I have so much to catch up on over the last couple months. We pretty much stay in survival mode all the time so getting to sit down in front of the computer most days is near impossible. I begin a blog post when I can find the time or I can manage to keep my eyes open and gather some semi organized thoughts, but more often then not I have to cut my efforts short due to...well...life. I wanted to take the time to finally share a birthday blog for my sweet little babies that recently turned one.
Looking back over the last year a part of me can't believe we made it out alive. It was challenging to say the least. Sleepless nights, getting up at 5 am after a sleepless night and driving to Dallas for work not knowing for sure what day it was. Feeling completely inadequate some days because you have three little people fighting for one on one attention with you. It's hard. But its also wonderful...and the Mother in me knows that I would do it all again in a heart beat because these two little miracles have made our hearts grow bigger than I ever thought possible.
Twins: Yet another one of God's hilarious curve balls.
Thinking back to the day when we found out we were having twins and I can't help but shake my head and giggle. (below is a post about that day)(http://akensfamily.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html )
We really had no clue the challenges we were about to embark on. Mental, physical, emotional, financial...just to name a few. I suppose all those challenges apply to any life changing event. I read a quote one time that said, "There are two things in life for which you are never fully prepared: twins." Don't get me wrong..I thank God every day we had twins..it's amazing and awesome and SO MUCH FUN! But it stretches you to your limits as well and I can honestly say it has changed Kris and I in so many ways. We look at things differently. We know how blessed we are to have two healthy premature babies. I have always operated better on structure and organization. Kris not so much when we met or even the first couple years of our marriage, but now he even likes things to be as organized. I tend to be mildly OCD about things and it has definitely rubbed off on him a bit. (mission accomplished. Ha!!) I give him a hard time but I am so thankful for a husband like Kris who helps out and is so involved in our children's lives. He is a very good Daddy! Kris said before we were married he didn't want to have a daughter because he was scared of having a daughter. Well honey, you got two now and one of them came with an extra!
I like to think we have a pretty good handle on things now, however I also know that if someone were to follow us around with a video camera most days it would look like the opposite of having a handle on things. We do pretty good though. We laugh a lot...sometimes cry...but the truth is this past year has been amazing. I look at them and my insides fill with pride because they are mine. A lot of this past year was spent in a fog of exhaustion. I drank more coffee this past year then I have drank my entire life. As any parent knows, trying to be the best mom or dad you possibly can is not always easy and it doesn't always look pretty. Especially if you are also trying to juggle a job on top of everything else. But in the end...the sleepless nights..the never-ending pile of laundry...the messy kitchen...the crusty stain on your shoulder that you just realized is there right after you arrive at church or work and your not sure if it's snot or spit up..it's all worth it! A hundred times over...worth every minute!
I am thankful that I am a picture person. I have always been a picture person but now that I have kids I am more happy than ever that I have snap shots of memories. A lot of sweet memories were made last year...(and this is where the picture story begins)
We really had no clue the challenges we were about to embark on. Mental, physical, emotional, financial...just to name a few. I suppose all those challenges apply to any life changing event. I read a quote one time that said, "There are two things in life for which you are never fully prepared: twins." Don't get me wrong..I thank God every day we had twins..it's amazing and awesome and SO MUCH FUN! But it stretches you to your limits as well and I can honestly say it has changed Kris and I in so many ways. We look at things differently. We know how blessed we are to have two healthy premature babies. I have always operated better on structure and organization. Kris not so much when we met or even the first couple years of our marriage, but now he even likes things to be as organized. I tend to be mildly OCD about things and it has definitely rubbed off on him a bit. (mission accomplished. Ha!!) I give him a hard time but I am so thankful for a husband like Kris who helps out and is so involved in our children's lives. He is a very good Daddy! Kris said before we were married he didn't want to have a daughter because he was scared of having a daughter. Well honey, you got two now and one of them came with an extra!
