Celebrating

This December I have been so grateful to be able to stay at home with my babies.  I enjoyed the sight of our tree all lit up every day.  My little babies are getting to be so fun.  We just sat around being merry.  Pretty sweet.

The go-ahead from our doctor to stop feeding them at night (since they're on the growth chart now!) and advice from Erin combined to help us out of our sleeplessness and we have 2 little babies who sleep for about 13 hours at night.  Hallelujah.  

We have been looking forward to their first birthday with a little extra excitement because I decided that I would stop breastfeeding when they turned one.  That means that I can once again eat all the foods that they're allergic to!  And boy did I ever celebrate.  

I took Paul up to Flattop for a surprise date one night when the Alborns offered to watch the tots for us.  By the looks of it, he was really surprised.  

They did it.  They turned one.  I think there are some cultures in which the first birthday is a really big deal.  I feel like I understand why.  I had visions of us marching triumphantly into their 1 year check-up at the pediatrician, showing off how far we'd come.  Instead, we were limping into her office, freshly out of the hospital and barely better.  But we made it.  

To celebrate, the babes had a lovely black bean brownie with coconut cream frosting.  

The before picture.  They are sensing something good is coming their way.

Esme's excited.  Ezra's a little miffed..."What do you mean black bean brownie???"

Don't worry.  It was delicious and they loved it.

Ezra says, "I'm 1!"

Here's hoping for a happy and healthy next year for these two little sweet peas.  Man, they're great.