In Full Control (Of Denial)

It's become increasingly obvious Finn & Belle know much more about raising themselves versus what Mommy knows. For example, vegetables not shaped like fries (especially of the green variety) simply were never meant for human consumption, but for canine nutrition. Nap times are for babies, old people or those bored with their day.  Using a toilet is extremely inefficient when a diaper does all the work for you AND let's you keep playing with your toys (double win)!

After weeks of whining about, well everything--and that was just me, imagine what the twins sounded like; I finally decided maybe these kids do know best. So, today Finn & Belle ate a two hour breakfast consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, organic gummy bunnies, a bowl of fruit and some cereal with milk. For nap time they played quietly in each other's beds (oh, did we mention they're in toddler beds now?) for one hour before standing by the door, banging loudly, while trying to figure out how to turn the door's knob.

Finally, I let them watch some TV while I made dinner. This, folks, is apparently the appropriate nap time and venue. Hang in there kids, Mommy will get the hang of this parenting gig--some day.

Gender Blind

Recently, Mirabelle approved various short mergers between her hair and bow clips.  To facilitate these unions, I've been making a concerted effort to offer her a bow every morning, show her herself wearing it in a mirror, and praise her on how pretty it looks.

Unfortunately, Finn is usually standing next to us watching and wants in on the 'fun'.  My instinctive response is to give him a bow and let the public school system sort it all out later (that's why teachers get paid the big bucks, right--wait . . . ).

Instead, I called my babies' Daddy to seek his counsel on this gender issue.  After all, he is the one who taught them how to grab stuffed animals by the mouth and shake them from side to side, lick their plates clean, and throw their hands up in the air while running around the house screaming as a form of interpretive dance.

After rattling through our standard game of 'It Could Be Worse' with favorites like:  'wait till he wants his fingernails painted' or 'wait till he wants his ears pierced'; Dave suggested I get Finn some hats--or better yet, cool sweatbands (with matching armbands of course).  Not such bad advice from a guy who thinks all children should have 4:30p bedtimes.

So hats for Finn and bows for Belle.  Now it's time to search 'The Internets' for some nifty--yet manly, headgear for my little boy who is gender blind.

Then & Now

I'm sure at some point it will become awkward insisting on a twins-in-nothing-but-diapers photo on their actual birthday.  However until that day comes, please enjoy!

July 1, 2009

July 1, 2010

Full disclosure:  We cheated and gave the babies cake on their actual birthday and again for the big party the following weekend.  It was a dress rehearsal in our minds.  We were already planning on overloading their senses with an explosion of decorations and crazy people all up in their grills for the big party, we felt the introduction of cake might be a little too overwhelming.  

So, on the actual birthday I jumped out of bed (a running at the first call . . . not the usual seventh or eight) and rescued my sweet muffins from their nightly prisons.  We ate breakfast and then I did something I rarely do these days, turned on the TV and let them watch a cartoon.  

After breakfast we played for a bit and then read a special book during story time:  Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss.  Surprisingly enough, they actually endured the entire 64 pages.  Meaning, they crawled around the nursery while I read the book (mostly to myself and a few random inanimate objects).

Later that morning we had all our friends from the twin mom playgroup over for a mini party.  After that I personally gave the babies a very special gift for their 1st birthday . . . access to the kitchen (granted they were a week away from learning how to climb the makeshift barriers into the kitchen).

To top off an already perfect day we let the babies eat pizza for their birthday dinner, second to cheese, pizza is their current favorite food.  Dave came home early and then we gave the babies their first birthday cakes.  

Since the babies have yet to formulate sentences we're not sure if they enjoyed their first birthday experience.  Regardless, Dave and I had a wonderful time celebrating Lady Belle and Finntastic's big day.

Here's some highlights:

The Sweetest Thing I Ever Did See

Folks, please take a moment to look at the top of my blog header.  You will notice my Lilypie count-toward-one year caterpillar now says:  'My babies are 1 year old.  Congratulations!'

When the Lilypie ticker was stuck at 1 & 2 months (yes, stuck) I often questioned if it was broken . . . or if possibly I stumbled on some secret formula to make time stand still.  Regardless, I longed, yearned, pleaded, begged and often doubted I'd ever see 1 year, much less that it'd actually feel good.

