Thursday, September 30, 2010

It Won't Be Like This For Long





Last night we read our bedtime book, sang our bedtime song and tucked the girls in for the evening.

We walked out, braced ourselves for the almost certain wails and waited. And waited. And waited.

No wails. WHAT?! No wails!?!

I waited a few more minutes and poked my head in. Sure enough, they were already asleep.

I looked at Scott. He looked at me. And we just smiled.

Fast forward about an hour, and they woke up simultaneously wailing.

And that's when I started to melt down. I was tired. I knew I had a long night ahead of me if they were waking up just an hour into bedtime.

The frustration was building after each time we thought Claire was back to sleep, she'd wail again.

But then I sat down at the computer and started reading a blog of a friend who posted this video.



Then I remembered what I had forgotten.

And I smiled thinking about how wonderful my sleepless life is.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

So Fresh and So Clean



It's bath time, and I'm ready.

I've been mentally preparing for it all day. Scott had to work late tonight, so I knew I was on my own.

Giving baths is a workout these days. We bathe them at the same time. Yes, it's a bit of a logistical nightmare, but it cuts down on time and screaming. Mostly on screaming.

Undress one. Put her in the bath. Undress the other. Put her in the bath. Scrub one down. Scrub the other down. Stop one from bulldozing the other. Stop the other from tipping over. Stop one from bulldozing the other AGAIN. Wrap a towel around one and sit her down. Wrap a towel around the other. And then by some unknown strength and agility, pick them both up and carry them into their room to be diapered and dressed.

And that's on a good day.

Today was not a good day.

I managed to get through the bath, through the drying off and had them both sitting on the changing table when I reached into the basket to grab a diaper and I felt it.

Nothing. No diapers.

The new box was sitting in the kitchen.

So, there I was with two naked, cold, diaperless babies and no diapers.

What did I do? I stuck both of those naked babies into Grace's crib and hurried to the kitchen the whole time chanting, "Please don't pee, please don't pee!"

Monday, September 27, 2010

Worth Every Penny

Babies are expensive.

Who knew?

But we try to be frugal when we can, and this weekend Scott and I loaded up the babies and headed to our favorite consignment sale.

It's a sale that I have gone to many times now and one that has never failed me.

This time was no different.

We bought clothes. Toys. Books. What would have surely cost us hundreds of dollars brand new, we got for $100.

But even better than stocking up on necessary baby stuff was what happened when we got it home.



Nine Months




Yesterday, the girls turned nine months old.

Nine months. Like in 3/4 of a year. It's hard to believe. You hear parents say it all the time. They can't believe their kids are growing so fast. But it's so completely true.

One day, the fit in the palm of your hand, the next they are making a beeline for your cell phone.

And then you wonder how it went by so fast. And if you have insurance on your phone.

Happy Birthday, baby girls!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

For You

Here's a video to brighten your Thursday because ...

1. It's my little sister's birthday ... Happy Birthday, Cassie!!
2. I was too busy to post yesterday ... sorry, Carrie!
3. My brother and my sister-in-law just announced they are having a baby in April ... congrats, Johnny and Heather!
4. It's just too darn cute not to share.


Dear Grace



Hi, sweetie. How are you?

Me? I'm good. Thanks for asking.

There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about.

Remember when you used to do this?



Remember how easy you would fall asleep?

Remember how I didn't sell you at auction because you were a good sleeper?

I know I said I wanted you to stop sucking your thumb.

I've changed my mind.

I don't.

Not yet.

Love,
Mom

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The (Non) Napping House



I'm so tired, I can feel it in my eyebrows.

I thought the sleepless nights were over.

I was wrong. So, so wrong.

During the day, nap time is a war zone. My stubbornness versus theirs. Sometimes I win, sometimes they do.

During the night, they take turns hollering out. Sometimes it's just the one holler, sometimes they completely wake up. But either way, I'm up about every other hour.

I love my baby girls. I would never trade this sleepless life for anything. But I could go for a nap.

A long, delicious, uninterrupted nap.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Double the ...

I was feeding babies this morning, when two things happened that made me think you'd like to hear about them. You may not actually want to hear about them, but it's sorta enter at your own risk around here.

The first interesting thing:
Grace picked up this turtle with her toes and dropped it into my lap while she was eating.



WITH HER TOES, people. While Claire's working on that whole crawling thing, Grace has apparently been busy strengthening her toe muscles.

The second interesting thing:
We were near the end of the feeding and they were chugging along when they both paused. And at the EXACT same moment, they pooped. It was weird. And stinky.



