Birthday Theme?

So, does anyone else stress months in advance over what their children's (or child's) birthday theme will be?

No? Just me...?

Ok, well, let me explain. I used to be a professional event planner. Let me put this into perspective for you: I planned corporate events and they usually included hundreds (even thousands) of people. My largest was an Employee Appreciation Event for Wells Fargo that included over 3,000 attendees. The entire event was themed and every single detail was meticulously planned by me, myself, and I.

Even though I enjoyed my job, it was extremely stressful - every event had it's issues...it wasn't about what would happen but when something would happen. Each event was unique and I was in charge of catering, equipment, venue space, contracts, logistics, entertainment, staff, decor, etc. To say I was a multi-tasker would be an understatement.

Now that you realize what a freak I am about events, it should come as no surprise that I tend to go completely overboard when planning my children's birthdays. Heck, any opportunity to celebrate is welcomed and planned for well in advance (holidays included - my children always have themed clothing and pictures are a must on the day of)...

Ok, back to my point. My children's third birthday is coming up...in June (right around the corner, I know) and I am desperately trying to plan ahead. Preparing for girl/boy twin birthday parties is much more difficult than I originally thought. Since it goes completely against my nature to just get some cakes and a few balloons and call it a day, I have, instead, made a long list of theme ideas that I thought would suit my little ones (everyone keeps reminding me that they are too young to remember these details but they WILL look back and see pictures of their special day and hopefully realize just how special they are to us)!
For their first birthday, I chose a Mod Monkey theme - it was cute for a first birthday and had a girl's and boy's coordinating party pack that allowed me to go wild with decor! I made pineapple cupcakes with pineapple cream cheese frosting and then used food coloring to dye the frosting according to each baby's theme colors: aqua and yellow for Brayden and pink and lime for Anniston. Notice the two LARGE cupcakes that were made special for the birthday babies - these were their "smash cakes"!!

In the background of the photo are the gum balls and banana runts I included for guests to take with them as they left - we made bags thanking everyone for coming.



For the table centerpieces, I just used some flower vases, rock candy, ribbon, and card stock. Easy-breezy!
























Is it even possible to celebrate a birthday without balloons?
How about a gazillion of them?















I also had these adorable banners made for each baby (I couldn't help myself):

The birthday girl!!

The birthday boy!!














Obviously, I had to have personalized sodas made (and stay within the theme, of course):
Anniston's flavor was FuFu Berry
Brayden's flavor was Pineapple Cream Soda
*Note: there was a personalized message on the back that included current nicknames and adjectives to describe them...family members took these home to keep.

Their little shin-dig was hosted at the pool in our neighborhood and we invited lots of friends and family. We thought we had planned for everything...however, it never occurred to us that our fabulous party might take place on the hottest day of the entire year. It was literally over 100 degrees! Despite the overwhelming sun and heat, most everyone showed up anyway, helped us set-up and breakdown, and when all of the food had been sufficiently devoured, we spent the afternoon in the pool.

One of my best memories of the day was at the end of the party, everyone gathered in our home (in the air conditioning) and watched as we spent over an hour opening tons of gifts with the babies...so much fun - it was like Christmas morning!

Their second birthday, Choo Choo's & TuTu's, was at a park that included a carousel, train ride, wild animal park, water park, mini golf, and paddle boats. We set up under a covered picnic area and walked down to all the attractions - they had a blast!

This theme idea came to me on a pre-made invitation. When I saw the name, I immediately knew it would be perfect for A&B since it truly reflected their interests and personalities at the time! Anniston loves all things pink and twirly and Brayden loves trains -- Choo Choo's and TuTu's was born.

Don't get me wrong. I am sure they would be just as happy having a little cake and opening a few gifts but I plan their parties this way for several reasons:

• They are children (young children) and they should have the time of their lives. 
• Why not celebrate big? 
• Life is full of reality-checks and disappointments, we should take every opportunity to enjoy what we can. 
• They are special and deserve to feel that way. 
• ...and I am a crazy, over-the-top mother and former event planner! 

As my family reads this, I am absolutely sure they are rolling their eyes and sighing. Especially since round 3 is coming up and I have already started planning...

Below are the twinkies at their 2nd birthday, enjoying the Spray Park. 

Anniston in her pink tutu bathing suit (score one for creativity and good sense)!

Brayden - thoroughly enjoying himself at the Spray Park!

38 Weeks

Let me paint this picture for you. When I imagined what pregnancy would look like, I envisioned the woman in the movies cradling her growing belly, whispering lovingly to her unborn, daydreaming of her future child, buying baby clothes and furniture - this woman is glowing and radiant...

