"I think they need a bath," Derek chuckles cleaning up Logan's mess and putting the bowls into the dishwasher. "I'd say so," I poke Sarah's belly making her laugh as I wipe her down and clean the tray off. "You want to take a bath?" I ask them as I clean their faces and hands. Derek washes the rest of the high chair as I pick them both up. "Ready for bath time?" I put them on my hips running a hand through Sarah's curly brown hair. They both giggle and Logan squirms around digging his head in my neck.
"I'll be right up Mer," Derek calls as I start up on the steps. "Do you need help carrying them up?" Izzie asks getting up, "No I got them thanks," I nod swinging them around making them giggle. "Ready for bath time?" I go into our bathroom and sit down next to the little tubs that I lay them in. "Old McDonald Had a Farm," I start to sing while undressing them. I throw out their diapers and fill up the tubs using warm sink water.
"Ah my favorite song," Derek smiles coming in with their towels. "Yeah you missed it," I laugh letting him take over filling up the tubs. "How does your belly feel now with the cracker?" He asks getting out the Johnson & Johnson soap and washcloths. "It's okay, I'm afraid I'm jinxing myself so I don't want to think about it," I smirk blowing raspberries on Logan making him laugh. I tickle Sarah's sides and get her to laugh, "Okay baths are ready for to nakey babies," Derek chuckles picking up Logan and sets him into the bath.
"Does that feel good little man?" I smile taking Sarah and gently laying her back in the tub. Sarah splashes the water laughing kicking her feet out to the sides as I run the washcloth over her body. "You like the water Sar?" I ask her watching her wipe her eyes and put her hand under the water. "Here's your duck," Derek hands them each their ducks as we begin washing their hair and bodies.
"What's this animal?" I show them the animal book with pictures of cows and monkeys and giraffes and elephants. "Can you say cow?" I ask showing them the picture as Sarah points to it and Logan sucks on his thumb. "Logan look it's a doggy! What do doggies say?" I ask and Derek starts barking making Sarah and Logan laugh hysterically. "Is Daddy being silly?" I ask flipping the page to the elephant, "Daddy can you make an elephant noise?" I ask and he laughs as I see Sarah shiver, "Ah I think Sarah's cutting your show she's cold," I laugh kissing him. "Sarah Honey are you getting chilly?" I ask as she lifts her hands up to get up as I wrap her in a warm princess towel and Logan in a Bob The Builder towel.
"All nice and warm, let's get your birthday outfits on you," I take them both laying them onto our bed while Derek empties the water and cleans up. I dry them off even more, powder and lotion them up and fasten a diaper around their tiny waists and start to get them dressed.
"The caterers should be here in an hour," Derek announces helping me dress them. I zip up Sarah's pink gingham dress after putting on her white stockings. "Good so we can shower and get ready," I nod picking a fully dressed Sarah up and kiss her. "Yeah that should give you enough time to do your hair," he laughs holding up Logan who is dressed in his sweater and khakis.
It's finally party time and while I've stayed close to the bucket all day long, I now am too excited showering Sarah and Logan with the love and joy of turning one. The caterers have taking over our kitchen and set up tables and more chairs in the large den so people can move throughout our house with ease. Izzie and I set up all the little gift bags that we made as well as setting the cake around the dessert table.
We have banners hanging down from banisters and walls reading "Happy First Birthday Sarah and Logan" in big block writing. Balloons are tied around chairs and the food is set up on tables in our living room, ready for people to start arriving. We were able to nap the twins earlier and just got them up as I was getting done with my hair and makeup.
"Ready to go see all your aunts and uncles and cousins and your grandma?" I ask them as I step down the stairs and hear the doorbell go off. "I'll get it," Mark shouts hurrying over to open the door. "Just leave the door open so people don't have to ring the door," Derek says walking into the foyer taking Logan from me.
"Hi Mom!" I smile as she gives Mark a big hug and kiss and steps in with Nancy, Kathleen, Sam, and Amy, and their spouses and kids. "Happy Birthday Logan and Sarah," she kisses Sarah and hugs me. "How are you doing?" She smiles leaning over to hug Derek and kissing Logan. "Good, I can't believe they are one today," I grin tears springing to my eyes as I bounce Sarah around on my hip. "Aww mommy's crying," Sam laughs hugging me as all the kids race past her saying hello and if they could go on the swing set. Nancy tells them to be careful and off they run.
"I can't help it, I'm so emotional, I knew this day would be hard," I laugh as Amy hugs me. "First everything's are hard, but you'll get through it don't worry," Kath reassures me smiling. "Yeah, so come on in," I wipe my eyes as Nancy reaches out to take Sarah. "I can't believe how much they have grown since the last time I've seen them," Nancy makes faces at Sarah tickling her.
More tears run down my face as she says that, "Sorry I shouldn't have said that," she laughs as I wipe my eyes. Carolyn hands me a tissue and hugs me, "Thank god I wore waterproof mascara," I laugh as she nods smiling. "As long as they are happy and healthy you have nothing to worry about," she tells me as Owen and Mark take their coats. "Yeah nobody tells you all these milestones make you so emotional," I smile, Carolyn nods wiping my eyes.
"I cried Nancy's first birthday and her first dance recital, well forget it I was a mess as your father in law reassured me that she's not going to college the next day, although it sure felt like it!" She laughs as we all start laughing. "Hopefully I get it together before they go to college," I smile as Matt (Sam's husband) smirks, "That's the spirit Mer!" I look up drying my eyes and see all my brothers and their wives walking in with presents.
