Back in the Saddle

I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.  For the past three years, I have organized a 300+ person conference in August and the months leading up to the conference were insane.  I was working long hours — up until 2 am and then multiple night wakings with the boys who were then up for the day by 7 am.  It was exhausting and I didn’t have time for much of anything, let alone posting.

In addition to that, I feel like I don’t have anything interesting to say anymore.  I started this blog when we were in the throes of infertility, then pregnancy, and emergency c-section and a NICU stay and things were exciting.  People were interested in our journey.  Now I feel like we are back to the boring old Cronck family and no one needs to read about my rantings and ravings (which is generally what I feel like posting here).

However, work has settled down and today the boys turned 10 months old.  It feels like a good night to post.

I’m planning a birthday party.  A very special birthday party for two very special little guys who are currently giving Daddy hell because they are supposed to be sleeping but aren’t.  :)

We’ve decided that so many people helped us bring these little guys into the world that it was only right to have a celebration for all of them, to let those that we don’t see on a regular basis see where we are now — a place we could not have been without the support, love and prayers of each and every person along the way.

I really hate having get togethers, though, because my greatest fear is that no one will come and THREE times now, exactly that has happened to me.  My baby shower when I was pregnant with Calista bombed and only one guest and the hostess came.  Calista’s first birthday was only attended by two of the families we invited.  And, I recently tried to have a Pampered Chef party and after just ONE person said they would come, I canceled it.  With my history, I am nervous about this!

However, I hope that by planning in advance and giving enough notice, it will be well attended.  I want to have guestbooks for each boy so people can write messages to them, and a slideshow of their first year.  I want them each to have their own little smash cake (Ace’s will have to be dairy-free due to a milk allergy) and I just want to give everyone a chance to celebrate one of the most special birthdays our family will ever have to celebrate.

I just can’t believe they are ten months old already.  They are so stinkin’ cute they melt my heart (and drive me crazy at the same time some days!!).  Nate has a huge grin when he’s happy (or up to something, like ripping my glasses off of my face) and he says “Dada” and “Mama” (or “Mmmmmaaaahhhhhhh!  MMMMAAAAAHHHH!” when he wants to nurse).  Ace is a giggler when he’s in a good mood and a holy terror when he’s mad.  He crawls fast and gets into trouble faster, and he’s got a smile that can make anyone smile back at him.

They talk and play together more now, and I’ve seen them holding hands the past few days in their tandem stroller and their car seats.  But with that brotherly love comes the fighting, too… they steal toys from one another (mostly Ace stealing from Nate) and Ace is constantly irritating Nate by touching him, pushing him, pinning him down on the floor or pulling his hair.  And Nate lets us know about it — loudly!

We have tons and tons of pictures of them at http://www.cronck.com if you haven’t been there recently.  They are so different in appearance (and personalities) that we don’t have any problem treating them like individuals (a common concern I hear/read among twin moms).

Calista starts Kindergarten in two short weeks — I can’t believe she’s almost five!  Her first birthday didn’t make me cry, but I did cry for her third, and I think her fifth and sending her off to school might do me in.  Follow it up with Ace and Nate’s first birthday a month later and I may just age ten years in the next two months.

My babies are getting big…