Words

Charlotte's vocabulary includes:

Mommy, Daddy, MomMom, PopPop
messy
Elmo
Issy (Nicholas, her cousin)
duck
"mo" = more
"mo"= no
eyes
boo-boo
baby
various animal noises

Gavin's vocabulary includes:
Mama, Dada
a few animal noises
cookie
Tuh-Tuh (Tucker, my mom's dog)

I was told that Charlotte's vocabulary would emerge first. It's been true so far. Gavin seems to be a bit more advanced in the more physical areas, however. I know it all evens out in the end!

Two Days.

That's the length of time that passed between the moment the twins entered their day care room for the first time to when green stuff started oozing from their noses. The moment I walked them into daycare, I noticed that about 75% of the kids had runny noses. I even commented to the teacher: "Ew. It looks like everyone has a cold." "Yep," she replied. "And Charlotte and Gavin will get it too." She was right.

Even my pediatrician warned me at our last visit. "They are starting daycare soon? We'll be seeing a lot more of you."

This was hard news to take, although I really already knew it. The twins have been relatively illness-free for 18 months. We had a bout of roseola, an earache, and some runny noses, but that's about it. I don't think I'm prepared for more illnesses, especially with a newborn on the way.

I've been making sure they get their vitamins everyday (I've been known to skip a day or two), loading them up and vitamin C, and making sure I have the Purell close by. Somehow I don't think it's enough to overcome a bunch of snotty little kid-germs.

I had 120 minutes to myself today, and I barely knew what to do with it.

It was the twins' first day of daycare. It was sort of a "transition" day...they were only there for a short while. I think the transitional time was more for me than for them. Gavin seemed to get the idea right away. He immediately found a toy and began playing. Charlotte hung by my side for a bit, but then she got caught up in all the toys, too. During snack time, my little cherubs sat on chairs (SAT ON CHAIRS! AND DIDN'T TRY TO STAND UP ON THEM!) and ate goldfish. When circle time rolled around, they were hooked. They barely blinked when I left. Gavin did follow me to the door, but there were no tears, from them or from me.

Then I tried to busy myself for two hours. I went to Starbucks and got a caramel coffee. I went to Babies R Us and stocked up on sippy cups, bibs, and feeding supplies. I went to HomeGoods and just browsed. Bliss.

Went I returned, I peeked in to the daycare room door before the twins saw me. Both Charlotte and Gavin were again sitting at the table, playing with wet soapy sponges. Charlotte was trying to share her sponge with the girl sitting next to her. Sharing! Be still my heart!

Tomorrow's another day. I will probably leave them there for a longer stretch, at least through lunch and maybe naptime, too. Next week I go back to work in earnest, so they will be there all day, three days a week. So far, so good!

Battered Mom

Look closely, and you'll see two swollen scratches under my right eye, a scratch on my nose, and one at the base of my neck. They aren't from my cats (usually those scratches are on my arms) or from walking in to furniture (which I've been known to do, but usually those take the form of bruises on my legs). These facial scratches are from Chuckie.

Who is Chuckie? Chuckie is Charlotte's evil alter-ego. Most of the time she's sweet, cuddly, clingy, and loving. But several times a day she gets this gleam in her eye, and Chuckie attacks. Usually it starts by her hugging me, and then she pulls back and wallops me in the face. It's sometimes a slap, and sometimes a scratch. I never know when it's coming.

My pediatrician says that sometimes toddlers can't figure out how to express their love for you, so they resort to biting and hitting. How charming.

When she does it, I sharply say, "No!" and move her away from me. If I were to do that to Gavin, he would fling himself on the floor and melt into a puddle of tears. But Chuckie thinks this is downright hilarious, and rushes back to me to hit again.

The worst part, other than the ridiculous-looking scratches on my face, is that she now has begun hitting Gavin when she's frustrated. (He totally takes it, but one of these days he's going to haul off and smack her!). Also, Gavin sees her hitting me, so now he's hit me once or twice too.

She doesn't do it to any other adult; not Michael, not my mom or dad, no one. I think it's a little bit of a game at this point, and I am certain she'll grow out of it. But for now, if anyone asks, tell them I...uh...walked into a door.

Name Change

Do I have to change my blog name once the new baby comes? To what? Tulip, Turnip, and....Ketchup? Hiccup? Tomato?
Suggestions, please.

Beachy Babes

So we're here in Sea Isle, and Charlotte and Gavin LOVED the beach. I was a little worried, because I've known plenty of babies who have freaked out the moment their bodies touched the sand. Not a problem here. The moment we got there, Charlotte plopped down and started dumping sand on her legs, and Gavin ran straight for the water. I never actually got to sit down, but it's still a zillion times better than last year when I was marathon-nursing and only managed 2 hours on the beach the whole week. No complaints here.

Oh, hi.

Let's catch up.

I know, I know, I haven't been the best penpal lately. I've been trying to post, I really have. It's just that my brain is mush because of all the homework and lesson planning I've been doing. I have nothing intelligent to say, unless you want to hear about the presidential candidates' educational platform or Brown v. Board of Education. No? I didn't think so.

Things are hectic on the home front. The twins are more mobile than ever, and learning something new everyday. "Ring Around The Rosie" is our latest obsession.

We've been spending some time in my Mom's pool which, surprisingly, the twins don't love. They like to sit on the rafts and float around, but won't tolerate being in the water for very long. Interesting, since they love splashing in the tub.

Michael and I went out to dinner alone tonight to celebrate our 6th anniversary. It's the first time we've been out to dinner alone since January. We hardly knew what to do with ourselves, and we were back home within an hour and a half. We'll work on that.

Biting Off WAY More Than I Can Chew

I'm not sure what I have gotten myself into these days, but I'm certain that my blood pressure has been rising steadily over the past few weeks. (Probably not good for a pregnant lady...)

In just about a month and a half, I am returning to my full-time job. I will be about 6 months pregnant, mind you, but I am still returning, because that was my plan, darn it, and I'm sticking to it! (Hello, Type A!) Many of you know that teaching is not a 9-5 gig. My work is about 45 minutes away, so I have to leave my house at 7 am to get there on time. That means I will somehow have to get myself, Charlotte, Gavin, and eventually a new baby ready all before 7 am. (Deep breaths, Amy.) If I even begin thinking about all of the lesson planning, grading, conferencing, and collaborating that I am going to have to do, I will need a paper bag to breathe into. I will be lucky if I see the twins for a couple of hours a day. I wish I didn't have such a crazy commute.

I've also begun taking a graduate course. At this point you are probably thinking that I have lost my marbles, so let me get you up to speed here. When the twins were born, I was just about 14 weeks short of obtaining my Masters in Reading/Reading Specialist Certification. Receiving this Masters will not only move me up the pay scale, but also open some doors for me career-wise. I have three courses left to graduate. I am taking one course right now, over the summer. The final two are thesis writing courses, and I have to take them during the fall semester. Which means I will have to write some sort of thesis. When I am very pregnant. And working full-time. And missing my twin toddlers at home. (Deep breaths, Amy.) With Michael's encouragement, I decided that if I didn't finish the degree now, I would never finish it. So I am muddling through just to get it done.