Well, it's FINALLY here!!!  I am happy to report, all you 'experienced' mothers were right, it feels GREAT!!!  Today we are having a small celebration with our Twin Mom Club playgroup and then getting ready for the big celebration on Saturday.

I want to thank you all, Dear Readers, for supporting and loving us.  Let's all get virtually drunk this evening!  Go buy yourselves a bottle of Mirabelle Champagne.  It's pricey but you deserve it for wasting your precious time following this poorly written, riddled with offensive grammar and utterly pointless blog.

MUCH LOVE TO ALL!!!

Things We Love

Here's a brief list of things the babies love right now:

• sitting on the front porch after bath time.
• seeing Daddy wear his white t-shirt EVERY evening (he must do it so they can recognize him better).
• crawling back and forth on the couch (super love it when they don't fall).
• going for bike rides as a family (since Daddy bought himself a bike for Mother's Day).
• throwing all stuffed animals, blankets, bottles, toys out of the crib.
• staying in a constant state of motion during diaper changes.
• yelping any time, any where, any volume (usually in unison).
• playing chase with Lavender.
• eating goldfish (the snack crackers, what kind of home do you think this is?).
• loving on Mommy (because she's the BEST).

Painfully Clean

Yesterday we bought the babies their very first toothbrushes.  I've been on the fence about introducing this new routine.  My original thought centered on saving all big routine changes for their first birthday and stun them senseless with a 'shock-n-awe' approach to toddler-hood.  Imagine full on cow's milk served in a cup (goodbye bottles), hello teeth brushing, and one long afternoon nap replacing my cherished morning nap-a-thon.

Yet, for some reason I found myself in the grocery store buying a pair of toothbrushes and some fluoride-free toothpaste.  Okay, not so completely random.  Mirabelle just cut her first top tooth and Finn is sprouting two more chompers.

Last night, after bath time, Dave and I introduced the babies to the fine art of brushing one's gums and hopefully a tooth or two.  I'm happy to report there was a good bit of 'shock-n-awe' for mommy and daddy to enjoy.  There were no tears and a lot of curious grabbing and tentative tongue exploration (from Mirabelle of course, she still insists on tasting all new objects).

We'll give it another try tonight, who knows, we might just make it a habit.

Going in for the kill.

Either very impressed with this new teeth brushing thing, 

or mesmerized by her own beauty in the mirror.

Yes, there is a reason why Mommy had Daddy do the dirty deed

 (I scar them enough during the day, Daddy needs equal billing in that category).

We're almost certain he LOVES it, he just doesn't know it yet!

We Should Do This More Often

That is, hang out with Max & Ollie.  Today the Fab Four had a mini play date with 'Aunt Lily' so I could run a few errands.  Unfortunately this disrupted Finn & Belle's morning nap routine.  We're still on a two nap per day routine with a solid 2-hour morning nap worthy of rock star status.

We deviate from this routine every few days (Mommy is a slave to no one and nothing).  The only challenge has been trying to catch the 'make up' nap once we get home.  More times than not the 'make-up' nap happens on the car ride home which either turns into aimless driving through neighborhoods depleting the world's oxygen supply with my unnecessary carbon emissions or sitting in the garage, in a parked car, contemplating the idea of leaving them to slumber while I attempt productivity inside the house.

See, when my babies fall asleep in the car, they NEVER go back to sleep in their cribs if I wake them and try to move them.  They also NEVER sleep longer than 5 or 10 minutes when I try parking in the garage.  So what I end up with are overtired, refuse-to-sleep fusspots for most of the day.

Today, Lily suggested I roll the windows down, turn the radio up and sing as loudly as possible to keep the babies awake during the ride home.  I tried this.  Five miles into our journey home both babies were out (Rock Stars, truly Rock Stars).

Against all hope I decided to move them to their cribs (we've graduated from 'never wake a sleeping baby' three months ago).  Folks, I'm still shocked and amazed.  BOTH babies went back to sleep in my arms and again when I put them in their cribs.  This is a true first for yours truly!

55 mph winds, loud (embarrassingly 'pitchy') singing to 

Top 40 songs with made-up lyrics, I guess when you're born a twin 

you quickly learn to tune the world out.  

M Day^2

It's true what they say (Amanda) 'Mother's Day is WAY better than any birthday.'  At the risk of bragging (because I know that's what you're thinking . . . no worries, your cynical side can't help it), let's just say Dave created the perfect 7 day extravaganza fit for a new mother of twins who spent the better part of four years trying to become one.

