They're ONE!

Happy First Birthday, baby girls!!  I can't believe this day has arrived.  Technically, I'm writing approximately 14 hours before their official birth times of 2:31 and 2:32 p.m.  At this time last year, I was laying in my bed, wide awake, nervous and excited, and extraordinarily uncomfortable from the weight of almost 13 lbs of baby in my belly.  And I didn't sleep a wink on the night of June 28, 2007 - while Joey soundly slept next to me - so I figured it would only be fitting to not be sleeping a year later.  

And though a severe lack of sleep may appropriately describe the past 365 days of our lives - it can be better be described as the most joyous, amazing, beautiful year of our lives - filled also with heartache, worry, and doubt, as every first parent feels - but overwhelmingly full of happiness.  I'll take every good and bad thing about being a new parent and do it a thousand times over to experience being a mother to Anna and Margaret.  Little girls, you have made my life.  

We have an exciting day ahead of us - a princess themed party with family, complete with adorable little birthday cakes with pink and white icing, party balloons and streamers, presents galore, and pink birthday hats with pink pom poms on top for the ladies of honor.  And although the girls are sure to melt down from the exhaustion and pressure of being the center of attention long before the presents are even touched - I'm positively giddy with excitement.  Isn't that the best thing about being a parent?  Getting the opportunity to relive the happy parts of childhood all over again, like the nervous anticipation of a birthday party -  but through their eyes.  

I have pictures and stories from this past week of being in St. Louis - from a mini birthday celebration for Anna and Margaret hosted by my own two best childhood friends, with whom I used to play Barbie dolls and hide and seek (and now all 3 of us are each parents of 2 girls!), to the girls' first carousel ride in the park and a giddy exploration of a jungle gym.  But I haven't uploaded any of those photos to my computer.  And so, for now, I leave you with this.  

June 29, 2007

Summer 2008

My how you have grown, Anna and Margaret!  You are beautiful both inside and out, and you make me so very proud.  Your Dad and I are so blessed to call you our daughters.  I cannot wait for this next year - we're going to have so much fun together.  All our love, hugs and kisses to our birthday princesses, from a very proud Mom and Dad.