A Very Happy BIrthday...

I think we can all remember March 12th, 2010 very clearly in our mind. It was a day our family changed for the better, but also a very scary day. March 12th, 2010 was the day that Finley and Emmy joined our family.

Keah wasn't technically due until early July, but the girls decided it was their time, and I think they were both ready to come out fighting and that's what they did for four months in the hospital. They fought to grow and get strong. I remember getting the phone call EARLY in the morning on the 12th, and was shocked and scared by the news. I started to cry as I listened to the news that the girls were here weighing in at 1 lb 5 oz (Finley) and 1 lb 4 oz (Emmy). I stayed up for awhile just crying and praying that my new nieces would be okay.

I was in the midst of student teaching at the time, and couldn't miss any time. So I headed into school and shared the news with some friends at the school. Everyone was concerned and so supportive. I had planned an art lesson that day around Keah being in the hospital on bed rest for awhile, but that had to change with the girls arrival. My teacher and I contemplated changing the lesson to something else, but in the end, I felt up to teaching it. I read the class a book called "Big Bear Hug" by Nicholas Oldham, and we talked about hugs, why we give them and what kind of hugs are out there. Then I shared with them the news of the babies birth, I was emotional and teared up a bit, and it really affected the third graders I was with. They were all so concerned and that showed in their art project. Each student traced their arm span, which created a hug that we were going to send to the hospital for the twins. They each decorated it and wrote what their favourite hugs were, something to let the babies know they were loved. One of my favourite's was from a little guy who could be a challenge at times, he wrote, I Love Soft Hugs... how perfect was that. I presented them to Keah at her baby shower that happened the following week. The class continued to ask for updates, and even this year as I returned to the school as a substitute teacher, the students asked me how the babies were doing- man I love kids!!

I remember seeing the girls for the first time on the day they were born, Mike tried to prepare us for seeing them, and I got emotional (of course) but when I saw them I just felt such peace, they were tiny, but beautiful perfect little babies. Every chance I could get there I tried to go visit, and photograph their changes, and just talk and visit with them. It was amazing to be there to watch them grow and develop. Every little milestone and step forward were celebrated. There were some very scary times, but our girls made it, and I am one proud auntie.

So this weekend we celebrated the girls FIRST birthday, and man was it a birthday to celebrate. As much of the family that could be there made it, and illness kept some away-we missed Jeff, Kathy, Jake, Cooper and Brandon so much! But it was a perfect birthday. The birthday party was monkey themed, because these little girls can be crazy little monkeys. I had found this fantastic ETSY site that made custom onesies, and mom and I decided to go in on them together, and they couldn't have looked cuter with the girls denim skirts. Both ladies were smiles and happy for their big day, and put up with all my many pictures that were taken.

The girls in their birthday shirts... LOVE them... I also LOVE how they have their heads tilted in the same direction... such sisters

Classic birthday shot, I always have to have my picture taken with the birthday boy or girl!

Emmy

Birthday Girls sitting up nice and tall!

The lovely Sarah Grace who was looking particularly grown-up today

Finley

Their birthday cake made by mommy and decorated by auntie Tamara

Laura has been such a trooper the last few days since her jaw surgery. She came and had a great time at the party even though she wasn't feeling the best. She got pictures with the girls regardless of how her face was looking, and was a good sport as we all ate pizza and she had to have smoothie. It's hard on her having her face all swollen, but she really is handling it well, and I am so proud of her, it can be hard to think of this as only a temporary thing when it's your face that's swollen, but she is doing her best and I think she looked beautiful regardless. I always love having pictures of me and my sisters, so Laura and I thought we'd have some fun and smile with our eyes, who needs to see the jaw area- right?!

Miss Emmy has recently started to crawl and we couldn't be more proud of her. It's a super cute little crawl, she boosts herself up and then drags her legs along, it's such a hoot to watch. You can tell by the look on her face that she is very PROUD of herself! I was able to witness it quite a bit this weekend and just love watching her pull herself around... it is so adorable!

The girls did fantastic with gift opening, they were very inquisitive with their presents. Mike and Keah were very cute with the girls as they opened presents. We were able to skype Kathy in for some of the festivities today which was great since a sick child kept her home. The girls were very curious with the ribbon, which was adorable. Emmy LOVED the tissue paper, and Finley got captivated with Kathy's head on the computer. They were spoiled (which is deserved) with so many beautiful gifts, which they made sure to sample by putting them in their mouths. Such funny little ladies!

Cake time came, and the girls were sporting VERY adorable Birthday Girl bibs, and were a little confused I think when we first started singing to them. As the cake got closer, they were ready, well Emmy was and tried to get her little hand right into the cake. I love the below picture of Mike and Keah, enjoying every minute of this special day! This was the first time that the girls were having REAL food, you know, something that wasn't baby food smooth. Keah had made sure to check it out with their nutritionist, and was told that with all these little girls have been through this year, they deserve some cake. They were both a little unsure at first with what to do, but Finley caught on first, sampling the icing, and then after that they both dug into their own cupcakes. It was interesting to see how they devoured their cupcakes, Finley was a bit more tidy in her eating while wild child Emmy had cake everywhere... even on her head!

We spent the remainder of the party just visiting and enjoying our little miracle girls. It was a special day, and I'm glad I was able to be there to celebrate this day. I look forward to watching these two beautiful little girls grow and do amazing things. I Love you Finley and Emmy!

Sunday Afternoon

Since Mike teaches in a different school board then I do, he's on March Break this week, so their family headed up to the city. Emmy has an appointment today, and it's Cooper's birthday tomorrow so they came up for some more family time. So I headed over to visit and play, dinner and getting laundry done were an added bonus. I love just being on the floor playing with the girls. They were both wearing skirts and shoes that I gave them for Christmas, looking adorable I might add! They laughed and crawled and enjoyed the musical talents of Justin Bieber. I was able to feed Emmy her dinner and she gobbled it all up, and remained pretty tidy. I was there for bedtime and was able to read some stories with them and rock miss Emmy to sleep, she was fighting it, but once I snuggled her close and put on "Baby" her little eyes closed and she was off to sleep. Here are some shots from the afternoon...

Finley broke her first tooth this weekend, and she's been chewing on everything to make her gums feel better

Emmy working on her spoon technique... look how tidy and clean she is after eating!

"Hey Look Mom, it's my sister"

Peek-a-boo always gets a great smile out of these little beauties...

Clapping is one of their best tricks... it's so cute when they do it together

Sometimes crawling is just hard work, Finley was feeling that today!