Happy Birthday Twinlings!!!

 

Yesterday, my twinlings turned 14 years old. *sniff-sniff*.

How did this happen? How did 14 years just fly by so quickly? I still remember the day they were born as if it were yesterday. I was in labor for two days, induced because I was 39 weeks pregnant and larger than a VW bug. I could barely walk and begged someone to persuade my babies to leave my body, so I could hold them in my arms and not inside my poor, painfully over-stretched belly.

Jax pushed his way out first, weight 6.6 lbs, staring quietly at his new world. Not a cry or peep out of him. His flat head reminded me of ET. You could have placed a dinner plate up there.

Jem took a little longer to enter the world, weighing in at 7.7 lbs …..35 minutes later, he slid out into the world, kicking, screaming, eyes squeezed tightly shut, seemingly wanting to turn around and slither his way back to his cozy, warm womb instead of the bright, cold, jarring world he was presented with.

He fussed and complained for the first week of his life before finally realizing this was how life was going to be.

 

I remember learning how to jostle and maneuver two babies at once for breastfeeding sessions….many times a day. It was easier and faster to feed them at the same time.

I remember the diapers……lots of ‘em. And I remember dressing them in their adorable matching outfits and taking tons of photos of them all day long.

I still take many photos of them, but instead of dressing alike and looking cute, they have grown into individuals with their own unique and special personalities. They are handsome young men with wicked senses of humor who enjoy hamming it up for the camera and making me laugh.

Things haven’t changed all that much…….

My twinlings, Jax and Jem are also kind, considerate, loving, compassionate, thoughtful, and always willing to lend a hand when asked.

I’ve heard so many horror stories about how kids turn into evil, flippant, insolent, lazy, moody teenagers with ‘tude.

So far that hasn’t happened with my boys, and I still enjoy hanging out with them, hiking, letterboxing, playing video games, watching movies, taking care of the animals and chores around the ranch, working on homeschool activities together, or just talking.

I am not embarrassed to say that, not only am I immensely proud of who my sons have become, but also how much I really like them, too. They are both really terrific human beings.

And very best friends, too.

I have to admit that I shed a few tears yesterday thinking about how quickly 14 years has flown by and how quickly 4 more years will zoom on by. And realizing that my baby boys will be 18 years old……adult men, ready to head and out live their own lives if they so choose.

*sniff-sniff*

There I go again.

So I don’t want to think about that now. Today they are just 14 years old.

                               Happy Birthday, Jax and Jem!