"Professional" Photos

I wanted to get really cool, candid shots for the babies' one year photos but I decided instead to go back to Portrait Innovations. They are a good price and I like the instant gratification of walking out with your pictures in hand. Ialso love that if you spend a little more money they give you a CD with every single shot taken on it. I requested the same guy who helped us last time, who I have to assume is the manager because he is the only one over the age of 19 and the only one who has any idea what he is doing. He is great with the babies and the photos shoot went really well with minimal melt downs. I was happy until he passed us on to a 14 year old to help us pick which photos we wanted and re-size/center/adjust the pictures for printing. The babies were getting cranky and we were in a hurry (which I'm pretty sure is what they count on at these places), so I made stupid decisions and got too many pictures that will probably never see the light of day. The more I look at them the more I find wrong, but all in all we did get a few decent photos and there are more on the CD that are just too cute not to share!

Look at Nate's toes.. this is how they were the whole time they were in this pose!!

This would have been cute if they would have sat still! Yea right!

Yikes.
I know.. black background.. don't know what we were thinking..
Sweet two-teeth smile!Getting sick of it..Hamming it up..I liked these infamous "block" pictures..

My big one year old babies!

I think I can get some good shots with my new spiffy camera, so my next project will be getting the babies in their coordinated July 4th outfits out to a park for some flag waving patriotic photos!

12 months, er.. One Year Old!

June 22, 2009

June 22, 2008

Sweet babies,

You are ONE YEAR OLD! We had your first birthday party at Grandma's house and so many friends and family came by to celebrate because they love you so much. You were so good and I was so happy and proud of you both. You let people pass you around and sing happy birthday to you and stare and take pictures, and no fussing! When you were teeny tiny I used to dream of your first birthday. I'm not sure why, other than I never thought I would survive the infant stage to see it! It was just a happy thought for me in the midst of the feedings, and diaper changes and bottle washing and sleepless nights and teething and crying. Ahh.. the first birthday! And it was everything I imagined and more.

You were born late at night. I had a chance to hold you and try to feed you and I kept having to ask the nurse which one was which! Shortly after that, they took you to the nursery and wheeled me to another room. Daddy got to go down and see you get your first bath, but I couldn't go. He took pictures of both of you sleeping and all night I kept waking up to look at the pictures on my camera to make sure it was real and study what you looked like again so I didn't forget. I just could not believe I really had two healthy babies!

This is the picture he took of Nate..

And Miss Lilly..

Every day you are both gaining more and more independence, which makes me happy and sad at the same time. You want to cuddle less and be on the go exploring things more, and I know that is a good thing. You are both gaining patience, probably because it is required as a twin! It is fascinating to watch all the new things you are figuring out. You are both so smart! There are no words to express the happiness that you have brought to my life over the past year. You opened up a different part of my heart that I never knew existed. What a great feeling it is to be completely open to loving like that.

Nate,

You are my big boy, and since you are a whole 15 minutes older, I will start with you. From the beginning (even the night you were born!), you required a little more attention than your sister. You are very sensitive and need to be reassured. You have the saddest little face when you get sad, and cry bug huge tears (which you can turn off in about a second)! You don't like to be left alone even for a second and now that you can crawl you love to follow mommy and daddy around the house. I love to see that sweet little face looking up at me when I turn around! You don't like us to tell you "no", because you always want praise and approval. You clap your hands when we sing "Pat-a-cake" and you love to mimic noises, gestures and facial expressions. Your favorite sound at the moment is "uh-oh!". You smile with your entire face and it is contagious! I always catch myself staring at you, wanting to take in how cute your little face is.. I just want to eat you up! From the day you were born, you have always been very aware of your surroundings; You are always checking things out and making evaluations. You love anything that makes noise, and love to sit and read books. You are just starting to push and walk with toys and walk along the coffee table. You will be walking any day now!

Lilly,

My sweet baby girl. We have an understanding about things, like our own little language sometimes. I hope this means we will always be able to talk about anything and everything. You are so tough and independent and in the last few weeks you are really on the go! You have never cared about moving around very much, but now you don't stop! Once you started crawling, you realized how fun it was to be able to get where you want to go and explore new things! You understand "no" now and you don't like to hear it! You are quick to smile and laugh and your hearty laughter is one of the best sounds in the world! Your chubby little cheeks are irresistibly kissable. You love to read and sometimes you hold up the book and tilt your head and talk like you are really reading! You are content playing by yourself and are not usually easily upset, but once you are - watch out! It takes a LONG time to calm you down when you are mad! Lately you have been more irritable than usual, so we think you have your first tooth trying to cut in. It's about time, girl!

We couldn't ask for better babies. Daddy and I will always love you, always protect you, always put you first in our lives. Our love for you has no conditions (I know you will test us to figure that out in the coming years!!).

Father's Day

Last year we missed it by a few days, so this was Brian's first Father's Day! He has always wanted kids just as much as I did. In fact, being with Brian is really what made me want kids. I knew he would be a great dad, and I was right. He isn't just "fun-time, I'll play with you when I get home for a few minutes" dad. He is full service, bottle feeding, diaper changing, book reading, song singing, stroller pushing dad. You can tell he always wants Nate and Lilly to know how much he loves them. One night I was in the other room and I heard him reading a book in a silly voice to Lilly as he held her in his lap and it just hit me how much he loves both of them. It fills my heart to see him smooching all over them and makes me love him even more.

In the hospital just before the babies were born.

First photo of daddy with Nate and Lilly.

Sleeping on the floor by me in my hospital room.
Hard to believe Nate was ever this tiny!

Snoozing with a tiny little Lilly.

Bath time!

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Not to be forgotten- Happy Father's Day to Brian's dad, Dick!! We are so glad you and Diane were here to celebrate it with us this year. The babies think you guys are pretty cool, I could tell (maybe it had something to do with all the sugar you were giving them!?)! We love you!

First Birthday Party!

The big first birthday party is over, and we had a blast! Tons of friends and family came to celebrate with us. The party was over at my mom's (thanks mom!) and theme was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because the babies are so in love with that show! We ate food, opened presents, and then the babies had their first taste of cake - yummy!!

I am deliriously tired so I will try and tell the story with this obscene amount of pictures..

First, the cake and decor for your viewing pleasure..

Lilly in her pre-party attire.What's a first birthday party without a shirt with your name on it?

Lilly had one too, although it's hard to see the name and the number one. This is the best family shot we got that day. Things got a little crazy after this.

First we had some socializing with lunch.

Then we opened presents.. wheeew!! Sooo many for these lucky babies! Time for cake so we stripped down to bibs!

Then we let the babies play half naked for a while with friends.

Clothes back on and more time with family!
Cousins!

Baby girl was pooped.But Nate was ready for more action!
So glad Grandma and Papa could come from out of state to be at the birthday party! Thank you to ALL of our family and friends who celebrated with us! WE LOVE YOU!

The babies' real birthday was today. I have to write another blog about that and one about Father's Day! I have a lot of catching up but way too tired tonight! I just wanted to get a post about the party on here. More later!