Town Road, Pembroke, home of Bermuda's only quintuplets to celebrate their first birthday.

And while the special infants will be totally oblivious to what is going on, their parents -- Troy and Robin Smith -- are well aware that the day marks the end of one chapter of their lives, but the beginning of many others.

Speaking with The Royal Gazette yesterday, the Smiths described the past year with the quins -- Makiri, Dakarai, Makesi, Raziya, and Marjani -- and how it has changed their lives.

"The past year has been a good experience and very busy,'' Mrs. Smith said as she sat to chat minutes before the quins' lunch time feeding.

"But if I had to do this over again I would not. It has taken away so much and made life so different from what it used to be.

"But I do have to thank God for giving this type of blessing to me and I still give him thanks every day. I thank him for their health and strength and their ability to move around like they should be. I also pray for their stability in the future.'' "They have developed like normal one-year-olds,'' she said.

Faced with food, clothes, and household bills five times the amount of what their bills used to be with nine-year-old son, Ayinde, Mr. Smith said he and his wife are taking things one day at a time.

"There was a time when we didn't have to rely on our parents,'' said the Devonshire Recreational Club groundsman. "But now we know we can't do it by ourselves.

"It's a good thing Robin and I have good parents. If we didn't, things would definitely be harder.'' Mrs. Smith said her mother frequently takes one or two of the babies and Ayinde, to stay at her home. Aunts and uncles also take the infants out for afternoon strolls.

Mr. Smith's sister, Tracy, has also been a constant source of support since the quins' birth at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC.

And despite their economic problems, having little time to themselves, and having to put some dreams on hold, the Smiths said the quins have brought joy to their lives.

"They have a lot of energy now, especially Makiri and Marjarni,'' Mrs. Smith said. "It's amusing to watch them playing together.'' The quins, who all have teeth, have already made it clear they do not like green vegetables, with the exception of peas, and fruit juices.

But Mrs. Smith has learned to deal with this.

"They eat a lot of orange vegetables,'' she said, "and we make sure they have plenty of fruit and milk. I'm not about making feeding time fighting time.'' Mrs. Smith said the infants' ability to hold their own bottles and sit up has cut down on feeding and bathing time.

But their increased mobility and curiosity also calls for more of her attention -- something the quins constantly seek.

"I'm very conscious of sharing my attention with all of them,'' said Mrs.

Smith who took a child development course at the Bermuda College. "I worry because I don't want them to think they have to fight for attention. I want them to feel secure and know that they are all equally loved.'' HAPPY BIRTHDAY! -- Bermuda's only set of quintuplets getting ready yesterday for their first birthday today.