What I got was a serious reality check!

In my first trimester, these two little leaches were sucking the life out of me - literally! All of my nutrients and blood flow were re-routed to my angels and this mommy was a zombie for months. I wasn't tired - oh, no. My kind of exhaustion required rest breaks and a nap after a shower. The only bullet I dodged was morning sickness. Don't get me wrong, I had my fair share of nausea but somehow the angels were smiling down upon me and allowed me this one pass...especially since they knew what was coming.

My doctor, who is naturally a very laid back and funny guy, decided to break the news to me during one of my exams in a very matter-of-fact and professional kind of way, "Your pelvis is too small, there is no way two babies are coming out this way. A scheduled C-Section is a must. I will put you on the calendar for 38 weeks."

Oh, 38 weeks, huh? You must be joking, right?!

I mean, everyone knows that very few women actually carry twins to term and this "funny guy" actually assumed I was going to carry an additional two weeks past full-term for twins...I pretty much thought he was insane. Especially when he added that he would be on vacation the week prior to my children entering this world.

Wow. Really? This guy really is a comedian.

During my second trimester, in addition to the usual pleasantries pregnancy has to offer, I began to notice something unusual. I was at dinner with my husband and a friend when I began to feel strange. At first, I tried to ignore the feeling but within a few minutes, my heart was racing, my palms were sweating, and I had the urge to strip off my sweater and lay down to cool off so I excused myself and walked to the restroom. As I entered, I began to feel dizzy and lightheaded. I knew this meant that losing consciousness was imminent and I desperately tried to remember what I was supposed to do to - I first tried to put my head between my legs but, hello? I am very pregnant with twins so guess what prohibited this idea from actually playing out? Naturally, my next brilliant idea was to lay down in the floor of the bathroom and elevate my legs...yes, I'm serious.

I never actually lost consciousness but the symptoms were so uncomfortable and happened so quickly that it alarmed me. I discussed it with my husband and we decided to talk to our doctor about it. Before I could even see him, though, it happened again but this time I was driving my car and was stuck in traffic with nowhere to pull off. I am almost positive a higher power was with me as I panicked trying to stay conscious in a small vehicle and behind the wheel. Somehow, miraculously, I made it into a Target parking lot and had enough time to lay down in my car until I felt I could drive myself back home.

The doctor thought I was having blood sugar issues but all the tests came back fine - this little "issue" continued to plague me throughout the rest of my pregnancy and, in addition, my left leg began to go completely numb from my hip to my knee. Again, no explanation.

I was then hospitalized with what they thought might be a kidney infection because of ridiculous pains in my side but this was never completely confirmed because...well, I'm pregnant and when you are pregnant there are only so many tests and medicines you can take.

At 32 weeks, Bryan and I were getting ready to go to my high-risk OB for an ultrasound when I began to feel pressure in my lower abdomen. At first, I ignored it because I was pretty familiar with Braxton-Hicks contractions at this point. But after an hour or so, I realized the pressure was becoming more uncomfortable and seemed to be coming in intervals. I mentioned something to Bryan about it as we got in the car and decided to begin timing them. The doctor assured me I was fine and told me to go home and rest. By 2 p.m., the contractions were 6 minutes apart and not showing any signs of slowing down. Bryan came home from work and rushed me to the hospital.

Once I had been admitted, they were registering as actual contractions and were 2 minutes apart. A flurry of action then took place and included medications and injections to stop my labor. I was hospitalized for the entire duration of Memorial Day weekend and my stay included a battle between my body and the doctors. In the end, the doctors won and my babies decided they were going to hang out for a little while longer...phew!

Each additional week that passed by seemed surreal. I felt like I was winning some kind of strange contest against nature. By 36 weeks, I was considered full-term for a twin pregnancy. Winning. By 37 weeks, I was terrified fate would intervene and my children would most certainly decide to make an appearance because my doctor had decided to go to flippin' Canada in June...

Finally, the day arrived and I had officially made it to 38 weeks. The scheduled C-Section happened just as planned and my babies were healthy enough to stay with us instead of needing NICU time.

We. Are. So. Blessed.

I am an optimistic person but even I recognize that my track record in life is really a comedy of errors. I mean, really, my motto in life should be "shit happens" - but for once, things went the way they were supposed to. All jokes aside and even with all the craziness during my pregnancy, in the end, we made it all the way. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I am reminded of this each time I hear of a baby or multiples that are born too early...

Oh, and I will admit it since I was initially convinced he was crazy - Dr. Bohmer was right.

