and no, I am not pregnant. Just surrounded by women who are. Apparently those with two year olds feel compelled to have another one. ;)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Babies having babies
and no, I am not pregnant. Just surrounded by women who are. Apparently those with two year olds feel compelled to have another one. ;)
Koozies for Daddy
Can't wait for Greg to start swigging beer from these. Would have gotten a shot of that tonight, but we are (gasp!) all out of beer.
Time for mommy to hit the grocery store.
Castle condos
This the art Lucy created today. She made townhouses out of her princess castles.
Hmmmm, giant houses close together. Maybe she is telling us she wants to move to Plano.
Taller is not equal to older
When I'm out and about with the girls, I brace myself for the follow up question after "are they twins?" I have heard tale of people saying things such as..
*asking if girl/boy twins are identical. (as BJWT says, "Penis. Vagina.")
*saying things such as "she's the pretty one"
*asking "are they natural?" (acually, they are robots. Thank goodness I can just shut them down at the end of day, right??!!!)
*Asking, "which one is older?"
That last one really befuddles me. They are 10 minutes apart. Did Lucy gain 10 minutes of wisdom over Harper while she was being cleaned up and checked over? Did her pushing her way further down sooner give her the right to lord it over her sister for the next 2 decades (because after that it will be cooler to be the younger one)?
But quite a few times lately people have said (knowing that they are twins), "She's the older one, right?" about Harper. I can only think because she's taller. And looks more mature than Lucy (who has luscious, cherub cheeks and ringlets). But, 10 minutes of aging wouldn't really show on a person, would it?
It is also personality. Harper is more likely to go sit on the quilt at storytime or let the teacher at yoga help her with a handstand than is Lucy. Lucy hangs back with me a little. My theory on the birth order - she wanted to get out to get to Mommy first.
*asking if girl/boy twins are identical. (as BJWT says, "Penis. Vagina.")
*saying things such as "she's the pretty one"
*asking "are they natural?" (acually, they are robots. Thank goodness I can just shut them down at the end of day, right??!!!)
*Asking, "which one is older?"
That last one really befuddles me. They are 10 minutes apart. Did Lucy gain 10 minutes of wisdom over Harper while she was being cleaned up and checked over? Did her pushing her way further down sooner give her the right to lord it over her sister for the next 2 decades (because after that it will be cooler to be the younger one)?
But quite a few times lately people have said (knowing that they are twins), "She's the older one, right?" about Harper. I can only think because she's taller. And looks more mature than Lucy (who has luscious, cherub cheeks and ringlets). But, 10 minutes of aging wouldn't really show on a person, would it?
It is also personality. Harper is more likely to go sit on the quilt at storytime or let the teacher at yoga help her with a handstand than is Lucy. Lucy hangs back with me a little. My theory on the birth order - she wanted to get out to get to Mommy first.
Party girls
The girls had TWO birthday parties this past weekend so we got to wear our finery. The first for friend Harrison's 2nd at the Children's Musuem, and the 2nd for Charlotte's first at their pad. Big day. They didn't nap. But I did. For like 2 hours.
You got a little something...
on your face.
The other day (instead of napping) Harper tried to remove Lucy's birthmark (between her eyebrows) with a little spit on her finger. For the record, it didn't work.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Baby love
The girls love babies. They notice them now, and want to hold them when they belong to someone I know.
This is them getting to "hold" Wyatt who is 6 months old and not all that much smaller than them. They were in heaven.
They also like to take turns being the baby. Fake crying will elicit head kissing and "its o.k. baby" or fetching a pretend cup of milk.
Body art
After two days of no baths because our water was turned off (we had a leak, Greg spent much of last weekend fixing)I figured it was the perfect time to get extra dirty.
"Naptime"
Naps remain elusive in Casa Blanca.
The only success I have had is if I lay down in the guest bed with one, leaving the other crying and locked in the room. When the one in the guest bed nods off, I can go into their room and lay with second child until she relaxes.
