Favorite Pictures of 2009

I've had a lot of time at the computer lately while I've been pumping. I've tried to make it a productive time and have been working on a few projects. First I made a photobook of our Hawaii pictures. I should be getting that in the mail any day. Then I needed to organize my 2009 pictures. I decided that while I was going through them, I could pick out my favorites and do a favorite pictures post a la 2007. So here are my top ten for 2009:

Kiran during the snow on Daddy's birthday- March 2

I love how happy Sienna is in this picture plus it was taken while we were on vacation with some of our favorite people, the Hagens.

Cousin Love: Beach Edition

My favorite family picture of the year- at the Reid's annual 4th of July get together

Paradise- the most beautiful place I've ever been- Kalaulau Valley on Kauai

Jonathan after learning to surf at Hanalei Bay Beach

This picture symbolizes so much. I've been friends with each one of these girls since freshman year of college- more than 10 years. Katie, Kelley, Merritt, Lauren, Jill (Erin G was there too but must have left by the time we took this picture). They traveled from NC, DC, Greenville and NC to be at my birthday party. I have the best friends. Plus this was taken at my best birthday party ever- on the rooftop overlooking the Greenville Drive baseball game. And we announced that baby #3 was coming and surprised lots of friends. Except that the surprise was on us because we didn't know at that point that it was twins!

My girls and me at Edisto Beach

These girls bring me such joy. They bring each other joy too. I'm glad they have a sister. I'm glad I had a sister growing up and that we are close now.

And the picture that changed everything!

Happy Due Date!

Today is my due date. The day that popped up on the little due date calculators right after those lines popped up on the pregnancy test. And so began the expectations...

I expected that I would have one baby. I thought the number of our offspring would go from two to three. I didn't expect to get pregnant with twins and double our kids.

I expected that I would be having this one child around now- late March, maybe even early April. Instead of laboring today, I took my 6 week old babies to my OB for my postpartum check up.

I expected that this would be a complication-free pregnancy and delivery just like my other two. I never expected to have a major complication that required in-utero surgery or be admitted to the hospital before delivering.

I expected to spontaneously go into labor. I had gone into labor twice before and I was confident my body would do it again when the time was right. Unfortunately, my placenta had other plans.

I never thought I'd have to have a C-section. And I didn't. Whew. One expectation I didn't have to change.

I never expected to have preemies, to go home without my babies. Empty arms were one of the toughest trials I've ever been through.

So the last few months, my life has been all about changing my expectations. Some expectations I wasn't even aware that I had. Its a hard thing- adjusting expectations. But necessary to thrive in life I think. And now I expect that I will not sleep more than 2.5 hours straight tonight.

March Madness

March Madness means its time for one of my favorite Fitzgerald traditions- second only to the annual Christmas Tree hunt. Every year my family gathers to watch the Selection Show and draw teams for the NCAA tournament. I wrote all about the history of it here.

Every year we draw teams differently. This year Jonathan had the idea to draw teams by family instead of individuals. So the Fitzs, the Caskeys, the Carlisles and the little Fitzs each drew 16 teams to pull for. This year we drew seeds out before the show and then watched to see who we had drawn.

Sienna managed to pull both Duke and Kentucky for us. Seriously.
We ended up with:
9 N Iowa
5 Michigan St
3 Georgetown
15 UC Santa Barbara
1 Kentucky
12 Cornell
7 Clemson
2 West Virginia
16 Vermont
13 Murray St
6 Xavier
10 Florida
1 Duke
7 Richmond
10 St Marys
2 Villinova

So if you read those teams, you'll realize we have 8 teams left. 8 of the Sweet Sixteen belong to the Caskeys. Too bad there is never any prize. We managed to draw some of the big upsets and have 3 of the 4 lowest seeds still left (12,10,9). Its been really fun to cheer as a family although as long as there are cheerleaders and a band, our daughters are perfectly content.

The Boys' Room

I can't show you the finished boys room yet because... its not done. But I can give you a sneak peek. My friend from college- Jane- made these name signs for the boys and I love them!!!

The color scheme for their room is baby blue and chocolate brown. Owen's personal color is blue and Rhys's is green. She incorporated all of that into the signs and made them look fabulous. I have such talented friends.

And if you love them too you can go to her etsy store to see more. She does custom work (like ours)! The signs are up in their room and I have just a few more things to do to get it done. And find another white crib. Anyone have a white crib they want to sell me?

One Month

The biggest blessings in my life...

are ones I didn't even know I wanted.

Happy one month Rhys & Owen!

Rhys (6lbs 11oz) & Owen (6lbs 3oz)

Pride

My pride took a hit last night.

My parents and my sister have all had problems with their teeth. I never have. I've always prided myself on having good teeth- never having a cavity or any issues. So last night when I thought that I had something stuck on my molar, I was really surprised when 1/4 of my tooth came off. Ugh. A gaping hole in my tooth. Thankfully our dentist fit me in today and I have a temporary filling now helping me survive. I broke my tooth. I think Jonathan was in awe.

I'm sad I have problem teeth now. I hope it was just a one time occurrence. I liked having good, easy teeth.

I still have the part of my tooth that came off. Want to see it?

Growing Up So Fast

I just love this picture of the twins with my mom.

Everyone asks how the girls are doing with their new brothers. Well, they are enamored with them. I think we are in a honeymoon phase because the boys sleep all the time and rarely cry. The girls are so sweet to them and announce every time one of them opens their eyes or waves. Sienna has been a bit more clingy but I don't mind the extra snuggle time with her.

We had a pediatrician appt on Friday and the boys are growing like champs. Rhys gained a pound since he left the NICU; he's now 6lbs 6oz. Owen put on half a pound and weighed in at 5lbs 7oz. They checked out perfect in every way. We are so blessed.

Look who is having awake time now!

The boys got to sleep in their big boy crib because I got a stomach virus. Thankfully my mom was already planning to spend the night so she and Jonathan took the night feedings then Jonathan's parents took the girls all day Saturday so Jonathan and I could rest and recover.

Meeting Their Fans

The boys have been busy eating, sleeping and meeting lots of people who love them and have been praying for them!

My best friend from middle school, Julie, brought us dinner and hung out with the boys. I love how our journey with them has brought many special people back into my life.

Uncle Jordan and Auntie Beth were excited to have boy cousins for their boys to grow up with!

Our awesome neighbors, Stu & Rachel, came down to meet the boys. They were our people to call if we had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. Rachel was sad when I went in the hospital that there would be no middle of the night phone call. Rachel fed her first baby that night...

...and came back the next day to do it again! Thanks for all your help Rachel!

Brent & Jenn stopped by to see the boys. Jenn wouldn't hold both of them at the same time so its just her and Rhys in this picture.

Uncle Will came by.

And so did Aunt Lauren!

We are pretty much hibernating until the end of RSV season (beginning of April). We won't be taking the boys out in public till then because the risk of them getting sick is too great. You are welcome to come by and meet them as long as you aren't sick. Because these guys were preemies, they missed a lot of the immunity build up in the third trimester. They pretty much just sleep at this point but we think they are the cutest little guys and we like to just look at them. Well Sienna likes to look at them, yell "Hold it!" and then try to scoop them up. We try to protect them as best we can.

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