I am so proud of the little toddlers they've become over these last 12 months. This year, in honor of their birthday, we created a time capsule for each of them and asked friends and family to contribute items. We collected some really interesting things ranging from an STL newspaper with "No Charges For Wilson" as it's headline to Bronco playing cards and Disney's Frozen memorabilia. I look forward to the twins diving into 2014 when they turn 18 to see what life was like at this moment in time. We also asked everyone to write notes to the twins to be opened on their 18th birthdays. I thought I'd share mine.
November
18, 2014
Dearest George,
Happy
18th birthday! As I
write this you are asleep in your crib.
Today you were put on antibiotics to battle your first double ear
infection. Earlier this week you
took a spill down the basement stairs.
By the grace of God you were unharmed, but both you and I were so
shaken. I could not hold you tight
enough or long enough after that.
You are fearless. You see
something you want and you go for it.
I cannot even tell you how many times I have taken your little hands in
mine and sat you down in the bath tub only to have you stand right back
up. You want to stand, so you
stand. I sit you down and tell you
it’s not safe, and yet there you are right back up again. It both terrifies me and feels me with
confidence that you will always go after what you want. I pray you will find boundaries and
safety nets.
You
were born 10 weeks early and spent five and a half weeks in the NICU. During that time I was repeatedly told,
“little white boys don’t do well here.”
For whatever reason, they tend to struggle in those early weeks when
they’ve left the womb too soon. I
feared the worst for you. And yet
you never showed signs of weakness.
In fact you tended to out perform your sister (don’t tell her I told you
that). Doctors and nurses were
continuously surprised by you and your will to thrive. You left the NICU a week before Eloise
to join your big brother at home.
Boy do you and Charlie have an
awesome relationship. He is much
more rough and tumble with you than he is with his sister and you handle it
like a champ. You aren’t walking
yet and want so badly to run after him and join in the fun. He loves snuggling you and always wants
you to lay with him while he watches a show. Now that you’re crawling you aren’t always that great at laying
in his arms, but you still love to sit with him for small moments. I look forward to those days where you
two are buddies chasing after each other and laughing. I imagine it’s going to be very
noisy. The best kind of noise.
You love balls: baseballs, basketballs, footballs, bouncy
balls. You are in awe and they
entertain you for hours. You also
love wheels and cars. Luckily
you’re getting your very own Little Tykes car for your birthday because you
have your eye on Charlie’s and he is not about to give it up! You have instilled fear in the
cats. The second you eye one of
them you’re off and after them.
You’ll stop at nothing to grab fur. You have the best laugh. I tickle you every day just to hear you laugh. It is infectious and melts my heart. You’re a sweet and gentle guy with an
amazing sense of humor for a soon to be one-year-old. You’re an avid stair climber. One second you’re playing in the living room and the next
second you’re halfway up the stairs on the hunt for Rooney or Bueller.
I’m going to do my best to instill independence in you, but
something in me knows you’ll always be my baby. I’ll want to do everything for you and protect you, but know
I have to step aside and let you fail at times so that you can succeed when it
matters. You’re an awesome one
year old and I know you’re going to grow up to be a true gentleman. I look forward to hearing all that you
have to say about life. I pray
that you find things in your life that fulfill you, that you find yourself and
love who you are, and that you find someone to share that life with, someone
who loves you for the person you are and the person you will grow up to
be. I am so proud to be your mom. I love you George.
Xoxo,
Mom
Dearest Eloise,
Happy 18th birthday, my
beautiful girl. As I write this
you are asleep in your crib battling your first double ear infection. Your first birthday is a week from now
and I’ve been planning your birthday party. Your first year of life has been a game changer for me. You came into this world 10 weeks early
and fought like a warrior in the NICU for six and a half weeks. It’s hard to think back to those first
few days because you seemed so fragile, so new. Your dad and I were only allowed to hold you once a day in
the beginning. Preemies need a lot
of time to rest. Humans grow while
they sleep, so to continuously pick you up and put you down was too traumatic
on your tiny little body. I
remember lying so still with you in my arms. You would instantly fall asleep and so would I. Those were magical, quiet moments.
Now you’re about to turn
one. You have grown. No longer am I restricted to holding
you once a day. We snuggle and
play all day every day. You love
to be tossed in the air and flipped over upside down. You crawl into my arms only so that I will help you do a
somersault. You love food and
you’re an adventurous eater.
Textures don’t bother you and you’re willing to eat just about anything. Although when you’re done, you’re done
and you swipe everything off of your high chair and onto the floor. You have an easy-going disposition
and take things in stride. You
have a warm heart and love to explore.
You adore your big brother in a
way that melts my heart and brings tears to my eyes every time I think about
it. Your eyes light up, you kick
your feet and smile every time he walks into the room or begins playing with
you. He can make you laugh like no
one else can. Believe me, I’ve
tried! Charlie adores you
too. He gets so excited to see you
every morning. “Hi pretty girl!”
he’ll squeal as he runs into your room to help get you out of your crib.
You and George are partners in
crime. When you set your mind to
something together, you’re nearly unstoppable. You’re also competitive with one another. If one of you has a toy, the other one
must.have.it.now. Same goes for my
lap. I imagine as the years pass,
this will transform into an awesome friendship.
You have stolen your Dad’s heart
and it is a beautiful thing to witness.
As I’m sure you’re aware at the age of 18, you’ve got him wrapped around
your finger. You have taught him
how to love in a way no one but a daughter can do and he is all the better for
it. He is the first love of your
life and he would move mountains for you.
I always knew I would have a
daughter. Something in my gut that
day in the ultrasound room just knew I was going to hear the words, “it’s a
girl.” I cried tears of joy that
day and many days after over you.
I love to dress you up. I
have done it often on the off chance you’re anything like me and will grow up
hating the color pink or anything girly for that matter. I enjoy taking you on outings by
yourself. We recently went to the
Junior League’s Holiday Mart with your Aunt Laura, Aunt Becky, and cousins
Sarah and Jenny. I hope this is a
tradition we continue for many years to come. You of course were perfect the whole time and never made a
fuss.
You
just learned how to wave and say, “Mama”.
It’s fun to see the pride in your smile every time you do it and I wave
back. I think about your future
and all of the fun that is to come and I too get a big prideful smile. You have made my life complete and full
of meaning. I am so blessed to
have you as my daughter. I pray
you find passion, love, and meaning in your life and that I am able to share in
the good, the bad, and the indifferent with you always. I love you darling girl.
Xoxo,
Mom
