Twin time vs. "real" time
Hubby and pumpkin decided to have a little guy bonding time last weekend. So that left Sweet Pea and me to hold down the fort. I relaxed leisurely with her on the chaise soon after they left. It occurred to me that I could venture easily throughout the house or even outside with
just her and no constant worrying, wondering about another one or feeling like I incessantly have to get back to the other one wondering what he or she is up to.
We cruised easily and effortlessly down the stairs and around the living room and kitchen and stopped by the doorway and out on the porch to bask a bit in the fresh air, sunlight and breeze. It occurred to me that if I wanted to take a walk, I could just breeze easily up the stairs with her, walk into the closet, grab and throw on my shoes (all without even putting her down), and head out for a walk. WOW! Is this what its like with just one?
I imagine with Pumpkin at home, it would go like this:
Take #1 down stairs and set them in a safe place all while wondering if #2 is safe (I never realized how much us twin parents never even have the luxury of relaxing even our minds or being able to focus when we are with one and the other is not in sight-ALL OF THE TIME). Return upstairs to get #2 and hope #1 isn't fussing/crying (seems to happen at least 50% of the time). Grab #2 and shoes if able or this will require another trip. Place both babies in a safe place to get stroller, because the truth is I'm not going ANYWHERE with two babies without a carrying device. (This is usually the point where I decide its not worth it to go). Spend 5 minutes opening up double stroller and placing babies in or putting one in an umbrella stroller and the other in a front pack. Remember that I should have placed shoes on before doing all of this because I can't get them on now with baby in pack (In the early days at least one would scream their head off so he/she went in the pack right away. Then the next trick was trying to put a very wobbly second baby in an umbrella stroller with #1 hanging out in front of me). Take baby out, put shoes on, put baby back in. Race out the door because the time I had has now been eaten away because I didn't strategically plan the walk and my entire day usually becomes engulfed by getting things done according to twin time. Race back home and realize I am once again exhausted and that one little outing like that tires me with the whole twin time schedule.
I'm even more convinced now that 2 x 1 = 3 times as hard. Hope you singleton mom's appreciate how easy one is.
Seventh Inning "stretch"
Sweetpea and Pumpkin-
It has been seven months since you were born and every once in a while I get glimpses of the life we once had before you were born. Today I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans (woohoo!) and I realized its been a good 1 year and 3 months since I last wore these things. How life was very different the last time I wore these jeans. While there are some things I miss (actually having time to workout-although this nursing thing is finally starting to pay off for me, going somewhere right after work-it's amazing how much a small little thing like that is good stuff, or sleeping more than 7 hours in a stretch), I wouldn't trade one bit of it for all your smiles. These sacrifices I have to make for you for the first year or for the various times in your life are well worth it. Often they are not sacrifices at all, just something I as a mom will always do.
You two are growing like weeds! It is an amazing journey to watch your skills develop from the perspective of a physical therapist and of course, as a mom. You two are now sitting up by yourselves for brief periods and I can enjoy curling you both up in the crook of my leg to play with or read to you both at the same time. After a slow start out of the gate with solids because of illnesses, we have discovered you are very good eaters. Yay!After all the hard work we've put into nursing...Here's a list of what you've sampled/food review:
rice cereal and oatmeal cereal (thumbs up from both)
acorn squash (thumbs WAY up from both)
bananas (both thumbs up with suspicious diapers for JT)
store bought peaches (pretty good but tart)
homade peaches ( thumbs way, way up)
carrots (Pumpkin-lip puckering rasberry blowing good, Sweetpea- thumbs up)
Speaking of nursing, somehow I've actually reached the point where I've grown to love it a bit. It is often the only time now a days that I can scoop you two up onto the pillow and hold you both in my arms while I tell you just how precious you are to me. Bri, you are such a sweetie as you curl yourself into a little half ball like a pill bug on the pillow and I wrap you up in the crook of my arm. Pumpkin, you are focused and when you get excited, your legs swing off the pillow like a car door swinging open. Often, I just let each of you hang out after you are done just to listen to you babble a bit or stick your tiny fingers in my mouth and stare up at me in wonderment while I jabber zzz's and ssss's and other curious sounds. Somedays, however, it is like wrestling two monkey's away from bananas that hang out of reach just getting you set up on the nursing pillow. There is just two much good stuff to see and do for you out there.
