Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011

At the end of 2009, we welcomed into our life 2 amazing little people by the name of Jackson and Connor. We didn't know much about them on that day other than that they were going to be a lot of work and that our hearts had doubled in size for the amount of love that we had for them.

We celebrated our first holiday together inside of G.B.M.C. eagerly anticipating our discharge (who am I kidding -- I was so scared because I could barely walk up and down the hallways much less take care of the boys) on the journey of a lifetime. The adventures that we have had and the things that we have learned and will continue to learn with our boys are etched in our mind as memories that we will never forget.

We are looking forward to the new adventures and seeing life through the eyes of 2 amazing little toddlers. Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011.

an entire YEAR of Double the Fun

A retrospect of the boys' first year, month by month :

Sometimes, it's hard to pick just one. So, two for April it is.

And, continuing on with May 2010.

Too hard to narrow down again in June 2010.

Celebrating their first 4th of July. 

Into the fall.

 

If I close the gate, I can't climb the steps...

Connor has shown absolutely no interest in climbing the stairs and I leave the gate open expecting it to be shut when I get back from taking Jackson up first for their nap.

Well, today, Connor showed some initiative and I'm not sure exactly what happened but he was at the bottom of the steps and items that were out of reach on the steps were laying beside him. He was in tears so I don't know if he is going to try again but I'll be closing the gate from now on.

I took this picture of him waiting at the gate that he closed after his morning nap today.

If you can't read Jackson's shirt -- it says "I Rule the Universe." So true!!

Thank you HBO

To state that Jackson is slightly obsessed with HBO's Twas the Night Before Christmas would be an understatement. It is our go-to when trying to calm him down for a diaper change or bottle. The portions of the show that he likes the best are the children speaking. It ranges from discussions on holiday celebrations, the words to Silent Night and of course, Santa Claus. I am so happy that I found it. We watched it three times today and I may need to cut him off at New Years but the excitement in their eyes when the children speak may change that decision.

This is in addition to the Classical Baby series that HBO often runs on their family channel. They have dance, art, music and poetry shows along with a compilation. The boys have no real interest in the poetry but the monkeys playing music while the babies are dancing to the mambo is a favorite of the boys and ours.

12 months = 1 year

It has been an amazing year of ups and downs with the boys from bringing them home from the hospital and not really knowing how much of a SHOCK we were in for in terms of being new parents and twins at that.  The reality of what we were in for hit almost hours into the first night at home. After getting the boys down in their cribs, Michael muttered the words "it really isn't that bad at all, is it??"  I oh so wanted to agree with him but it was harder than we ever expected.

The nurses in the hospital kept on talking about a plan.  What plan??  We definitely didn't have one but with the help of family, friends and the generous gift of a doula from my office, we made it through my maternity leave and things started to click.  Kim, Christine and Gina were part of the routine and the boys started sleeping more and more and we started to get the hang of it.  It is truly amazing how things start to get easier and then something changes the entire process like teething, the introduction of foods and sippy cups, working out a nap schedule that works and the hopefully not daunting task of taking away the bottle.

Did we make mistakes and second judge ourselves?? Of course, all the time but it is a learning experience and we made it through with two amazing little boys.  Did we see some amazing firsts?? Sure, smiles, teeth (for Jackson, that is), sitting up, first bites of real food, picking up food and feeding themselves, rolling and crawling, standing and Jackson walking.

Do the sleepless nights and frustration with naps and feeding make up for it?? Absolutely.  I can still remember the first time that all of those firsts happened and it humbles me so much in terms of how we often look beyond the little things that we, as adults, take for granted, and to think that we got to experience it not once but twice --- makes it even more amazing.

We opted to celebrate their actual birthday with a pizza and cookie party.  The party was attended by Gina, Tony, Andrew, Kim and Christine.  The boys and I picked up the cookie cake at the mall and were able to negotiate out of the mall without anything falling (big thing people if you have ever negotiated a double stroller and a large pizza box without under carriage storage).



Getting ready to get their pizza on...





Those eyes.



Happy 1st Birthday Jackson and Connor!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

The boys got to celebrate their First Christmas at home.  It was exciting to get them from their cribs so that they could check their stockings and watch them open their presents.  We opted to assemble most of the items or take them out of packaging so that they could just grab for the item and make things a lot easier.








Jackson walking around with some of the animals from the farm.



Connor inspecting the contents of his stockings and his pals from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.



These straw cups were a hit because of the Mouse but I don't think that we will be using them any time soon as the idea of using a straw is not going so well.



Showing off his teeth!!



Animals and books can it get any better than this???





After a nap, the rest of our family arrived for more present opening and dinner.  Jackson was trying to help everyone else with their gifts.



Connor checking out his new penguin that rolls around.





Cousins Michael and Sophia.



Jackson and Connor had a wonderful first Christmas and we look forward to celebrating many many many more with them.

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through our house, not a creature was stirring not even our Maine Moose.




The stockings sat on the couch with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.




The children were nestled (well kind-of) all snug in their bed while visions of sugar plums danced in their head.

 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches and most importantly, these balls that are shiny and bright or this Tigger thing that you keep calling an ornament and telling me not to touch but we (mostly Connor) just can't help it.

 

Gift exchange with Kim and Christine

The boys had a lot of fun exchanging gifts with Kim and Christine. They really loved their puzzles and Fisher Price Spinnin Sounds Speedway. Although, neither boy fully understands the idea that the cars are the only things that belong on the track. We will eventually convince them that the track isn't for them to sit in.

First Christmas Ornaments

Visit with the man from the North Pole

In preparation of our visit with the man from the North Pole, we started watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special and the Baby Einstein holiday video along with reading some holiday books.



Connor sat in the stroller while we were waiting in the almost half hour line. We had no idea that the Kenilworth Mall Santa would garner such a crowd. Jackson was a little antsy and he and I did a little shopping and checked out the train display at the Learning How store. He walked up to the front of the line so he could get a glimpse of the man in the red suit. After we were done with Santa, we let Connor check out all of the Thomas trains. Both boys were mainly concerned with the other kids around the table playing.



Prior to leaving, Michael and I discussed that Connor would be fine and Jackson would have a meltdown. Jackson didn't disappoint (actual pictures of his meltdown were not taken as I had to get him from Santa ASAP)...



and, without further delay -- Jackson and Connor's 2010 picture with Santa