Eli + Maddie :: 12 Months

Eli & Maddie, 

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby loves! I know I have said this almost every month...but I can hardly believe that you are another month older! And now I can hardly believe that it is already your first birthday. I am beyond excited to celebrate this special day with you! This year has been a challenge in many ways, as your daddy and I have bumbled through learning how to be parents. But it has been such an incredible blessing with you two. We prayed for such a long time for you, and now that we are celebrating your first birthday, my heart is filled with so much love and gratitude for the precious gifts that you are. 

From the first moment I held each of you, I knew that I couldn't love anyone more. There was a time when I didn't know if I would get to be a mama...and holding you both just reminds me of the Lord's grace and abundance in our lives. I often look into your sweet faces and am reminded of how much the Lord has provided with you both. There have been so many times when I didn't know how I was going to take care of two of you, but we have walked in grace, and we are continuing to learn together. Jesus has carried us all through this first year, and I am beyond grateful for how He has shown His love for each of us. 

Your daddy and I are so thankful that Jesus allowed us to be your parents, and we have loved watching you grow over the past year. We have loved getting to know you, watching you learn new things and discover the world around you. We have loved seeing your little personalities blossom, seeing the unique little people God created you to be. 

Sweet ones, you are prayed for, wanted, and fiercely loved...even long before we met you. But now that we have met you and held you, rocked you, fed you, played with you, and watched you grow, we are grateful for God's perfect timing and answers to prayer. Our prayer for you is that you know the love and faithfulness of the One who created you and knit you together in my womb, and that you love and follow Him for all of your days. And we continue to pray that the Lord grants us grace as we do our best to parent you and point you to Jesus. 

We love you both so much. Happy 1st Birthday, baby loves!

Love,

Mama

E L I J A H      W I N N

Stats :: 21.5 pounds, 30.25 inches

Loves :: touching foreheads and snuggling, whatever your sister has

Dislikes :: when we are out of your sight

Eat :: we started working on weaning from your bottle, but you still get several in a day. you have had very little interest in your sippy cup, other than playing with {and mostly throwing} it as a toy. you are eating solids all 3 meals of the day, and you tried many new things this month. bread/tortillas, bell peppers, pancakes, cucumber, honey dew, refried beans, even pizza! you seem to like bright colored foods, particularly the orange ones. you pick out all the carrots, sweet potatoes, and oranges first. you have started dropping your food on the floor if you don't want it, or if you're done. not mama's favorite game...

Sleep :: you are still consistently sleeping through the night! you are still taking a morning and afternoon nap, and I think you will hang on to those for awhile. you really don't like waking up...whether we wake you up, or you wake up on your own. when you're up, everyone knows it, as you want us to come get you immediately :)  you nap about an hour in the morning, and 1.5 to 2 hours in the afternoon.

Play/Development :: you are starting to stand for longer periods of time, and you have started taking steps while we hold your hands. you will also push around your little toy walker, and you think it's the best thing ever! and you have 4 {!} more teeth coming in! 

Unique to You :: sweet boy, you are our little snuggler. you crawl into our laps, often bringing a toy, just to hang out and be close. you are still giving your famous open-mouthed kisses, and we love them...slobber and all! you started doing this funny little laugh that sounds like a vibration, kind of like Woody Woodpecker haha! you are our sensitive and meticulous one.

M A D E L I N E      G R A C E

Stats :: 25.4 pounds, 32 inches

Loves :: sticking out your tongue, whatever your brother has

Dislikes :: when someone takes something away from you

Eat :: we started working on weaning from your bottle, but you still get several in a day. you have shown some interest in your sippy cup, and you were the first to figure out how it worked! you are eating solids all 3 meals of the day, and you tried many new things this month. bread/tortillas, bell peppers, pancakes, cucumber, honey dew, refried beans, even pizza! you still eat by the fistful, and it is just the best :)

Sleep :: you are still consistently sleeping through the night! you are still taking a morning and afternoon nap, and I think you will hang on to those for awhile. you only nap about 30-45 minutes in the morning now, and you often will wake up and just smile at the video camera, waiting for us to come get you. but you are often content just rolling around and playing in your crib for awhile. you will nap 1.5 to 2.5 hours in the afternoon.

Play/Development :: you are cruising along furniture and have taken a few steps while holding on to a walking toy. you also love walking while we hold your hands. you are starting to pick up on some sign language. you for sure know how to shake your head "no" and will often put your hands up and shake them at the same time, for emphasis, I guess. you will sign "all done" and every now and then I will get the sign for "please." but mostly you just make a loud noise to let me know that you want some more of something :)  oh, and you finally got your first tooth this month...just a week shy of your 1st birthday...and you have another coming in!

Unique to You :: lady bug, you are just our happy little girl. we absolutely LOVED your toothless grin, and we are secretly sad that your teeth are coming in now haha. you have started burying your head in our chest, arms, or belly, which we think is your way of hugging and snuggling close to us. you are our joyful and silly one.