Happy Birthday!

Courtney and Alexis had a very happy, if somewhat quiet, birthday party with just us family. They are such cute little ones, and I am so glad they are in our lives.

Two very different little girls!

12 Months

 

12 Months of pictures (even though month 11 was pretty lame). I so enjoyed doing these monthly pictures, but I think I will wait until 18 months to do the next one and cross my fingers they are more cooperative by then.

They were both in really weird moods for this shoot. Neither would sit still and when they finally did, Alexis wouldn’t sit up and Courtney was 1 second away from diving off the couch. Here is the best I got:

The only one of Courtney by herself that I was able to get!

Better luck in 6 months eh?

We did it!

We made it through the first year with twins. Every twin parent we talked to before having the girls told us that the first year is the hardest and then it gets easier. I think in part that is true. We now have babies who sleep through the night 99% of the time, and who don’t need to nurse at night if they do wake up. I think that counts as MUCH easier than when they were waking up 5-6 times each every night, and nursing each time they woke. Courtney is walking, and Alexis is really close and that makes things easier because they aren’t as frustrated by the fact that they can’t move around where they want to go.

On the other hand, they are more mobile and that means I have two going in separate directions. They are eating more solids which makes for several clothes changes a day and issues with rashes and tummy aches x2! The sibling rivalry is getting more and more obvious between Kaylee and the girls. The more mobile they get the more concerned she gets about them getting into her face and into her stuff. She loves them, but not quite as much as when they were just little immobile bundles of blankets.

I am still breastfeeding both of them, and loving it! I’m so thankful that I was able to have an easier time with them than I did with Kaylee. There is something so amazing nursing older babies. The joy and excitement on their faces when I ask them if they want milk is priceless. I don’t k

now when I plan to stop, but I think it will be by the time they are two at the latest.

All in all, I am looking forward to the second year of these girls’ lives.

The girls’ birthday was wonderful. Family came to celebrate, Robert’s mom made little cakes for the girls, they were in great moods for opening presents, and everyone enjoyed the day. This birthday I felt like I finally got it together so that I wasn’t stressed and rushing around the morning of the party.

I loved their birthday dresses! I am glad that I got some that weren’t specifically birthday oriented so they could wear them several times.

I promise Alexis was having a good day. I think her eyes were having a hard time adjusting to waking up or something because she is squinting in a lot of the pictures.

Kaylee was so sweet helping them open presents and excited for the gifts that they got.

Alexis LOVED these shoes! I think this girl is going to be quite the dresser.

Robert’s parents brought this wonderful play set that will be a life saver. The girls all loved it.

Courtney was so brave on the slide and didn’t hesitate at all to go down once my sister Kathryn was there to catch her.

We had 3 cakes! I made the main one for the adults and Kaylee to eat, and Robert’s mom made little ones for Courtney and Alexis.

The girls’ cakes:

Courtney’s

Alexis’

I was so happy that they girls were more interested in eating their cakes than Kaylee was (or wasn’t). It took them a little while, but they eventually needed to be basically hosed off.

The best picture! ^^

It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. I think these birthday parties are only going to get better. Bring on the next year of twin fun!