My friends and I are all definitely adulting big time and when we stop and look around how many kids we have made between us all, it's pretty impressive. A bunch of us had a first annual holiday party for the babies/kids to do a little gift exchange at Maria's house and it was mind-blowing to see the photos later on where all of us are sitting with a kid or two. 2015 began with Anali giving birth to her second baby boy named Bradley. Shortly after that, Tanya had her first baby girl Anika in April. Sara gave birth to baby Mila in June. Melissa gave birth to her third baby boy named Owen in September. Maria gave birth to her second kiddo, baby Valentina aka Vivka. To add to all this baby madness, my sisterfriend Jessica finally got pregnant and is now halfway through her pregnancy. She will find out the gender later on this month and her little bean is due 6/30 (or 7/1). It's really amazing how life progresses and we keep on adulting without realizing that we are. And this list doesn't include all the people at work and friends I only keep in touch with via social media.
The girls' 1st birthday party was at a brunch place because let's face it, that was more of our milestone, our celebration of surviving the first year of parenthood and the first year of having twins. It was a Twincess themed affair using all shades of purple. Below are a few pictures of the details.
Alyssa and Paula are not in daycare yet and are not exposed to many people outside of our home and their circle. So their first birthday actually was really tough on us, they started crying the second they entered the party and would start crying again every time someone would approach them and people kept on approaching them obviously to say happy birthday and to meet them. We were drowning so badly the first year that we actually didn't go to many places with them. We had a very rigid schedule we were following and it worked for us to be consistent with nap and meal times. So we would skip out on a lot of fun events because it was more important for us to have well-rested and happy babies. So partially our fault, but we had to do what we had to do for our own sanity. So many dear friends and family members showed up to their first birthday party and unfortunately no one was able to hold them or hug them, let alone even say "hi" to them without another meltdown. They still didn't walk and sat in their high chairs the whole time or were carried around by us or grandparents. However it all ended up working out. Sure it was stressful to us, yes I was sweating the whole time trying to make sure my guests were happy and trying to make sure the girls were calm and I didn't even anything really at an all-you-can-eat place. Nonetheless, I ended up with a lot of great photos and everyone told me they enjoyed themselves, they loved the food and bottomless mimosas and everyone seemed to be pretty understanding that the babies were only 12 months old. So thank you everyone for that!
In the last half a year or so we have been doing a pretty good job at attending all events that we can with the girls. We have transitioned from two naps to one when the girls were 20 months in October and that made it a lot easier to attend things since they were finally on a similar schedule to other kids. Now it's not too big of a deal to move their nap up a bit or down a bit, as long as they sleep, it's all gravy. We got a membership to the SF Zoo because it's super close to home and very stroller friendly and we started going there before the girls could even walk. They started walking right around 15 months. Slow but steady. I didn't mind one bit, I wasn't in any rush to chase them. In a lot of ways things became easier not having to carry them everywhere. Also that doesn't happen right away, it takes them some time to become confident walkers who are not clumsy and don't fall all over the place. So from one perspective it's actually pretty nice that they started walking so late because they were pretty careful since they were scared of falling, they already understood what that feels like. Even though it's much easier having them crawl/walk up the stairs or walk on their own and not having to carry them around, it made things a lot harder in other areas. It' became harder to go outside with them because I really did enjoy just being able to have them in a stroller and go on walks with them while sipping on my coffee and taking pictures. Now they don't want to be in the stroller for too long, they want to run around, they like to run in different directions. I have yet to go outside w/ them on my own, it's even hard with the two of us taking them outside. If we would take the stroller we'd end up chasing them and pushing the stroller and in the house they're also all over the place. But that is life and this is the natural progression.
I do have to say that in a lot of ways second half of first year is easier than the second year and I'm sure I'll always say that. The older they get the more demanding they get, the more they need, the more they ask for and the more you have to watch them. I remember how chill it was to place them in their jumpers or in their playpen and watch them crawl around or lay there playing with toys. Now it's more of "Oh shit she's about to fall of the couch, go get her!" Going out to events with them is really tough. Up until very recently they would cry for more than half of the time we'd be somewhere. Everything is new to them and they are very wary of new surroundings, things and people. Some babies are just like that. I know babies/kids who get out a lot less than Alyssa and Paula and they never had any anxiety about new things and people, but mine did from infancy.
So we really are doing a lot to improve the situation. We had a few play dates, definitely need more of those. We even FaceTime with a bunch of friends and their kiddos. If weather permits, we go out to the park, store, etc with them. We attended birthday parties at kiddie places. In the last couple of months, they have gotten so much better and people don't scare them the same way as before. However it's been such a cold and rainy winter that we haven't been able to be out and about as much as we were before. This year we are having their birthday party at a kiddie gym place with a cute monkey theme. There will still be people at the party the girls have never officially met before, but also a lot of familiar faces to them, so I'm hoping they behave themselves. We have been telling them nonstop about their upcoming birthday and party, hopefully it's registering. I really want them to enjoy themselves and for everything to go smoothly.
Anyway, there's no real way to recap a whole year in one blog entry. All I can say is that I can't believe I've been a mom for two years and I can't believe my tiny babies who were barely 5 lbs at birth are now these running chatterboxes. Tonight will be so bittersweet as I'll say good night to my little one year olds and say good morning to my two years olds tomorrow. I love them with everything I have and I only wish for them and everyone we love to be healthy and happy. That's all that matters.
Monkey See Monkey Do
Our twins are turning 2
February third is here
A special time of the year
We love the way you talk
And the cute way you walk
We love how you play
Together every single day
We love everything you do
Even when you make us blue
We even love you when you scream
Because above all you're our dream
Happy Birthday little ladies
You'll always be our babies
You're now a whole big two
Always know we love you
