12 months!!!!!

Yes my babies are 12 months...or one year...can I still count your ages in months?  Dad and I have been talking all week about this time last year.  As I sit and type these words I can only think about the night before you were born and how we had to rush to the hospital and we were so scared something was wrong.  I am so thankful for our amazing doctors that brought you both into the world safe and healthy!  Ok back to 12 months!!  You are the sweetest and cutest babies and both soooo different with your own little personalities.  You're all over the place and into everything.  Not walking yet, but I have a feeling you will be very soon.  You guys really love and enjoy each other.  When we go to friends house I have noticed Ellie you are very social and Graham you follow your sissy around.  You are both still great eaters and sleepers...I thank God for this every day!  We dropped bottles and formula this month which is huge!!!  Daddy and I are not at all sad about this...so excited to not have to force formula and bottles on you two anymore!!  You both had your first stomach bug too....lots of stinky diapers and throw up- including in mommy's hair!  We survived and I am hoping we don't have to deal with that again anytime soon!!!  The weather was off and on, but during the warm pretty days we spent the entire time outside.  We played, walked and even ate meals outdoors.  You both love the fresh air and sunshine!  Really  looking forward to spring and summer with you two.

Our schedule these days:
7AM wake up.  You still sleep great at night! You drink an 8 oz sippy cup of milk and then watch TV in your "cage" while Mommy and Daddy drink their coffee and get breakfast ready.   You eat breakfast around 8 and then we play and I chase you around.    You take a nap from 9-10:30.   We change clothes and usually go run errands during this time.  You eat lunch around 12 and drink 6 oz of milk with lunch.  We play a little while and read books.  You nap again from 1-3/3:15.  You have a snack when you wake up and then we play/walk with friends.  Since it has been a little colder we might go play at someones house which you both seem to like a lot.   We have also started walking around the neighborhood before it gets dark. At 5:30/6PM we feed you dinner.  Then we take baths and you drink another 8 oz of milk before bedtime at 6:45/7PM.  

 A little more serious this morning:)

Graham:

Nicknames- G, Bubba and BoBo

You weigh 22 lbs!  You have 4 teeth. You are still in size 3 diapers and 9-12m clothes. You are such a sweet boy and becoming more and more like your Daddy every day.  You are getting a little hair and it seems lighter in color than your sissy's.  You talk a lot!  You mostly say dada, but will say gaga and sissss, and nana.  You will also repeat things in the same volume as we say them.  If I yell from another room you yell back and if we whisper something to you, you will whisper...so cute! You are loving socks and stacking toys.  You always have two toys or socks in your hands.  You are my water baby too!  You are a great eater and these days liking carrots, nanas, quesadillas, string cheese and anything daddy is eating.  You are becoming really good in the car now that you are in a bigger car seat.  I run lots of errands and you rarely fuss now! You are becoming more attached to your lovie like your sissy and you two constantly fight over them.  You think your daddy and sissy are very funny!  You still suck your two middle fingers when you sleep. 

"Wait does this say 12 months?"

 "Am I 12 months old now?"

"What!!!!"

 "Yay its my Birthday!"

Ellie:

Nicknames- Bug and Sissy...and sometimes Stinker

You weigh 21 lbs.   You are wearing size 3 diapers and size 9-12 month clothes.  You have 7 teeth and sometimes bite me so I can assure you they are very sharp!  You have become my little shadow and get upset when I leave the room- mamas girl all the way these days!  You are into EVERYTHING!  I definitely have to watch you like a hawk. You seem to find the one thing in the room you aren't supposed to play with.  You love opening cabinets and taking off your socks and shoes.   You have recently thrown a few mini tantrums.  Thought these weren't supposed to start for a while, but you will melt to the ground and scream.  Luckily they only last a few seconds and you are over it, but I am hoping this is a short phase! You still carry things around in your mouth like toys and your lovie.   You are still attached to your pink elephant lovie and have to have it to sleep while sucking your thumb:)

We are so blessed and honored to be your parents and to be able to watch you grow over the past year.  We wanted to have a family so bad and we always joke that we prayed so hard we got twins.  You daddy and I could not imagine our lives without the two of you in it.  We are so excited about the day we have planned to celebrate and plan to continue celebrating all weekend with friends and family.  I know you two don't realize this now, but you are both very loved!

Graham and Ellie's Birthday!!

