Happy Happy Birthday Birthday!

I know, I know, it's a little overdue, but Happy First Birthday Daniel and Happy First Birthday Lauren! It's hard to believe they are one year old already, and it's hard to believe all that has happened in our lives in the past year. One year ago today we had two-week old twins and closed on a house, loaded everything up, and moved across town. What.A.Weekend! It took a village to get everyone and everything from point A to point B in one piece. I remember it like it was yesterday! But then everything becomes a blur for the next several months....

Continuing thanks to everyone who got us to where we are today!

We had a pretty low-key birthday party for Daniel and Lauren at the house. We decided it would be more fun if we kept it simple, and it was! Nana and Papa, Mimi and PawPaw, Aunt Mary and Uncle David, and Almost-Uncle Jake (he's marrying my sister someday!)enjoyed some food, cake, and outside play time. My so so sweet seamstress neighbor made (yes, made, by hand!) birthday outfits for Daniel and Lauren, so they wore them for the party. Ms. Lisa and her sister even came by for some cake and to share in the festivities :-)

Aside from partying, we've been keeping pretty busy with the routine. I am much more of a schedule-follower this time around than I was with Sarah, I think due to necessity and to keep my sanity with two little bodies toddling around all day. I can count on one hand the number of days Daniel and Lauren have missed a nap time, and I think I'll keep it that way for awhile! Finally, finally (Praise God!) we have a consistent nap routine that includes 2 one-hour naps (approximately) and almost 12 hours of sleep at night!

So tomorrow they'll skip a nap...or two...because....Daniel and Lauren are starting Mom's Morning Out at our church! Ok, so they're really only going once or twice a month, but this is big for us! :-) They do a great job in the church nursery on Sundays, so I am confident they'll do great at MMO, too, and I will really enjoy a few hours a month to do some window shopping (ahem) and maybe even sit and read a good book on my patio, which I've been waiting to do for a year.

Finally, I'm sure you want an update on the "milestones" that Daniel and Lauren are meeting:-)

At one year, Lauren...
- is walking! Actually, she started walking just shy of 11 months. She is always, always, looking to get into something
- has 5 teeth and one more on the way
- eats just about anything but has changed her mind about cheese, a previous favorite
- loves, I mean LOVES, her bottle. The fits she has each morning while waiting for me to fix it are absolutely ridiculous, and if this continues, she will be taking a warmed bottle with her to college ;-)
- says "Dadeee", "Mama", and "Hi" and signs "more"
- is very, very social, and always needs to know that you are right there if she needs you
- loves cats, which is good, because we have about 10 of them roaming our coul-de-sac and patio at all hours of the day
- does NOT like getting into her car seat, but she does fine once we start moving
- does NOT like getting dressed or having her diaper changed

At one year, Daniel...
- is walking! Sort of. He takes about 5 steps at a time now and the proud look on his face when he does it is priceless!
- has 3 teeth and no more on the way that I can see yet
- eats everything and does it so fast you wonder where it all went when you turn around
- likes trying to climb out of his hair chair and up all over the toys
- is a mellow guy unless someone hurts his feelings, and then he can be as dramatic as his sisters
- says "Mama" (especially when he's tired or upset). He also loves blowing raspberries :-)
- loves to push, throw, and otherwise propel toys across the floor of a room and follow them around- he is such a boy!
- does NOT like getting his diaper changed or getting dressed (picture some major wrestling moves going on between mommy and Daniel during these times)

It's amazing the boy/girl differences that are already apparent at such a young age, and when I have tried (semi-consciously) not to steer them towards specific boy/girl toys or activities...

Enjoy the pictures from their birthday! On Monday of this week we met with our photographer Michaele at the park for the last of the baby photo sessions, so hopefully I will have some more adorable pictures to post soon!