A Letter To My Girls: 1 year

Girls,

Happy Birthday! Well technically you're one year and one week old, but mama hasn't had time to blog this past week. Between your party, and family, and church things... and your snot (lots of snot)... I haven't gotten around to writing you your letter. But I haven't forgotten you. No. These words have been on my lips and were in the process of being written on my heart over the past few weeks.

One year.

We did it.

1yearSurvived.

We're all alive and well and thriving.

Kind of.

No we're totally thriving. Don't let the picture fool you. ;)

There were months when I wasn't sure we'd make it, but girls, we're here. Everyone said that with multiples that first year is a doozy, and let me tell you something... it was a LOT of hard work (& little sleep) and I have no intention of ever letting you forget it. Especially when you're 16. But it was also the best year of my life thus far.

The Best.

I want to start this letter with a story and hope that one day you'll understand what I mean by it.

Once upon a time a girl was born. This girl was loved a lot by her parents and grew up searching for adventure, excitement, and like all young people in her generation, she wanted to save the world. She didn't have time for things like marriage or babies... or so she thought. Her eyes were set on places afar and journeys to be had. But then one day, a handsome redhead caught her eye. And after some time, they decided that their adventures would be a lot more fun if they did life together. So they got married and they were right! They had a lot MORE fun together than when they were apart. The boy, well, he ALWAYS wanted a lot of kids, but that girl... well she was a little scared of what would happen to her life and dreams once she had babies. She was afraid that life would be boring and that they couldn't travel anymore. So they waited a little while before talking about starting a family because when they did talk about it, the young girl would break out in hives at the thought of it (slight exaggeration). Then one day, God blessed them with two babies. And at first it was scary, because they didn't know what they would do with TWO babies at ONE time. But God was faithful and He provided for them every step of the way.

Then one exhausted day, a few months after the 2 precious, beautiful, lovely, sweet, amazingly identical girls were born, the mommy went to Target with her sweet precious babies (all good mommy stories should have Target in them... am I right?). And she saw these cards, teared up, and had to buy them.

Everyday

Every single day, do something that makes your heart sing. - Marcia Wieder

Do you know why I had to buy them, my sweet girls? I had to buy them because for the first time in my life I realized that I had a job that made my heart sing. Every. Day. All the traveling in the world doesn't compare to what I get to do now. (And don't get me wrong, we've done our fair share of traveling since you've been born too!!!! You've made 3 roundtrips in airplanes this year!).

But traveling isn't the point. The point it is...

Every single day I get to do something that makes my heart sing... and that's take care of you.  Watching you grow and learn. Playing with you every day. Listening to you "chat" with one another. Teaching you to wave. Picking you up when you fall. Feeding you. Rocking you. Taking you for walks. Reading you books. Soaking in your smiles and giggles.

Every second of it I'm trying to capture and remember, because I know that time passes so quickly. But the important thing for you to remember is that YOU make my heart sing, and being your mom and a wife to your daddy is my greatest joy and accomplishment on this earth.

This first year of your life has been amazing; It's also been the hardest and greatest year of mine. But motherhood has  been the most beautiful "job" I've ever been blessed to have because baby girls, you make my heart sing. And I am so thankful that God chose to give us the two of you.

Happy first year my loves,

Your Mama.

Picture 3

Ps. notice the lil logo on our photo? Katherine Fallis of Furnished Photography has done all of our girls photos and is fantastic and this is a shameless plug for her because we love her. Just sayin... you need family photos? She's your girl.