Today was the twins birthday.  Their parties are not until this weekend so we soaked up this special day as a family!  I keep finding myself thinking about what we were doing at each moment in the day this time last year.  My friend Rachel text me at one point and said she was re-reading the blog post from their birth day last year.   Here is their birth story and the first special moments during their arrival!
Back to their 1 year Birthday! We woke them up with balloons!!!

We took them to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants! *Thanks for the birthday shirts Aunt Rachel!!!!

Came back home and opened presents!  We got these special birthday plates from Aunt Rachel and Uncle Andy too!  Her boys have similar plates and she was so thoughtful to give them to us so we can start this family tradition! These are so special and we will be able to use them year after year!

Now for the twins big gifts......

 Graham got a grill and Ellie got a kitchen!  Our family loves to cook so we wanted to start them young!!!

 They also got monogrammed aprons!

Then we took a nap, ate lunch, played a lot with all our new toys, took another nap....and we tried to take them downtown to discovery place....but we got there at 4 and they close at 4 :(.  Quick plan B was ImaginOn.  Not quite as fun and interactive as Discovery Place, but the kids LOVED it!  It was just nice to let them crawl around and get into stuff.

 Ryan was a good sport about posing in front of the Dr sign!

 While it was cold and rainy outside E read a book by the fire place:)

 We headed to the market next door for dinner and were surprised by how yummy and fresh the food was!  Here is a gluten free deconstructed pulled pork pizza and a gluten free fancy grilled cheese with beverages to toast the twinkies bday!!!

 Cheers!

 Watched the train in the rain....

 Even though it was cold and rainy our hearts were warm and full of joy all day long!  So glad Ryan had most of the day off to enjoy quality time with the twins on their special day.  Now we are resting up for a few parties this weekend!!!!

Parties, Showers and more!

We have been going from one fun activity to the next lately!  I figured I would combine them all in one post....
30th Beer Bash- Ryan's friend from dental school/business partner turned 30 and his wife surprised him with a Beer Bash!  so many people came in town to celebrate and it felt like a mini dental school reunion!

 Beer glasses with peanuts as take aways!

 SURPRISE!!!!  He was genuinely surprised.  Mike is honestly one of the nicest people I have ever met and has been an amazing friend and business partner to Ryan.

 Photo booth time!

After the beer bash we switched gears.....My sweet little Adam turned 2 and we celebrated with the most amazing Dino party ever!!!

Dino footprints so you knew where the party was.

 Dino masks were a hit with the little ones!

 Ellie in a dino mask!

Molly getting carried away by T-Rex

 Rebecca getting in on the fun...

 Ellie didn't like that scary dino very much haha!

 The food was amazing and very creative!  Omnivore..

 Herbivore....

 Carnivore....

 Ellie and Papa George!

 Rachel even made a volcano that erupted......yes you read that right...she made it!

 And they had an area outside where you could dig for fossils!

Overall it might be my favorite party she has thrown yet....and I am a little scared for a lot of these same guests to come to G and E's party after attending that one!!!

Ryan and I recently hosted super club and went with an Asian theme.  We have a blast coming up with creative themes and hosting this group of friends!  I wrote everyones name in both languages....or at least tried to!

 We served Asian beers and signature cocktail!

 Asian salad.

 Lettuce wraps.

Ryan and I were in charge of the main dish since we hosted and we made two crockpot recipes that turned out great!   Mongolian beef and cashew chicken.   We were all stuffed!!

A group of our friends also hosted a charity Oyster Roast.

 I brought my own gluten free saltines and ate lots of oysters!

We attended the Corners Society Gala.....danced All.Night.Long.  Only pics I have from the night are a few photo booth pics!  This is such a great group of guys and they raised a lot of money for a good cause!  Can't wait to go back next year!

And finally this past Saturday I was honored to help host a baby shower for my dear friend Simpson! She is a first time mom and isn't finding out the gender (drives me bananas when people keep it a surprise) but I will say I think we all did a great job with the gender neutral theme!  She is the most southern girl I know and this shower reflected that!  Chocolate pie, petit ford, strawberry cake...

 Her sister made this tassel garland!

 A diaper bag and goodies from us hosts!

 Take away gift- egg soaps!

 Biscuit bar!

 Simpson with the hosts- Carmen and Traci helped host but couldn't make it!  Just didn't want to leave them out because their help was much appreciated!!  Can't wait to meet this sweet baby!!!!

Ok I think I am caught up on events!  Next up....a birthday for two special little babies:)