Happy Birthday Nathan and Ryan !

Dear Babies,
I'm not sure what I'll call you when you are 15....but I'm pretty sure it will still be, "the babies".
I'm sorry.
Right now it only seems a little strange to call you babies.    You still have that 9% of baby padding packed around your cheeks and middle section that let me get away with it in public.    Although your height is becoming an issue.   I'm certain there are those questioning whether or not you are already 3, maybe 3 1/2 which would make it only a tiny bit weird calling you babies.   You guys are getting so big.

Nathan, today you came up and grabbed my wrist with a plastic grabber picker upper thing.   You told me in your most evil voice (which is actually quite evil), "now you ah never get outta here.   I'm captain hook.   I slap you face."     
I grabbed you and tickled you and after giggling for a minute you sat up, leaned in and tried to give me a long kiss on the lips :)  
I absolutely adore every single cell in your body.    Except for the cell that makes you do terrible things.  but just that one cell.  The rest I love love love.
You still have a ferocious appetite and eat ANY thing.   Well except for the nectarine you decided to help yourself to today.  I found the nectarine with a large bite taken out of it sticking to the carpet in the office and only a few feet away the remnants of what had been chewed a few times.   nice.

You are HILARIOUS.   The last 3 years we've been wondering what the hell is in that head of yours....and now it comes spewing out and frankly, it's damn funny.
Who knew.
You have special effects and facial expressions.   You're your own comedy club buddy.....and me and Mommy J have front row seats.
but Nate....please reserve the hysterical madness for me and mommy J.  and not for your teachers and classmates one day.
Love,
Mom.

Ryan, today you are sick.    You have the stomach bug that Spencer, Cameron and Nathan had before you.    I alternated between rubbing your belly and sticking my fingers in the creases of your fingers and toes like you make us do while you thrashed around from 1:30-4:30 am  (all by myself because Mommy J's on another one of her work trips) which is just about the time that your sister and brother woke up for the day.   You went back to sleep at 5 for an hour, which means that I too slept for an hour.   ugh.
You are a trooper though.   and a cuddler.  

You have found a shell to crawl into around the people you used to run to with open arms.   The ones you still talk about daily and want to visit.    We're not really sure if you are shy or just playing hard to get.

There is something about you that keeps you first choice with your brothers and sister.  They all want to baby you, or have you be their pretend baby.   You usually fight them off, with Nathan standing in the wings hand up ready to throw himself in a diaper with a burp cloth around his neck.  but you...you play the hard to get game and seem to be the number one and only.  

Your storms are still monstrous at times.   Less frequent.  but there is always a hint of one around the corner.    Today you got the windex from under the bathroom sink downstairs while I had my thumb on the big kids making them clean the playroom.    You sprayed the toilet, several walls but mostly the carpet and Spencer's bear.    
The punishment ended with me ripping the empty bottle out of your hand and throwing it away. (with of course my meanest face including the clenched jaw)  By the time I had returned you were again doubled over with pain.    I picked your slender little frame up and we went and rocked while you tried to find a position that didn't hurt.
It's really hard to stay mad at you.   Especially now that your sensitive personality shows a bit more.   I can see that your brain isn't always good at making the right choices, but your heart feels and sees every mad face.  
We'll work it out buddy.
Love,
Mom

HAPPY Birthday BABY boys !
I love you more and more with each passing year.
(something any twin mom would understand)  ;-)