Each week I see a bit more of the special twin interconnection developing- some sneaky, some sweet. Hair pulling is now a favorite past time-each others and mine. Pumpkin, you show definite concern for Sweetpea when she is upset and cries and will stare in her direction with a look of concern on your face. But you fuss, fuss, fuss when having to wait your turn to be fed a spoon full of food. Often you will engage with each other in jabbering conversations, usually one sided where one of you will listen and stare as the other monologues. Pumpkin, your favorite word is now 'dada'. You repeat it over and over during the day several times and with lots of varying inflection- happy, curious, ansy- You have many ways to describe what you are feeling with the one word. Sweetpea, you love to babble away with your favorite word "baba." I can't imagine why, my baby sweetpea. (You each said 'mama" long ago, but I guess you found it too boring and moved on. I hope that means you are saving it for later for something good, right?)
Often, when together, you increasingly switch to saying more "ah, ahh" type sounds and I wonder if this is a secret twin language starting to develop. I'm sure you will put it to good use in outwitting your parents in the future... You are growing up so fast and as I told your neice when she was five, not to grow up so fast (She's turning thirTEEN in April-wow!), you are growing up SOOO fast and you aren't allowed to do it without my permission- OK?! I'm sad, mesmerized and very proud at the same time. Really, I'm looking forward to all the good stuff to come.
Love,
Mommy
Smorgasborg
HOLIDAYS
Well the holidays have come and gone and dare I say, I'm a bit glad all of the hoopla has died down and we can get back to our regular organized chaos. The kids first Christmas was fun, more so for us mostly than them. We kicked it off by arranging a "tree lighting ceremony" for them with video set up and all and we got entirely no response from them as the tree lights went on. It was pretty funny, the kids stared as if to say, "Whats all the fuss about?" Next year's sure to be a bit more exciting for them.
Mom and dad The kids recieved many cool toys to keep everyone in line (courtesy of Grandma and grandpa "A") and enough clothes to make them the next new stylin' duo of their daycare (Dad's Mom). Thanks all! A quick visit was had by Aunt K and Uncle K while mom and dad went out to look for a new chariot. Now
they are thanking their lucky stars they are not having twins they get to see what next June will bring them when they have only ONE baby to take care of.
After a short visit back to daycare, the babies returned home with yet ANOTHER sickness. This time it was a stomach virus. After enjoying that both kids had taken naps right on my shoulder (isn't that the best thing!) on New Year's eve, Sweetpea awoke and I had another "new mommy christening moment" as she threw up down the front of my shirt and pants. (Happy new year to you to Bri)! Daddy also got his share and fortunately Pumpkin didn't get the sickness too badly. Sweetpea took about a week to recover. As of yet, we are still busy attempting to finish all those things that got backed up with the Holiday hoopla. Yes, if you are wondering where your holiday cards are, I'm working on them at this very moment. You should recieve them sometime in 2006.
Real life of a twin mom...
I suppose if I actually could find the time to post more frequently, I wouldn't have to write a book everytime I get around to finding time to do it. So here is my short post for the last few weeks. I suppose that once I actually "quit" being a mom of twins (which I suppose means when nursing is finished and the kids have been potty trained and through their "terrible" twos (actually one of my favorite times for kids), I'll REALLY find time to write about what it has been like being a mom of twin infants since I seem to frequently be lacking in time to do it now). There are many times I have so much stuff to say but can't find the actual time to put it into words. So, such is REALLY the life of a twin mom...At least I'll have plenty of stuff to pull from should I want to keep the blog going for a few years longer than just the first year ...
