a letter to our daughters

Dear Catherine and Samantha,

Today was your first birthday.  There were so many emotions that we felt coming into this day.  We were excited for you both to reach this milestone, and surprised that it came so quickly.  In the beginning it seemed that one day would last a year, and now a whole year has passed.  We are also so grateful to have you in our lives.  You are so different from each other and now we know why we have twins - because you give us such variety and joy.  If we didn’t have Samantha, we wouldn’t have a baby to give us such sweet smiles and remind us of your Grandma.  If we didn’t have Catherine, we wouldn’t have a baby to challenge us with a gleam in her eye and a ready laugh.  You are your own persons with your own quirks, likes, and personalities, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We are also so proud of you.  You both had a rough start, Samantha more than Catherine, and had a lot of difficulties.  You were early, you were small, but you were tough little fighters who put up with a lot and now are such happy babies.  We go places and everyone who meets you is so impressed at how well you behave and how cute you are.  

Catherine - you were such a help when Samantha came home, though you probably didn’t know it.  You were able to sit by yourself in your monkey seat and be content to watch Mommy feed Samantha, who had difficulty adjusting to being home.  It was so hard for her to be awake without being held and you were so patient.  Now, you are still great at occupying yourself, and you are very independent, always trying new things, but you play with your sister more and more.  You actually share, without crying or fussing.  You take turns.  We are telling you this now so  you remember in the future that it is possible.  You make us smile and when you give us hugs and kisses, our hearts just melt.  You challenge us, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.

Samantha - you are so tough.  You made it though a difficult and long hospital stay to come home and have a difficult first month there too.  Soon, though, you settled in and became our sweet baby whose smile lights up her face, and ours, too.  You are so intent and focused when you play, working with a toy until you have it all figured out.  And you’re walking!  You seem to try every chance you get to take a step, challenging yourself to do better.  You are amazing.

Our lives have changed so much in the last year.  We have lost some people dear to us, and we know that their prayers from Heaven helped us through the lows in our lives.  Our hope is that you continue to remind us of them, and make us hear their voices as we think of what they would say if they could see you in action.  

Girls, this first year has taught us a lot, what to do and especially what not to do.  Please be patient with us as we continue to learn as you grow and change and become young ladies.  We look forward to all the things you will learn and show us.  We will always love you, and always be proud of you.  You will always be our little girls.

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Can you believe it!  We’re one year old today!  We got so many presents and some are still on the way.  We also get to go shopping, which Aunt Alyssa would say is the best.  Mommy is also very excited about our upcoming shopping trip.  Daddy’s favorite gift was the singing bears from Nana and Grandpa and the old-school telephone from our nanny, Chelsea.  Catherine’s favorite was the fish pond from Nana and Grandpa and Samantha’s is the toy TV remote, which is much better than the real one because it sings.  We also got puzzles and clothes and shoes... we feel very loved.  

We got new hats, which don't fit Catherine and Samantha doesn't like
to wear.  But we both still look cute and that's what counts.

It's like playing in the tub without getting wet!

We got to go to Gymboree!  We are signed up for the next month and are very excited.  Samantha loved the balls, but Catherine just had fun moving around where she was allowed to climb safely.  (Mommy and Daddy don’t let me climb on the tables at home for some reason.)  

After a short nap, we had Carvel birthday cake, so yummy!  Then we went to Duke Gardens, one of Mommy’s favorite places.  She said that she had been thinking about this trip on our birthday since before we were born, so she was very excited to go.  It was very pretty now that it is nice and warm outside and all of the flowers are blooming.

Then we had a relaxing afternoon and evening, just us.  We didn’t get to spend our first day of life with Mommy because we couldn’t leave our room and Mommy couldn’t leave hers.  She really just wanted to have a quiet day with us, so that’s what we did.  We were a family today, all together, and it was great.

Ah, February in NC

Snow babies! 

Written by Catherine and Samantha:

Well, there were a lot of firsts these last two weeks.  First, we had snow!  It lasted long enough for us to get all dressed up and go out and take these pictures.  I, Samantha, didn't really like this outfit.  It was very difficult to move around in.  I fell over, fortunately it didn't hurt my head because it is so padded, and I couldn't get up.  I couldn't even roll over!  I did try to touch the snow, it was weird.  Mommy said it was mostly ice.

Then, it was warm, and Chelsea took us outside.  We got to play and laugh and clap, I love to clap.  Then Mommy and Daddy took us to the park and there were swings just our size.  Well, mostly our size.  Samantha had so much fun, but I was scared.  I mostly had fun, but I was holding on for dear life.

 


This is our nanny, Chelsea.  She's so nice!

Catherine's Godfather, Dan, and cousin Kris came to visit.  We went out to dinner with them and cousin Paige and had a lot of fun. 

We are trying to do so many new things, too.  Samantha is getting really good at drinking from her sippy cup, though a lot of times she holds it by the top and gets water all over the floor.  I am working on climbing everything.  Our name benches, our chairs onto the sofa, and up the stairs.  I have to thank Grandpa for showing me how to do it.  Mommy says that the most exciting thing is Samantha taking steps.  She stands for so long and then gets excited, yells ooooooo, takes a step or two, then falls down.  Mommy says she is so proud of both of us.  I'm waving bye-bye, and clapping with both hands just like Sam.

Standing on my own!