If that isn't enough, I am getting ready to teach a 2-week Reading and Writing course to first and second graders. I agreed to this before I knew I was pregnant, and before I started taking a grad class. And I'm not a quitter, so I start next week. So now I am busy writing lesson plans on top of all the homework I'm doing for my grad class. (Deep breaths, Amy.)

We are so getting a cleaning lady when I return to work in September.

Strollers

So, now that I'm going to be the mother of three kids under the age of two, am I going to need a triple stroller? Because I really, really don't want one. Baby #3 is scheduled to arrive in December, so I know I won't be taking a lot of walks outdoors until the baby is, say, four or five months old. Is it reasonable to assume that I can push the twins in their double stroller and just strap the baby in the Baby Bjorn?
Also, let's be honest; I think my days of venturing to Target with the children by myself are numbered, at least until they are a little older. So if there's someone else going with me, we can have the twins in the double and Baby #3 in a single. No?

Timing

Here is a link to an interesting CNN article my mom sent me about vaccines. The timing is perfect since I just posted about it!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/06/19/ep.vaccines/index.html

Vaccines

Anyone feel like weighing in on the whole vaccine debate? Or is that just opening a can of worms?

I'll tell you where I stand: I am vaccinating my kids. But that's not to say I'm not keeping myself informed about the issue. I love my pediatricians, and I trust them completely, but they are definitely of the "vaccines aren't proven to cause autism or anything else" variety. That may be true, but they also haven't been entirely ruled out either.

After doing a ton of reading about it over the last year, here's what I'm thinking. I don't want any vaccines with thimerisol in them. Most vaccines are thimerisol-free, but from what I understand, the flu shot still contains it. (And all four of us had that shot last year...this year I'm going to ask for Flu Mist, which is thimerisol-free.) Also, if I can stand my ground in the face of an annoyed pediatrician, I'm only going to allow the babies one vaccine per month. They have a 15-month check-up on Friday, so I think I'm going to call the office to see what's on the agenda for them. If there's more than one, I'm going to ask that they only receive one. I've asked Michael and my mom to back me up on this one (my mom because she is the one that goes to the twins' appointments with me) even though I don't think they feel nearly as strongly as I do about the situation. I tend to back down when I feel embarrassed or outnumbered, so I really want to stand my ground if the pediatrician tells me I'm being ridiculous. (She might be totally onboard with it -- who knows!)

Further complicating the matter is the fact that my father and sister are both highly-respected and brilliant physicians. Clearly they know more than I about these matters, so their opinion and expertise means a great deal to me. I have no idea where they stand on vaccines--we've never really discussed it --but sometimes when I question Western medicine, I feel like I'm questioning them directly. Almost like if they had issues with public education, I would feel like I had to answer to it. Does that make sense?

It's Mardi Gras Every Day!

Gavin insists on wearing these ridiculous beads around the house. It's cute, yes. But he often trips on them, or Charlotte tries to pull them off of his neck while he's wearing them, and I worry that the necklace might break and he'll end up swallowing a bead. But he just looks so darn sweet.

15 Months Old

I'm Not the Only One!

Hey, remember my post a few days ago when I wrote about all of the annoying awful helpful things people said to me when I was trying to conceive? It turns out I'm not the only one who had that experience. One of my favorite mommy-of-twins bloggers, Jane, had this to say in response to an article she read recently:

Would the author have had me lobby to go straight to IVF -- one embryo, of course, to avoid the risk of twins -- and pose a greater burden on the healthcare system? Or would she say, "why don't you just adopt?" -- the phrase that makes anyone who's dealt with infertility feel instantly homicidal toward the sayer? ("Just adopt." Uh huh. Hey, if your spouse dies, why don't you "just remarry"? If your wedding ring is stolen, why don't you "just replace it"? If you lose your job, why don't you "just move somewhere else and get a new one?")

Made me laugh right out loud.

Naps (Mine and Theirs)

I haven't been blogging much lately for three reasons: First, I am so exhausted that whenever I get some downtime, I'm usually napping. Second, the only thing on my mind lately is how I'm going to deal with three kids under the age of two, and since I wasn't revealing that bit of news until recently, I didn't have much else to write about. And third, the smell of my basement (where my computer is) is enough to make me throw up. It's not a bad smell -- just new carpet and new wood since we recently had it renovated -- but for some reason it doesn't sit right with me. Since we've had our air conditioning on the smell has somewhat dissipated, so hopefully I can be down here more often.

Now on to the question and advice portion of this blog: How did you know when your children were ready to move from two naps to one? I suspect that Charlotte might be ready, because I can hear her in her crib for a while before she puts herself to sleep. (Sometimes she'll babble for close to an hour before falling asleep). But Gavin seems happy with his two daily one-hour naps. I can't imagine putting Charlotte down for one and Gavin down for two. Should I just push Gavin towards one nap and see how he does? They are going to day care in August anyway, where the will be taking one nap.

Full Disclosure

When I was trying to get pregnant, and having major fertility issues, many friends and acquaintances offered me well-meaning (read: very annoying) advice.

To wit:
Have you considered adoption?
This one was my absolute favorite. I felt like they were saying: Aren't you ready to give up on yourself yet? Because you know, it's pretty selfish to want your own. There are so many children out there who need a good home.

Maybe if you just RELAX.
Like I could relax myself into ovulating.

Is the problem with you or Michael?
People always needed to place blame. Like it wasn't BOTH of our problems that I couldn't conceive.

I heard if you eat too much soy/chocolate/fat (insert food here) or too little soy/chocolate/fat (insert food here), it affects your fertility.
Maybe I should try drinking a milkshake a day to see if that helps. I think I could swing that.

My sister/friend/cousin/boss's daughter tried for years to get pregnant, and finally adopted (or had IVF). Lo and behold, after that she got pregnant on her own. That could happen to you!
I probably should have paid closer attention to that last one. Baby #3 arrives in December. And no, I'm not kidding. Lord help us all!

P.S. If you are a good friend of mine, and are just finding out this news now, over my blog...I apologize. I've been too shocked/overwhelmed/weepy/nauseous/exhausted to make a big hooplah about it. But call me!

Tubby Time

Any advice on getting babies to sit down in the tub? The twins love to stand up and play with the faucet, but they wind up tripping all over each other. Gavin has a bruise on his face from falling face-first into the side of the tub. I sit them back down and say, "No!," but they just get right back up again. Maybe my tub toys are lame?

When All Else Fails, Chocolate.

Greening

So I've been reading a couple of books. I've been holding off on reading them for a while, mainly because I was a little afraid of what I was going to discover (and also because Gavin has been waking up at 5am, so I'm too tired to read!). The books are: Growing Up Green and Healthy Child, Healthy World. The problem here is this: When I read books like this, I feel like everything I'm doing is wrong, and I feel that I need to immediately change things. I'm a bit of an alarmist that way. I definitely had to be in the right mindset to read these, and just kept reminding myself that I am already pretty eco-conscious, and that I might be able to make more changes if they seem to be in the best interest of my family.

