four

The day I first saw them on the ultrasound screen I couldn't really focus on their hearts beating or the blobs on the screen.

I was shaking so hard that the entire exam table was shaking. Clattering. I was grinning but I had tears streaming down my face. And they were tears of shock.

Not Jimmy. He had the biggest ear to ear grin I'd ever seen. A grin of pure joy.

For about 24 hours I couldn't really talk to anyone, I was still shaking. Twins? Four children?

Let's be honest. Four years later...I might still be in shock. HA!

But I got over the fear and read everything I could get my hands on. We bought 2 pack and plays, a double nursing pillow, boxes and boxes of diapers, binkies in 2 different colors, bottles galore...and prayed. Prayed that my pregnancy would be a healthy and safe one. And it was.

We prayed that they would stay in my belly for as long as possible. And they did. 36 weeks.

And the first year was a BLUR. Seriously...I look at photos from the first year and I don't even remember being there. I'm not exaggerating. J was gone for most of the time and the first year was a frenzy of feeding and burping and swaddling and rocking and spit up and SO MUCH POOP and ...truthfully...lots of crying. From them and from me. And from Harper and Sadie.

From the moment they were born they have stolen our hearts. They have changed our lives and our family in so many ways. Some we could have imagined and so many that we never in a million years could have suspected.

And today they are four.

We are so in love with them. They fill this home with pure joy.

I am in awe of the way that God shaped our lives in a way that we never could have seen. He had bigger and better plans than any we had.

This life is so full. Full of laughter and screaming and hair elastics and Barbie shoes and love. It's so full of love.

Happy, happy birthday darling girls.

You are our sunshines.

xo

Comments

[Ruth]

Oh, my gosh! Four years old already??? Happy, happy birthday to Cate and Lucy! And congratulations to you and J ~ you are awesome parents ~ you rock!

[Mary Jo]

Beautiful post! It's seems like just yesterday you shared you were pregnant with twins on the SC message board :)
Hope they have a wonderful birthday!

[Miriam Prantner]

Happy birthday to those two, what sweeties!!!

[Pat Cloud]

So hard to believe they are already four! Such beautiful, funny girls! Happy birthday Cate & Lucy! You are so blessed!

[Kathy M.]

FOUR! Already??? Didn't they turn 1 just last year? lol ;) I hope you all have a wonderful day of celebrations.

[kate]

Sweet!

[tara pollard pakosta]

happy 4th birthday to your beautiful cate and lucy. they make me smile and laugh so I can't imagine how awesome life with them is every day!!! they are so beautiful and sweet. That second to the last picture holy cow, looks like SADIE ON THE LEFT and HARPER ON THE RIGHT!

enjoy every second! well not the tantrums and the crazy parts, for that there is wine LOL!

you are doing a great job being their mother steph!
xoxo
tara

[CJ]

Happy birthday Cate and Lucy, I hope you all have a really wonderful day. How the time flies by. CJ xx

[clippergirl]

Happy Birthday girls!!!! It has been amazing watching you grow (via your Mommy's blog) and hope your year is filled with more Happy, happy, happy moments and adventures!

[ginny]

Happy Birthday Sweet Lucy & Cate. Thank you Stephanie for sharing photos & stories of these sweet beautiful little girls. I look forward to each new photo & tale.

[Laura]

Happy birthday, Lucy & Cate! You're doing great, Mama! (And Papa, too, of course!) Those cakes look amazing -- princess cakes for princesses. Four is such a cute age.

[Lina]

Dear steph. I have follow even your blog DORA at least six years. My Logan just turned 4 on nov 11. He's due dare was the 24 but he had other plans. Congrats to your beautiful princesses and kudos to you for raising 4 beautiful stong girls. Ours are almost the same age. My oldest one just turned 9 and my middle one six. Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to your amazing family.

[Lina]

Dumb auto correct. Meant to say for at least 6 years.

[Alison]

Happy Birthday Howells! My girls and I enjoy reading about you and your girls and all your adventures. May your fifth year together be filled with joy and laughter (and less whining for your momma's sake).

[Ki Kruk]

Awwww...so sweet. Hard to believe they are four already! Happy Birthday Cate & Lucy! You both look beautiful in your princess dresses!

[Kirsten J]

So adorable! Happy birthday, girls - I mean, princesses!

[Christine Campbell]

Seems like yesterday, truly. I've been in awe of you and Jimmy all these years raising those sweethearts and enjoyed every single second you've shared. I only hope they aren't too too old before I get to meet them all in person. Happy Birthday Cate and Lucy!!!

[Jackee Garcia]

I remember reading your blog posts leading up to and the "its twins" post. Your family is so blessed and so much fun to follow. Have a blessed birthday celebration girls and and an abundance of blessings sent your way for Thanksgiving!

[Ally]

I don't read too many blog posts any more, but this one I HAD to read. I cannot even believe they are four. In my head Harper is still four! Sending you happy birthday wishes for the girls and big congrats to you, momma for creating such an incredible family and home.

[Jonnelle]

Happy,happy sweet girls! Wow, time has flown by and I'm so happy that you've shared pictures of all four of your blessings so we can watch them grow!

[Sharon Osborn]

Ah what fun going through memory lane with you! I forgot how small they were when they were born! And remember how we laughed at "copy" and "paste"???

Happy Birthday Cate and Lucy! You are sweet-hearted girls.

And you are right on about the love. So. much. love.

Blessings, Sharon

[Mel]

I remember that first year...I lived every moment I could alongside you through this blog, as did many many others :D Happy fourth birthday, sweet girls <3

[Gayle Wheeler]

FOUR?! Already??!! How is that possible?
I hope Princess Cate and Princess Lucy had a marvelous birthday celebration!!
xo

[LeighErin]

awww, happy birthday and they are so beautiful and so happy (and have the best cakes) because they have the best Mommy & Daddy!

[krista]

happy birthday sweet cate and lucy! i had my 2nd daughter a month after you had your girls, so i vividly remember seeing the pictures and reading your blog and marveling at how you did life with twins. well done mama- they are beautiful!

[sam]

Happy Birthday sweet sweet girls! How did that happen? How are they four already???

[Vicky Wilbeck]

Happy birthday, Cate and Lucy!! I can't believe you are 4 already!!!

[Kelly]

Happy Birthday Cate & Lucy!
I share your feelings about twins making time fly! No memories of the 1st year and mine just turned 3 - how did it happen??

[Michelle King]

4 years already?! It seems like just yesterday I stumbled across your blog and had my husband asking me what had me glued to the computer and I would reply, "this incredible woman who I came across in the scrapbooking world who has 4 girls under the age of 5. Her stories make me laugh and cry and she is just so real - it's like she reads my mind". Thanks for sharing your journey and happy, HAPPY birthday to those sweet, entertaining littles (or not so littles) of yours!