Happy New Year!

Today is the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.  Last night we celebrated with a BIG dinner at my parents' house with family and friends, and tonight we will overeat once again at my aunt Jane and uncle Ed's house.  Last night we got the boys down for bed before dinner, so Eric and I were able to eat dinner at a leisurely pace with the rest of the family and participate in conversation in a way we don't get to when the babies are on our laps, which we both enjoyed. 

Then today we went to synagogue, and it was the boys' first time there.  We dressed them up in these little man outfits that Eric's aunt and uncle in Germany had sent us:

They got a lot of attention for being twins and for being absolutely adorable.  They were also perfectly behaved (not that we have expectations for obedience at this age, but it is nice when their being quiet coincides with our being in public).  They ate before we went, then sat on our laps during the service.  There was a blessing over new beginnings, and so we went up on the bimah for them to receive that blessing.  It still seems so unreal that last year at High Holidays I was about 2 months pregnant, worried sick about my pregnancy sticking and being successful, and this year I am celebrating with two healthy and beautiful boys.  I feel so lucky; the only word that fits for a day like this: blessed.