That is all.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Pictures of the week: Sept. 17





These pictures in no way represent our week. Quiet and calm are not words I would use to describe the girls lately. But seeing these pictures allows me to take a deep breath and move on with the shrieking, non-napping babies.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Just in Time

So, the other day my Mom asked me if I thought we should lower the mattress in Claire's crib. She had noticed that Claire was starting to grab the bars and trying to pull herself up.

Nah, I said. I don't think she's quite there yet. We've got some time.

But a couple of days went by and I noticed she was pulling more and more.

Better safe than sorry, I thought.

So, we lowered the mattress this weekend.

And the very next day ...



Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Caption Contest #16 Winner

And the winner is ... Sue!



Claire: Just one more toy and I will have the entire toy box as MINE ALL MINE!!!! First the toy box, then the world!!!!
Grace: Geez, What is with her?

You know you're having a Monday if ...



1. You wake up seven times overnight to both of your babies hollering out.

2. Your baby is screaming like a banshee because she hasn't had a proper poop in three days.

3. Your baby vomits and poops on your sheets. Within a matter of minutes.

4. Oh yeah, and all over you. Just the vomit. Not the poop.

6. You can't wipe up the vomit running down your leg because of the screaming, vomiting, pooping baby.

7. Your other baby refuses to eat. She'd rather scream, too.

8. She's growing a tooth, you know.

9. Your babies refuse to sleep at the same time, leaving you with a baby on your hip for most of the day.

10. It's 9 p.m. and you realize you never changed out of the shorts with vomit on them.

Please, please, have mercy on my Tuesday.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Guess Who

Someone got a new tooth this weekend.

I'll give you one guess as to who it was.

Claire ...


Or Grace ...


If you guessed Claire ... sorry, you've guessed incorrectly. Don't worry, that frown could fool anyone.

If you guessed Grace ... congratulations! You don't win anything, but at least you weren't duped by the frown.

That's about how the whole weekend went for Grace. Smiling, giggling, playing.







If it weren't for the fact that I feel her gums daily, I wouldn't have even known she had a tooth pop up.

And that's quite the feat for someone formerly known as The Screamer.


Editor's Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit I may have spoke too soon. More on this story as it develops.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Pictures of the week: Sept. 10



This face has everyone cracking up lately. She probably does it at least 500 times a day. And as soon as you frown back to her, she grins from ear to ear.




Also, Grace is ready for her audition for the remake of Gilligan's Island.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Only Child



She steals her toys.

She pushes her.

She kicks her.

She is obsessed with her ears. (Strange, I know.)



Claire is a bully. She doesn't always mean to be, but she's a bully.



Sometimes she's just flinging her toys and they happen to hit Grace. Sometimes she's just kicking randomly and her feet just happen to land on Grace. And sometimes she's just pinching the air and happens to grab a hand full of Grace's cheek.

Needless to say, Grace is a little put off by all of this. She screams, hollers, cries, yelps until we move Claire.

It's so bad that sometimes just the sight of Claire "crawling" toward Grace makes her scream.

I know that things will even out eventually. Grace will learn to crawl and be able to flee her approaching sister. Or she'll build those arm muscles enough that she can pop her back. Or Claire will stop picking on her.

Ok, that might be a stretch.

Either way I know it will work out. But for now, I still wonder if Grace wouldn't mind being an only child.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Caption Contest: September 8



We provide the picture. You write a caption (in the comments section below). The winner will be showered with fame and glory. Ready. Set. Go!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Caption Contest #15 Winner

And the winner is ... Ashley!



Claire: OMG, where is that smell coming from???

Grace: *smiles*

Claire 63, Mom 1

Shhhh.

Keep your voice down.

Don't you know what it's been like over here the past few days?

Haven't you heard??

Sure, there have been giggles here and there. But the crying. Oh, the endless crying.

It's Claire. She's having trouble napping again. Could be some more teeth. Or a sore throat. Or I did something to enrage the sleeping gods. But whatever the cause, she cries every time I try to lay her down.

But this morning, I won.

She put up a good fight. But in the end, I finally won.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Photo Shoot

We had a rare moment over the weekend. Both girls were in good moods. AT THE SAME TIME. Shocking, I know. So, I grabbed my camera and tried to capture the moment. I think you will enjoy seeing what a typical "photo shoot" is like these days.





























Friday, September 3, 2010

Pictures of the week: Sept. 3





I was folding laundry while they were playing in their room, and they both were so intrigued by the laundry basket (and the laundry) that I let them try it out.

I'm hoping this means good things for our future. My aching back is counting on it.