Party! & Happy Birthday Karen!

What's a birthday without a big ole party? Many people feel that one year olds don't need party since they don't even know it's their birthday, but anyone with a little sense knows the party is for the parents. This past weekend gathered to celebrate the boys- not just their first birthdays, but also the fact that we were so lucky to have Karen & a supportive family who helped the last two+ years. While we were incredibly lucky that our IVF attempts worked the first time and we got the grand prize of TWO babies, the process presented itself with many challenges-for us and for Karen. And don't get us started on sharing common space with crackheads at the Ronald McDonald house in Knoxville while the boys were in the NICU and Karen was having post labor problems. Stress! But that, along with sleepless nights, expensive formula, and non-mobile babies, is all behind us! So a very big thank you to everyone who made an effort to come celebrate with us (extra effort for some of you-all the way from Knoxville & Savannah just to see us, some of you!), each of you have a special place in our lives and and it meant so much to us to have you there.

Ok, now that I'm a little teary-eyed....pictures & a recap of the party will go up later this week, so check back!

OH- and it's Karen's birthday today! Happy birthday Karen!

We're ONE!

Today Grady is our Guest Blogger:

So there we were, laying in our cribs, babbling away to wake Mummum up. She's been a little slow to bring in the bottles the last few days, so Cole decided to bounce along crib rails to get her moving. Works like a champ. She's worried he's going to launch himself over the crib railing, but Cole has said he'd save that move for a serious temper tantrum. Anyways, we heard the wakeup routine usual noises-Dada groaning as he gets up, the Furry Things That Lick Us (Not to be confused with Dada with a Beard) running outside, and the bottles getting heated. Then, out of nowhere Mummum AND Dada came bursting into our room singing. (Or trying to at least, let's hope I get a better singing voice than those two). I would have paid better attention to the words but was fixated on the bottle in Mummum's hand, so I'm not sure what the song was all about. After I finished the bottle I was in a much better mood and Dada was saying something about birthday. I don't know what "birthday" means, but so far it looks like lots of extra kisses, some big box that is wrapped in paper (Cole says he is SO going to rip that paper apart and shove it in his mouth!), and we're going to meet Dada for lunch at his work. Birthdays sound like fun!

Cole was going to add a few words of his own, but he just went chasing after the shinier Furry Thing That Licks Us. Said something about wanting the rawhide, I'm not sure. That kid's crazy. I better get to butt-scooting to catch up and check on him.

Go ahead, wish us happy birthday and tell us how cute we are!

XOXO,
Grady

PS. Happy birthday Cousin Suzanne! We're saving you some drool-y birthday kisses for Saturday!

PSS. And thanks again to Aunt Karen for letting us chill our & grow in her babyhouse. We wouldn't be here if not for you! You rock. Slobbery kisses coming your way too!

Happy Birthday to Our Munchkins

Forty is Fabulous!

Thanks to a great babysitting trade-off arrangement we have with another couple who also have twins, Keith and I were able to shake loose the boundaries of parenting to go to a party! (we actually do get a night off pretty much once or twice a month thanks to Nana and Grandpa, but I like to be dramatic in the blog posts, k? Now stop nitpicking and let me tell my story).

You all remember Camp Keller, right? Well Momma Keller, Suzanne, has the same birthday as the boys! February 11! And this past Saturday was her birthday party, when we all gathered and secretly was relieved we only turned 30 a few days ago. Oh wait...I guess that was just me. (teehee). Anyways, the party was great! Suzanne was in great spirits, despite turning 4-0, and Wild Bill makes an excellent bartender. When asked to comment on her age, Suzanne said:

Sorry, Suzanne, I couldn't resist. This is my favorite picture of the entire night! More pictures on our picture site www.babiessquared.shutterfly.com , scroll down a bit.

Look who's taken to the camera...

I never got around to uploading that video clip of Cole, but here are a few great pictures of him taken recently. For your Grady fix, see the entry below.