Friday, October 29, 2010

Pictures of the Week: Oct. 29





Crawling and shimmying and scooting and sitting and standing and squatting. They are constantly moving. Which means I'm constantly moving. Which means I'm going to go eat some pizza this weekend. I've earned it.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

No Place Like Home



You're wasting your time.

There's nothing out there.

No friends to play with.

No places to see.

No things to do.

Promise.

There's certainly nothing out there that would ever make you want to grow up, move out and leave your poor ol' mom. Best to just stay here forever.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Double Digits!

To my dearest baby girls,

Today you are 10 months old. This month was simultaneously one of the most fun and one of the most challenging so far.



We had an ear infection, a visit to the ER, nighttime wakings, teething pains, slips, falls and about a hundred bonks on the head. And don't even get me started on all of the giggling we did this month.

Quick side story: the other day, Grace sneezed and I said "Goodness!" And they both looked at each other and burst out laughing. I kept saying it again and again because hearing their giggles makes my heart soar. But then Claire was laughing so hard she threw up. That made my heart soar a little less.





It's been a good month.

A delightfully painful month.

A month full of firsts.

A month of cries and laughs and bonks and screams and hugs and kisses.

An unforgettable month.





Can't wait to see what next month brings.

Love you, baby girls!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Stupid Parenting Moment No. 1

I'm not going to beat around the bush. Or draw out the ending. Or make you guess what crazy thing happened to us this weekend.

I'll just tell you.

Grace went to the ER. And it was completely my fault.



She's fine now, but Saturday was a bit of a rough day for all of us.

You see, Grace still takes naps in the bassinet part of the pack 'n' play … well, at least she did until Saturday.

I know, believe me, I know. What was I thinking letting a 9-month-old sleep in a bassinet? Well, this particular 9-month-old had yet to pull herself up. She' had been perfectly content to just sleep in there with absolutely no curiosity about what was on the outside of the bassinet.

But Saturday I guess her curiosity got the best of her because as I was walking down the hall to check on her, I heard a very loud "thud."

The kind of thud that might make you think your baby just fell out of her bed. But surely my little Gracie who has yet to pull herself up couldn't have fallen!?

I dropped what I was holding and ran into the room, and there she was laying on her back right outside of her bed.

I screamed. I could tell she wasn't breathing. And she looked scared out of her mind. That made two of us.

I screamed again. Scott came running, and the next five minutes was a lot of panicking.

But after a few seconds that seemed like hours, she started breathing again and was acting fairly normal for a kid who just dove head-first out of her bed.

We took her to the ER just to get her checked out. My imagination was running wild with internal bleeding and punctured lungs. But as it turns out, she was just fine, if not a little shook up.

Scott reassures me that things like this happen to every parent. And I know we all make mistakes from time to time, but I have learned a very important lesson.

Never underestimate your children.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Pictures of the Week: Oct. 22





These were shot after we got back from the store a few days ago. They are such good little babies. I just want to squeeze them all day long for the rest of my life.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tick Tock



I'm scared of Daylight Savings Time.

Well, technically the end of of it.

Right now, the girls and I are having words about the time they wake up in the morning. They say it should be 5 a.m. I say 6 a.m.

I rarely win that argument. Which is what terrifies me.

A 4 a.m. wake-up call is something I'm not equipped to handle.

Been there, done that. Don't want to go back.

Any advice on how to handle the time change?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A Good Day



The girls didn't wake up this morning until 6:50.

6:50!!!

That's like an eternity of sleeping. Well, I wasn't really sleeping. I was laying awake wondering why I wasn't sleeping, but still, I could have been sleeping. That's what really matters.

And I was in my own bed, thanks to my handy-man father-in-law.

And the girls ate well, burped well and giggled a bit before taking their naps peacefully.

What a terrific day this is starting out to be.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Short End of the Stick

So, my bed broke this weekend.

I know. It hurt my head, too. How does one go about BREAKING a bed??



Maybe it's from being nearly 15 years old. Maybe it was shoddy construction. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because a certain 6'7" man-child couldn't resist running, jumping and sliding across it. Again and again and again. And again.

And every time, I would say, "Scott, you're going to break the bed." He would scoff and mumble something under his breath about how ridiculous I was being.

Well, now our bed is broken. And we're sleeping in the living room.

I give you one guess who got stuck with the love seat.



I may be short, but I'm not that short.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

10 Years Later



A lot has happened in the last 10 years.

I went to college. Broke up with a boyfriend. Got a new boyfriend. Broke up with him. Went to class. Hung out with friends. Got a new boyfriend. Graduated from college. Worked in a job that wasn't a good fit for me. Married my boyfriend. Moved cities. Found a job I loved. Made friends. Reunited with family. Birthed babies.

So, that pretty much sums it up, I guess!

This weekend was my 10-year high school reunion. I opted out of the official events because of the girls. It's hard to get away. Especially at night. Ya know, with bedtime routines, baby food, bottles and an overly-attached mother. It makes things like going to your high school reunion seem unimportant.

I did want to see a few of my old friends though, so we planned a lunch instead. And all the husbands and wives and kids and even a dog came.







But seeing everyone was so bittersweet.

Sweet because I spent my adolescence with these people. I was silly and giggly and sometimes stupid with these people. Sweet because we were with each other through heartbreaks and triumphs. Sweet because we spent four years growing up together.

Bitter because I'm terrible about keeping in touch. Bitter because our lives have taken us in such different directions that we hardly see each anymore. Bitter because I miss them.

But even though we have drifted apart, the two hours we spent together this weekend were just like old times.

Caption Contest #17 Winner

And the winner is ... Lyndsay!!



Claire: Look, I'm not saying I don't like her, I just don't want to sit next to her right now.

