Oh, stop! Have you really been asking that question? Really?
Some of you actually have. To be honest, we've been right here. I've thought almost every day about coming to update, but honestly, I've been enjoying Gracie and Luke too much to take the time. I apologize for that. Prepare to be bombarded with news!
Item 1: Learning, Learning, Learning
Daycare, also known as preschool, has been a ton of fun lately. I can tell because the laundry I've been doing is full of dirt, finger paints, glue and feathers. We've received weekly reports on the Twinsies. Apparently, they sometimes remember their numbers, sometimes remember their shapes, and sometimes remember their colors. Which is weird, because they always remember them with me. Hmmmm. Performance anxiety? I don't know. We've also tried our hand at potty training. But let's face it. Gracie and Luke are just not ready. They think the potty is exciting, but unless someone runs them there, they will happily pee in their pants. Not fun. They like underwear, though, so we'll keep trying them on.
Item 2: Talking, Talking, Talking
I can remember when I wished Gracie and Luke could express themselves. I no longer need to wish for that. Both of them are very good at communicating (when they want to) and their vocabulary is changing like crazy. I've been a bit sad, actually. Other people's kids mispronounce things in cutsy ways. Not Gracie and Luke. The most exciting thing they mispronounce is "strawbaberries." Well, there is Lukie's pronunciation of anything with an "r" sound in it. For example: "dey-er" (there). They've gotten so good at talking, I thought I would interview them.
Item 3: Playing, Playing, Playing
During Spring Break, I took Gracie and Lukie to the park almost every day. It was great to get out and we tried to go to a different park each time. Some trips were more successful than others. I counted any trip where we got back into the car in one piece as a success. Of course, I noticed somethings while visiting the park: 1) Lukie only likes to play with Gracie, but at the park, he's a total loner. 2) Gracie could make friends with the meanest person on the planet and they'd smile and play with her for an hour.
Item 4: Singing, Singing, Singing
Just as their vocabulary has exploded, their singing has too. They have many songs memorized and love to sing. We do have to hear "Round and round" about 50 times when Gracie gets stuck on "The Wheels on the Bus". By far, the best is "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Gracie says, "Bup, a-bup the world so high..." Lukie likes to make up his own songs. Daddy and I sit there trying to translate. I'm afraid we just don't speak "Lukese." Although, yesterday, his song sounded like "A Fed-co," but then, how would he know about Fedco? They closed before Ed and I even got married. Here's their latest favorite. A song I sing just for them.
I have lots more to share, but I don't want to overwhelm you!
Showing posts with label bad mommy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad mommy. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
On Why Strollers are Evil
Strollers are a necessary evil. When you are a twin mom, you rely on them to contain your children whenever you go anywhere. They open quickly, restrain your children, and carry all of your junk. They are awesome (especially if they have cup holders!). They are also huge, take up an enormous amount of room in the back of the car, get filthy from spilled things, and can be unwieldy. See? A necessary evil!
A few months ago, I took both of my strollers (a single and a double) out of my car. It was amazing having the space in my trunk available to me! I forgot how much you can fit back there. Then, the last time we went to the zoo, I borrowed Daddy's stroller because it was clean. My strollers have been sitting out in the car port getting dirty. So, into my car went the 3 pieces of Daddy's stroller. I like the stroller; it has lots of space and is easy to push. However, it is still in my car. Sitting there. Taking up space. Since the stroller has been hogging the back of my car, any bags have had to be evenly distributed around the sides. Most bags stay where I put them, but several have fallen behind the stroller, their contents disappearing from view. I've been very careful to check all around the stroller to make sure nothing, especially perishables, is left in my car.
You probably know what is coming.
Over the past week or so, I've noticed a strange smell in my car. At first, I thought it was a diaper. The smell seemed to come and go and I wasn't too worried about it. That is, until Monday morning. When I got in my car, it smelled like someone had died in my car. It's an unmistakable smell. If you've ever driven through Mexico, where animals die on the side of the road and are left to rot, you know that terrible smell. Horrified, I opened my trunk to see if the smell was indeed coming from the trunk. I searched for a few minutes, moving the stroller and finally, stuck my hand down into a bag behind the stroller. My hand encountered something plastic and I grasped a hold of it to pull it from the bag. As it came into my line of vision, I flinched. I could not believe what was in my hand.
What was it?
On December 27, I went grocery shopping to buy supplies for a chili dinner for our friends. I bought two packages of ground turkey and one tube of ground beef. When I unloaded everything from the car, I was in a hurry and did not check as carefully as I could have. I remember briefly wondering where the tube of ground beef was as I browned the ground turkey for the chili, but then it left my mind.
The item I pulled from my trunk was indeed the tube of ground beef fifteen days after I purchased it. A tube of beef that had been trapped in my car through very cold temperatures and several days of 80 degree weather. The smell was awful. Even more disturbing was the softball sized air bubble distending from the side of the package! I walked it as carefully and quickly as possible to the trash can (thank goodness it was trash day) and threw it in. I used several wipies to scrub my hands and I still felt dirty.
Since then, my car has not had any other smells emanating from it. I can't help but blame the whole incident on that huge stroller. It is the stroller's fault that I almost had an exploded package of ground beef in my car. Can you imagine if it had exploded? Oh, eeeeewwwwww!
Strollers. Necessary. Evil.
A few months ago, I took both of my strollers (a single and a double) out of my car. It was amazing having the space in my trunk available to me! I forgot how much you can fit back there. Then, the last time we went to the zoo, I borrowed Daddy's stroller because it was clean. My strollers have been sitting out in the car port getting dirty. So, into my car went the 3 pieces of Daddy's stroller. I like the stroller; it has lots of space and is easy to push. However, it is still in my car. Sitting there. Taking up space. Since the stroller has been hogging the back of my car, any bags have had to be evenly distributed around the sides. Most bags stay where I put them, but several have fallen behind the stroller, their contents disappearing from view. I've been very careful to check all around the stroller to make sure nothing, especially perishables, is left in my car.
You probably know what is coming.
Over the past week or so, I've noticed a strange smell in my car. At first, I thought it was a diaper. The smell seemed to come and go and I wasn't too worried about it. That is, until Monday morning. When I got in my car, it smelled like someone had died in my car. It's an unmistakable smell. If you've ever driven through Mexico, where animals die on the side of the road and are left to rot, you know that terrible smell. Horrified, I opened my trunk to see if the smell was indeed coming from the trunk. I searched for a few minutes, moving the stroller and finally, stuck my hand down into a bag behind the stroller. My hand encountered something plastic and I grasped a hold of it to pull it from the bag. As it came into my line of vision, I flinched. I could not believe what was in my hand.
What was it?
On December 27, I went grocery shopping to buy supplies for a chili dinner for our friends. I bought two packages of ground turkey and one tube of ground beef. When I unloaded everything from the car, I was in a hurry and did not check as carefully as I could have. I remember briefly wondering where the tube of ground beef was as I browned the ground turkey for the chili, but then it left my mind.
The item I pulled from my trunk was indeed the tube of ground beef fifteen days after I purchased it. A tube of beef that had been trapped in my car through very cold temperatures and several days of 80 degree weather. The smell was awful. Even more disturbing was the softball sized air bubble distending from the side of the package! I walked it as carefully and quickly as possible to the trash can (thank goodness it was trash day) and threw it in. I used several wipies to scrub my hands and I still felt dirty.
Since then, my car has not had any other smells emanating from it. I can't help but blame the whole incident on that huge stroller. It is the stroller's fault that I almost had an exploded package of ground beef in my car. Can you imagine if it had exploded? Oh, eeeeewwwwww!
Strollers. Necessary. Evil.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I never realized candy was so evil
So, forget the fact that my children ask for candy about 50 times a day. Forget the fact that Daddy has convince Gracie and Luke that fruit snacks are candy. Forget the fact that Lukie can find candy hidden in the deepest darkest recesses of our kitchen.
Know this: Candy was created by evil people intent on making crazy maniacs out of nice, normal children. This is truth.
Gracie and Luke have mood swings caused by sleep. Those are nothing compared to the mood swings we experienced today! We had thrown popcorn, torn books, bruises on Gracie's face, water ALL over the bathroom, and more things I care not to remember.
I trace all this back to cookies and the See's Candy box that we opened at Aunt Bec's today. Good Gravy of America! I don't know how they got as much into them as they did, but Gracie and Luke had way too much chocolate and sugar. It's not like I meant for them to eat all of that. I kept snatching away anything they had in their hands, but they kept finding it. They even raided Aunt Bec's pantry and found Hailey's candy. The little Pilferers!