Michael and I have always recycled, but we really began to make some significant changes when we saw how many disposable diapers we were going through on a daily basis. Since I just couldn't bring myself to cloth-diaper (and those chlorine-free diapers are freakin' expensive, times two!), we decided we had to look for other ways to reduce our environmental footprint. (For those of you who know us personally, you know that this was more my idea than Michael's, but he usually gives in, if he knows what's good for him!) We started buying some organic food, and milk that's free of growth hormones. We virtually stopped buying bottled water and now use a Brita filtration system. We also make an effort to use only green cleaning supplies--nothing with ammonia, chlorine bleach, phosphates, or other chemicals. We use green dishwashing liquid, and I promise, as soon as my giant bottle of Gain is empty, we are also going to use something green for washing our clothes. Thankfully, this is getting less expensive to do. Clorox now makes a green all-purpose cleanser called Green Works that I saw for under $3 at Walmart, and you can use it to clean almost anything. I had some difficulty finding something to clean my wood floors (but I know that Swiffer Wet-Jet stuff has to be toxic...it stinks like crazy). Turns out that Simple Green, a cleanser that I've been using on my countertops for years now, works wonders.

That's the easy part, recognizing that there's chemicals in cleansers. The harder part about this information is realizing that there are chemicals in virtually everything we eat, drink, breathe, and put on our bodies. I realize that people with healthy immune systems can usually detoxify all of the stuff they come in contact with. And I also realize that there are very few studies that link disease with, say, shampoo. (But my friend Karen reminds me that just a few decades ago there were no studies linking smoking with cancer. That's when I think about the whole "better safe than sorry" motto.)

I also can't ignore that autism, behavior disorders, and the like are on the rise. As a teacher, I deal with them every day. I just read a study that said that the spike in these types of disorders cannot be attributed to overdiagnosis: the increase is too sharp. It must be attributed to an environmental trigger, or triggers. I feel like if I can minimize my children's exposure to all of these toxins, the healthier they will be in the long run.

So I'm going to try to buy a bit more organic food, despite the price. (These books have a list of the "dirty dozen"--twelve fruits and vegetables that have the highest concentration of pesticides.) I'll probably start looking at natural washes, lotions, and cosmetics. When the babies move to toddler beds, I'll probably buy organic sheets. See? Small changes. And not necessarily immediate ones. I'm getting there.

This post went in an entirely different direction than I intended it to, but I would definitely recommend these books if you have children or are thinking about having them. I'd love to hear what you think!

Why I'll Be Throwing My Snack-Traps Away (or Free-Cycling Them...We'll See)

I'm Baaaaaack!

And very glad to be back, in my own home. The trip to Myrtle Beach was so exhausting that I never want to go back again a lot of fun. The twins are so off-schedule that they have been waking up at 5:30am and have been whining for most of the day because they are so tired. Sometimes vacations with the kids aren't vacations at all, at least not at this stage of the game.

The drive was the deal-breaker. Twelve hours, each way. Snacks did not stop the whining. The Wiggles did not stop the whining. New Dollar Store toys did not stop the whining. Only stopping the car stopped the whining.

On a positive note, the twins loved the water. They are beachy babies, just like their Momma. And they are Fearless. If we weren't right there to stop them, they would have waded in and kept on going.

*Sigh*

I was planning on posting a photo of the lovely mommy-necklace I received as an early Mother's Day gift. Only it literally broke in two and fell right off of my neck yesterday, less than 24 hours after receiving it.

It wasn't cheap. Well, I should say it wasn't inexpensive. Clearly the chain was cheap.

I'm won't tell you the name of the company...yet. We'll see how their customer service department handles it today. My friend who recommended the website has a lovely, seemingly sturdy necklace from this site, so I'm hoping this was just a fluke, and I will receive a new chain shortly. It was really cute for the few hours that it was in tact.

By the way, this in no way reflects on Michael's taste in jewelry. I am actually pretty spoiled in the jewelry department. He bought this ring with the matching necklace last year for my first Mother's Day. This latest necklace was one that I picked out and ordered, all on my own!)

Road Trip

Michael, the twins, and I are heading to Myrtle Beach on Thursday for a week. It's about a 10-hour drive, and that doesn't include stopping to eat or stretch your legs.

I've been having anxiety about it for weeks now.

I figure if we leave around 9am, the babies *might* nap in the car for a while since that's around their usual nap time. When they awake, we can stop for lunch. If they cooperate, they should also nap between 1-2 pm. Later, we'll stop for dinner and get them into their pajamas.

We also have a portable DVD player that attaches to the driver's headrest; I'm hoping we can amuse them with a little Baby Einstein. (They've never been into B.E. before, but I'm hoping that with nothing else to look at other than the traffic on 95, they will somehow become interested). I've mentioned before that they are way into Amos Lee, so hopefully listening to his CD will shut them up for a while, too. (Yes, John, I know--I'm single-handedly responsible for keeping Amos Lee's career alive...)

Any tips for keeping them happy and occupied? It will take me a long time to recover if this turns out to be hellish.

Moooooooooo!

Does anyone else have children who make this much noise when they eat? My house sounds like a dairy farm!

Also for your viewing pleasure: Gavin in a food coma after trying (and loving) water ice for the first time and Charlotte entertaining us with a rousing rendition of "The Wheels on the Bus."

Catching Up

Wow, I really fell off the blogging wagon this past week. The weather has been incredible here, and the last place I wanted to be was holed up in the basement, at the computer, away from all the sunshine. So I barely even checked my email.

We were out for lots of walks this week. Not much of interest going on, except maybe:

1. Gavin is getting his eye teeth AND his molars at once. Yikes. He's been up often during the night.

2. Charlotte has a nasty rash. I thought it was diaper rash, but it seems to be more of the yeast-variety. In the same vein, we've put her back on soy formula and nixed the whole milk for now.

3. I joined my local library. I've dragged my feet about joining because it's kind of a joke of a library--they still have a CARD CATALOG, for crying out loud--but a new library is in the works and the plans look promising. Gavin checked out The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! , Leo, The Late Bloomer, and War and Peace.

4. Charlotte is saying her first semi-recognizable word: key, which means kitty-cat. Gavin has been saying uh-oh for a while, but this week added Ma! to his repertoire. Finally!

Penny Pinching

I've been on "childrearing leave" for 14 months now. 14 months! 14 months on one salary! And I have twins, so I require double...everything! It hasn't been easy. Michael and I planned for my year at home, but didn't plan on two years of fertility treatments, IVF, TWO babies, the mortgage crisis (Michael was a broker until a few months ago), and virtually no renters in our new house in Myrtle Beach. (Until recently, when we switched rental companies, and now that sucker is mostly booked for the next year. Woo-hoo!)

So I've been thinking a lot about money lately, as I'm sure most of us are, what with rising gas prices, and declining real estate values, and the whole bit. Many, many of my friends are stay-at-home moms, and I know many of you internets are SAHM's as well. My point is, we should be pooling our resources, ladies, and sharing tips on stretching our budgets.

Here are some tips I found in Real Simple:

Purchase oranges, onions, and potatoes in bags rather than individually. You'll pay roughly half the price.

Don't buy nongrocery items at the grocery store. Health and beauty goods are usually cheaper at mass-market retailers (hello, Target) and the best deals on paper products are at warehouse clubs.

Opt for frozen seafood over fresh to save 20-40%. If this grosses you out, consider that most "fresh" fish was frozen in transport.

Buy ground beef and chicken breasts in bulk to save 20% on beef and 50% a pound on chicken.