I like to think we have a pretty good handle on things now, however I also know that if someone were to follow us around with a video camera most days it would look like the opposite of having a handle on things. We do pretty good though. We laugh a lot...sometimes cry...but the truth is this past year has been amazing. I look at them and my insides fill with pride because they are mine. A lot of this past year was spent in a fog of exhaustion. I drank more coffee this past year then I have drank my entire life. As any parent knows, trying to be the best mom or dad you possibly can is not always easy and it doesn't always look pretty. Especially if you are also trying to juggle a job on top of everything else. But in the end...the sleepless nights..the never-ending pile of laundry...the messy kitchen...the crusty stain on your shoulder that you just realized is there right after you arrive at church or work and your not sure if it's snot or spit up..it's all worth it! A hundred times over...worth every minute!
I am thankful that I am a picture person. I have always been a picture person but now that I have kids I am more happy than ever that I have snap shots of memories. A lot of sweet memories were made last year...(and this is where the picture story begins)
I found this really sweet lady in Arlington who owns this cute little bakery called That's the Cake (www.thatsthecake.com). I sent her a picture of what I wanted (minus one teir) and she did it! It looked super cute and tasted even better!
Pictures from the party...
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| LOVE THEM!!!
Dear Colton,
My Boy. I love you so much little man! I was so excited when I found out one of the twins was a boy. I'm sorry in advance for whatever torture your sisters are bound to put you through. :) Right now you are really in to cars, balls, remotes, and these little knobs on the bottom of the toilet that we can't figure out why you are so obsessed with. Oh! and electrical cords. Electrical cords to you are like a frisbee to Knox. You have the best laugh and you are super ticklish! You crack up if I whisper in your ear. You love to snuggle and one of my favorite first memories I have of you are when you were tiny and you would be crying in your bed and I would put you in bed with us and you would curl up right under my chin and fall right to sleep. Love that memory! You and I slept like that a lot! You also have a temper! Boy do you have a temper! You get very frustrated if something isn't working the way you want it to. I hope and pray that this part of your personality means you will be very determined to meet your goals in life and it will lead you to great success. You love music and you have already started singing. You love it when Scout chases you. You run and giggle and it's the cutest thing ever. You love to be outside and when we start putting on your shoes you get really excited because you know what coming. Also if someone walks outside you get mad if they don't take you with them. You LOVE to wrestle and you are very tough. Rarely a day goes by that you don't have a bruise on your forehead. (some of this is your sisters fault). You think Kamden is hilarious and love it when he picks on you. I am thankful you have a big brother and I know Kamden is happy he is not just surrounded by girls now. I love you so much Colton Willis and I can't wait to watch you grow and see all the different things you discover. Just don't grow too fast. This year was way, way too fast! I pray you grow up to be a kind, generous, loving, Christian man and I thank God everyday for making you my son.
Abby Callahan,
AKA freakishly strong baby girl! You are a hoot! You are such a sweet heart! You started walking right at 10 months and started running basically the next day. We talk about how strong you are all the time because you do things that babies your age shouldn't be able to do so well. Like climb for example :) Also when you were 8 months old you would sit in a squat and then stand straight up with out holding on to anything. Your balance is impressive! You also have the most gorgeous blue eyes I have ever seen in my life! They don't even look real sometimes. You are very independent and VERY determined. You and your brother both have the same philosophy of..."you want something, you take it!" So you two fight a lot already but I do love the determination you both seem to have so far. You have stared interacting and playing together a lot recently and it is the sweetest thing! I pray you have a very strong relationship always! You love to play with Scout and you follow her everywhere. I love that You have a big sister and I love that you two are close in age and will hopefully make a lot of special memories together and always be there for each other. Sisters are so very special and I am so thankful you have each other. I'm sure there will be lots of fights along the way too as it seems you both like to be the boss! It might get interesting. You are not much of a cuddlier unless I catch you right as your falling asleep. You typically just like to lay down in your bed when you are tired. You give great kisses though! You love to dance and you have some killer moves already :). You have a little pink teddy bear that Jo-Jo gave you when you were born and you carry that thing everywhere. It's staring to look really ratty and old, but you love it! I am so thankful for you Abby girl and I look forward to watching you grow and seeing what you become. I hope to be a the best Christian example to you I know how to be and you always know how much I love you. Happy One year sweet girl!
Ok...that's it for now. More to come!
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