Oh My Dear, Dear Twins. Today You are One.

How did this happen?  The twins are ONE?!? 

Seems like just yesterday I was the most pregnant woman on earth, trudging up hills backwards and trying to start labor.

In case you missed it, find the birth story HERE.

It's been an interesting year.  There were many days and nights, particularly in the first 7.5 months, when I didn't think we'd make it.

Thankfully, we surely did, and the days now have many more ups than downs.

The best part about having twins has been seeing them together:

Watching them play peek-a-boo together.

Seeing how - all day long - they stay side by side in play.  It is a rare occassion that they aren't side by side, shoulders touching.

Hearing their call.  What, you ask?  They have a unique call - they use it to call one another.  I know that's really odd, but they truly do.  If I'm changing the diaper of one, I'll hear the other one call out for him.  It's so cool to me that they are always keeping one another in their thoughts.

Seeing them comfort each other.  I've seen Reid pat Cort on the head when he was having a hard time.

And even the rare fights are kind of interesting too.  The worst of which was when Reid stole Cort's vanilla wafer cookie.  Whew, was CORT EVER MAD over that!  I didn't think he was ever going to get over it, and in addition to the screaming, he gave Reid some dirty looks that should've burned holes in his skin they were so stink-eyed mean.

Individually, the twins are certainly fraternal.  Different colored eyes, different sizes, different blood types, and different interests.  It really is surprising they stay side by side all day, when they are so different.

Reid loves to eat.  If I place a snack on the floor he will shove so much in his mouth that there's overflow, mostly to try to keep his brother from getting his share. ;-)

Reid is very focused on walking

He can stand, squat, and take 2-3 steps unassisted.

Reid can clap.  He loves to dance.  He sucks his thumb.  He has NO teeth.  That's right, none.  He asked for dentures for his birthday, but I couldn't find anyone who makes them that small.

He's a heavy sleeper and would sleep in if his brother didn't wake him up in the mornings.

Cort is our temperamental child.  But he makes up for that by being endearing as well.

He'll get in sweet moods where he'll snuggle anything with two legs.  Or four, for that matter.

Cort claps, adores peek-a-boo, waves bye bye, and dances on command.

Cort has a funny bone and likes to be a joker.  Cort takes a paci.

He is a picky eater and will actually scream if I serve him a meal that does not involve fruit and/or chopped up hot dog.  Those are his accepted foods.  All other foods get looks of disgust and are violently tossed to the floor.  Cort has his 2 bottom front teeth.  Both twins are still breastfeeding in addition to eating 3 meals and a couple of snacks each day.  And although neither is speaking yet, they each know their individual names and will come appropriately if called.

It didn't take us long after the twins were born to realize things like shopping and dining out would never be the same. I could do without all the "You've got your hands full!" comments we get everywhere we go.  I've heard it 4,000 times since having the twins.  I also particularly despise "Better you than me!".  So if you see someone in the store with twins, whatever you do, don't say THAT!  Instead, try one of my two favorite comments I've received: "You've got a full heart" or "You're doing a great job!"

So happy first birthday to the twins! 

I can't imagine life without them.

Some days, they bring me so much joy that I truly realize how lucky I am to get to experience twin-ness.