The countdown is on...

5 days until Lila and Bennett's big birthday!! In honor of that I thought I would do my "Top 5" things I am loving about each of them right now:

Lila
1. I love how you scrunch up your nose when you are happy or proud
2. I love how you are brave enough to stand, but not quite brave enough to take a step (yet!)
3. I love how you beat on the highchair tray when I don't get the food to you fast enough
4. I love seeing your big round soft blue eyes looking at me through the crib when I come to get you from your nap
5. I love how you let your brother steal your toys without complaining

Bennett
1. I love how you hug me extra tight when I hold you (even though sometimes it is to bite me!)
2. I love how you play catch and fetch -- with yourself!
3. I love your funny big and second toes!
4. I love seeing your big almond shaped royal blue eyes looking at me through the crib when I come to get you from your nap
5. I love how much you remind me of your Dad

Together
1. I love how you chase each other around the den and laugh
2. I love trying to decipher your babbles to each other that ya'll seem to understand
3. I love how Bennett can fall right to sleep, despite Lila's longer "protests"
4. I love how Lila can stay asleep when Bennett wakes up from his much shorter naps
5. I love how ya'll already look up to your big sister

New toys!

Sunday afternoon we went over to Su Su and G's house to spend some time with Aunt Monique before she had to go back to Nashville. Lila and Bennett had fun hanging out in their new wagon, a birthday gift from Emmy and Pop!



Elise had a blast playing in the new sprinkler that L & B got from the Mills family! She was so thankful that her brother and sister shared their new toy with her!



You can see Lila laughing at Elise in this one....



Elise took a turn in the wagon with "crazy howie" as she likes to call him!

She is sad that Aunt Mo had to leave...and so am I!!

What a difference a year makes...

I meant to post on Friday, but with everything going on this weekend, I just didn't get a chance to sit and type...It was a year ago on Friday that I went into the hospital to stay until I had Lila and Bennett...I really can't believe it. Thinking back to that day, the first thing that comes to mind is the word grateful. I really am overwhelmed when I think about that time in our lives. I had a relatively "easy" twin pregnancy...my nausea and discomfort are nothing compared to the complications that many women experience...I was just going along thinking I would make it until the end! I think my VERY optimistic Dr. had convinced me we would be reaching 39 weeks!! But that morning I woke up with some cramping and so I called the Dr's office. They had me come in, just to make sure...I remember like it was yesterday my Dr's face when she checked me. I was already 3 1/2 to 4 cm dilated. I had to go right to the hospital. Granted, at this point I was 34 weeks along, so it wasn't as if the babies would not be able to survive had they been born that early...it was just unexpected. Anyway, I remember thinking to myself, "Today is the day....we're having babies today!"
Obviously, that is not what happened....My Dr took excellent care of me and the babies and although the next two weeks are not those that I look back on with the fondest memories, it was so worth it....The hardest part was leaving Elise since I had never been away from her for more than 2 days...
Anyway, I am digressing, back to being grateful....I was just thinking back to all of the people that visited me, that helped with Elise, that brought me food to give me a break from the hospital food, that rubbed my HUGELY swollen legs, that talked and sat with me even though i was pitiful and probably hallucinating most of the time (thanks magnesium sulfate!!), that checked in with David, that called to check on me, and I could go on and on....I truly hope that I thanked each and every one of you back then, and if I didn't SHAME on me (can I blame it on the drugs? :) just kidding...)...you know who you are and I couldn't have made it without ya'll... And to David, for taking care of Elise, and everything else....like always you lifted my burden and my spirits....you are really the best....
Thanks sincerely from the bottom of my heart....




Love, Nicole

P.S. I will try to keep these emotional posts to a minimum over the next week, but I am not making any promises...This is just going to be an emotional week for me...My "babies" are just getting so big....

They love cake!

Thanks so much to Davis for taking these great pics!! Without him, we wouldn't have had these great memories captured!!

**Another important note: Lila said her first word!!! Yeah!! I wish I could say that it were Mommy or Daddy, but instead she is now saying "BALL"!
She does blabber a lot and often says Mama and Dada, but "ball" is the first word she has said where it is obvious that she knows what she is saying...She holds the ball up and says, "ball"!!
Yippee!!
I try my hardest not to compare my children, but I have been a little worried since they are doing everything way behind when Elise did. This is probably a combination of their "preemie" status (four weeks early) as well as the fact that Elise is a little bit of an overachiever!! She was walking at 10 1/2 months and we are not there with the babies yet...
Their time will come!

A few more pre-party pictures....

We kept trying to get a picture of them with the crowns on, but like bibs, they pull them off immediately! So, we gave up and wore the crowns ourselves.....






Their "smash" cakes...Called that for good reason...Those pics will come later...



The invitation....



A rare family photo!! I wish there was a better one, but at least everyone is looking at the camera!!