BUSY does not even begin to describe our little life right now!  I can hardly keep up.  The days seem long but the weeks seem short.  My girls are growing so fast.  I really can not believe they are approaching a year old next month!  Where has the time gone?  I looked at Mark the other day and asked him "Can you even imagine one without the other?" and he thought for a second and was like "Nope, they are a package deal"....  a FULL package might I add, but so much joy and love in these two precious girls!  So what are they like?  TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE:

MILLS:

• Content
• Solemn
• People Watcher / Observer
• Rarely cries unless she is hungry or tired
• Starting to walk a few steps here and there
• We call her the "light weight"
• She eats less than Rose (if that is possible)
• Prefers cold foods (Popsicles, yogurt, cheese, etc).  Not much on Hot foods (mac and cheese, pizza, pastas, baked potatoes)
• Self entertainer
• LOVES her bed and goes to sleep easily
• Sleeps all night and does not move
• Hates bows on her head and shoes on her feet
• Loves strolling and being outside
• Fascinated with Darly and dogs of any sort (really animals of any kind)
• When she gets mad she just lays face down on the floor
• Inspects all food with her hands before she will eat it
• Gives half of her food to the dog
• Can say "da-da" "ba-ba" "ma-ma" and "bye bye"

MARYN:

• Always happy!
• Always has a smile on her face and will steal your heart with her laugh
• Everything is funny to Maryn
• Wrinkles her nose before she laughs
• Completely unobservant - this child lives her in happy bubble place and does not notice her surroundings or the people in it
• LOVES food.  She will take you down over some pasta, anything with melted cheese, and crackers.  Gotta give her credit though, when she is full, she stops eating. She does reach a point where tank fills up but I also should note ... it takes a lot to fill the tank....
• The cuddle-bug of the two for sure - loves to snuggle and squeeze
• Hates going to bed but its slowly getting better
• Does not sleep all night every night.  She talks and cries out in her sleep a lot.
• Not a fan of Darly because most of the time Darly tries to eat her food ...
• When she gets mad she still turns red and holds her breath
• This kid is STRONG!  She is like a bull in a china cabinet!  When she gets a grip on something it is all downhill from there!
• Hates a sippie-cup and highly prefers her bottle any day
• Has the softest hair I have ever seen.  It also has more body and "fluff" than I have ever seen on a baby.  Is it possible to be a little jealous of your kids hair???  It shines, looks healthy, and never frizzes.  Its like perfect.  For Real.
• Can say "hey" and "ma ma"

When they are TOGETHER:

• Maryn is more dominant
• Maryn would rather play with Mills, Mills would rather play alone.  However, the vibe I am getting from Day School is that Maryn loves playing with anybody, so when she plays with other kids and leaves Mills alone, then Mills gets a little upset and jealous and busts up the party.  Typical twin stuff.  ya know??
• They sit in their beds for about 15 minutes after they wake up and just babble back and forth at each other.  They dont cry in the morning, I usually just know they are awake because I hear the squeals coming from their room.  This melts my heart completely.
• Starting to realize they are dressed alike and find amusement in their outfits.  For example, Maryn notices a bow/ribbon/ruffle/3D something on Mills' dress and pulls on it.  Mills gets mad.  5 minutes later Mills pulls on Maryn's.  Then they start looking down at their own clothes like "oh, I have one too"
• When someone takes a toy away from one of them at the Daycare, the other quickly comes to the rescue and steals it back.  The nannies at the center always report on them and it usually ends with one of them "bringing in the reinforcements."
• Totally entertained by Rose
• Starting to Race - who can crawl the fastest???  Who can get that toy that quickest???

If you ever wished for Twins you need to rub the genie lamp one more time.  Our life is hard but TWICE AS NICE!  More to love, more to squeeze, more to hug, more to laugh at, more to teach.  Its a special thing and we are BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

9 MONTHS (a month late)

We are kind of behind in life right now.  Between the house, starting school, the twins are new to Daycare, and the tasks of everyday parenthood, we are a little bogged down at the moment.  I took 9 months pictures (was it yesterday??) and then I looked up and its time for 10 month photos.  The girls are just growing up so quickly.  I would never have believed that they were lil' 4 pounders struggling for life at one time.  My memories of the NICU are as crisp as if they happened yesterday but the heartache our family experienced a mere 10 months ago is slowly starting to fade.  I guess time does heal a lot of wounds and fear.  Memories make you grateful of how far you have come.  It really does put a new perspective on EVERYTHING.  Lately, poor Mare Bear is packing on the pounds.  Several people have commented on her chubby thighs, round cheeks, and jolly little belly.  It brings tears to my eyes.  Literally.  In a good way.  If you only had the memories of the 3 pound 12 ounce bony little body inflated every 10 seconds by machine you would cry at the sight of a fat roll too.  I could not be prouder of my chubby little baby.  Her smile will light your little world up.  (It might be full of this mornings breakfast she is saving for snack time) but none the less her excitement for life can melt your heart.  She is full of love and laughter.  She ALWAYS has a smile on her face.  ALWAYS.  She can be a little more demanding for attention and the girl knows how to get her point across, but she literally does not meet a stranger and everyone she meets instantaneously falls in love with her.  
Millie has become my more reserved child.  She reminds me of Papa Rose.  I look at her all the time and wonder what she is thinking because by the look in her eyes you know it has to be pure genius.  Of all three of my children, Mills is the easiest.  She is smart.  She is a people watcher.  She is a thinker.  Not much is going to get past Miss Millie.  She enjoys watching the party but not necessarily being the life of the party anymore (this has definitely changed over the course of the 10 months).  She is not one to be passed around easily and is a momma and daddys girl for sure.  She can spot either one of us out in a crowd of 100 and crawl straight for us.  She is quiet most of the time and rarely cries unless she is tired or hungry.  She is mellow and gentle and sweet natured.  If you crack a smile out of her sweet little cheeks consider yourself blessed.  She is 3 1/2 pounds lighter than Maryn now.  The kid rarely eats.  She is not loving the "big people food" at all.  She spits it out and examines it for a good 10 minutes before she sometimes tries it again.  As soon as I turn my head she slips it in her diaper or under the cushion of the chair (thats where the genius comes into play).  I get about 1 bite down her for every 8 I get down Maryn.  She is worse than Rose when it comes to eating.  But, she is growing and is actually taller than Maryn, so I am not going to worry yet.  The kid has more of a 6 pack than I do (which is not saying much).  How would I be so lucky for 2 out of 3 kids to have Mark's figure???  Poor Maryn.  Sorry kid.  Your built like your Momma and you love food like your Momma does too.  That apple didnt fall far from the tree! 

10 month photos coming soon!  We are falling more in love with these girls every day.  Amazed at how our life is changing so fast.