Ichi!

This day unleashes so many emotions in me - excitement, happiness, relief, even a little sadness and fear (because, let's face it, now I've been through a year and I know how hard it is, so I'm scared of the next 18+).  I remember this day a year ago, like it was yesterday.  I remember being relieved that my doctor was going to deliver the babies.  I remember being scared that Alan wasn't going to make it in time, then so overcome with emotion when he did.  I remember feeling so violated, with 20 people in the delivery room, but then feeling so special because they all wanted to be a part of delivering two babies.  I remember feeling so excited when I heard "it's a girl" and so proud when I heard "it's a boy" (because I do love being right).  I remember the pride in Alan's face as he held each one, showing them, introducing them to me.  I remember thinking of my Mom, waiting in the recovery room, and how excited she was going to be to meet them both.  I remember thinking of Adam, and praying that he was going to be okay with the names we had chosen (because they weren't the names he had picked).  I remember feeding them for the first time.  I remember our first night together.  I remember Adam meeting them and holding them and being so excited, but at the same time looking so confused and scared of what this all meant.  I remember it all, like it was yesterday...but it wasn't yesterday...

"Ichi" means "one" in Japanese.  As in THE TWINS ARE ONE YEAR OLD!!!  OMG.  Seriously??  Yes, seriously.  I can't really believe it myself, but they certainly are.  This year has been such a roller coaster.  It is such a relief to have made it through this first year, all in-tact, milestones met, alive...because, if I'm being honest, it was kinda touch-and-go there for a while at the beginning.  I really thought something was going to have to give.  But somehow we all survived.  It wasn't always easy and it was hardly ever pretty, but WE DID IT!

Anaya

Miss Thing.  'Nya Girl.  As my friend, Michelle, says, "You've gotta cut the mustard with her."  She has remained consistent this year in that you have to earn her love.  She'll stare, emotionless, sizing you up, judging you, while you put on your best show to impress her.  Then she'll get back to you when she's ready with her decision.  She's a tough crowd, I'm not gonna lie.  But once you get a smile out of her, you forget all about how hard you had to work to get it.  She's precious and crazy and my little hot-mess.  She knows exactly how to perform the perfect frowny cry to let you know you've hurt her feelings.  And she knows exactly how to make her brother look like the guilty one, whether he is or not.  Like here - I happen to know that all he did was crawl by her:

She likes to kick and flip and hang upside down.  She's going to be the daredevil, I think.  She has us all wrapped around her finger.  She's crawling now, of course.  And with that came pulling up and cruising.  She hasn't yet mastered letting herself down once she's pulled up.  She currently prefers the "scream and wait" method.  She loves strawberries, bananas, peaches, oranges, ravioli, lasagna, hot dog and quesadilla.  She also loves bath time, playing with Rosie, and chasing her brother around.  When she really loves something, she'll bat her eyes at it, like this:

She is one-of-a-kind and she definitely keeps us on our toes.  I can only imagine what life with Anaya is going to be like...and it scares me a li'l bit. 

Audie

Audie is completely opposite of Anaya in the consistency department.  It's surprising he isn't a Gemini, like Mom (I'm not buying into the whole "sign change" thing - I think I'm grand-fathered).  He's mostly sweet and cuddly and warm, like a puppy dog.  And he's generally game for anything and anyone.  He's quite the ladies' man and likes to flirt, which is so much like Adam was.  He leads Anaya in chase, laughing all throughout the house.  But then, he crawls toward a door that was accidentally left open, or the fridge when it's open, and we pull it shut as he nears it...total meltdown, complete with throwing himself on the floor, kicking and screaming.  He's becoming quite dramatic.  And he has this little fake cry he does right now, where he just squints his eyes and opens his mouth, displaying his one tooth, and yell/cries.  He's crawling fast and cruising like a pro now, even letting go every once in a while, balancing there for a bit.  He's ambitious and I think he'll be walking soon.  Audie likes to wake up about 15 minutes before his sister and steal some "Mommy time", which I'm okay with.  He has a sweet smile and is definitely passionate about life.  He generally loves everything we feed him, but when we offer him something he doesn't love, he vehemently declines, as if we've offended him by even offering it.  He can hold up one finger when you ask him how old he is, like this:

He can hold up two arms, when you ask him how big he is, like this:

And, one of his favorite things to do: steal toys from his sister, like this (never mind that it's a dog toy):

He does a few signs, like "all done" and "more".  He's my little sweetheart.  I think life with Audie is going to be pretty fun...but also pretty messy. 

WE DID IT!!  Now, it's supposed to get easier, right?  Maybe we can fool ourselves into believing that.  We'll keep you posted and let you know when it's easy.

    There's a cake-eating video to come...