 

Mommy had us try these dresses from Great Grandma on.  We may wear them for our birthday, which is in less than 2 weeks, can you believe it!?  We think we look so pretty.  Catherine's new favorite game, by the way, is peek a boo.

Catherine is getting so good at waving!

This is what happens when Daddy comes home.  Heidi gets so excited that she has to go see Daddy first or she gets too loud.  Then we crawl to him as fast as we can to be picked up.  Then Heidi gets jealous again and we all have to get down on the floor for hugs and kisses.  Daddy loves it!  Mommy has to just sit there and wait her turn.  She's not as insistent as Heidi and not as cute as us, so she's at the bottom of the kiss list.  So, now it is time for bed.  The next time you see us on here, we'll be ONE YEAR OLD!

old friends, new friends

I was so lucky to get Alecia as my roommate freshman year of college.  She introduced me to so many friends and new fun things, and kept me going when times got tough.  Now she's moved nearby and we all got together for a great Saturday.  This is me with Samantha, Micah, Anna K, Catherine on the floor, and Alecia with Abby.  We're looking forward to getting together more often and, hopefully, our kids will be friends (or, as Alecia said, roommates at Carolina!).

 Hello?  Oh, it's Catherine!

Meanwhile, our girls have been working on walking.  Samantha is so good and it seems like she could walk any day, but Nana says she's too chicken to let go and try.  Catherine seems to get along just fine without walking, she's so fast on all fours.  I think one day she'll decide that Samantha is too far ahead of her and she'll just start walking as if she could have done it all along.  The girls like putting the balls into their walker to make it produce sound.  They both like to climb on the walker as well as play in it.  They don't go far because they're still a little short, but they like it, and it plays music.

We're all surprised that Heidi doesn't mind the walker.

So excited!

We are all so excited that Catherine finally has teeth!  Samantha was pulling ahead in so many things, walking better with smaller steps, up to 4 teeth now, and 19lbs 1oz big.  Catherine walks with giant steps and would rather sit and have you swing her from place to place, and she weighs 14lbs 5oz, almost 5lbs between them.  At least Catherine has teeth and can try the same foods, though I'm sure they won't like the same things, just to be difficult.  

Can you see my teeth on the bottom?  Look closely.

It is so hard to see my teeth, but they're there!

Well, Catherine and Heidi are getting along well.  Catherine likes to pet Heidi, and we definitely think that she thinks she's a dog.  She 'woofs' when Heidi barks and plays with her ball, but this latest kissing with her tongue thing is perhaps getting to be too much.  Samantha and Heidi don't get along because Sam grabs and pulls everything, including hair in Heidi's face, tummy, and tail.  Poor Heidi!  I guess that's why Heidi has started chewing Samantha's pacifiers, which often end up on the floor because Samantha's got quite an arm.  Heidi even ate the paci attached to the monkey, so sad!

Stuff like this crazy situation happens a lot.

        

Aren't these cute?  Catherine makes a new face now that Dave calls her monkey face.  She makes it and goes 'ooo'.  Then Samantha laughs, we laugh, and Catherine laughs.  It makes our evenings so much fun.  We hang out upstairs and play with our toys, throw the ball for Heidi and get ready for bed.

Super fans!

Well, our girls have experienced great football games in their short little lives so far.  The Gamecocks had a wonderful season and won their bowl game and now the Giants have won the Super bowl, yay!

They've been doing so many things!  Samantha has a tooth on the top and when she smiles (or yells) you can see the bottom ones very clearly.  Catherine finally has her first two teeth on the bottom and you can see them if you really look when she smiles.

Some nice person at Walmart gave them pretty headbands, aren't they cute?  Catherine likes to take hers off, but Samantha leaves it there and I think it makes her look so pretty.

The girls have also spent a lot of time with Heidi.  Heidi is so confusing to us.  She loves the girls, especially Samantha, and is so protective of them.  She lets them pull on her and no matter how hard they pull, even if Heidi growls or cries, she just gives them a kiss, says "It's OK" and just stays there next to them and lets them do it again.

Recently the girls have been sick, a lot of snuffly, runny noses and Catherine spiked a fever one night.  But, all seems to be mostly back to normal, we just have a few extra tissues on hand.

There has been a lot of standing and walking going on around here, too.  Samantha especially loves to let go and stand on her own.  Catherine doesn't take the initiative as much, and if you hold her and don't let go as quickly she will just bounce and expect you to throw her in the air.  Both of them are great at holding fingers and walking around, but Catherine still takes oversized steps.  Samantha looks ready to go any day now.  Samantha also seems to be getting frustrated recently with her lack of vocabulary.  Sometimes she just sits there and raises her fists and yells.  It seems like she is trying so hard to say something and gets mad that there's nothing coming out that sounds right.

Nana and Grandpa went to Italy and all we got were these t-shirts ;-)

 Recently we've been having a lot of fun with the doorway bouncers.  Samantha is especially good at jumping up and down in hers.  She gets so excited and looks like Tigger bouncing both up and down and back to front and around in a circle.  I would have thought that Catherine would quickly become a pro at this because she loves to bounce three times and then wait for you to throw her in the air, but it took her longer to get the jumping part down.  At first she just really liked to leave one foot on the ground and use the other to push herself in a circle and wind herself up.  Then she would pick both feet up and unwind, weeeee! The girls get so excited now I worry that they'll bonk their heads on the doorjamb, but I guess that's a part of how this growing up thing works.

Bath time is over, good night!