Their behavior and unhappiness made it clear to me that too much sugar is very bad for Twinsies. In the morning, I plan to eradicate the house of all visible candy. Some will be saved for Daddy and low blood sugar, but the rest of it is going!
It's fruit and veggies from here on out!
Know this: Candy was created by evil people intent on making crazy maniacs out of nice, normal children. This is truth.
Gracie and Luke have mood swings caused by sleep. Those are nothing compared to the mood swings we experienced today! We had thrown popcorn, torn books, bruises on Gracie's face, water ALL over the bathroom, and more things I care not to remember.
I trace all this back to cookies and the See's Candy box that we opened at Aunt Bec's today. Good Gravy of America! I don't know how they got as much into them as they did, but Gracie and Luke had way too much chocolate and sugar. It's not like I meant for them to eat all of that. I kept snatching away anything they had in their hands, but they kept finding it. They even raided Aunt Bec's pantry and found Hailey's candy. The little Pilferers!
Their behavior and unhappiness made it clear to me that too much sugar is very bad for Twinsies. In the morning, I plan to eradicate the house of all visible candy. Some will be saved for Daddy and low blood sugar, but the rest of it is going!
It's fruit and veggies from here on out!
Friday, December 11, 2009
It's happening again
...I have about 3 different blog posts bouncing around my brain. All of them include pictures which currently live on my camera or video that currently lives in my Flip.
I promise to come back soon with updates.
Here's a sneak peek:
1) Christmas Light Festival
2) Cookie Day
3) Christmas Lights at home
All Christmas until 12/25!
I promise to come back soon with updates.
Here's a sneak peek:
1) Christmas Light Festival
2) Cookie Day
3) Christmas Lights at home
All Christmas until 12/25!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
What did sick Mommies do before DVDs?
When I think back to my childhood, I don't remember my mom being sick. I'm not saying she wasn't ever sick! Nope. I just don't remember it. There were 3 of us and I'm sure that when she was sick, we all just played together (or tore the house apart - Since I don't remember it, I have no clue which is true!). I have no idea how she did it.
I've been home since Thursday. At first, I planned to stay home only Thursday to take care of sick Twinsies, but as I headed home Wednesday night a familiar achy, chilly, yucky feeling came over me. Sure enough, when I got home, I had a fever. My fever made me #3 of the Uribes who had fallen sick. I took Tylenol, but it hit hard. I was down for the count.
Someone forgot to tell Gracie and Luke that Mommy was sick, too.
Toddlers can't help being demanding when they are sick. They are little, they want their mommy, they want that cracker - no, that cracker - no, that ONE! When you give it to them, they decide two seconds later that they really didn't want it in the first place and throw whatever it is you just gave them right back at you.
It's frustrating, period. Add to that frustration one sick Mommy and it becomes frustrating, exclamation point!
So what saved me? Elephants, Barney and dinosaurs. Literally.
We watched Barney and had some juice. We watched Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, twice and had more juice. We watched Barney's Great Adventure and took naps. We watched Thomas the Tank Engine and ate some Goldfish crackers. We went outside for about 10 minutes before crying brought us back in (Lukie, not me!).
I honestly don't know what I would have done by myself without those DVDs. I was miserable and so were Gracie and Lukie. For some reason, those DVDs helped us get through the worst of it.
So it begs the question: If I lived 40 years ago, before the dawn of DVDs and videos, what would I have done? I was so sick and so unable to function. What did moms do? Seriously. Help me here. I would have locked myself in my room and let my toddlers take care of themselves.
Okay. Maybe not.
All I have to say, whether you believe in letting your kids watch T.V. or not, is Thank You for Elephants, Barney and dinosaurs! Thank You for electricity! Thank You for the T.V.
Thank you!
I've been home since Thursday. At first, I planned to stay home only Thursday to take care of sick Twinsies, but as I headed home Wednesday night a familiar achy, chilly, yucky feeling came over me. Sure enough, when I got home, I had a fever. My fever made me #3 of the Uribes who had fallen sick. I took Tylenol, but it hit hard. I was down for the count.
Someone forgot to tell Gracie and Luke that Mommy was sick, too.
Toddlers can't help being demanding when they are sick. They are little, they want their mommy, they want that cracker - no, that cracker - no, that ONE! When you give it to them, they decide two seconds later that they really didn't want it in the first place and throw whatever it is you just gave them right back at you.
It's frustrating, period. Add to that frustration one sick Mommy and it becomes frustrating, exclamation point!
So what saved me? Elephants, Barney and dinosaurs. Literally.
We watched Barney and had some juice. We watched Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, twice and had more juice. We watched Barney's Great Adventure and took naps. We watched Thomas the Tank Engine and ate some Goldfish crackers. We went outside for about 10 minutes before crying brought us back in (Lukie, not me!).
I honestly don't know what I would have done by myself without those DVDs. I was miserable and so were Gracie and Lukie. For some reason, those DVDs helped us get through the worst of it.
So it begs the question: If I lived 40 years ago, before the dawn of DVDs and videos, what would I have done? I was so sick and so unable to function. What did moms do? Seriously. Help me here. I would have locked myself in my room and let my toddlers take care of themselves.
Okay. Maybe not.
All I have to say, whether you believe in letting your kids watch T.V. or not, is Thank You for Elephants, Barney and dinosaurs! Thank You for electricity! Thank You for the T.V.
Thank you!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
How Do You Do It?
I get asked all the time how we handle/survive with twins.
How we do it is that we imagine the worst possible scenario and plan everything we can to avoid it. If the worst thing is that Lukie will run out into the street, then Lukie gets carried to the car. If the worst thing is that Gracie and Luke will spill their juice all over the living room, then they get water instead or we go outside. If the worst thing is that they will scream and cry and make our meal out a living nightmare, then we go to McDonald's or Panda Express where the food is handed out before we sit down and there is no waiting.
It's all a balancing act. It's a constant assessment and reassessment of our plans and the current landscape. At times, it means we curtail our plans and other times we forge ahead with the full knowledge that we will be reminded in a fantastic way of how stupid we were for that decision.
Case in point: The Los Angeles Zoo
We got our Los Angeles Zoo passes in July. The first time we used them was for Gracie and Luke's birthday on September 5th. Ever since that weekend, I've been itching to take them back. We only saw half of the Zoo for their birthday and they've been asking about the lion repeatedly.
Since Daddy has dialysis on Saturday mornings, I've been hesitant about taking Gracie and Luke to the Zoo by myself. I've asked Nana to go with us (she never called me back), but nothing seems to work out. I've worked through every worst case scenario I can think of prior to today. Here are some of them:
Here are some of the things working against me:
When I saw the tram up ahead, I asked them if they wanted to ride the "Choo-choo." Lukie was so excited that he tried to jump on the wrong side of the tram. Gracie immediately balked. "No choo-choo, Mommy! No choo-choo!" I convinced her that she would be safe on my lap and away we went. In retrospect, we should have ridden the tram all the way around the Zoo to decide what we really wanted to see and then come back around to stop. Instead, Lukie got excited by the sound of the Howler Monkeys and I decided to get us all off.
Lukie and Gracie traipsed happily down the hill and we looked at the rhino, the Howler Monkeys, and the hippo. They were very happy to be free and would hold my hand when I asked them to. We walked to the giraffes, sat down and had some water and a few M&Ms. We talked to the giraffes and Gracie decided the tallest one was the Daddy Giraffe. When it was time to leave the giraffes, it became evident that our lovely trip was about to take a turn for the worse.
Lukie did not want to leave the giraffes and when I picked him up off of the steps he was trying to climb, he insisted that he wanted to be held. Instead, I worked a little Mommy Magic and said, "Who's ready? On your mark, get set, go!" Gracie and Luke took off running and Gracie took a header into the cement walkway. She was fine, but she wanted to be cuddled for a bit, so I carried her. This led to Lukie wanting to be held as well.
I managed to distract them by entering then Red Ape exhibit. There was an enormous orangutan sleeping against the glass. Gracie and Luke were able to walk right up to it and put their fingers "on" him. That occupied us for a few minutes and then Gracie discovered the telescope. She climbed up it by herself and proclaimed, "Mine!"