Are they? Have they? Do they?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Are they twins? Are they identical? Do they have a twin-language? Do they sense when the other one is hurt or scared? Do they get along? Do twins run in your family? Are they natural? How do you juggle it all? How do you stay sane? Do they sleep together? Do they share a room? 

These are just some of the questions we get asked while we are out-and-about. It is interesting to realize how many people are genuinely intrigued by the idea of twins. I get it. Two humans grew in my uterus (a space meant for only one child and just a few other things...like, my internal organs) and yes, they are the same age and are progressing through developmental milestones at the same time. 

Wait. What? Two screaming newborns, two curious toddlers, two hormonal teenagers? Let that sink in...yep, yep, and yep. 

I understand, yet, when asked some of these questions over and over again, it is difficult not to develop a healthy dose of sarcasm...

The one that really makes me question our level of intelligence as a human race is when someone says, "Awe, they're twins! Are they identical?" 

Really. Let's think about this one for a moment, shall we? 

Yes, I realize they are the same height, the same age, and the same weight but they are a GIRL and a BOY - physically, it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be identical! [Insert your own joke here] Not to mention, they don't look the same and their hair color is different. 

When I was pregnant, people would ask what I was having. My husband once told me that he wanted to say something random to see their reaction - for example:

Stranger: "What are you having?" 

Bryan: "Giraffes." 

[Blank stare]

Some of the other questions are a little more forgivable: No, they never had their own language but they did share moments where they communicated in a way that only they understood. We have not yet encountered a situation where one sensed the other was in distress; however, they are only 2.5 - this may happen eventually. Yes, they get along (for the most part) but honestly, they act like typical siblings do. I don't really think they get along any better or worse than singleton siblings do. 

When our twins were newborns, we let them share a crib. We decided that as long as both were sleeping and not bothering the other, they would be fine sharing a space. Eventually, we separated them into their own cribs but kept them next to each other and in the same room. This has lasted until just last week - they will be 3 in June so we decided it was time to let them have their own room since they are interested in their own colors and themes. Brayden chose a train (choo-choo) theme and Anniston just wanted pink - anything pink. It has been three nights and both have slept...well, like babies! 

The question about whether or not twins run in my family is very personal: it is really asking whether or not they were conceived naturally or with medical intervention and that is awkward for reasons I don't really have to explain. The answer is complicated. The explanation will eventually appear in another post...My point: be careful what you ask, you might not be prepared for the answer.

How we juggle it all and stay sane is an art that I will explain later - for now, just know that it is a matter of trial-and-error, following our instincts, listening to our children, and learning from our experiences. 

The next time you see a mommy and daddy with twins (or multiples) know these facts: yes, they are tired, no, they aren't interested in hearing that you think they probably want a date night, they just want to sleep (uninterrupted and for at least 8 hours), yes, twins are very expensive and no, you aren't allowed to judge if you look over and they have given one or both twins their iPhones to play with - you don't want to see what would happen if the phones weren't available. Take my word for it. 

Twins defy all logic - they share a womb, share a birthday, share a bond unlike any other and are amazing. I understand the curiosity about our life with them and I am happy to share details and insight. I hope to also provide answers for those that are parents-to-be or new parents of twins - this journey is one that should be shared. 

 Anniston & Brayden

Where to begin?

Beginning a blog about a topic so rich with detail and emotions is much more difficult to start than I originally thought. I mean, how does one begin?

Well, I guess the way all good stories begin...with an introduction.  

I would like to introduce you to the “twinkies” — 

Meet Baby A / Anniston Faith - a vibrant, playful, lover of everything pink and girly, sensitive, loving, hilarious little girl. She greets each and everyday as a new adventure and avoids sleep as much as humanly possible for fear she may actually miss something: 

Meet Baby B / James Brayden (we call him by his middle name) - a mischievous, curious and silly little boy. He loves to hide random objects in random spaces, has the best “belly laugh” in the entire world and loves to cuddle:

My babies came into this world on June 27, 2011 - I carried them past what is considered full-term for twins and they were born one minute apart, by c-section, at 38 weeks. They were both healthy and because they weighed 6lbs and 4lbs 12oz, respectively, they did not require any time in the NICU. 

Bryan and I participated in what is known as Kangaroo Care - holding them to our bare skin to keep their body temperature up and also as a means of bonding with them: 

We also believed in the unbreakable bond that already existed between them due to their progression in the womb so we decided to let them share time in one isolette when we could - research actually suggests that when one twin is in distress, the other's presence can have a calming effect: 

Their relationship has flourished: 

Newborn

4 Months

7 Months

1 Year

2 Years

They are now a little over 2.5

Meet Baby A and Baby B, Anniston & Brayden, Chick and Bray. 

Twins and individuals. 

We celebrate both.