Gavriella and Layla

June, 1998

Gavriella and Layla were born May 30, 1996 at 30.5 weeks gestation. Right before their second birthday, we did a genetics test and discovered that they are IDENTICAL twins. Now we feel less bad about sometimes mixing them up...

These photos show them in the months before they turned TWO!

In the last six months, they have both made tremendous developmental jumps -- literally. Both are quite acrobatic. They are big climbers and jumpers. Some days, I think they're doing everything they can to land squarely on their heads...

They are learning to talk and exercising their growing vocabularies all the time. They love to sing and even to make requests (or was that placing an order??) of anybody who will sing to them. They have entered their "two's" with a vengeance...

They are warm and affectionate, sociable and pretty generous for two year old's! They clearly love each other and depend on one another's presence.

Here are the girls with their favorite "friends."

Here are the girls with their mom... May, 1998

Here is Layla being the doctor and Gavriella waiting for the doctor...well, they're putting the stethoscope to good use!

Here is Layla enjoying her bubbles (Gavriella in the background)

Here is Gavriella after her first "flower" picking for her mommy. What sweet-smelling dandilions!

Layla examining her dandilions in the sunlight...

Layla's favorite way to "hang out."

And her are some classic pictures from last year!

Gavriella is sooo big! (7/97)

Layla is sooooo cool (11/97)

Layla is soooooo big :) (7/97)

Gavriella upside down (7/97)

Budding artists? (8/97)

Have you told your preemie story? I'm working on a book for parents of preemies which is designed to provide support - and to let people know that they are not alone in their feelings. We are collecting stories through the end of 1998! We would love to hear from you :-)

The Emotional Journey of Parenting Your Premature Baby