It all started last Sunday with the purchase of my new Babymobile (aka beach bike and baby trailer).  Folks, we went five for five last week.  Five morning bike rides plus some early evening jaunts to the end of the road where we waited for Daddy to come home from work (very similar to one sweet cocker spaniel I may or may not have known growing up).

Saturday we took the babies to the Riverfront Farmers' Market for some more tomato plants because she-who-shall-not-be-named trampled on 8 of the 13 Dave planted (we'll not focus on the fact my sweet husband wanted 13 tomato plants for our VEGETABLE garden).  Then we stopped by my new favorite cupcake shop Hot Pink Cake Stand.  Folks, the Reese's cupcake is worth a visit (trust me).  After the farmers' market we headed back home to catch our neighborhood spring festival (mainly for the free food and beer), followed by a late afternoon trip to the pool.  The day was perfect.

Sunday, I was greeted by two very happy babies and not one but three Mother's Day cards:  one from Dave, one from Finn & Belle, and one from Lavender & Bailey (Lavender & Bailey just wanted me to know they still loved me even though I don't spend enough time with them . . . very sweet).  Dave made strawberry crepes with pomegranate mimosas for breakfast.

After the babies' morning nap, we headed to Airlie Gardens for a picnic in the park.  For those of you unfamiliar with Airlie, it's similar to Brookgreen Gardens but much, much smaller.  I got to play with my camera and enjoy a beautiful day with my favorite people.

On the way home we stopped at a local playground to further exhaust the babies (worked like a charm).  Then Dave said the sweetest 16 words in the entire English language: 'Why don't you let me put the babies down for the night and you go shopping.'

Yesterday was complete perfection.  Here's a pictorial highlight of my very first Mother's Day:

Finn is happier with the spoon than the food on it.

My first Mother's Day, neither baby wanted to sit still for a picture, 

this was the best we could do . . . and it just might be perfect. 

Mirabelle just can't help being silly . . . runs in the family. 

Fun in the tunnel at the playground.

Hey, Handsome!

What DO You Do All Day?

Ah, sweet readers, this is the one question you've been wanting answered but were too afraid to ask.  We still follow the basic principles from The Baby Whisperer book:  Eat, Activity, Sleep, & You.

The babies enjoy a bottle first thing in the morning followed by play time with everything in the room but their toys.

Once we (who are we kidding, it's only me) hear the first cry, we head to the nursery for 'quiet time'.   Quiet time is about 15 - 20 minutes of story time.  We read at least two fun books and one educational book about numbers, colors, shapes, or alphabets (we love the Gymboree ones).

After story time 'we' turn the lights off and sing a silly 'quiet time' song.  Usually there will be five minutes of crying once I leave the room (if only more adults would cry for me when I leave a room).  Then I get to spend the next hour checking emails, doing chores, taking a shower and organizing the babies' gear depending on the day's schedule.

After First Nap, we have Second Breakfast with People Food.  We're stuck on cheese toast, oatmeal and fruit.  This process usually requires a 'french bath' afterwards (wet cloth cleaning) and then we make a costume change into our Day Clothes (still my favorite part of the day).

Next up is another round of playtime until someone cries.  Then we head to the nursery for Second Nap.  We skip the story time and do a short 5 - 10 minute wind down with diaper checks followed by a few hugs and kisses.

After Second Nap, the babies have a bottle and then we do 'Adventure Time'.  Usually this is either running errands, going for a walk, visiting friends, exploring the area, etc.  After Adventure Time we head home for dinner (aka 'What Will She Force Me To Eat Next' time).

After dinner we play until bath time and hope (more like desperately pray) Daddy does not come home late from work.  The whole family is pretty much ready for bed time by 6:30p (because in 13 short hours the process starts all over again).

There you have it, our routine which we follow at random. . .

All According To Plan

Today was a perfect day--the kind you dream about and only hope to obtain.  For starters, we drove to the outlet mall with Lily and her twins [insert eternal sunshine and angels singing].

The babies were perfect (3 out of 4 is considered perfect).  After terrorizing some innocent pansies (no, not shoppers, the actual flowers), we had lunch and then continued our Goodwill Tour with a rendezvous at Barnes & Nobles with 'Aunt Sarah'.