It kind of sucks. I start to wonder if its worth the effort. Lately, I have just been putting a movie on and hope they will at least relax their brains and at most nod off.
movie nap
But, ohhhh, they need that nap. Today when I went to pick up Harper at school she was having a fit and they said she had just been laying down. Surely, I thought, naps would work today. Alas, just two extremely grumpuses this afternoon, who refused to eat dinner because they wanted "somefing else"and are now being put to bed. At 6:20 pm. We have two birthday parties tomorrow, so I really need them to catch up on sleep. And so do I. After a back to back late night bible study and book club, I'm zonked.
The only success I have had is if I lay down in the guest bed with one, leaving the other crying and locked in the room. When the one in the guest bed nods off, I can go into their room and lay with second child until she relaxes.
It kind of sucks. I start to wonder if its worth the effort. Lately, I have just been putting a movie on and hope they will at least relax their brains and at most nod off.
movie nap
But, ohhhh, they need that nap. Today when I went to pick up Harper at school she was having a fit and they said she had just been laying down. Surely, I thought, naps would work today. Alas, just two extremely grumpuses this afternoon, who refused to eat dinner because they wanted "somefing else"and are now being put to bed. At 6:20 pm. We have two birthday parties tomorrow, so I really need them to catch up on sleep. And so do I. After a back to back late night bible study and book club, I'm zonked.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Favorite snack
Harper's favorite snack is "something else" or somefing else. Just like her favorite place to eat is "someplace else". Outside of the home. Apparently she doesn't know there is a recession going on and I have discount pork chops marinating.
Toddlers on tractors
Daddy outing at Lowe's. Mommy stayed home and vacuumed the floor and cleaned up. Not something I can ever do with them in the house now. Because its constant, specific and ever-changing demands. "I want the whole bag!" for soy nuts. Its huge. And not a sturdy bag. But she wants it. The whole thing! Tantrum ensues.
After being around this for a whole day, Greg said to me, "I don't understand why you haven't gone back to work yet."
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Nature centered
The Science and Nature center is one of our favorite activities. Its conveniently located near Zilker, so sometimes I can get a run in before. They have animals (coyotes, owls, foxes, bunnies, snakes) and a giant dinosaur bone pit dig sandbox.
And its free. This week we met three other sets of two year old twins. We had a blast.
Afterward we headed over to the botanical garden, because we aren't sleeping much these days anyway. Except, of course, on the ride home.
the nap
And its free. This week we met three other sets of two year old twins. We had a blast.
Afterward we headed over to the botanical garden, because we aren't sleeping much these days anyway. Except, of course, on the ride home.
the nap
All that glitters
is not gold. In fact, I kind of hate it. Its always the babysitters that do the glitter projects. The latest was my birthday cards. Adorable. They were proud of them.
But now my house looks like the aftermath of a rave. I have vacuumed, mopped and hand-wiped the floors. Its still there. Its on the bottom of my shoes, in Lucy's scalp, in the dog bowl.
This ain't no disco.
The violators
But now my house looks like the aftermath of a rave. I have vacuumed, mopped and hand-wiped the floors. Its still there. Its on the bottom of my shoes, in Lucy's scalp, in the dog bowl.
This ain't no disco.
The violators
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Getting Older
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
- Madeleine L'Engle
We all hit a landmark today. Me - 37. Harper and Lucy - 2 1/2. They are getting bigger. I try to stop it, but its happening. The other day Harper told me "We're girls." As in, not babies. Though sometimes they definitely need babying. I mourn that my baby days are behind me. They are going to be big squirmy, talky-backy, sharp-elbowed girls in no time.
There are benefits to this - self-sufficiency, no more diapers, increased ability to converse. But I still get that little pit in my gut.
I look at myself, and think "what would 25 year old me think of me?" I drive a mini van. I carry a large bag with wipes and snacks and band-aids in it. (it is a cute orla kiely though) I don't really like to stay out past 10 pm, even on the weekends. The other day I actually told some teenagers at the park to stop standing on the baby swings.
Of course, 25 year old Jenny didn't get sweet birthday hugs and kisses from two two and a half year olds.
- Madeleine L'Engle
We all hit a landmark today. Me - 37. Harper and Lucy - 2 1/2. They are getting bigger. I try to stop it, but its happening. The other day Harper told me "We're girls." As in, not babies. Though sometimes they definitely need babying. I mourn that my baby days are behind me. They are going to be big squirmy, talky-backy, sharp-elbowed girls in no time.
