Mallory and Preston's Actual Birthday:)

I just posted pictures of Mallory and Preston's birthday...this year...in my last post. But I wanted to add to that...here are a few pictures from their ACTUAL birthday last year:) This year has literally flown by! It seems like they were just born and I have been really sentimental thinking about this past year of life with them. From the minute they came into this world, they have brought such joy to my life. They are both such calm, peaceful, happy babies with just the sweetest dispositions. I feel so blessed to be their mother and to have them in our family. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to have a daughter which I really desired. I am grateful to be able to stay at home with my children and to raise and teach them and spend each day with them doing fun things, going on outings and adventures, reading, cuddling, and just doing all the things mothers do. This year has not been easy however. It has been very challenging and frustrating at times trying to meet the needs of four kids under four. When I was pregnant, my dad gave me a father's blessing. In it, he repeatedly said this would be one of the hardest and most challenging times in my life...and he was right! However, he also said that Heavenly Father would help me through this...and he was right about that too! I feel God has given me additional energy in order to be able to meet the needs of my children. I often get very little sleep and sometimes am going non-stop, all day long, yet I rarely feel tired. I feel that he has helped me to find joy in motherhood and feel very positive in a situation that could be potentially hard. He has (and still is) teaching me to be more patient and to have more compassion, and to let go of things that don't really matter. This last year has been tough at times, but oh so rewarding. I remember when the babies were born thinking "if I can just get through this first year, I may be able to survive:)"...and I did!! It gets a little easier each day:) I love my children so much and at this time of celebration for Mallory and Preston's life, I just thank God for the chance to be a mother and for all his help in this responsibility. Now, I didn't post this so all of you would write back and say "oh, you're supermom...blah blah blah"...cuz I'm not...I just wanted to express my gratitude for my precious babies on their first birthday:) Love 'em!