This did not go over well with Lukie and he immediately started to try to pull her off of the telescope perch. Thus ensued 5 minutes of me trying to distract one twin so that the other could climb and a certain twin taking off down the path while I tried to pry the former off of the telescope perch. I finally caught up with my little angelic girl child and we headed tried to continue our journey to find the lion.
Really. Is it so much to ask to see one lion? Really?
On our way down the hill, Lukie started running again and he took a header into the ground. We wiped off his scrapes, but he wanted to be held and Gracie was no longer willing to hold my hand. This is when things went horribly awry.
As we approached the gorilla exhibit, Lukie was playing wet noodle in an attempt to get me to hold him. Gracie was walking ahead of us. I remember asking them if they wanted to go see the gorillas and as we started to make the right turn into the gorilla maze, my worst fears were realized. Lukie took off in one direction and Gracie took one look at Lukie and me and made a beeline for the gorilla maze. For two seconds, I stood there trying to figure out which one to go after. Both of them are pretty darn cute and easily snatched by some evil doer. But my brain processed that Gracie had entered the gorilla maze and there really wasn't far for her to go. Lukie, on the other hand, had headed toward the side of a building and down a path. I had no idea where he was going and that scared me. So I took off after him.
As I rounded the corner, I realized he was no where in sight. He had completely disappeared. And that is when I noticed that a door was open on the building. As I ran toward it, I realized it was a bathroom. The Men's Bathroom. Lukie was standing right inside the door, the little punk, and after he saw me, he ran completely into the bathroom where I could not see him. Desperate, but not willing to surprise a bunch of men doing their business, I called out to him and then asked if someone could please bring the little boy out. A nice grandpa shooed Lukie out of the bathroom and into my vice-like grip. I thanked him and took off in the direction of where I had seen Gracie last. There she was, pulling herself up on the rail to try to see the gorillas more. I managed to snag her and get us up to the top of the gorilla exhibit.
I'll spare you the details of the next hour. Here's a very short recap:
If I weren't already exhausted from the day, I'd probably pass out from all of that!
Since my adrenaline is completely spent, I can tell you that after reflecting on the day, our next trip will be after their nap and involve the double stroller. That's right, the stroller with the five point harness. I'm not going to avoid the Zoo. That would be cowardly.
It's just that next time, I'm going to remember what I've learned from the past 2 years: Expect the worst and you can avoid the worst.
How we do it is that we imagine the worst possible scenario and plan everything we can to avoid it. If the worst thing is that Lukie will run out into the street, then Lukie gets carried to the car. If the worst thing is that Gracie and Luke will spill their juice all over the living room, then they get water instead or we go outside. If the worst thing is that they will scream and cry and make our meal out a living nightmare, then we go to McDonald's or Panda Express where the food is handed out before we sit down and there is no waiting.
It's all a balancing act. It's a constant assessment and reassessment of our plans and the current landscape. At times, it means we curtail our plans and other times we forge ahead with the full knowledge that we will be reminded in a fantastic way of how stupid we were for that decision.
Case in point: The Los Angeles Zoo
We got our Los Angeles Zoo passes in July. The first time we used them was for Gracie and Luke's birthday on September 5th. Ever since that weekend, I've been itching to take them back. We only saw half of the Zoo for their birthday and they've been asking about the lion repeatedly.
Since Daddy has dialysis on Saturday mornings, I've been hesitant about taking Gracie and Luke to the Zoo by myself. I've asked Nana to go with us (she never called me back), but nothing seems to work out. I've worked through every worst case scenario I can think of prior to today. Here are some of them:
- Lukie and Gracie running in different directions and I don't know who to go after first.
- Lukie or Gracie climbing on a fence and falling into the bear or rhinoceros pit.
- Lukie or Gracie pitching a fit of epic proportions and me having to carry one or both of them out of the Zoo.
- Losing one of them.
- Lukie or Gracie running into an unlabelled door that turns out to be the entrance to the tiger exhibit.
- Leaving quickly because I can't handle this all on my own.
Here are some of the things working against me:
- The Zoo doesn't open until 10 am and we did not arrive until 10:45 am. This is 1 hour and 15 minutes before Gracie and Luke's nap.
- The weather was beautiful and there were triple the number of people there today as compared to their birthday trip to the Zoo.
- I made the fatal error of choosing not to take the stroller in with us.
- Despite their love of looking at trains, neither Gracie or Luke was happy with the tram.
When I saw the tram up ahead, I asked them if they wanted to ride the "Choo-choo." Lukie was so excited that he tried to jump on the wrong side of the tram. Gracie immediately balked. "No choo-choo, Mommy! No choo-choo!" I convinced her that she would be safe on my lap and away we went. In retrospect, we should have ridden the tram all the way around the Zoo to decide what we really wanted to see and then come back around to stop. Instead, Lukie got excited by the sound of the Howler Monkeys and I decided to get us all off.
Lukie and Gracie traipsed happily down the hill and we looked at the rhino, the Howler Monkeys, and the hippo. They were very happy to be free and would hold my hand when I asked them to. We walked to the giraffes, sat down and had some water and a few M&Ms. We talked to the giraffes and Gracie decided the tallest one was the Daddy Giraffe. When it was time to leave the giraffes, it became evident that our lovely trip was about to take a turn for the worse.
Lukie did not want to leave the giraffes and when I picked him up off of the steps he was trying to climb, he insisted that he wanted to be held. Instead, I worked a little Mommy Magic and said, "Who's ready? On your mark, get set, go!" Gracie and Luke took off running and Gracie took a header into the cement walkway. She was fine, but she wanted to be cuddled for a bit, so I carried her. This led to Lukie wanting to be held as well.
I managed to distract them by entering then Red Ape exhibit. There was an enormous orangutan sleeping against the glass. Gracie and Luke were able to walk right up to it and put their fingers "on" him. That occupied us for a few minutes and then Gracie discovered the telescope. She climbed up it by herself and proclaimed, "Mine!"
This did not go over well with Lukie and he immediately started to try to pull her off of the telescope perch. Thus ensued 5 minutes of me trying to distract one twin so that the other could climb and a certain twin taking off down the path while I tried to pry the former off of the telescope perch. I finally caught up with my little angelic girl child and we headed tried to continue our journey to find the lion.
Really. Is it so much to ask to see one lion? Really?
On our way down the hill, Lukie started running again and he took a header into the ground. We wiped off his scrapes, but he wanted to be held and Gracie was no longer willing to hold my hand. This is when things went horribly awry.
As we approached the gorilla exhibit, Lukie was playing wet noodle in an attempt to get me to hold him. Gracie was walking ahead of us. I remember asking them if they wanted to go see the gorillas and as we started to make the right turn into the gorilla maze, my worst fears were realized. Lukie took off in one direction and Gracie took one look at Lukie and me and made a beeline for the gorilla maze. For two seconds, I stood there trying to figure out which one to go after. Both of them are pretty darn cute and easily snatched by some evil doer. But my brain processed that Gracie had entered the gorilla maze and there really wasn't far for her to go. Lukie, on the other hand, had headed toward the side of a building and down a path. I had no idea where he was going and that scared me. So I took off after him.
As I rounded the corner, I realized he was no where in sight. He had completely disappeared. And that is when I noticed that a door was open on the building. As I ran toward it, I realized it was a bathroom. The Men's Bathroom. Lukie was standing right inside the door, the little punk, and after he saw me, he ran completely into the bathroom where I could not see him. Desperate, but not willing to surprise a bunch of men doing their business, I called out to him and then asked if someone could please bring the little boy out. A nice grandpa shooed Lukie out of the bathroom and into my vice-like grip. I thanked him and took off in the direction of where I had seen Gracie last. There she was, pulling herself up on the rail to try to see the gorillas more. I managed to snag her and get us up to the top of the gorilla exhibit.
I'll spare you the details of the next hour. Here's a very short recap:
- Crying, wet-noodling by both twins
- An attempt to buy a snack turns into "Wrestle one kid to stay by my legs while trying to pay while the other takes off and completely leaves my sight"
- Half a tub of popcorn is consumed and a fight begins over the one drink Mommy (stupidly buying one) purchased.
- It takes us 40 minutes to get to the shopping area of the Zoo (a walk which would normally take about 10 minutes)
- Gracie attempts to 1) assume the role of a Zoo employee by running behind the cashier's counter in a store and 2) get me arrested for child abuse when she begins screaming at the top of her lungs and pulling her arm away from me so hard I was afraid it would pull out of the socket.