Grace: Who doesn't want to sit next to who? I smell what you just did.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Pictures of the Week: Oct. 15

Grace woke up during the middle of the night last night and absolutely refused to go back to sleep for more than an hour. I have no idea what's causing this new trend, but I can only hope it ends soon. So, for all of those parents out there who had to wake up during the middle of the night last night, I give you Claire. Who, by a strange turn of events, is now my good sleeper.



And for all of you out there who couldn't be more proud of your little movers and shakers, I give you Grace. Who wants to stand so badly she sits in front of her crib pulling with all of her might, her little arm muscles shaking with determination as she tries to stand up. I couldn't be more proud of my girls.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Same, Only Different



Yes, they were born on the same day. In the same year. Only a minute apart.

But they couldn't be more different.

Grace is sensitive. Claire is tough.

Grace is opinionated. Claire is mellow.

Grace is content to sit. Claire is always on the go.

Grace is messy. Claire is not.





They are completely different kiddos who happened to share the womb at the same time.

But, honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way. When we found out we were having twins, the first thing I said was, "We aren't dressing them the same." Ok, maybe that wasn't the first thing. I think that was "OH MY GOD."

But I really do want them to have their own personalities. Be their own people. I know the connection between them is naturally strong. I know my girls will grow up to be best friends (at least I hope so). But I also want them to be confident in who they are as individuals.

There's no denying they are special because they are twins. But they are also special because they are Claire and Grace.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Caption Contest: Oct. 13



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, October 12, 2010

A different perspective

(In case you are confused, the following post was written by Scott.)





In an old SNL monologue, Ray Romano once joked that he had only written one new joke since his kids were born. He then pulled out his key chain, shook it and said "KEYS!"

I remember chuckling at the time, but these last nine months have showed me how appropriate the joke really was.

I'm not "funny" like Ray Romano. No, in my life the things that evolve are my annoying habits - specifically the one where I randomly sing (aloud, at a high volume) whatever song happens to be drifting through my brain at the moment.

Yes, I'm one of those people. Ask my wife, my parents, my college roommates, anyone. It's really weird, and highly annoying.

Usually it's some pop or rock or country song, occasionally an advertising jingle and I've been known to delve into television theme songs. Even, dare I say it, Kelly Clarkson.

What really gets Katie is when I sing in the car, but not to the same song that's on the radio at the moment.

Did I mention she doesn't deal well with competing sounds?

Anyway, as I was driving to work the other day, I caught myself singing one of the songs Katie made up to sing to our children (read: Grace) when they won't eat.

*To the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad"...sort of*
Yummy yummy in my tummy
Yummy yummy in my tummy
Yummy yummy in my tummy

Repeat until food is gone.

Resistance is futile.

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Baby in the Mirror

Every time Claire sees her reflection in a mirror or in this case, the camera on the computer, she makes this sound. Lesser parents (or more normal parents) might find this sound annoying. I think it's hilariously adorable.

But then again I think everything she does is hilariously adorable.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Picture of the week: Oct. 8



The great part about this picture is that you have absolutely no idea that Claire just ripped that toy out of Grace's hand.

Forward Progression

It's not crawling, per se. But she's definitely moving forward.

Grace has been rolling here and there, and she's been crawling in reverse. But both of these strategies never got her closer to the things she wanted. Usually, my phone. In fact, most of the time, she ended up stuck under something.



Until earlier this week.



Watch out Claire ... with a little more practice, I bet she'll be on your heels in no time.

P.S. I can't be held responsible for the mismatched clothes. She dresses herself.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Oh, What A Night: Part II



Let me take you back a few days. It was Saturday night, and the day was wrapping up pretty well. We had taken the girls to our small town fair (complete with their first parade!) and they had behaved swimmingly. They were in bed for the night and we were headed there, too.

The house was quiet, we were starting to doze, when Grace let out a wail. Now, this is not terribly unusual. One or both of them usually wake sometime during the night and after a few pats on the back, they slip back to sleep.

Saturday night was different. So, so different.

Grace woke at 11 p.m. and didn't go back to sleep until 2 a.m. We patted. We rocked. We swayed. We even took her for a drive. Nothing worked. Every time we went to lay her down, she would let out a blood curdling scream. So, we stayed up with her, taking turns, not having a clue what to do with a baby who won't sleep.

She finally gave in three hours after she woke, and we all hit the sack.

This happened again the next night. And the next. Until two nights ago when I decided that I just couldn't take another night of the torture.

I went through all of the possible problems ... teething, separation anxiety, too much stimulation, Ihatemyparentsitis. I talked to my mom. People from work. People from Scott's office. But it wasn't getting any better and we were no closer to a solution.

So, we went to the doctor yesterday, and she confirmed what we suspected. An ear infection. She said give it a day or two before we see improvement.

But last night after only two doses of the antibotic and some tylenol, we put her to sleep at 8 p.m. and she didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning.

I think we found our problem. Now, it's time for a nap.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

In Case You Were Wondering

I am still alive.

Barely.

The babies have taken me to the seventh circle of hell and are holding me hostage until I meet their demands.

I will catch you up on what's going on as soon as I catch my breath. But just a hint at what life has become over the past five days ... she has returned.

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Lesson in Gravity

Sir Isaac Newton knew it.

Blood, Sweat & Tears knew it.

And now the girls know it.

What goes up ...





Must come down ...



Friday, October 1, 2010

Pictures of the week: Oct. 1


Claire loves looking in the mirror. She will see herself and just start giggling. But my favorite is when she presses her face up against it and tries to find me. And then when she does, she smiles real big, and then turns around to make sure I'm still behind her. It's cute.



See that red mark above Grace's right eye? She bonked her head just seconds before I took this photo. That part is not too unusual. We have lots of bonks these days. The unusual part is that she's not screaming. What a big girl she's becoming!!