I also started buying my milk (1% for Michael and me, whole for the babies) at my local dairy. It's about $3.50 a gallon and tastes better than what I get in the supermarket. Also, I like knowing where my milk is coming from. I can see the cows right there, in the pasture, with plenty of room to roam, eating their grass. No growth hormones, either. We also buy our cheese, deli meats, chicken breasts, and beef at the local butcher shop. It's at least 50% cheaper than getting it in the market.

So speak up, readers. What are your best budget-stretching tips?

Biting the Bullet

I finally did it. I took Gavin for his first haircut. So, purely by default, Charlotte received her first haircut too, even though she didn't need one as badly. It was, of course, exciting. But a little sad, too. Gavin had these wispy baby curls in the back that have been there since his birth, literally. It was kind of difficult to watch the stylist cut them off. And now he just looks so much like, well, a big boy.

For the longest time, I just wanted the babies to grow. They were so tiny, and it was so difficult, and I kept thinking, "If only they were a little bit older, this mothering thing would be so much easier." And now I find myself wanting the opposite. My babies are becoming toddlers! When did that happen?

Back to the haircuts: I've been trying to train Charlotte's hair to sweep to the side with a barrette, because I wasn't too sure about the bang thing with her since she doesn't have a whole lot of hair to start with. But her hair just wasn't sweeping to the side like I had imagined (where is Suri Cruise's stylist when you need her?) so her hair kept getting in her eyes. I was also concerned that she was going to wind up eating her barette since she continuously pulled it out. (I caught the girl eating leaves yesterday; I'm sure a barrette would have been no sweat.) So I decided we should just go with some "starter bangs" and take it from there. However, the stylist's English was questionable, and she wound up giving Charlotte a trim much like Gavin's, and her bangs wound up WAY too short.

But whatever. The first haircut is out of the way. The trimmings are safely in the baby books. Hair grows. That's the important part, right?

Gavin, with his new business-man haircut. "Hold my calls!"

Charlotte, rocking super-cute bangs. I wish the stylist would have stopped here...

Bye-bye, cute bangs. This is what we now refer to as Bang Massacre 2008.

My Two Cheesy Cents

Michael Johns was voted off of Idol last night. Really, America? You think Jason Castro is a better singer? Sheesh.

*Sigh.* There's really no reason for me to watch anymore.

Mental Post-It

Today was a day I want to remember.

Gavin was playing with his activity table about 3 feet from where I was sitting. He stopped what he was doing, crawled onto my lap, and gave me a big sloppy kiss. And by kiss, I mean he opened his mouth wide and put it over my mouth. He's kissed me once or twice before, but only after I've prompted, "Gavin, can you give Mommy a kiss?" Today was totally spontaneous. It was the cutest. thing. ever.

I also got to spend some one-on-one time with Gavin today. Michael had to run some errands and took Charlotte with him, so it was just Gavin and me for about an hour. It was nice. And, well...easy. I certainly don't mean to belittle the efforts of women with only one child, but it was so much different than having two. I didn't have to referee any baby-squabbles, or pull one child off the other, or chase babies who are moving in two different directions. I cooked dinner, and Gavin basically sat at my feet and played with blocks. I loved it.

Tomorrow we're heading to the zoo with my brother-in-law and nephew. I'm sure I'll have plenty of good photos to share!

Ms. Whiny

It's funny how, even at 13 months, the twins have these personalities that are pretty consistent from day to day. Except when he's not feeling well, Gavin is generally laid-back and happy. He has his moments, but he is such a smily, good-natured baby.

Charlotte has her happy moments, too, but these usually occur when someone is holding her and directing the activity at hand. She is happiest when someone is reading her a book, or showing her how to play with a toy, or otherwise holding her attention. But when she's left to her own devices, she has this mischevious streak--and I believe we have only seen the beginning.

One of her favorite activities is throwing all of my folded clothes out of the laundry basket. Actually, she throws just about anything in front of her; blocks, toy cars, books, cat food, the phone... Lately she's been throwing her food off of her high chair tray, and throwing her sippy cups as well. She's also a big fan of stealing Gavin's pacifier or cup away from him, waiting until he cries, and then immediately looking at me because she knows I'll intervene.

And have I mentioned the screaming? She's discovered her voice, and that raising it gets her some attention. It's more of an aggravated whine/grunt, and it's usually when she's not being directly engaged (or when Gavin decides to push her away from the activity table).

In her defense, she's getting over a pretty nasty double ear infection and a cold. And before that, there was the month-long bout of diarrhea, some teeth, vaccines... The poor kid can't catch a break.



A glimpse into the future...can't you just picture her? "Mom! You're ruining my life!"

Score!

I braved my way through my first Mothers of Multiples Rummage Sale tonight. Holy Crap, I've never seen so much stuff in one place.

Rummage sales are kind of a nightmare for me, for two reasons: One, second-hand stuff freaks me out a little. I know, it sounds snobby. As long as the things are in good condition, I'm fine. But if there's, let's say, a stain on something, then I start imagining where the stain came from, and that's not a fun place for my mind to go. Or if there's a toy that's a little dirty, I start imagining a toddler with a runny nose playing with it. You get the picture. The other reason I dislike rummage sales is that I am not an impulse buyer. In fact, I'm exactly the opposite of an impulse buyer. (A calculated buyer?) I've been known to visit a certain pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans in the mall for several months before I could actually justify the purchase. ("Alright, Amy, you work hard, and you have like no designer clothes, and you've wanted these jeans for 6 months now, and they are never going on sale, so just buy them, and if you wear them every weekend for the next two years, they will totally be worth the money. Oh, and you DESERVE them!!")

But I digress.

I went to the Rummage Sale to look for a double jogging stroller in particular, and there was a nice one there for $75. I decided to take a lap around the perimeter to think about it, and when I came back it was gone. See? Rummage sales are for impulse buyers.

I did manage to score another 6-panel Superyard for $25. And I bought Charlotte and Gavin some really cute clothes totaling $30. All in all, not a bad first run.

Charlotte's "new" gear

Gavin's "new" gear

Superyard!

Nostalgia

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for my younger days recently. I'm not sure why; it seems that springtime always triggers this feeling for me. Maybe because it's prom season, or the anticipation of summer that is still very real to me because of my profession. Whatever the reason, it hits me hard at this time of year, and the bittersweet sensation of the passage of time blooms right along with the daffodils.

I got to revel in the feeling a bit this morning when I saw that the band that was such an integral part of my formative years is reuniting and putting out a new album. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my heart fluttered just a little.

Sad, no?

Some Days, Other Days

Some days I feel like I have tons to blog and talk about. Other days I feel like I have nothing important to say at all.

Some days I feel like I should be Mother of the Year. Other days I figure I'll be lucky if the twins are still speaking to me when they turn 18.

Some days I feel nothing but love; huge, encompassing love from Michael, Charlotte, and Gavin. Other days I feel completely unappreciated.

Some days I want to be a stay-at-home mom forever. Other days I can't wait to go back to work.

Some days I think I manage the demands of being a wife and mother pretty well. Other days I ignore the dust building up on the TV screen and order pizza for dinner.

Some days (most days) I'm happy with the way my life has turned out. Other days, I wish I could go back about 15 years and do it all differently.

Do you have days like this too?

