Saying goodbye as we move boards and a summary of our first year

I CANNOT believe it is time to move to the 1-5 board. I made it through yesterday without crying but sitting down to do this may break me Here is the things that Jenny wanted me to do before we "left" the FY board.

First, here is the before and after pictures (I'm assuming you meant of me before pregnancy and after??) I couldn't get it to attach a picture, so here is a link.

Before:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...-2_edited-1.jpg

After: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...hristmas257.jpg

Maybe you meant the girls at birth and at one...I wasn't sure...here is a picture of them at two days old, and at one year:
Newborn:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...T0117_106-1.jpg

One year old:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...-TURNONE028.jpg

Second, the birthday party was so much fun, but it was so much work to prepare everything. We did a Winter One-derland party, mainly b/c we were on a budget, so we got all the decorations after Christmas...ON SALE We didn't do gifts for the girls, but instead asked everyone to bring one dollar (for one year old) for each girl, and we are going to start them a college fund...although, the grandparents couldn't stand it and bought them some gifts. The girls ended up with about $230 each, obviously they got more than one dollar from most people.

First of all, it is no cliche when people say it will go by in a blink!!!
Sleep:
I didn't think I would survive the first 6 weeks or so, with the girls, just from pure exhaustion. We started co-sleeping with one or the other baby when they were around 6 weeks old, and it was easier during the night, but that was a BAD habit for us b/c I didn't think we would ever get them sleeping in their own crib. I think the hardest time was from 3 months old to 6.5 months old b/c I had gotten them dependant on rocking or being in the bed with me to go to sleep, so I would crawl on the couch with one baby on my chest and the other on my arm and bounce them to sleep. When they were old enough to start doing CIO, it got a little better, but their cribs were still in our rooms. We finally got brave enough to move them into their rooms at 8 months, and things got alot better during the night.

Playtime: They are really good now that they play with each other, but are also more independant. We have a really well childproofed home, so there isn't much they can get into, but just constantly "officiating" them is so much work.

I worried so much all year about how dirty my house was, but I am glad I didn't spend every moment cleaning, b/c I really spent so much time with them this year. It is really hard to summarize everything you want to pass on, so I know this post was kinda vague and random, but I couldn't possibly tell it all in one day!!! Just take time for yourself, leave the room and scream if you need to, and don't spread yourself too thin...in ten years you aren't going to look back and say, "gosh, I wish I'd done more laundry!!!!" Good luck and I will be lingering on the FY board...I can't just leave it Thanks for all the advice this past year...and I just have to say, "I SURVIVED THE FIRST YEAR WITH TWINS!"

 

I CANNOT believe it is time to move to the 1-5 board. I made it through yesterday without crying but sitting down to do this may break me Here is the things that Jenny wanted me to do before we "left" the FY board.

First, here is the before and after pictures (I'm assuming you meant of me before pregnancy and after??) I couldn't get it to attach a picture, so here is a link.

Before:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...-2_edited-1.jpg

After: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...hristmas257.jpg

Maybe you meant the girls at birth and at one...I wasn't sure...here is a picture of them at two days old, and at one year:
Newborn:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...T0117_106-1.jpg

One year old:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/Twi...-TURNONE028.jpg

Second, the birthday party was so much fun, but it was so much work to prepare everything. We did a Winter One-derland party, mainly b/c we were on a budget, so we got all the decorations after Christmas...ON SALE We didn't do gifts for the girls, but instead asked everyone to bring one dollar (for one year old) for each girl, and we are going to start them a college fund...although, the grandparents couldn't stand it and bought them some gifts. The girls ended up with about $230 each, obviously they got more than one dollar from most people.

First of all, it is no cliche when people say it will go by in a blink!!!
Sleep:
I didn't think I would survive the first 6 weeks or so, with the girls, just from pure exhaustion. We started co-sleeping with one or the other baby when they were around 6 weeks old, and it was easier during the night, but that was a BAD habit for us b/c I didn't think we would ever get them sleeping in their own crib. I think the hardest time was from 3 months old to 6.5 months old b/c I had gotten them dependant on rocking or being in the bed with me to go to sleep, so I would crawl on the couch with one baby on my chest and the other on my arm and bounce them to sleep. When they were old enough to start doing CIO, it got a little better, but their cribs were still in our rooms. We finally got brave enough to move them into their rooms at 8 months, and things got alot better during the night.

Playtime: They are really good now that they play with each other, but are also more independant. We have a really well childproofed home, so there isn't much they can get into, but just constantly "officiating" them is so much work.

I worried so much all year about how dirty my house was, but I am glad I didn't spend every moment cleaning, b/c I really spent so much time with them this year. It is really hard to summarize everything you want to pass on, so I know this post was kinda vague and random, but I couldn't possibly tell it all in one day!!! Just take time for yourself, leave the room and scream if you need to, and don't spread yourself too thin...in ten years you aren't going to look back and say, "gosh, I wish I'd done more laundry!!!!" Good luck and I will be lingering on the FY board...I can't just leave it Thanks for all the advice this past year...and I just have to say, "I SURVIVED THE FIRST YEAR WITH TWINS!"

 

Awwww Melissa,

I think you said it very well. I can't believe Maddie and Gracie are already one!! Congratulations to you AND your husband on a very successful first year with twins. They look absolutely adorable in their b-day outfits. I loved your before and after pics of both you and dh and of the girls. I'm sure there are a lot more exciting times for you all in the year to come. We'll see you on the 1-5 in a few more months but pleeeeaaaase do drop in, your continued experiences and advice will bre greatly appreciated to us all. ttfn (tah tah for now).

 

How cute they look! What sweet peas!

Congrats on surviving the first year!

 

Gosh, aren't you and your girls pretty! (DH is no slouch either! ) Feel free to hang out in FY as much as you want, we love having you around! What a year it's been for you!

 

What a beautiful family you have! Congrats on one year!!!

 

Congratulations Melissa! Happy Birthday Madison & Grace! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures and remembrances, I really enjoyed reading your post.

 

Looking at your pictures and reading your entry is making me cry. My girls have 1 1/2 months before the BIG ONE and I am already emotional about it. I was not this way with ds1. I am going to cry at their party and I'm not sure why. Maybe a relief of getting through the first year, maybe fear of the years to come, maybe thinking this may be the last kids, maybe just becuase I love them so darn much! Wow! I'm Emotional already and months to go! Anyways...congratulations on making ONE and I think it is okay to shed some tears