Open the front gate to Rosemary Nolan and Melissa Keevers’ Brisbane home and you’re instantly delighted by a scene of fun-loving bedlam. The moment you step into the yard, five very cute little redheads come crawling through a sea of bubbles and balloons.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a year since the loving same-sex couple first showed off their quintuplets conceived via a US sperm donor. And little Noah, Charlie, Eireann, Evie and Abby couldn’t be happier than they are today, totally embracing – and destroying – their very first birthday cake.

“I think the first year has gone better than we expected,” says birth mum Mel. “We were facing so many challenges. Trying to get them into a structured routine was the first big challenge, and making sure it was stuck to.” As the quins approached their first birthday, Rosie says the burden of adjusting to an instant large family (they had daughter Lily, 2, prior to the arrival of the quins) became easier.

“We are in such a better place now,” she beams. “It really started at around nine months – when they could hold their bottles and when they started to move and entertain themselves, it made a huge difference.” Adds Mel, 28, “As soon as they could crawl and get to where they wanted to go… it wasn’t quite ‘easy street’, but it did ease the stress.” Rosie, 23, says the gift of sleep has been largely restored to this bustling family. “We might get six hours of sleep now, whereas in the beginning, we’d often get none. As soon as they’re in bed, they generally won’t wake up until 4.30 or 5am… They get a good night’s rest, which is wonderful for all of us.”

Read more about Rosie and Mel's quins this week's Woman's Day, on sale February 17, 2012.