Baby Dancing

Of course, I only want to represent myself and my family in the best possible light on this blog (smirk), so before you watch this video, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. That doesn't sound AT ALL like my real voice. (I know, people always think it doesn't sound like their own voice when they hear it played back on a recording).

2. Charlotte was having a bad hair day.

3. My husband DOES know how to speak using proper grammar. We were "baby speaking."

That being said, check out the moves on Baby Girl! Holla!

Bath Time

Well, I was going to upload a really cute video of Charlotte dancing for you to see, but I'm just too exhausted right now. You see, I was giving her a bath earlier, and she decided to poop all over her baby tub. And then when I took her out of the baby tub and plunked her down into the real tub (sans water) just to get a handle on things, she pooped in that tub too. So I just spent my evening blogging/quiet time bleaching the tub and all of the tub toys instead of uploading the aforementioned video.

There's always tomorrow.

Parenting Theories

I certainly wouldn't say that Charlotte and Gavin are difficult children. But I also wouldn't say they are particularly easy, either. I only have my nephews for comparison, but I think Charlotte and Gavin have their good days and their bad. Nighttime and naptimes continue to be struggles, despite using the cry-it-out method, schedules, then no schedules, etc... They still have trouble amusing themselves on their own, too, so sometimes they can get pretty cranky. Inconsistent sleep habits might have something to do with the crankiness. But they eat well, and they seem generally happy, and they sleep well enough, mostly.

I spoke to some other mothers at my Twin Club meeting tonight. One has 3-month old twins, and the other 13-month olds. They made parenting twins sound like the simplest thing ever. "I swear, they were sleeping through the night since they came home. Sometimes I'm still laying in bed at 10am thinking, shouldn't they be up by now?" said the mother of the 3-month olds. The other mother agreed that sometimes she has to wake her children up in the morning because they sleep so late. And then, of course, the children are just lovely for the remainder of the day. Are they serious? Do children like that exist?

I have a few theories on this:
1. They're lying. Lately I've been thinking that there are mothers out there who make everything out to be easier than it actually is. I'm not sure why they feel they have to do this. Do they think people will think less of them if they admit that parenting is hard? I'm sure this has something to do with societal views of women and mothers, but it makes my head hurt just to think about it, so I'm going to leave the theorizing to someone else.

2. My twins are really more difficult than I thought. Maybe everyone else's babies are average, and mine are crankier and more sleep-deprived than most.

3. Perhaps my twins are just as difficult/easy as theirs, but these other women can simply deal with it better than I can. I am very very Type-A, so when my kids are rubbing their eyes and tired, then they should be sleeping, dammit. And when they are not doing what I think they should be doing, I get all flustered. Maybe these other ladies are more flexible, and can roll with an unscheduled day better than I.

I have a feeling the answer lies somewhere between Theory 1 and 3. They may be glossing over things a little, but may also be a bit more laidback. It doesn't matter--I still wanted to wring their necks.

Trouble Squared

Oh, Charlotte. Now that she is crawling, she is in to everything. Here are some of her more memorable moments over the past week:

She ripped the glass doors off of the front of our TV cabinet.

She opened the tub of Vaseline and managed to smear it all over herself.

She ate a business card. (Or part of it, until I caught her).

She pulled all of the wipes out of the container.

She got her head stuck in the leg of Gavin's pajamas. (I had just taken them off of him...)

As I was pushing the double stroller through our local crafts store, she managed to grab the top of a small silk flower. I didn't notice until I was putting her in her car seat and saw something in her mouth. I'm lucky she didn't swallow it!

Life with her is never dull!

We're Here Again?

So how come nobody told me that I'd have to do cry-it-out more than once?

Charlotte and Gavin have been putting themselves to sleep for a long time now. We get a bath, we read a book, we sing a few songs, and then they go to sleep! Done! But for the past four nights the babies have been screaming at bedtime. They stand up in their cribs and howl until they can't catch their breath. Gavin has gone so far as to hurl his pacifier across the room in frustration. What gives?

The first night of this, I ignored them, mainly because I had to go grocery shopping. It took them about a half and hour to quiet down that night, according to Michael (so I'm automatically tacking on an additional 15 minutes to his estimate). The past few nights, I've been caving and going up to rock them. That's because (a) when I rock them, they literally fall asleep within five minutes, and (b) they've had some major intestinal distress* over the past 2 weeks, and I don't know if they're doing this because they don't feel well or what. They are literally pooping about 8 times a day, each. Is that TMI? To complicate matters, Charlotte just cut her third tooth.

I've read that sometimes babies go through these phases where their sleep is disrupted for a while. I'm just not sure if I'm setting a precedent by going in and rocking them. Perhaps I should let them cry it out again? I hate this part of parenting!

*That's a whole other topic. I've been giving them rice, bread, bananas, applesauce, white grape juice, and anti-diarrheal formula....anything to stop the constant flow of poop! Nothing is working!

Let Them Eat Cake!

I've got the first birthday party under my belt. It went well, I think. My cats were only moderately terrorized, and just one child puked due to accidentally ingesting Rice Krispie Treats made with fluff, which apparently contain egg whites. (Mia Culpa, Jakob!)

We stuck with The Cat in the Hat theme, which was pretty easy and I was pleased with the overall effect. I'm no Keri, but I tried. Here are a few of the highlights:

Happy Birthday, Babies!

Dear Charlotte,

One year ago you had enough of Gavin's shenanigans and decided you were ready, already. You cried a bit upon delivery, but the nurses noted that you mostly just looked around in wonder. You had your eyes open for nearly an hour, they said, which is unheard of for a 31-week newborn. And you continued to surprise us on a daily basis. "Preemies don't nurse well; they only get 10 cc's at most," they said. But then you went and took 60 cc's! Holding you on your true birth day was the realization of so many of my wishes. Watching you grow has been amazing. The nicknames your grandparents have given you, "Nosy Rosie" and "The Newsbox," fit you perfectly. You are extremely alert and observant, and always have been. You're certainly not a cuddler, but I live for those tight squeezes you give me every morning when I get you out of your crib. You've captured everyone's heart with that sweet smile and a sense of humor that's emerging already. Daddy and I can't wait to share the wonders of the world with you.

I love you!

Mommy

Dear Gavin,

You gave your parents quite a few scares with all that heart-rate-dropping business, but look at you now, kiddo. We weren't allowed to hold you for a few days after your birth, and that was pure torture...but you are so worth the wait. We remember when you always had your little hands in tight fists, and your body was so tense. We were afraid that your motor development would be seriously delayed. But you crawled first, and are now pulling up on everything! You are incredibly curious, too. I love watching you study new objects, turning them over and over in your hands to get a better look. And everyone loves your sweet disposition; even strangers are immediately drawn to you. You have a big world to explore out there, but for now I love having you close, sitting on my lap. Hope it stays that way for years to come.

I love you!

Mommy

One Year Ago Today...

...Charlotte decided she was tired of being all cramped in there, and kicked through her amniotic sac. At least, that's the way I imagine it. Things have been all sorts of crazy since that day.

Books and Sports...Really, What Else is There?

