Merry Christmas!

It's hard not to compare to last year, but when I do it just makes me appreciate this time even more.  Last year, leaving the hospital to go to the family get together and exchanging gifts without the babies was heart breaking.  My heart was in one place while my body was in another.   Spending Christmas day in the NICU, arranging machines and wires for 30 minutes just so we could stand all together and take a family photo was the reality of our holiday.  And often during the holiday season last year, I kept thinking about how great this year would be.  And it did not disappoint.  What a wonderful week.  We got to spend time with our families, eating good food, exchanging gifts and reveling in holiday cheer.

Speaking of reveling in holiday cheer....we hit a big milestone!  Danny is walking!  That's right I said Danny.  My most fragile preemie.  My last one to come off the vent and breathe on his own (only after a drug intervention to help).  My 'I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times he was bagged and brought back to life' Danny.  My last to leave the hospital, and had to come home on a monitor Danny.   I am so proud of him for making up so much ground!  He's been cruising along furniture since October, but the last 2 weeks he has really started to figure it out.  Then about 2 days ago, he decided he was confident enough to take steps without prompting.  It's been hard to catch on video, but I did today.  Merry Christmas to me.

Elsie and Sammy continue to love the walking toys, and have been doing a lot more free standing, so I'm sure they won't be far behind.  All 3 are talking more and more, and I'm hoping we are going to start hearing some clear words other than Mommy and Daddy soon.

Opening presents went pretty well.  They are not quite old enough to understand the excitement, they mostly like to eat the paper or play with the bag.  They are enjoying their new toys, and the biggest hits were the play hut, the piano book, and the xylophone.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas morning in our jammies

fell asleep in the car on the way home the other day.  How do you wake this face?

Sleeping so peacefully

always a little suspicious when she first wakes

then the smiles come

selfies with mommy

sleepy face

loves the play hut

peek-a-boo

we love presents, but not as much as we love food!