- 5 blissful minutes are spent watching the seal again until we have to go and Lukie starts the Epic Tantrum of All Tantrums (just picture the absolute worst tantrum ever, add running away from me in a zigzag pattern and attempting to hide from me while running through 5 other families, then almost running into the street and you'll get a great picture in your head)
- I am forced to let them walk in the parking lot because my arms will no longer carry them.
- Lukie tries to run in front of a car.
- Gracie tries to lock me out of the car.
- They are both asleep before we get on the freeway.
If I weren't already exhausted from the day, I'd probably pass out from all of that!
Since my adrenaline is completely spent, I can tell you that after reflecting on the day, our next trip will be after their nap and involve the double stroller. That's right, the stroller with the five point harness. I'm not going to avoid the Zoo. That would be cowardly.
It's just that next time, I'm going to remember what I've learned from the past 2 years: Expect the worst and you can avoid the worst.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
I'm going to regret doing this
Helene over at I'm Living Proof God Has a Sense of Humor, one of my fav blogs, has 2 sets of twins. Unlike me, who keeps my computer life very separate from my kiddos (I don't want them to figure out how to use the computer better than I can), Helene has allowed her kiddos to use her computer to watch shows on the internet and peruse different animal websites. Recently, they discovered that the San Diego Zoo has live camera feeds of several animals enclosures.
You do realize what this means, don't you?
They have an elephant cam.
They have a panda cam.
If I show Gracie and Luke this website, I'll never get my computer back. Then again, they would LOVE to see the animals. They get excited by pictures in a board book, so seeing real live animals is going to floor them!
Do I do it? Do I show them the zoo cams? Do I risk my already tenuous hold on MY computer?
You do realize what this means, don't you?
They have an elephant cam.
They have a panda cam.
If I show Gracie and Luke this website, I'll never get my computer back. Then again, they would LOVE to see the animals. They get excited by pictures in a board book, so seeing real live animals is going to floor them!
Do I do it? Do I show them the zoo cams? Do I risk my already tenuous hold on MY computer?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Whose idea was this?
For Christmas, Aunt Bec and the Cousins gave Gracie and Luke these Crayola paints designed for little (read: toddler) hands. I've kept them carefully hidden until I felt ready for the mess I knew was going to ensue. My predictions are always true. I don't know why I doubt myself.
It was going along quite nicely.
We were outside. It was hot. We were having fun.
And then, Lukie decided to taste the paint.
Can you see where this is going?
This little angel decided that painting paper was fun...
But painting your hands is so much better!
Except when Mommy refuses to pick you up because you have paint all over you. That's when you realize that perhaps painting your hands, the table, and your brother may not have been such a bright idea!
It was going along quite nicely.
We were outside. It was hot. We were having fun.
And then, Lukie decided to taste the paint.
Can you see where this is going?
This little angel decided that painting paper was fun...
But painting your hands is so much better!
Except when Mommy refuses to pick you up because you have paint all over you. That's when you realize that perhaps painting your hands, the table, and your brother may not have been such a bright idea!
What were you doing 2 years ago today?
Two years ago today, I was laying in my hospital bed, eating a double order of pancakes and bacon and trying to grow the Twinsies just a little more. Food was about the only thing that entertained me in the hospital. Not that I ate all the time or anything! In fact, I wasn't eating enough, thus the 50 million Ensures they made me drink.
Food was one of the few constants of my day. I knew I'd have the babies monitored twice a day. That was a given. But food was something I had control over. And I had very little control back then. Toward the last few weeks of my pregnancy, they finally realized that I had eaten every item on the menu about 10 times and took pity on me. I wish they had realized it sooner, because they let me special order from the cafeteria! I could have things like chicken fajita burritos and pita pocket sandwiches. It was fantastic!
The food on the normal patient menu wasn't awful, it was simply unimaginative. To make it things interesting, I had been mixing things up. I asked for substitutions, had chocolate milk instead of regular, would beg for grilled onions instead of the raw ones they put on the cheeseburger. I learned I had to ask for what I wanted, and sometimes, even fight for something different.
When I unpacked my classroom a few days ago, I found my copy of the menu from Huntington Hospital. I opened it briefly. Memories came rushing back; I could actually taste some of the things I had ordered back then. It was very disconcerting. But it also brought back the memories of the lovely people I spoke with when I ordered my food. I remember a man by the name of Ren who was not only the recorded voice when you called in, but actually took orders. He had a great voice! There was also another woman, whose name I now forget, who was always sick! She would stay on the phone with me, teaching me how to work the menu and giving me an outside person to talk to about things completely unrelated to food. Those moments gave me a break from my hours in that hospital bed where I counted ceiling tiles, waited for another contraction, and learned my baby girl was not growing.
Two years ago, we had had our last ultrasound and discovered that Gracie had not grown in the two weeks since our last ultrasound. I remember that Dr. Bruce was concerned that Gracie had actually lost an ounce while Lukie had gained a pound. Dr. Hartford had discovered that my body was preparing to go into labor and I was ready to climb the walls from waiting.
Two years ago, I was excited that it was September. Not August. Not July. Not June. I had made it to September and my babies were going to be okay. I was anxious and tired, getting crankier by the moment. Looking back now, I feel very badly for my nurses. I don't think I was very pleasant to be around.
Two years ago, I was two days from welcoming Gracie and Luke into the world and I did not even know it. Do you remember what you were doing two years ago?
I suspect not, but then again, I don't remember 2 days ago.
It's a darn good thing I have this blog!
Food was one of the few constants of my day. I knew I'd have the babies monitored twice a day. That was a given. But food was something I had control over. And I had very little control back then. Toward the last few weeks of my pregnancy, they finally realized that I had eaten every item on the menu about 10 times and took pity on me. I wish they had realized it sooner, because they let me special order from the cafeteria! I could have things like chicken fajita burritos and pita pocket sandwiches. It was fantastic!
The food on the normal patient menu wasn't awful, it was simply unimaginative. To make it things interesting, I had been mixing things up. I asked for substitutions, had chocolate milk instead of regular, would beg for grilled onions instead of the raw ones they put on the cheeseburger. I learned I had to ask for what I wanted, and sometimes, even fight for something different.
When I unpacked my classroom a few days ago, I found my copy of the menu from Huntington Hospital. I opened it briefly. Memories came rushing back; I could actually taste some of the things I had ordered back then. It was very disconcerting. But it also brought back the memories of the lovely people I spoke with when I ordered my food. I remember a man by the name of Ren who was not only the recorded voice when you called in, but actually took orders. He had a great voice! There was also another woman, whose name I now forget, who was always sick! She would stay on the phone with me, teaching me how to work the menu and giving me an outside person to talk to about things completely unrelated to food. Those moments gave me a break from my hours in that hospital bed where I counted ceiling tiles, waited for another contraction, and learned my baby girl was not growing.
Two years ago, we had had our last ultrasound and discovered that Gracie had not grown in the two weeks since our last ultrasound. I remember that Dr. Bruce was concerned that Gracie had actually lost an ounce while Lukie had gained a pound. Dr. Hartford had discovered that my body was preparing to go into labor and I was ready to climb the walls from waiting.
Two years ago, I was excited that it was September. Not August. Not July. Not June. I had made it to September and my babies were going to be okay. I was anxious and tired, getting crankier by the moment. Looking back now, I feel very badly for my nurses. I don't think I was very pleasant to be around.
Two years ago, I was two days from welcoming Gracie and Luke into the world and I did not even know it. Do you remember what you were doing two years ago?
I suspect not, but then again, I don't remember 2 days ago.
It's a darn good thing I have this blog!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Definitely for the Bad Parents Files
From the beginning of time, adults have used the fact that they know more about things to manipulate children. It is easy to convince children of things if they don't have a clue about reality. For example,
"Oh, no, Gracie, we can't go see the cows. They're sleeping."
"Oh, no, Lukie, don't go over there! There's poo-poo! Look out!" (Of course, there's no poop anywhere.)
"Oh, no! Gracie, come here fast! There's a spider right there!"
There must be a special place for parents who use this kind of manipulation on their children. A special place in a very hot environment.
Usually, these things are pretty harmless. However, when you start using your children's fears against them, that's plain mean. Take, for example, my son's sudden unreasonable fear of the pool vacuum at Aunt Bec's house. At first, he really didn't know what it was, but was just a little worried because it was so close to us. I made the mistake of giving it a name. "Oh, Lukie, don't worry! That's just the Nu Nu! Nu Nus only eat dirt and rocks, not little boys."