Ever since the twins were born, Michael and I have been daydreaming about hypothetical moments we will one day share with them. Since I am an elementary school teacher and *almost* a Reading Specialist (blame it on the preemies...they came when I was two classes short of my degree), I have had visions of cuddling under the covers with Charlotte and Gavin, reading The Tale of Despereaux or The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles and stopping for the night just before we get to the good part, despite their protests. I've always felt that Charlotte will be a Book Worm like her mother, especially since I chose her name from the first book I ever loved, Charlotte's Web.

Michael has different dreams for Gavin. Since Michael was a running back in high school and still plays on a flag football team today, he can hardly wait to toss a ball around with Gavin. Even when the babies were in utero, Michael was trying to talk to Gavin about his first love (no, not me...sports).

Here's what I love about raising kids: every preconceived notion you have about what parenting is going to be like is shattered the moment that little person(s) is born. Every plan you have for raising your child is modified in a way that you probably would never have imagined. And today I had to smile when the twins reminded me of that!

Here's Charlotte, crushing all gender stereotypes by playing with her beloved ball. I'm almost certain her first word will either be "ball" or "Gavin," since those seem to be the two things she's most interested in. And she already plays a mean game of catch!

And here's Gavin, melting his mother's heart by closely studying nearly every board book we own. To hell with your preconceived notions, Momma!

And It's Only 7 am!

This morning, Gavin:

1. woke up at 5:00 am
2. woke up with a big bruise on his face from hitting it on the crib rails.
3. has had a bit of "intestinal distress", and managed to poop through his p.j.'s for the second morning in a row.
4. is suddenly VERY mobile, as if overnight, and is crawling all over my not-quite-babyproofed kitchen.
5. is cranky because of waking up so early, the big bruise on his face, having diaper rash from all the pooping, and being carried out of the kitchen.

Is there such a thing as a Coffee I.V.? Or at least a Coffee Patch?

March 3

It's National Read Across America Day. Here's hoping everyone gets a few uninterrupted minutes to read alone, and maybe even enjoy a book with your little ones. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Strange Baby Foods

Have you ever seen these crackers? The twins are completely obsessed with them. They literally lose their minds when they see the box. I think it's clear from the packaging that they are not American. The box boasts that these "rice rusks" have been enjoyed by babies in the Orient for over a century! Who knew? (and what the hell is a rice rusk?)?! Charlotte and Gavin LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I cannot stress this enough.

So you can imagine my dismay when I looked for them in their usual spot at Acme two weeks ago, right next to the Treacle and the Spotted Dick (no joke--another clue that they weren't American), and they were nowhere to be found. I generally remain calm in these situations, but these are BABY MUM-MUMS, the twins' dietary staple, for heaven's sake! I immediately made my way to Customer Service to explain how unacceptable this was, and the worker had the nerve to ask if I was sure I was looking in the right place. You don't need to know all the details, but you should know that the next few moments were punctuated with some begging and a few tears, and I think I may have promised to buy a case of Mum-Mums and perhaps I even promised my next-born child. The details are fuzzy as I was somewhat hysterical. Either way, it worked, and I'm happy to say the Mum-Mums are back on the shelf, happily wedged between the Treacle and Spotted Dick, where they belong.

Updates

The babies are quickly approaching their first birthday, and their little personalities are really starting to develop. Gavin is so sweet and easy-going, and lately I've been catching him paging through our board books and really studying the pictures (he is definitely my child!). He's also the more physical of the two; he was the first one to crawl (a maneuver that Charlotte has not yet mastered) and is constantly pulling himself up on furniture, the TV, and even Charlotte. Charlotte has a bit more of a temper. She'll throw toys if she's frustrated, and rather than try to crawl to a toy she wants, she's happy just to point to the object and scream until I get it for her. (I think that's more of Michael's personality. I'm just sayin'...)

Speaking of screaming, Gavin's been doing a lot of that when I put him down at bedtime. He's been known to fuss and cry a little, but for past two nights he has screamed. Loudly. So much so that I actually thought he may have climbed out of the crib and hurt himself. But no, when I go into the nursery he's on his knees, holding the bars of his crib like he's in some kind of baby jail. And I usually give in and rock him awhile, because it's just so darn nice to have a sleepy baby all cuddly against you. But I hope this screaming phase passes soon.

They have also really been interacting lately, which is just the cutest thing ever. Gavin will do something that Charlotte thinks is funny (like put his head on her knee -- ah, the hilarity!) and she will giggle uncontrollably. He realizes that what he is doing is making her laugh, so he keeps doing it. I'm sure the hair-pulling, biting, and tattling aren't far behind, but right now they are best of friends.

We had our first swimming class today. It was so much fun! They both seemed to really enjoy the water, but Gavin could hardly contain his excitement. As soon as he got wet, he started kicking his legs and dunking his face in the water, grinning all the while. A natural! I can't wait to go back next week.

And just a nap update...I decided to put them in separate rooms, at least for nap time. For whatever reason, Gavin doesn't try to stand up in the Pack and Play. Less leverage, I guess. They napped for two hours today...I don't know if it's the new arrangement or the fact that they were so tired after swimming. Either way, I didn't know what to do with all of the free time! I actually read a little of my book! (The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett...love it!)



Now, some photos for you to enjoy. The first is Charlotte in the locker room getting ready to swim (how cute is she in her warm-up sweatpants?), and the second is in the pool, obviously. (It's a terrible photo of me, but the only one I have of us in the pool!)

Change of Plans

I was just logging on to blog about how tired I am. Physically tired, that is, because I have been wrangling babies-on-the-move today. But then I read Betty's post about car seats, and now I feel compelled to talk to ya'll about that.

The babies will be a year old in two weeks, and they are both over 20 pounds. For about six months now, Michael and I have been dreaming about the day we will be able to turn their car seats around. Our conversations go something like this:

Me: Poor babies. Can't even see where they are going.

Michael: They are so crammed back there. I can't wait to turn them around.

Me: Me too. They will have a whole new outlook on life! (crossing fingers) Maybe they will love car rides, then!

Michael: What are the requirements again? They have to, like, be able to hold their heads up and smile?

Me: Something like that.

But then I read Betty's post, and I learn that there's some sort of heated debate about when it's appropriate to turn the car seats around. I don't want to Google it, because I tend to get caught up in stuff like that. So what's the deal? Do I turn them around, or not?

Confessions

I feed my babies from the same spoon.

My babies aren't quite one yet, and they've eaten baked goods, egg whites, and peanut butter. (That last one was an accident, I assure you).

If I know they are well-fed and have a clean diaper, and it's nap time, I will let them whine in their cribs. At least for a little while.

I let them play with the phone. The fake phone won't do. They've already placed two calls.

If Gavin fusses in the middle of the night, but he's still mostly asleep, and his diaper has only leaked a little, I won't change it until he really wakes up.

I let the babies chew on tubes of creams and lotions (with a watchful eye). They love this, but my mother-in-law thinks it's beyond disgusting.

Dirty Laundry (Pun Intended)

I think I do a lot around my household.

I keep the babies, Michael, and me well-fed. Cooking and meal-planning are things that truly aren't easy for me, so it takes a lot of forethought on my part to make sure everyone is eating three square meals a day. I prepare the meals and feed the babies completely on my own. I also clean, do the dishes, do all of my laundry, do the babies' laundry, and at times, do Michael's laundry. I bathe the babies on my own, dress them, give them their bottles, and take care of naptimes and bedtime. And I imagine, in September, I will do all of these things PLUS have a full-time teaching job that isn't a 9-5 stint. That work comes home with me. I'm rarely thanked or told I'm appreciated, because it's just part of my job.