Dear Tanger Outlet Gardeners:  So sorry.  XOXO

Then we headed home and enjoyed dinner on the back porch with Daddy and the doggies . . . pure bliss.  THE END.

Okay, dinner was almost perfect.  

The porch hasn't been cleaned for Spring 

and the dog gate is mostly installed.

 Finn LOVES Mommy, spanish rice, 

Mommy, sausage, Mommy, 

Lavender and Mommy.

All Clear & Leather Straps

We took Finn to the doctor's office today for a follow up on the never-ending ear infection.  Good news, he's all clear (phew!).  So the sporadic crankiness, batting at his ear at dinner time is just him being overtired . . .

Apparently the paper was way more entertaining than the 25 toys 

weighing down my diaper bag.

Mirabelle is mega teething, she's cut her second bottom tooth.  She'd like to know why they replaced the leather strap with plastic teethers.  Since no one consulted her, she's starting a grassroots movement called 'Bring the Leather Straps BACK!' (we'll have to sit down and have a long talk about the naming).

Sorry Lady Belle, Finn's leather shoes will have to do  . . . 

Finn & Belle wuz here

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know . . .

Because he moved me to the beach, gave me two sweet dumplings and created the best beach weather EVER today!

For the first time in months we had a break from winter with a perfectly sunny, slightly breezy, warm (but not too hot), bee-U-tee-ful day.  Clearly the type of day that makes me feel like declaring my religion (Dear God, I'd like more of these days . . . lots and lots more, please and thank you).

Why is today so important?  Because while I was incubating 'die Kinder' (Google Translate), selling and buying a house, preparing for 'die Kinder', on the brink of disowning said 'Kinder' the only thing that kept me remotely sane was the fantasy of endless summer days spent at the beach watching Finn & Belle make sand castles.

Of course, I'm only slightly naive.  I'm sure these 'endless summer days' will revolve more around attempted sand eating contests, followed by repeated 'Finn!  No!' and 'Mirabelle, it's okay.' -- coupled with hours spent packing and unpacking the car for only 30 minutes of quality beach time before someone self-destructs (odds favor Mommy).   Regardless, we will make the most of this wonderful weather.  

Finn & Belle already approve of this clever plan.  Today we went to the beach, sat on a blanket and enjoyed the view (clarify:  Mommy & Belle enjoyed the view, Finn enjoyed fists full of sand).  Actually, Belle enjoyed the view as Mommy pondered the odds of a tsunami sweeping through the area and how best to survive one (time to stop watching the news).

Here's a picture of our beautiful day (and proof that I'm not making this crap up):

Peek-A-Bow

When it's too cold outside for a walk in the park, we head to my favorite place in the entire world, my second home--the Mall.  Apparently I'm not the only one ready for Spring and warmer weather, so is the fashion industry. Of course, when it's forecasted to snow at the beach a 20% discount is not enough incentive to buy a new swimsuit (maybe 40% . . . wait, this is a swimsuit . . . let's try an additional 75% from an already reduced price).

Anyway, who's kidding who?  We don't shop for big kid clothing anymore, it's all about the babies.  With Easter coming, it's time to start planning their outfits.  Will Finn wear a tie, will Belle wear a bow?  Seriously, who cares the Earth's axis has shifted when these issues are still unresolved.

Here's Belle trying out a head bow:

Sneaky Mommy snapped a photo before Lady Belle could process the satin head assault. 

Lady Belle takes a taste test.  When she formulates words we'll let you know what she thinks about the bow.

Age Discrimination?

This is a cruel, discriminating world we live in.  The babies have graduated from Size 3 to Size 4 diapers and Pampers would like to take this opportunity to stick-it-where-the-sun-don't-shine (yup, you read correctly, I used the worst cliche imaginable).

Here's why:

Retail Price:  $37.98

Retail Price:  $37.98

Retail Price:  $37.98

Blame It On The Olympics . . .

As a reason for my pitiful lack of posts these past few weeks.  Or, perhaps, it's because I now have curious and mobile infants who require complete vigilance during waking hours.  Who knows, the Olympic excuse sounds more worldly.

Regardless, things here are wonderfully chaotic.  Finn has decided Mirabelle is the funniest thing he's ever seen; Mirabelle is equally tickled by Finn.  They enjoy racing towards toys with some good natured stealing and snatching (gotta toughin' the youngin's . . . builds character).

