FIRST birthday!  We are excited about their pool party on Saturday!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Sullivans in Town!

One of my very dearest friends and her sweet family are in town for a few days this week so we had the pleasure of getting to hang out yesterday.  Cameron and I have been friends since the 6th grade.  We celebrated many milestones together growing up; we've been roommates, we were in each other's weddings, we've welcomed new babies, and most recently, we share the unique bond of being mom to twins.  She is a precious, precious friend.  I wish we got to get together more often; they've recently moved to Connecticut, but thankful they still come down to visit.  Yesterday we met for ice cream then headed back over to our house to play for the afternoon.  So fun watching our little ones play together!


Harriss, Charlotte, Lily, Kate


1 big bro + 1 big sis + 2 twin little sis's + 2 twin little bros = 1 rowdy ice cream shop!

Can't wait til your next visit, Sullivans!  Love y'all!