Um. Yeah. Do you see where this is going?
Giving a name to an object, especially a name that your almost 2 year-old can actually say, is just not the smartest thing to do in the world. Now, when Lukie sees the vacuum coming, heck, even if it isn't coming toward us, he starts yelling, "Nu Nu! Nu Nu!" He grabs hold of me tightly and will not let go. Sadly, if he even sees the Nu Nu in the water, he won't get in. He is absolutely terrified of the thing. It makes pool time less than fun.
Lukie's terror of the Nu Nu is a very dangerous thing. He is so afraid of it that he thinks it exists outside of the pool. He sees any large machine that makes a big sound (and does not resemble a truck) and will run straight for me shouting, "Nu Nu!" His terror of the Nu Nu is also very tempting.
You see, when Lukie won't come to me, all I have to say is "Lukie! Oh, no! It's the Nu Nu! Come here! Fast!" and whoosh! He's right next to me, eyes searching the horizon for the Nu Nu. When he throws rocks at our air conditioner out back, "Lukie! Oh, no! That's the Nu Nu! It's going to get you! Come on! Mommy will protect you!"
See? There's a special place in that very hot locale waiting for me. Well, it's waiting for Daddy and me because he is just as guilty as I am.
I'll admit. The Nu Nu got me thinking. What if I told Gracie and Luke there was chicken in their teeth and they needed my help brushing to get it out? I could tell them there were crackers and ice cream and apples in their teeth and I might actually get to brush their teeth without a fight. So, I tried it.
And it worked.
Lukie now walks around saying, "Teeth! Ucken, Momma. Ucken. Crackas. Teeth, Momma!"
Great. Now he's obsessed with his teeth.
Like I said, a special place down south waiting for us.
"Oh, no, Gracie, we can't go see the cows. They're sleeping."
"Oh, no, Lukie, don't go over there! There's poo-poo! Look out!" (Of course, there's no poop anywhere.)
"Oh, no! Gracie, come here fast! There's a spider right there!"
There must be a special place for parents who use this kind of manipulation on their children. A special place in a very hot environment.
Usually, these things are pretty harmless. However, when you start using your children's fears against them, that's plain mean. Take, for example, my son's sudden unreasonable fear of the pool vacuum at Aunt Bec's house. At first, he really didn't know what it was, but was just a little worried because it was so close to us. I made the mistake of giving it a name. "Oh, Lukie, don't worry! That's just the Nu Nu! Nu Nus only eat dirt and rocks, not little boys."
Um. Yeah. Do you see where this is going?Giving a name to an object, especially a name that your almost 2 year-old can actually say, is just not the smartest thing to do in the world. Now, when Lukie sees the vacuum coming, heck, even if it isn't coming toward us, he starts yelling, "Nu Nu! Nu Nu!" He grabs hold of me tightly and will not let go. Sadly, if he even sees the Nu Nu in the water, he won't get in. He is absolutely terrified of the thing. It makes pool time less than fun.
Lukie's terror of the Nu Nu is a very dangerous thing. He is so afraid of it that he thinks it exists outside of the pool. He sees any large machine that makes a big sound (and does not resemble a truck) and will run straight for me shouting, "Nu Nu!" His terror of the Nu Nu is also very tempting.
You see, when Lukie won't come to me, all I have to say is "Lukie! Oh, no! It's the Nu Nu! Come here! Fast!" and whoosh! He's right next to me, eyes searching the horizon for the Nu Nu. When he throws rocks at our air conditioner out back, "Lukie! Oh, no! That's the Nu Nu! It's going to get you! Come on! Mommy will protect you!"
See? There's a special place in that very hot locale waiting for me. Well, it's waiting for Daddy and me because he is just as guilty as I am.
I'll admit. The Nu Nu got me thinking. What if I told Gracie and Luke there was chicken in their teeth and they needed my help brushing to get it out? I could tell them there were crackers and ice cream and apples in their teeth and I might actually get to brush their teeth without a fight. So, I tried it.
And it worked.
Lukie now walks around saying, "Teeth! Ucken, Momma. Ucken. Crackas. Teeth, Momma!"
Great. Now he's obsessed with his teeth.
Like I said, a special place down south waiting for us.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Stay at home moms RULE (or why I can't hang)
When I was little, I always imagined that when I had children, I would stay at home with them while my husband went to work. Our days would be idyllic and when my husband came home, he would strip off his tie and say, "What's for dinner, honey?" I'd have something amazing ready for him, something with beef. Maybe a pot roast. Or lamb chops. I'm not really sure. It had meat, though. And potatoes. There may have been cake. I'm not certain. That was a long time ago.
Back then, I had Caroline Ingalls as my role model. She always had dinner ready for Pa, so I figured I'd be like her. Imagine my surprise when I realized that was Hollywood and, in many cases, the mommies are the ones who work while the daddies stay at home! I never thought I would be the working Mommy and even up until Gracie and Luke were born, I held out hope that Daddy would find some miraculous career so that I could be at home with them. I would take them places, read to them, fix them yummy and healthy foods. They would do what I said all of the time and it would be Bliss!
I am dumbfounded to report that staying at home with Gracie and Luke is far from bliss. Instead, I've discovered that about once every five minutes, I'm ready to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. We don't go anywhere because neither Gracie nor Luke listen to me when we are out and about. They like to take off and keep going when I am screaming at them to stop. They are terrible listeners unless they are locked in a shopping cart and shopping is no fun (Seriously, Aunt Bec. It isn't.). I read to them sometimes, but they usually end up saying, "All done!" and start throwing toys or having a pillow fight. That, of course, is fun until someone gets hurt. The yummy and healthy foods? Well, they get milk, yogurt, bread, fruits, and green beans. But they get equal doses of crackers, Yogos, fruit snacks, and juice. They simply won't eat the food I put in front of them. More often than not, my offerings are flung at me, at the wall, at each other, or used as paint for their tables.
All of this is wearing me down. It has only been a week since day care ended for them and I'm in a constant state of wanting to run away. How do you stay at home moms do this? Some of my friends have twins the same age as Gracie and Luke and they manage to do fun field trips with fun themed weeks and fun art projects. My son ate the crayons today when I took them outside to color and when I told him that crayons were not for eating, he chucked the crayons out into the street! If I tried to do themed weeks, they would revolt! All they care about right now is cows, elephants and "Bahney." These are three words I hear no less than 100 million times a day.
So, what to do? My blissful existence is turning out to be totally less than blissful. My Twinsies refuse to do anything I tell them to and gleefully do everything I tell them not to. If I have to say "No throwing food!" one more time, I think I'll cry!
I realize I am in a critical time right now and my Making the Terrible Twos Terrific book is only making me crazier. The author is brilliant and wise. He also made me see how I am failing at this. I don't want the evil children who hit and whine and cry and throw things and run into the street. I don't! I also don't want to be the mom who only has the word "No!" as her entire vocabulary.
So, if you are a brilliant mom, one who can give me some insight and ways to keep myself from going batty, bring it on! I sense I only have a few more days left in me.
Have I mentioned we are going on a trip? In the car? Driving hundreds of miles? With almost two year olds?
I think it is time to hide in the bathroom again.
Back then, I had Caroline Ingalls as my role model. She always had dinner ready for Pa, so I figured I'd be like her. Imagine my surprise when I realized that was Hollywood and, in many cases, the mommies are the ones who work while the daddies stay at home! I never thought I would be the working Mommy and even up until Gracie and Luke were born, I held out hope that Daddy would find some miraculous career so that I could be at home with them. I would take them places, read to them, fix them yummy and healthy foods. They would do what I said all of the time and it would be Bliss!
I am dumbfounded to report that staying at home with Gracie and Luke is far from bliss. Instead, I've discovered that about once every five minutes, I'm ready to lock myself in the bathroom and cry. We don't go anywhere because neither Gracie nor Luke listen to me when we are out and about. They like to take off and keep going when I am screaming at them to stop. They are terrible listeners unless they are locked in a shopping cart and shopping is no fun (Seriously, Aunt Bec. It isn't.). I read to them sometimes, but they usually end up saying, "All done!" and start throwing toys or having a pillow fight. That, of course, is fun until someone gets hurt. The yummy and healthy foods? Well, they get milk, yogurt, bread, fruits, and green beans. But they get equal doses of crackers, Yogos, fruit snacks, and juice. They simply won't eat the food I put in front of them. More often than not, my offerings are flung at me, at the wall, at each other, or used as paint for their tables.
