My Babies Are One Year Old!

December 30, 2008

December 30, 2009One year ago today, Jackson David and Cullen Scott entered my world- and changed it for the better forever!

Where did the time go? I know it sounds cliche, but this year really truly has flown by. I can remember the day they were born like it was yesterday. A year ago yesterday, I remember being so curious to see what they would look like and who they would be. I remember being soooo anxious to get them out of me, not just so that I could meet them, but also (selfishly) because I was so over being pregnant. The night before they were born, Brandon and I still had no idea what we were going to name them so we went out to dinner one last time as our little family of two. We went to Rosa Mexicana, I was so huge that I had nothing to wear besides my old black yoga pants, my USC sweatshirt and flip-flops in the middle of December (because my feet didn't fit into any of my other shoes). I remember that I ate crab empanadas and about 20 pounds of the most delicious guacamole on the East Coast as we negotiated the names of our boys for over an hour. By the time we left, we had decided on the names :-)

12 hours later, we were at the hospital, I was getting hooked up to about a dozen machines, and getting very, very nervous about the c-section. But my doctor and all of the nurses were all so encouraging, and then everything kind of blurred together. They took me in the operating room, I held my breath during the epidural, Brandon came in at some point, and then all of a sudden... there they were! Jackson was first, I got a quick glimpse of him as they carried him to the scale, then Cullen, and I got another quick glimpse. And the blur continued for the next 24 hours; it was all so surreal. I remember that one of my first thoughts when I finally got to hold them several hours later was "I'm a mother! Oh sh**, what have I gotten myself into?!?" They were so small, I was scared to touch them. And, at the same time, they were so darn cute I just wanted to squeeze them to death.

And the blur continued for the next 12 months, until today, and I'm sure it won't slow down any time soon. I am convinced that I have the cutest, happiest and absolute best babies in the world (most days anyways). They are so fun, they always make me laugh, and they always have a smile on their face. I love watching them play and eat and even sleep. Nothing they do ever bores me! Although I'm a little sad that they're already a year old, I'm really looking forward to the next year and the one after that and the one after that..... Being a mom is just the best!



Here's what my little guys are up to these days:

*I won't know what they weigh until their appointment next week, but I'll guess around 21 pounds.

*They've just started wearing 12 month clothes which are a little big on them, but 9 month clothes are too small.

*They each still have only the two bottom teeth but they're nearly all the way in and I think they may get their upper teeth any day now. They also have lots of hair, everybody keeps telling me to cut it but I love it long and am not ready to cut it yet. So don't tell me my kids have mullets!!

*Jack is thisclose to walking!! He can take about 4-5 steps on a good try. And he's so darn proud of himself once he's done!

*Cullen isn't quite walking, but he will walk sometimes holding someone's hands. He can also stand for a few seconds on his own before tumbling over.

*They've finally gotten "M's" into their vocabulary. So they say "mamamama." There's no reason to believe that they know they're saying "mama" or mean to say it, but I can't wait for the day they do.

*They're finally beginning to pick up on the sign language that I've painstakingly been trying to teach them for the past 6 months. Jack does the signs for "all done" and "more." Cullen's getting close too.

*Jack also does this hilarious game of peek-a-boo where he puts one hand over his face, pulls it away and waits for everybody to applaud and yell "peek-a-boo!" Then he laughs and does it all over again.

*They're turning into slightly pickier eaters, but still are good eaters over all.

*They love to climb on anything and everything, they love to drive their trucks around the floor, they love to read books, and they love toys that make noise as we have recently discovered.

*They talk- well yelling is more like it- all of the time! They are rarely quiet, but it's hardly ever crying. They just like to talk to anybody and everybody- including themselves.

*And they have a knack for getting into mischief and grabbing for things they're not supposed to have. Today, Jack grabbed Ashlee's coffee (don't worry, it wasn't hot) and took a big swig spilling the rest all over himself and poor Ashlee. At the airport, Jack scoured the ground looking for pieces of dirt and lint and sneaking them in his mouth.

My babies are growing up into little boys. I am just trying to cherish the time I have with them now and do everything I can to help them grow up into little boys who love the Lord. I look forward to the rest of their childhood and feel so blessed to be their mother! I love you Jackson and Cullen!