Lady Belle would like everyone to know she DOES NOT like Finn kicking her head (a valid complaint).  Finn thinks Mirabelle is a sissy (technically speaking, he's right).

Recently we introduced Belle to Gerber's spaghetti with meat sauce (loved it).  Finn wasn't feeling it so much, but he was recovering from that ear infection.

We also made our first homemade puree of peas and carrots (fine, our second puree).  The first puree was a failed attempt at avocado and tofu.  My only defense being the classic mistake of over thinking.  I believe Lily's exact comment was 'Avocado and tofu are wonderful individually, but I don't think they would taste very good together'.  She was right, two notoriously bland foods do not magically make a tasty treat.

And of course, we had our first big snow at the beach a few weeks ago.  We made a snownanny for the babies.  My folks were here to enjoy the festivities.

Family photo with our newest member 

Getting ready for Snowfest 2010

The backyard

Oh, and it's that time of year again:  Quinn's Senior Prom!!!  We went dress shopping and found 'The One'.  The inspiration this year is red carpet glam.

I'm also about to take my first overnight trip without the babies.  I'm co-hosting a baby shower in Myrtle Beach.  We rented a small oceanfront condo in the hopes that after the shower, some of us new mothers might actually get a good full nights sleep (this is what it's come to . . . a good night sleep is more exciting than a night out drinking and dancing?).

Don't worry folks, the babies will be left in the capable hands of Dave . . . my parents . . . and little sister (because it takes 3 and a half adults to master what I do alone . .  kidding, kind of).

Don't Be Hatin'

Note:  So if you've been following this blog you noticed it's had a small 'identity crisis' recently.  We'll try and stick with this new template for a while.  

For those interested, we ran a poll a few weeks ago asking everyone which baby would utter the English language first and what that word would be.  All the haters out there voted for Mirabelle saying 'Dada' (technically, that's not a real word, and did everyone forget who writes this blog?).

Anyway, here's a brief video of Lady Belle 'talking'.  Enjoy!

Who Loves You Baby?

Finn does . . . as evidence from the World's Largest Smile!  

'Aunt Shannon' came to visit last week and someone was super excited (No, not Finn, ME!!).

  

In other news, Finn and Belle are on the mend.  We're slowly getting back to our normal routine.

Up Chuck & Dookie Bottom

It's official, we've been inducted into the next stage of parenthood . . . the 24 hr. stomach virus.  Of course for us, it's been the 96 hr. stomach virus/ear infection bonanza.

Lady Belle had a not-so-ladylike experience on Friday, followed by Finn on Sunday night.  By Monday afternoon we were at the doctor's office with a feverish Finn and a grease lightening Belle.  Finn won the 'competition' with a nasty left ear infection.

Today we washed everything that didn't require batteries.  Belle had 4 costume changes, 3 naps and one bath.  Finn also had 4 costume changes, 5 naps, an impromptu morning bath and mid-afternoon sponge bath.

We're exhausted and ready for spring--yet somehow we managed to do a mini photo session.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

We've reached a new era in parenthood . . . the convertible car seat. Last week we realized our above average children (in height . . . for now) reached the maximum height requirements for their infant car seats.

To celebrate this new milestone we got drunk (kidding Grandma) and surfed the Internet looking for the cheapest, safest and coolest car seats with free shipping. We got lucky and scored some Euro-chic (i.e. compact and colorful) car seats with a high safety rating from Consumer Reports for 50% off the original price (one can only hope this is not a 'pre-mass-recall' discount).

Here's a video documenting the installation of our new car seats. It's short. Requires sound. Enjoy.

Time To Baby Proof

Finn crawled through a million toys strewn across the living room floor in order to reach the ONE potentially hazardous item . . .

He too must be dazzled by bright shiny objects.

In other news, we're moving closer to homemade baby food--meaning I've done a lot of talking and thinking, internet scouring and organic grocery shopping.  Maybe one day I'll actual cook something (don't worry Husband, that large grocery bill will not go to waste this time--I promise).

By the way, that screaming you heard yesterday was Finn cutting his second tooth.  He's back on the mend and happy to show off his mega chompers to anyone interested.  Mirabelle is probably right behind him, we're hoping she'll show more refinement and grace than her brother (insert sigh).