All of this is wearing me down. It has only been a week since day care ended for them and I'm in a constant state of wanting to run away. How do you stay at home moms do this? Some of my friends have twins the same age as Gracie and Luke and they manage to do fun field trips with fun themed weeks and fun art projects. My son ate the crayons today when I took them outside to color and when I told him that crayons were not for eating, he chucked the crayons out into the street! If I tried to do themed weeks, they would revolt! All they care about right now is cows, elephants and "Bahney." These are three words I hear no less than 100 million times a day.
So, what to do? My blissful existence is turning out to be totally less than blissful. My Twinsies refuse to do anything I tell them to and gleefully do everything I tell them not to. If I have to say "No throwing food!" one more time, I think I'll cry!
I realize I am in a critical time right now and my Making the Terrible Twos Terrific book is only making me crazier. The author is brilliant and wise. He also made me see how I am failing at this. I don't want the evil children who hit and whine and cry and throw things and run into the street. I don't! I also don't want to be the mom who only has the word "No!" as her entire vocabulary.
So, if you are a brilliant mom, one who can give me some insight and ways to keep myself from going batty, bring it on! I sense I only have a few more days left in me.
Have I mentioned we are going on a trip? In the car? Driving hundreds of miles? With almost two year olds?
I think it is time to hide in the bathroom again.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Um, Where's Lukie's diaper?!
I'm starting to love the mornings in our house. Gracie and Luke have their own bedroom and when they wake up in the morning, one of them tends to climb into bed with the other. They play, tear the room apart and giggle. A Lot.
This morning, I heard a lot of giggling, so I took it as a sign that I could jump in the shower quickly. About halfway through, I started hearing pounding on the bathroom door. Daddy decided to let the animals Twinsies out of their room. They decided they wanted my attention and were pounding on the door and calling my name. I cut my shower short and headed out for our morning diaper changes.
As I put Lukie on our bed, he pointed to his leg and said, "boo boo!" I looked down at his leg and found POOP all down his leg. It was dry, so I thought perhaps his diaper had leaked. I stood him up and pulled the back of his jammie shorts out and discovered:
NO DIAPER!
Huh?! I know I put a diaper on that kid the night before. We had a whole conversation about how he needed to where one. So where the heck was it? I couldn't have left him naked. Could I?
I walked into his bedroom and, lo and behold, there it was. His diaper sitting on Gracie's favorite blanket. One side was clearly still attached, while the other had been ripped open. Given its contents, I would not have wanted to wear that thing either. From the evidence on Lukie and the diaper on the floor, I've deduced that he pulled one side until it broke and then let the diaper slide down his leg, through the jammies, onto the floor. Thus, one attached side and the skidmarks down his leg.
Ew.
I went back to our room, grabbed him up and stuck him in our bathtub. I stripped him and discovered that all of the poop was dried. I actually had to scrub it off of his skin.
I'm really hoping this is not a sign of things to come. I know that the hot weather has made Gracie and Luke antidiapers. They love running around in their bathing suits. Maybe we will just live that way. We'll hang out in the backyard wearing bathing suits and getting tanned.
What a life!
This morning, I heard a lot of giggling, so I took it as a sign that I could jump in the shower quickly. About halfway through, I started hearing pounding on the bathroom door. Daddy decided to let the
As I put Lukie on our bed, he pointed to his leg and said, "boo boo!" I looked down at his leg and found POOP all down his leg. It was dry, so I thought perhaps his diaper had leaked. I stood him up and pulled the back of his jammie shorts out and discovered:
NO DIAPER!
Huh?! I know I put a diaper on that kid the night before. We had a whole conversation about how he needed to where one. So where the heck was it? I couldn't have left him naked. Could I?
I walked into his bedroom and, lo and behold, there it was. His diaper sitting on Gracie's favorite blanket. One side was clearly still attached, while the other had been ripped open. Given its contents, I would not have wanted to wear that thing either. From the evidence on Lukie and the diaper on the floor, I've deduced that he pulled one side until it broke and then let the diaper slide down his leg, through the jammies, onto the floor. Thus, one attached side and the skidmarks down his leg.
Ew.
I went back to our room, grabbed him up and stuck him in our bathtub. I stripped him and discovered that all of the poop was dried. I actually had to scrub it off of his skin.
I'm really hoping this is not a sign of things to come. I know that the hot weather has made Gracie and Luke antidiapers. They love running around in their bathing suits. Maybe we will just live that way. We'll hang out in the backyard wearing bathing suits and getting tanned.
What a life!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Serves me right
Since they were born, I've talked with Gracie and Luke about their diapers.
"Gracie went POT-TIE. Gracie went POT-TIE! POT-TIE!"
"Who has POO-POO? Lukie has POO-POO!"
"Who tooted? Was it you, Gracie?" giggle. giggle. "Was it you, Lukie?"
I wasn't my plan to teach them about what was in their diapers. It was just conversation while I was doing something I used to pay my sister to do when I babysat so that I wouldn't have to. About 6 months ago, Gracie started saying potty back at me. She would giggle when I sang my little songs and repeat "potty" or "poo-poo." Three months ago, Lukie started doing it, too.
Then, a few weeks ago, Gracie started saying, "Uh-oh! Potty!" and grab her diaper. She'd get very anxious and come running to me. "It's okay, Gracie." I would say. "Do you have potty in your diaper?" She would grunt "yes" and run away. She started following me into the bathroom and saying "Oh, potty!" as commentary.
I started thinking that I need to buy a potty seat for Gracie and Luke to try. I have no plans to potty train them, but if they are interested, I can assuage their curiosity. I have yet to buy the seat, but I'm going to buy one tomorrow!
Tonight, I put Gracie and Luke in the tub and about 5 seconds later, Gracie got a terrified look on her face and said "Uh-oh, Potty!" and started to pee in the bath water.
"It's okay, Gracie," I said.
She stopped midstream and sat down in the water. I drained the tub and we started over again. Five minutes later it happened again. It seems very clear that Gracie is very aware of what is going on with her body.
Lukie, on the other hand...
Lukie usually pees in the tub straight off. It is one of the reasons why I always leave the tub unplugged for the first few minutes. Tonight, I know I saw him do his duty at the beginning of the bath. So when the time came for everyone to get out of the tub, I thought I would try something different with them: I took Lukie out of the tub, wrapped him in his blanket and told him to go out to the living room. "Don't go potty!" I called after him. Famous last words.
I got Gracie out of the tub, wrapped her in her towel and went in search of my son. We kept calling him and he would not reply. When we finally saw him, we also saw what kept him so quiet: He had peed all over the side of my bed. I tried to get mad, but I just couldn't. It served me right for letting him wander about without a diaper. I know better. He's peed on their bed several times.
So, I am up waiting for my sheets and blanket to finish washing and drying.
Serves me right. Who let's an un-potty-trained 20 month old wander around naked?
On further reflection, $20 says it was the cold air from the fan that triggered "the accident."
Yep. Serves me right.
"Gracie went POT-TIE. Gracie went POT-TIE! POT-TIE!"
"Who has POO-POO? Lukie has POO-POO!"
"Who tooted? Was it you, Gracie?" giggle. giggle. "Was it you, Lukie?"
I wasn't my plan to teach them about what was in their diapers. It was just conversation while I was doing something I used to pay my sister to do when I babysat so that I wouldn't have to. About 6 months ago, Gracie started saying potty back at me. She would giggle when I sang my little songs and repeat "potty" or "poo-poo." Three months ago, Lukie started doing it, too.
Then, a few weeks ago, Gracie started saying, "Uh-oh! Potty!" and grab her diaper. She'd get very anxious and come running to me. "It's okay, Gracie." I would say. "Do you have potty in your diaper?" She would grunt "yes" and run away. She started following me into the bathroom and saying "Oh, potty!" as commentary.
I started thinking that I need to buy a potty seat for Gracie and Luke to try. I have no plans to potty train them, but if they are interested, I can assuage their curiosity. I have yet to buy the seat, but I'm going to buy one tomorrow!
Tonight, I put Gracie and Luke in the tub and about 5 seconds later, Gracie got a terrified look on her face and said "Uh-oh, Potty!" and started to pee in the bath water.
"It's okay, Gracie," I said.
She stopped midstream and sat down in the water. I drained the tub and we started over again. Five minutes later it happened again. It seems very clear that Gracie is very aware of what is going on with her body.
Lukie, on the other hand...
