Ella & Emma turn 1!

Saturday we went to Ella and Emma's first birthday party. Charlotte was a little overwhelmed at first, but warmed up eventually and started playing with Ella & Emma's cousins. Erin & Dave's family was there as well as Drena, Oliver, and Drena's mom. Erin and Dave had a slideshow of the girls' first year playing on the TV. It is amazing to watch the progression. I remember very clearly the morning Dave called to tell us the girls had been born. My sister, Sally, and her husband were in town visiting. I was making breakfast and my phone rang. It was Dave, and the first thing he said was, "I'm a Daddy." I remember feeling stunned. Erin had just gone home from the hospital after weeks of bedrest a day or two before! They were so tiny - and now they are as big or bigger than Charlotte! After the party, we all headed over to the zoo. It was a gorgeous day, and the zoo was packed. For some reason, I remembered Zoo Atlanta not being very nice, and was surprised walking around. It is really nice. We saw the gorillas, pandas, and african animals.

The gorillas are amazing. There is one, Ivan, that was born around 1962 - 17 years older than Judd and me.

Charlotte hadn't had much of a nap that day and was starting to lose patience about the time of the petting zoo. She isn't one to just lay back in her stroller and doze off. So, Judd, Charlotte, and I headed home.

I was so happy that we were able to be a part of Ella & Emma's big day. Over the past year, I have had a few of my dear friends have babies. It has been such a fun year, and I truly love watching their children grow. I also love learning how to be a mother from them. Each of us has a different personality, and it is fun to see how that is reflected in the new role of Mother. I love their children, and hope that our kids will continue to grow up knowing each other.