Twice as Much Cake | Twins Turn 1

I'm sitting in our big chair eating birthday cake and basking in the happiness that was today. We celebrated our twins' first birthday, a huge milestone! I'm still getting used to the onset of emotions that tends to set in when my child's birthday rolls around. The nostalgia, the warmth, the bittersweet of they'll-never-be-this-little-again, the immense joy of simply getting to know them and watch them grow. And this time, I'm feeling it all twice as much!

I've been tempted to think, "Wow! All of a sudden I have one-year-olds. How'd that happen?" but I won't be so easily fooled. This turning one business was no all of a sudden thing. The last 364 days were filled with unique moments in every single day. I don't want to think of this first year as just a survival year or refer to it as one big blur. It wasn't that way for me. I distinctly remember certain phases, with highlights of each one. Here's a simple commemoration of the past year with my two littlest pookies:

The Early Days (October-December, 0-2 months): 
I tend to think of these as the three-stage feeding days. Lots of breastfeeding, bottles lined up on the headboard, frequent pumping with around-the-clock, every-three-hours feedings. Plus doctor's appointments, constant swaddling, diaper changing, and tummy time. I didn't spend a whole lot of time with NLW and I tried to nap as much as I could. My parents were in town making our house run smoothly :) Little blips of celebration: NLW's 2nd birthday, my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas!

The So Many Naps Days (January-February, 3-4 months): 
I just remember there were several weeks where I was managing nine separate naps a day. Four for each twin and one for NLW. I didn't mind it, as it brought a certain rhythm to the day. But man, when I say it out loud, it sounds intense! This was when we started working with our amazing nanny Nicole and had a lull of visitors. The biggest highlight was the huge snowfall on Valentine's Day!

The We're Hitting a Groove Days (March-April, 5-6 months): 
Moved into a three-nap-schedule routine. More active and engaged with one another. Lots of sweet faces, smiles, giggles and expressions. Transition period in sitting up, starting solids, and introduced loveies. Daily bathtime at 6:15pm :) My parents visit again!

The Rotating Door of Visitors Days (April-August, 6-10 months): 
We had family stay with us almost every month in this time period. It was super fun to host, incorporate special trips and outings into our day and enjoy lots of time outside -- in the swing, in the water, and in the backyard. First wading pool, swimming pool, and new stroller! Sitting up, crawling, on knees, and starting to pull up. 

East Coast Days (August-September, 10-11 months):

First flight and a red-eye at that! Spent three weeks in Connecticut with Mr. Fleece's family. Lots of pool time, water table, wagon rides, first boat ride, and new toys. Kept up an amazing schedule sleeping 12+ hours overnight and two two-hour naps. Lots more solids and finger foods. Highlight was meeting their cousin. 

Sick and Re-Set Days (September-October, 11-12 months):
Upon returning home from the East Coast all five of us got sick with colds and runny noses. It was a pretty brutal turn of events and a milestone of its own. Passing germs is nothing new, but I'm not looking forward to this playing out again in the future. We have been trying to find a new rhythm, especially an eating schedule ever since. We love pulling to stand, climbing the stairs, and our morning walk in the stroller. Highlight was my two college friends coming to play and help!

Birthday (October 12, 1 year!): 
We celebrated by going to a pumpkin patch, opening gifts, taking photos all day, and eating cakes that a friend made. I loved playing with you in the garage, watching you splash in the bath, and having simple one-on-one time with each of you in the backyard. Happy birthday, you two! 

No photo will ever be able to capture how special you are or how much you mean to me.

- SJW

Dreamy Heartstrings

Ten years ago I visited my long-term long-distance boyfriend in our nation's capital and flew home with an engagment ring on my finger. In many ways, the events of that evening -- discussing whether or not to order wine at dinner, walking through the quaint nighttime streets of Georgetown, needing to locate a bathroom, climbing the steps to a balcony overlooking the Potomac, watching a lightning storm in the distance, sensing an awkward "something's up" while he stalled (to the point where we were recounting all the gifts he'd given me throughout our relationship) -- all feel like a dream. 

The details have grown murky and the exact conversation has slipped away, lost in the emotion and excitement of the moment. But amidst the muddled memories, there's certain phrases locked in my mind. I've regaled these words many times to curious friends and they're the ones I'm reflecting on again tonight:

- the sly transition of "...but I've never given you jewelry" 

- something along the lines of "we've been together this long. why not the rest of our lives"

- the true-to-form pop-the-question "Sarah Joy Egley, I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" while dropping to one knee

Yes, in some ways July 3, 2011 was the dream. It was a day to explore, laugh, and lounge. Oh how I miss lounging! We had no worries, no responsibilities, and no time restrictions. No schedule, no fussing, no whining, no crying. We were unencumbered, utterly enamored, and by the end of the night, blissfully engaged. But as much as we daydream about hours stacked on hours of unstructured free time together, I realize today, July 3, 2021, is the future we talked about, envisioned, and longed for back then.  This is the "rest of our lives." Three silly bedtime pookies and all.

Then. 2011. 

Now. 2021. 

Also now. 2021. 

Let the fireworks begin, 

- SJW

Double the Fun | Green Pillow Days

Today marks six months with two babies. That's equivalent to one year of parenting, right? :) I will always remember these early months as the "green pillow days." Through the late nights and early mornings, the double boppy served as ground zero for naps and nursing sessions. The big soft pillow was our go-to spot for plopping a baby down and morphed into blanket-world during bottle feedings. It inevtiably became a featured backdrop in photos, as pictured below.  

We've said good-bye to outgrown clothing, transitioned from swaddles to sleepsacks, and upgraded our little chicken legs to nice chompy leg rolls. The green pillow has been a faithful friend along the way.

We started purees today(!) and entered a new era:
the pink high chairs.

 - SJW