That's why it PISSES ME OFF when I come home to an empty, dirty container that was full of Rice Krispie treats when I left, just placed by the sink, waiting for me to scrub it. And a laundry basket, full of my clean, UNFOLDED laundry that was pulled out of the dryer and thrown in the basket in one big heap. And a husband snoring away on the sofa.

Why don't they get it?!?!?!

Catch-All Post

Wow, it's been a heck of a long time since I blogged. A lot has been going on lately.

I'll give you the general idea:
Last weekend, several of my friends from college and I got together for a girls' weekend. It was heavenly. The company was fantastic, the food was delicious, the conversation was wonderful, and the relaxation was just what the doctor ordered. We went to a spa on Saturday, and I treated myself to a facial and a massage. (Actually, Michael treated me, as a Valentine's Day gift.) As one of my girlfriends noted, the weekend was effortless. Hanging out with them is easy, easy, easy, and even though I hadn't seen some of them in years, it was like no time had passed at all. Those are the best kinds of friends.

The babies' naps are getting slightly longer, thanks to an earlier bedtime and strict adherence to the clock. We were at a half-hour max, and now I might get an hour in there a couple times a week. Naptimes are at 9am and 1pm sharp. If they skimp on the later nap, which they usually do, it's an earlier bedtime to make up for it...usually around 6:15pm. Believe it or not, the naps are beginning to lengthen, knock on wood, so we'll see where this goes. If it works, I owe it all to Dr. Weissbluth.

We toured The Malvern School the other day, and liked it. My nephew goes there and seems to really enjoy it, or at least he isn't totally unhappy. I just about cry at the thought of handing my babies over to someone else for most of the day, but I don't really have another option. They will be with my mom for two days a week, and the environment at The Malvern School seems very nurturing and positive. I know they'll do well there, and I'm thankful I've been able to spend so much time home with them. The next six months are going to fly by...

I'm co-teaching a few workshops for the Pennsylvania Writing and Literacy Project (PAWLP) in April and June. I'm excited about it, and ready to start thinking like a teacher again instead of just a mommy. I became a Fellow of the Literacy Institute in 2004, and I'm seriously considering becoming a writing Fellow this summer. More on that later.

In other baby news, the babies have a new favorite game that I like to call "You're Playing With That Toy? I Want That Toy." As you can imagine, it consists of taking toys out of each other's hands and making each other cry. Oddly enough, their favorite toys are the tubes of Boudreaux's Butt Paste and the wipes containers.

I am really into American Idol this season. My early favorite is Michael....older guy, sang Bohemian Rhapsody. (I find him impossibly sexy...but then again, I find Prince sexy, so you may think my radar is a bit off...)

Because we are such romantics (cough, cough), the husband and I made spinach-and-feta stuffed salmon and mashed potatoes for Valentine's Day. For dessert we had pound cake, strawberries, and marshmallows dipped in chocolate fondue. And when I say the husband and I made it, I really mean I made it while he watched Entertainment Tonight.

I think that's about it. Now you're all caught up!

The Cuteness Renders You Powerless!

Cup 'o Joe

There's no doubt about it...I am NOT a morning person. I know, when you become a parent, you become a morning person. You have to; it's just part of the job, like changing diapers and picking noses. But I am NOT a morning person, so I cherish my morning coffee, which is really the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning (okay, that and the wailing that comes from the nursery).

Lately, Charlotte has been very into what I'm eating and drinking. She isn't crawling yet, but if I'm sitting near her, eating or drinking something that has not been first offered to her, she will find a way to get close to me and fling her little body over my lap. Then she will proceed to claw at me, whine, and point at whatever I'm eating or drinking until she gets some of it, too.

Obviously she can't have any of my morning coffee. Besides the fact that the caffeine isn't good for her, I'm unwilling to give a sip of my coffee to anyone, since it's what keeps me functioning. So since she won't take no for an answer, I've just started giving her her own travel mug, either empty or filled with a little water, so she can sip right along with me.

It's just the cutest darn thing ever.

Our TV Debut

Since most of you who read this blog know me personally, most of you probably already know that my three words were included on Good Morning America this morning. You can see us in the middle of the montage. The Wilco song they chose is great, too! You can view it here if you like. Fun, fun!

Who Says Romance is Dead?

Michael and I went out to dinner last week, alone, for only the second time since the babies were born last March. Sad, I know. As we were eating and talking, I realized that the bulk of our conversation was solely about the babies. When we thought they would finally crawl, why Gavin's diaper keeps leaking night after night, how we're going to swing daycare for two when I go back to work in September, what the theme should be at their first birthday party--you get the idea. I began wondering: "Who are these two? What has become of us? I remember the day when we would stay out on weekends until 2 am, and now I'm happiest if I'm in bed by 9! And we would discuss all manner of things without the slightest mention of diapers or sippy cups!"

So on Saturday night I finally took the advice of the countless parenting magazines and websites I've read. I decided we needed a "date night" at home after the babies went to bed. First, I should let you know that the babies decided not to cooperate. I think they knew something was up...they have a little baby-sixth-sense that way. I wanted to at least get out of my sweatpants and maybe even put on a little mascara for our date, but by the time we finally got the babies to sleep, our dinner was practically cold. I decided just to wear my pearls, which looked very stylish with my sweats and all...but that was really all I had time for. Michael thought that was pretty funny.

Anyway, we used our china for the first time in our entire marriage, and drank champagne. (Sidebar: Does anyone actually ever use their china? I'm going to make an effort to use it once a month). We dined on lemon-butter tilapia, sesame-roasted asparagus, and rice pilaf (I'm not ashamed to tell you that the rice was out of a box). We decided not to talk about babies, which frankly, left very little to talk about. Which is why this date night was so important; I think we need to reconnect on other levels.

Afterwards, in keeping with the theme, we decided to rent a movie. Our choice was The Bourne Supremecy, and I'm sorry to tell you that we both fell asleep halfway through. What exciting lives we lead.

Who Are These Twins, and What Have You Done With Mine?

Things in the Tulip and Turnip Household have changed dramatically in the last two days. First of all, Gavin took three excellent naps yesterday. He hasn't done that, ever. And lest you think that those naps gave me some respite, a break from the daily grind, a chance to sit down and enjoy the latest issue of Country Living whilst sipping a cup of coffee...think again. Because yesterday was the day that Charlotte, who has been a fair napper all along, decided NOT. TO. NAP. She's up to those tricks again today...I just put them down for their morning nap and she's been hollering for a good twenty minutes.

Gavin has also recently decided that his most favorite thing to do is dance in the kitchen with Mommy while listening to the iPod, preferably to Amos Lee's "Sweet Pea." It's actually pretty cute...he gets all excited and starts swaying to the music and kicking his legs as I twirl him around. But when the song ends, he wails. And continues wailing until we start over again. I'm pretty certain he is wondering where Amos Lee actually is, because he stares at the iPod so intently as we dance, as if he is certain that the man is going to appear, guitar in hand, and start strumming away in a private concert, just for us. He has also recently discovered that he can insert his fingers and arms into our toys that have holes. He got his arm stuck in a dump truck yesterday. And the biting, that's another story. I have teeth marks all over my shoulders.