There are benefits to this - self-sufficiency, no more diapers, increased ability to converse. But I still get that little pit in my gut.
I look at myself, and think "what would 25 year old me think of me?" I drive a mini van. I carry a large bag with wipes and snacks and band-aids in it. (it is a cute orla kiely though) I don't really like to stay out past 10 pm, even on the weekends. The other day I actually told some teenagers at the park to stop standing on the baby swings.
Of course, 25 year old Jenny didn't get sweet birthday hugs and kisses from two two and a half year olds.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Scotch tape salvation
They ripped the bible. I heard the wretched noise of paper tearing and an "uh oh!" from them. I yelled (which is probably not what you should do when your children are reading the bible). And took the bible away. They knew to be gentle with the pages. And then I looked at what they ripped. The page of Eve taking the apple from the serpent. Poetic.
Eve and that darned apple, God casting us from the garden. Its been downhill ever since. Until... redemption. Which in this case came in the form of scotch tape.
While I was taping, Lucy loaded a program onto my notebook.
Eve and that darned apple, God casting us from the garden. Its been downhill ever since. Until... redemption. Which in this case came in the form of scotch tape.
While I was taping, Lucy loaded a program onto my notebook.
Ultimate indignity
Morning coffee. Home-brewed. Trying to wake up.
Faster daughter whooshes by and knocks it from my grip.
Shattered ceramic. Sloshed coffee on tepee. And me.
I only had two sips.
Daughter insists on me toweling off the two drops that got on a the Itty Twins book.
Faster daughter whooshes by and knocks it from my grip.
Shattered ceramic. Sloshed coffee on tepee. And me.
I only had two sips.
Daughter insists on me toweling off the two drops that got on a the Itty Twins book.
Monday, March 2, 2009
New to talking
New talkers are funny.
Lucy (to me while she was kicking me on the changing table): "Momma, you're like a fun toy"
Harper (while Single Ladies was playing on the radio): "This my favorite song" She likes to get her hands "up".
Harper: "Bite me, Mommy"
Lucy (to me while she was kicking me on the changing table): "Momma, you're like a fun toy"
Harper (while Single Ladies was playing on the radio): "This my favorite song" She likes to get her hands "up".
Harper: "Bite me, Mommy"
Sunday, March 1, 2009
My kind of bible
I have been doing a Christian study class called "The Truth Project" and I also just read "The Shack" for book club this month which has really made me want to spend some time reading the bible.
But its pretty long, and a lot of words in it. And then this adorable little book comes in the mail from Auntie Rachel. Thank you!
It gets to the crux and I like the illustrations. And it doesn't hurt to approach God like a child.
From the real Bible...
"Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).
Wait, was this for the girls?
But its pretty long, and a lot of words in it. And then this adorable little book comes in the mail from Auntie Rachel. Thank you!
It gets to the crux and I like the illustrations. And it doesn't hurt to approach God like a child.
From the real Bible...
"Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).
Wait, was this for the girls?
The Scary Part
We have a new expression of emotion in our house. Things are now "scary". Disney movies. Scary. Aladdin is too scary to watch. The Octupus witch in Little Mermaid is scary. Captain Hook and the ticking crocodile are scary. I can definitely see it. I'm a little scared myself. They tried to tell me that Elmo was scary. I wasn't buying that. I told them that nothing on Sesame Street has been scary since they retired Sammy the Snake in the 80s. I'm Sammy the Snake and I have to confessss, I look and sound just like the letter S. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSss. Or was it just me who had to hide behind the sofa when it came on?
And sometimes Mommy is scary. When I'm the monster who they are telling to chase them.
Hiding in the curtains from monster mommy.
Scary
Scary
Scary
And sometimes Mommy is scary. When I'm the monster who they are telling to chase them.
Hiding in the curtains from monster mommy.
Scary
Scary
Scary
Bedlam
What have I done? I decided the solution to our next step in sleeping was the toddler beds. They kept getting out of their cribs. I had just sold our crib tents. Someone was selling 2 cute pottery barn toddler beds in my Mothers of Multiples group. We weren't prepared to spend $2000 on twin beds (pssst. the economy is real bad) and I wasn't ready to get rid of my double rocker to make room. Thus, the toddler beds.