Lukie usually pees in the tub straight off. It is one of the reasons why I always leave the tub unplugged for the first few minutes. Tonight, I know I saw him do his duty at the beginning of the bath. So when the time came for everyone to get out of the tub, I thought I would try something different with them: I took Lukie out of the tub, wrapped him in his blanket and told him to go out to the living room. "Don't go potty!" I called after him. Famous last words.
I got Gracie out of the tub, wrapped her in her towel and went in search of my son. We kept calling him and he would not reply. When we finally saw him, we also saw what kept him so quiet: He had peed all over the side of my bed. I tried to get mad, but I just couldn't. It served me right for letting him wander about without a diaper. I know better. He's peed on their bed several times.
So, I am up waiting for my sheets and blanket to finish washing and drying.
Serves me right. Who let's an un-potty-trained 20 month old wander around naked?
On further reflection, $20 says it was the cold air from the fan that triggered "the accident."
Yep. Serves me right.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Don't kid yourself. Sleep is important.
There are some children on this planet who purportedly do not have any problem taking a nap. These same mythical children can survive on little sleep and still behave as angels.
My children do not fall in this category of beings. Oh, no. They are nap-requiring, fussy-when-tired, crazy-when-exhausted, toy-throwing, food-throwing, Mommy-and-sibling-biting children. In essence, your typical almost 20 month old.
On Friday, the day care lady asked me if Gracie had been going to sleep earlier than usual. This is impossible because of her brother, but she was getting tired much earlier. Apparently, her nap time has been out of whack this week and she has hardly been sleeping. Well, no wonder! That explains some of the craziness we have had this week. This morning, she was up at 5 am and taking a hard nap by 9 am. She was out for almost 2 hours.
Luke, on the other hand, was not going to take a nap this morning, no matter what! I tried cuddling with him, giving him his binky, everything, and nothing...no nap. I managed to fall asleep (a total accident, but to be expected when you are up chasing twins at 5 am) and Luke played quietly around me. When he woke me about 20 minutes after I dozed off, I found that he had scaled the kitchen table and dumped all my papers to the floor in an effort to get to the fruit snacks. I also discovered that he had somehow unscrewed the cap on the jumbo bubble container, pulled off the heretofore untouched seal, and pulled out the massive bubble wand. All, I might add, without knocking over the container or spilling any bubble solution. When I discovered this, I had a moment of panic, but then Lukie walked over to me and handed me the bubble wand. He just wanted some bubbles!
These days, when they will not nap like they are used to, are very difficult. They don't want any of the food I make them, they don't want to play nicely, they don't want to do much of anything except all the things I don't want them to do. Add to this Luke throwing up his lunch because he was coughing too hard and you have a pretty fantastically awful day. It is days like today that I am reminded how critical their proper sleep is. When they have their naps, their full night of sleep, they are kinder, gentler Twinsies. They don't throw things nearly as often and I am much less likely to have an imprint of toddler teeth on my outer thigh.
Now, the mommies out there who have my category of toddlers are reading this and nodding in agreement. They know how awful this can be. They've had the days when they would like wine before 10:30 am or would love to have a padded room where they can leave their children for 15 minutes of peace and quiet (or maybe the padded room is really the haven they would like to seach refuge in - to each her own). The mommies of the "perfect" sleepers and non-sleepers are shaking their heads at me right now. "Clearly, Gracie and Luke's Mommy just doesn't have proper discipline of her children. If that were me, my Little Perfect Angel Jim-Bob would know I mean business!"
Seriously, those perfect mommies can take a flying leap! I want a day of peace and quiet. A day when Twinsies take their predictable nap at the predictable time. A day when I can take a shower and not feel like everyone is looking at me and wondering why I look like death warmed over. A day when my children eat the food I put in front of them and signal me when they are all done instead of chucking their apples, french toast, tangerines, etc. across the room to be found weeks later behind the television.
There is something like a month and a half left until summer vacation. I'm wondering if we will be able to have a better schedule then. Oooo! Maybe we will be back in our house so that I will indeed have that padded room for their playing pleasure instead of a teensy one bedroom apartment with no privacy and leaking bathtubs and cockroaches (yes, I found one the other day trying to crawl into our apartment).
Hey, a girl can dream!
My children do not fall in this category of beings. Oh, no. They are nap-requiring, fussy-when-tired, crazy-when-exhausted, toy-throwing, food-throwing, Mommy-and-sibling-biting children. In essence, your typical almost 20 month old.
On Friday, the day care lady asked me if Gracie had been going to sleep earlier than usual. This is impossible because of her brother, but she was getting tired much earlier. Apparently, her nap time has been out of whack this week and she has hardly been sleeping. Well, no wonder! That explains some of the craziness we have had this week. This morning, she was up at 5 am and taking a hard nap by 9 am. She was out for almost 2 hours.
Luke, on the other hand, was not going to take a nap this morning, no matter what! I tried cuddling with him, giving him his binky, everything, and nothing...no nap. I managed to fall asleep (a total accident, but to be expected when you are up chasing twins at 5 am) and Luke played quietly around me. When he woke me about 20 minutes after I dozed off, I found that he had scaled the kitchen table and dumped all my papers to the floor in an effort to get to the fruit snacks. I also discovered that he had somehow unscrewed the cap on the jumbo bubble container, pulled off the heretofore untouched seal, and pulled out the massive bubble wand. All, I might add, without knocking over the container or spilling any bubble solution. When I discovered this, I had a moment of panic, but then Lukie walked over to me and handed me the bubble wand. He just wanted some bubbles!
These days, when they will not nap like they are used to, are very difficult. They don't want any of the food I make them, they don't want to play nicely, they don't want to do much of anything except all the things I don't want them to do. Add to this Luke throwing up his lunch because he was coughing too hard and you have a pretty fantastically awful day. It is days like today that I am reminded how critical their proper sleep is. When they have their naps, their full night of sleep, they are kinder, gentler Twinsies. They don't throw things nearly as often and I am much less likely to have an imprint of toddler teeth on my outer thigh.
Now, the mommies out there who have my category of toddlers are reading this and nodding in agreement. They know how awful this can be. They've had the days when they would like wine before 10:30 am or would love to have a padded room where they can leave their children for 15 minutes of peace and quiet (or maybe the padded room is really the haven they would like to seach refuge in - to each her own). The mommies of the "perfect" sleepers and non-sleepers are shaking their heads at me right now. "Clearly, Gracie and Luke's Mommy just doesn't have proper discipline of her children. If that were me, my Little Perfect Angel Jim-Bob would know I mean business!"
Seriously, those perfect mommies can take a flying leap! I want a day of peace and quiet. A day when Twinsies take their predictable nap at the predictable time. A day when I can take a shower and not feel like everyone is looking at me and wondering why I look like death warmed over. A day when my children eat the food I put in front of them and signal me when they are all done instead of chucking their apples, french toast, tangerines, etc. across the room to be found weeks later behind the television.
There is something like a month and a half left until summer vacation. I'm wondering if we will be able to have a better schedule then. Oooo! Maybe we will be back in our house so that I will indeed have that padded room for their playing pleasure instead of a teensy one bedroom apartment with no privacy and leaking bathtubs and cockroaches (yes, I found one the other day trying to crawl into our apartment).
Hey, a girl can dream!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Twinsies for Sale! A Poem
A Poem by Mommy
Twinsies for Sale! Oh, Twinsies for Sale!
Two crying and crying young Twinsies for Sale!
You may think I'm joking, but really I'm not.
They're driving me crazy, my stomach's in knots!
From morning to night,
They cry and they pout,
They throw toys, food and shoes.
Heck, sometimes, they shout!
I don't know what's happening,
They used to be fine.
If this continues much longer,
I'll have to drink some wine.
They hit and they scratch,
They hang from my clothes.
They walk around screaming
With snot streaming from their nose!
Who will buy the young Twinsies?
I'll make you a deal.
Five dollars? One?
I promise, they're a steal!
They're really a bargain.
It's like two for one.
Toddlers without being pregnant,
You could be done!
I guess I might miss them.
I, mean, heck, who would wake me up early?
Who else would make me so crazy
My hair goes curly?
Wait.........Yes, I mean it!
Twinsies for Sale! Oh, Twinsies for Sale!
Two crying and crying young Twinsies for Sale!
(apologies to Shel Silverstein for the mutilation of his poem)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
We only turned our backs for a minute!
Three adults missed three toddlers opening the cage of a dog and climbing in.