Other than deciding not to nap, Charlotte has picked up a few tricks too. I think she's only just decided that she likes me. She has never been a particularly clingy baby, but lately she wants to be held often. And when I'm holding her, from time to time she will open her mouth as wide as it will go and attempt to suck/lick my cheek or mouth. I'm not sure if this is a baby-kiss or something to do with the fact that she's teething, but either way, it's pretty darn cute. She's been signing "all done" too, but it's never when we finish a meal as I had planned. It's when she's in the Exersaucer, or having tummy time, or at other times when it doesn't really make sense. (You could argue that she's telling me she's all done with the Exersaucer or tummy time, but I think she's really just interested in the movement of her hands.)

Anyway, I was going back and forth about signing them up for Kindermusik, but since Gavin seems so obsessed with dancing/Amos Lee, and since Charlotte has been preoccupied with her hand movements, I'm reconsidering. I might have two little musicians on my hands.

P.S. Charlotte did eventually stop hollering. I don't want you to think I typed this post while Charlotte screamed in her crib! But now I hear Gavin....

Wordless Wednesday

Twin Club

I went to my first Mothers of Multiples meeting last night. I wasn't sure what to expect. My mom was a member when my twin sisters were born, a little more than 25 years ago, and I have a few memories of her attending the meetings. Back then, it was all Bake Sales and Play Dates and "Twin Club" vests and buttons. At least that's how my 5-year-old brain processed it.

It was actually fun. These women are incredible multitaskers -- they have fundraisers and community outreach programs, meal deliveries for new mothers of multiples, a huge rummage sale that's big news in this area, and social events for the adults and the kids, just to name a few things. Also, they can understand the special challenges that come with mothering more than one infant. Just having someone to talk to and vent with is worth the dues.

I wound up buying this cute/somewhat cheesy football-jersey-style shirt that says something about the Mothers of Multiples on the back, and then says "Team Chermela" on the front. Totally a nerdy mothery thing to purchase, but I was caught up in the spirit of the whole multiples thing. I drew the line at the "Got Twins?" decal for my car, but next month might be another story....stay tuned.

photo opportunity

As a Christmas present for my parents, my sister and I decided to go to one of those fancy-schmancy kids' portrait studios to have our children's photo taken. Despite the fact that the kids ages were 10, 2, 9 months, and 9 months, the photo shoot went surprisingly well and the pictures turned out nicely. But those photos cost exactly one arm, one leg, and maybe even another arm thrown in there for good measure. Which is why I've been more than a little selective about who gets one of the 8 wallet-size photos that I bought.

On Saturday night, Michael and I went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. This is a place that we used to go to often before the twins arrived. (We have only been out to dinner alone TWICE since they were born, and both times we went to this place.) We are somewhat friendly with the waitress there, so when we walked in, she smiled and asked, "How are the babies?" "Great!" I replied. "I have a picture!"** I pulled my wallet-sized photo out and showed her. "I have to go show my mom!" she said, and ran back to the kitchen where her mom and dad were both cooking.

That was the last I saw of that photo. I guess she must've thought I was giving it to her. I had a hard time enjoying myself through the entire meal, because I kept wondering: Is she going to give it back? Did she forget that she has it in her pocket? Should I ask for it? Is that rude? How many more do I have at home...one? two?

I hate situations like that...I never want to make the other person uncomfortable, so I don't say anything at all. We don't really know this waitress well, so I can't imagine she's going to put the photo in her wallet or go home and hang it on her wall. I'm quite sure it will wind up in the trash. Ah, well. At least the salmon was delicious.

* I've replayed this over and over in my head. I think I said, "I have a picture." Perhaps I should have said, "Let me show you a picture?" or "Look at my picture?"

My Brain is Fried

I really, really wish I had something interesting to blog about. But I don't. So I'll just tell you that Charlotte has finally cut her first tooth. And Gavin has 7.

The Healing Power of Touch

I had a massage on Saturday. It was a gift from two of my sisters for my birthday, and Lordy, did I need it. It was only the second massage I've ever had--unless you count the time Michael and I had a "Couples Massage" in Negril. (That massage was outdoors, in an open-air gazebo that happened to be on a nude beach, atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was incredibly picturesque, but I was feeling uncomfortable about disrobing in front of the 100 or so other beach-goers. I also had a few cocktails the night before, so I was feeling a little...queasy. And I had just read an article about how some people believe that, if your masseuse is in a bad or negative mood during your massage, they can steal your positive "chi." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I was naked and queasy, so I knew I didn't want my positive chi stolen. So about 5 minutes into the hour-long massage I told the masseuse I wasn't feeling well, got dressed, and went to lie down in our hotel room. Of course, Michael stayed for the entire hour, and of course, I was charged for the entire hour.)

All that aside, this massage was pure heaven. I felt so calm and relaxed afterwards, and it got me thinking about other things that make me feel that way. A happy baby (better yet, two happy babies). Soaking in the hot tub. A nice glass of red wine. A hot cup of peppermint mocha. Girls' Night Out. A good shoe sale.

I think a challenge as a mother is how to get yourself to that point, a calm and centered place, as often as you can. Ultimately, I think you become a better mother for it, and a better person for that matter. I'm not big on resolutions (I hate the New Year and all it entails, but that's another post), but I think this year I'm at least going to try to focus on activities that help me attain that calm, relaxed state. So if you see me stressing, help a sista out! Let me know some of your tricks that relax and center you.

Update on The Sleeping Situation, Even Though I May Be the Only One Who Cares

Alternate Blog Title: Kid For Sale! (Good Lord, I hope you know I'm kidding.)

Charlotte is over the little hissy-fits-at-bedtime thing. She's back to her normal, pleasant self, and can put herself to sleep largely unassisted.

Gavin, my dear Gavin....he has been another story from the start. This kid can't seem to stick to one pattern or schedule to save his life. For a while, back in October, he was waking once a night, usually at 5am, and just wanted to be held and talked to, and he'd nod back off until about 7am. These days, I never know when he's going to get up, but I can guarantee it's going to be many times a night. And he WILL NOT go back to sleep unless I intervene. Believe me, I've tried the whole ignoring thing. It keeps Charlotte awake, so I'm considering moving his crib to a different room, but that would require disassembling the entire thing. I'm thinking about putting him in the Pack and Play in my room for a few nights to see if we can't get this thing straightened out.

I'm at a loss. Between that and the whole my-babies-don't-nap thing, Michael and I have had some very unpleasant evenings lately.

Proof That Twins Aren't Always Alike

Gavin's tooth total is at 5. Charlotte? Zero.

Addendum to My New Obsession Post

So what are your three words?

My New Obsession

Have you seen the i-Caught "Your Life in Three Words" feature on Good Morning America? I think it only airs on weekends, but I am completely obsessed with it. Basically, people send in a video or a photo of three words that describe their present situation. Then GMA compiles the submissions and puts them to music. They always choose a great song, which totally feeds in to my obsession. It's super-difficult to explain...just go watch it. I'll wait.

You watched it? Good. Here's my submission. Let's hope they add it to one of their montages!