The girls were excited when I told them. Lucy started her mileaminutecan'ttakeabreath talking. She wanted a pink bed, cuz that's her favorite, but was still o.k. with the white.
Harper made her excited face.
We kept the cribs in there because we weren't sure how things were going to go and didn't have time to disassemble.
Night 1: Multiple exits. Crying running around. About 45 minutes into it Lucy ended up in the crib. Harper stayed in the big girl bed. Slept pretty well.
Day 2: 7 a.m wakeup - there goes my 15 - 45 minutes of sleep in time. Nap. Didn't happen. After about 1.5 hours of trying I finally bit the bullet and took them on a tour of parks. On the way there they were saying, "My tired." Yeah, I bet you are. But you are going to do the monkey bars, girl. And run wind sprints. I was determined if they were up they were going to be running around and not getting a free pass by popping in Nemo.
Night 2: Due to exhaustion, they fell asleep about 40 minutes after lights off. I had to stay in the room.
Day 3: 6:45 wake up. Wha? They used to wake up then, but would go back to sleep. Now they sit and scream for me. Went for a slightly later nap, which was actually successful. Think they were still exhausted from Day 2. Slept for about 1.5 hours.
Night 3: Crying. Falling out of bed. Climbing into sister's bed. Hitting. Leaving room. Running around. I tried everything. Staying in the room. Rubbing backs. Threats. Bribes. Silence finally came at about 9:40. I think I just need to plan to stay in there with a six pack and phone tetris tomorrow night.
The change and newfound freedom is just too exciting. Especially when you have a friend to share in the excitement. I remember freshman year of high school, we had a cheerleading competition in Williamsburg, VA. My parents and my BFF drove down the night before and we stayed at the Econo Lodge. Me and BFF GOT OUR OWN ROOM. Which, you know, means you stay up all night drinking coke, eating doritos (nacho cheese, pre cool ranch days)doing gymnastics down the halls, jumping on the beds and staying up WAY past Fantasy Island. The difference? My parents probably slept through it. Having their own room and all. Very clever.
I am expecting mega grumps tomorrow. But maybe a nap?
The beds, when they were still cute.
The girls were excited when I told them. Lucy started her mileaminutecan'ttakeabreath talking. She wanted a pink bed, cuz that's her favorite, but was still o.k. with the white.
Harper made her excited face.
We kept the cribs in there because we weren't sure how things were going to go and didn't have time to disassemble.
Night 1: Multiple exits. Crying running around. About 45 minutes into it Lucy ended up in the crib. Harper stayed in the big girl bed. Slept pretty well.
Day 2: 7 a.m wakeup - there goes my 15 - 45 minutes of sleep in time. Nap. Didn't happen. After about 1.5 hours of trying I finally bit the bullet and took them on a tour of parks. On the way there they were saying, "My tired." Yeah, I bet you are. But you are going to do the monkey bars, girl. And run wind sprints. I was determined if they were up they were going to be running around and not getting a free pass by popping in Nemo.
Night 2: Due to exhaustion, they fell asleep about 40 minutes after lights off. I had to stay in the room.
Day 3: 6:45 wake up. Wha? They used to wake up then, but would go back to sleep. Now they sit and scream for me. Went for a slightly later nap, which was actually successful. Think they were still exhausted from Day 2. Slept for about 1.5 hours.
Night 3: Crying. Falling out of bed. Climbing into sister's bed. Hitting. Leaving room. Running around. I tried everything. Staying in the room. Rubbing backs. Threats. Bribes. Silence finally came at about 9:40. I think I just need to plan to stay in there with a six pack and phone tetris tomorrow night.
The change and newfound freedom is just too exciting. Especially when you have a friend to share in the excitement. I remember freshman year of high school, we had a cheerleading competition in Williamsburg, VA. My parents and my BFF drove down the night before and we stayed at the Econo Lodge. Me and BFF GOT OUR OWN ROOM. Which, you know, means you stay up all night drinking coke, eating doritos (nacho cheese, pre cool ranch days)doing gymnastics down the halls, jumping on the beds and staying up WAY past Fantasy Island. The difference? My parents probably slept through it. Having their own room and all. Very clever.
I am expecting mega grumps tomorrow. But maybe a nap?
The beds, when they were still cute.
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