Because it's a perfectly great place to play, if you are under 3!
Can you tell Gracie and Luke LOVE playing with Cousin Nate?
Because it's a perfectly great place to play, if you are under 3!
Can you tell Gracie and Luke LOVE playing with Cousin Nate?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Mommy actually cooks dinner!
I used to cook all the time. When it was just Eddie and me, I cooked 3 to 4 times per week. I used to make Garlic Pepper Beef, grilled chicken, enchiladas, chilaquilles, and much more. I can count the number of times I have cooked on one hand since Gracie and Luke were born. Since I have been myself with them for so long, I've been awful about preparing our own meals. I purchase frozen meals or we buy a rotisserie chicken, anything other than cooking the meal myself.
Since I am home for Spring Break, I decided to actually do some cooking. We went shopping the other day and I bought cilantro, onions, tomatoes, beef, rice, and a few other things. Today, while Gracie and Luke were at day care, I actually chopped the onions, cilantro and some garlic. I marinated the beef. I made my famous Spanish rice. Before I left to pick them up, I had a pot of my rice and sliced, cooked beef ready for us when we got home.
I picked up Gracie and Luke and headed home. While they were taking their babies for walks on the patio, I tried the food. I was a little worried because the rice did not seem to have the same amount of flavor I am used to and the meat was a bit tougher than I wanted it to be. I cut the meat up into small portions and placed it with sliced tomatoes and rice into their bowls.
After getting them to sit down, I put their bowls in front of them and watched to see what would happen. Without spoons, they started shoveling meat and rice into their mouths. I started hearing, "More. More. " just a few minutes after they started eating. They kept making happy eating sounds and Lukie did his Happy Food Dance in his seat.
I finally got them to use their spoons for a few bites, but they kept dropping the spoons and using their hands to put as much rice as possible into their mouths.
Three helpings later, they finally slowed down. They had orange all over their faces from the Spanish rice and Luke had rice all over his lap. They both picked up their bowls and tried to scoop the rest of the food into their mouths.
Since I am home for Spring Break, I decided to actually do some cooking. We went shopping the other day and I bought cilantro, onions, tomatoes, beef, rice, and a few other things. Today, while Gracie and Luke were at day care, I actually chopped the onions, cilantro and some garlic. I marinated the beef. I made my famous Spanish rice. Before I left to pick them up, I had a pot of my rice and sliced, cooked beef ready for us when we got home.
I picked up Gracie and Luke and headed home. While they were taking their babies for walks on the patio, I tried the food. I was a little worried because the rice did not seem to have the same amount of flavor I am used to and the meat was a bit tougher than I wanted it to be. I cut the meat up into small portions and placed it with sliced tomatoes and rice into their bowls.
After getting them to sit down, I put their bowls in front of them and watched to see what would happen. Without spoons, they started shoveling meat and rice into their mouths. I started hearing, "More. More. " just a few minutes after they started eating. They kept making happy eating sounds and Lukie did his Happy Food Dance in his seat.
I finally got them to use their spoons for a few bites, but they kept dropping the spoons and using their hands to put as much rice as possible into their mouths.
Three helpings later, they finally slowed down. They had orange all over their faces from the Spanish rice and Luke had rice all over his lap. They both picked up their bowls and tried to scoop the rest of the food into their mouths.
Forty-five minutes after I sat them in their seats (this is a record, I assure you), I stripped both of them down before I let them leave their seats and set them on their feet to go to the bath tub. They both walked straight there and waited patiently for me to turn on the water and to set them in the tub.
I would call this meal a success. Now, if I can only manage to do this again tomorrow and the next day!
I would call this meal a success. Now, if I can only manage to do this again tomorrow and the next day!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sock Orphanage
Socks disappear.
It's a reality of life.
But what do you do when there are so many that you can no longer pretend you have a problem?
You open a sock orphanage.
These are our current residents. We do not know where their brothers and sisters are, only that they are lost in the wilds of our home, or perhaps have found their ways to better homes.
If you find one of their brothers or sisters, please let them know that we love and miss them. If you care to take them in, please love them as we have!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Tell me, what am I supposed to do?
I can count on one hand (still) the number of times Gracie and Luke have spent the night away from me since they came home from the hospital. Every time, it has been with Nana. I trust Nana. She raised me, Aunt Bec, and Auntie Ten Ten. Shoot! She has 6 grand kids, three of whom beg to spend the night with her!
Because Daddy has been so sick and gone for the better part of a month and a half, I've just about reached my breaking point. Don't get me wrong. I will survive. It's what mommies do. Mentally and physically, I am drained. I've noticed that I am not my happy self at home and all I seem to live for is time for that Gracie and Luke will go to sleep. That's not the kind of mommy I want to be.
Several people have asked me how they can help. As a control freak, it is very hard for me to let things go and allow others to do things for me. One friend of mine, Jeanette, decided it was time to just tell me how she was going to help instead of leaving it up to me to ask. Jeanette works with me and if my children grow up to be even a half as wonderful as her daughters, I will be the luckiest mom on the planet!
Jeanette came and picked up Gracie and Luke today. She took them to the park to watch her youngest daughter play soccer. Later, she is taking them to a basketball game and then to the dance concert at school tonight. She is incredibly brave and I don't know what I would do without her. I had a nap today. Yes, a nap. It was a blessed thing.
I have to admit that it took a lot for me to say yes to Jeanette's offer, not because I don't trust her! I was more concerned about Gracie and Luke and how they would be. Would they cry the whole time? Would Lukie break everything he come into contact with? Would Jeanette wish that she had never ever offered to take them? All of these things have been swirling through my mind since she offered. And yet, Jeanette assured me it wouldn't matter if they did all of these things. Gracie and Luke would be fine.
Jeanette told me to call when ever I want to check in on them. And I have to admit, I've called once so far. Gracie and Luke are having the time of their lives running around, eating apples, playing with Jeanette's daughters and husband. I have nothing to worry about.
So here's the thing: Even though I have a million things to do, I can't stop thinking about Gracie and Luke. I feel guilty sitting here without them. I could do our taxes (oh, joy!), or I could scan our hundred million receipts into the computer for our Flexible Spending Account, or I could leave yet another message for the evil adjuster lady at the insurance company who refuses to acknowledge my phone calls. I could go shopping for spring clothes (which I desperately need) or go see a movie (no fun without Daddy). I just can't seem to get started, because all I keep thinking about is Gracie and Luke.
So tell me, what am I supposed to do? I'm not liking this Mommy guilt thing.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day without Daddy
Daddy is back in the hospital. He couldn't keep anything down and he decided it was best that he go back. I don't know what to say. I hurt watching him be so sick and I hate that I can't make him better.
Gracie and Luke must know what is going on. They woke up at 1:30 am and kept me up until 4:30 am. I honestly don't know what I finally did to get them back to sleep. They were up at 6:30, though, so it didn't last long. All day, they've been hitting and biting each other. There have been thousands of tears shed, toys thrown, and Mommy on the brink of a breakdown.
To try to keep them occupied, I gave them a bath this morning. They played and threw toys at each other for about 30 minutes. Gracie kept biting Lukie so I decided it was time to end their bath. When I pulled them out of the water, I just had to catch this image. It is going to be awesome for blackmail one day!
There were some moments of cooperation. Gracie and Lukie "cooperated" their way to tearing up the living room. There are toys in places I won't be able to find until we move out! They "cooperated" their way to pull every single piece of dirty clothing out of the basket and dragged them all over the room. They "cooperated" their way to 6 poopy diapers. (Yes, I just went there.)
Gracie decided it would be fun to climb on every surface she could wriggle herself up onto. At one point, I turned to discover that she had climbed on top of the computer table and was sitting on top of Daddy's laptop dialing the telephone. I took a picture of it. How could I not?
Lukie joined in the fun.
Gracie refused to let me put her ponytails in her hair so that she could wear her Valentine's bows. As a result, she sported a side ponytail for the better part of the day.
I had Valentine's Day outfits for both of them. Lukie's shirt says "handsome little devil."
I never did get a good picture of Gracie's "sweet Valentine's Day" shirt.
Around 2:30, we headed out to deliver our Valentines to Grandma, Grandpa, Abuelita and the tios. The ladies at Grandma's shop enjoyed oohing and aahing over how much Gracie and Lukie have grown.
By far, our highlight was on the way home from Fresh N Easy. This is the typical behavior of Twinsies in the car. Enjoy!
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