Sleeping "In"!!!

I can’t even begin to complain.   

KNOCK ON WOOD (as I do each and every time I mention the girls’ sleep habits), my babies have been excellent sleepers from very early on.  Over the past year or so, bedtime has gotten even earlier…usually around 6:30pm!...but they are up BRIGHT and EARLY – religiously – at 6:30am.  Every.  Single.  Day.

Occasionally, Baby A will sleep past her “OK to Wake” clock turning green at 6:30.  I don’t think Baby B has missed the mark more than a handful of times in her tenure, though.

Still, I had the idea to try the girls “sleeping in” after the time change.  They are SO tired at bedtime…and I can’t imagine them going to bed any earlier than 6:30!  I adjusted their clock to a 7am wake-up. 

KNOCK ON WOOD AGAIN…so far, so good!

Baby B is excited to get up, as usual, and Baby A is still all snuggly under the covers.  I can’t tell the extra sleep is affecting them one way or the other, which is a great thing.

The change is affecting this mama, though.  I can’t say how luxurious it feels to have that extra 30 minutes in the mornings!!! 

Unfortunately, during the week, the girls sleeping in until 7 means they miss seeing their daddy before he goes to work.  But the extra 30 minutes gives me more time to make lunches, if need be…or shower AND dry my hair…or just chill out before the chaos of the day begins.  And a few times I’ve slept until shortly before 7 myself…the latest I’ve slept in YEARS!

On school days, we do find ourselves rushing just a bit more than usual…but the countertop-height barstools in our new house mean that the girls can safely sit and watch me cook breakfast, which substitutes for our usual snuggles / book-reading in the morning.

It’s pretty awesome what a difference just 30 minutes can make!

Super Stuff on a Monday

So much FABULOUS stuff this week…I love it!!! 

1)      We had pretty chilly weather a good part of the week, but we’ve been able to get out for walks several times this weekend.  It’s been great!

2)      The girls have been putting things into perspective in terms of time.  It cracks me up when they say, “A long time ago, when I was three…”  HA!

3)      Still, we have some work to do as far as days and weeks and months go.  It’s not uncommon, in the context of them playing birthday party, to overhear, “Elphie’s birthday is today.  He is five.  He will be six in 17 months.”

4)      The girls got “fuzzy socks” for Christmas, and Baby A has been downright obsessed with them.  She puts on a pair first thing in the morning.  If we go somewhere during the day, she takes them off and “saves” them somewhere so she can put them back on when we get home.  We now have a total of four pairs, but we still occasionally run short.  A couple of nights, the very last thing A has said to me as I tucked her in was, “Wash my fuzzy socks.”  Top of mind!!!

5)      At school the girls learned about what makes their teeth "happy" and "sad". We were discussing different foods over supper, and Baby A wisely surmised, "Ice cream makes my teeth sad, but my it makes my tummy happy!"

6)      At the dentist on Wednesday, both girls did such a great job.  Baby B finished before her sister, and she walked over to her chair.  “Good job of being patient, Sissy!” she told her.

7)      The girls had a great report at the dentist, and we enjoyed a super-special snack at Panera afterwards…it always feels so very special to hang out in “coffee shop mode” (even for 15 minutes) with my girls. 

8)      I love how the girls pick up on our lexicon.  I asked A to get the phone for me, and she replied, “I would gladly do that.”  Another time she answered me with, “Yes, indeed!”

9)      Baby A has been admiring everything I have lately.  She’s said so many times, “Mommy, when I get older will you buy me ….” referring to anything and everything I’m wearing or using….a jacket like this / a shirt like this / a sweater like this / toothpaste like this / a hairdryer like this.

10)   The girls were playing "vet" with their stuffed animals, and A came running in..."Snoopy is 9 inches taller than his sister! And they're twins!!!" Baby A is almost three inches taller than B, and she's quite proud of it...obviously. ;)

11)   For the longest times, the girls were bringing home scribbles from preschool, done during free time at their art station.  I’ve encouraged them to take their time and draw something…and I am so proud this week that they’ve been bringing home actual pictures!  Baby A has drawn numerous cats, and B told me her creation was a “whiskered walrus” when I picked her up on Thursday.  HA!

12)   It belongs in another post entirely, but – as a HUGE surprise – Miss Demara, M&C’s mom, kept the girls for what sounds like a very awesome play date on Friday while I was pampered beyond my imagination at the SPA.  The girls had such a big time at their house…they’re still talking about every little detail.  (And I, of course, am still reveling in the spa treatment!)

13)   The girls were so sweet in celebrating my birthday.  They sang to me multiple times, and they even made up a song (sorta-kinda) about Sasha and me.

14)   It was B’s turn to choose the night-night story on Sunday night, and I had to jot down what she told me as I was brushing A’s teeth: “I originally chose “Kitty’s Colorful Day”, but I decided instead to read the butterfly book.”  I love the way she expressed herself!

15)   At random, B said one day, "Raw peppers are my favorite vegetable."  I tried not to grin too broadly…I didn’t want to let on how happy that makes me!

16)   I just love listening to the girls talk to each other.  I had to jot down one exchange from this morning, as B laid out the game plan:  “My idea is that we’ll have breakfast, and then Mommy wipes us up, and then while Mommy drinks her coffee, we’ll go on a train ride.  You bring your directions, and I’ll bring mine.”  It made me laugh that, as they were talking about such big plans, they still included, “…Mommy wipes us up.”  HA!

17)   For the longest time, Baby A has been abbreviating words…her way of making a cute little diminutive form.  Here’s a sampling from the week…”Fuzz-ahs” = fuzzy socks…”Fluff-ahs” = fluffy jackets…and “Let me run pod” = potty.  Said in her ever-baby voice…I find it completely irresistible.

18)   And one day, at random, B said, "Daddies know everything!”  “What about mommies?” I asked.  And then, somewhat reluctantly, she said, "Um, yeah, mommies, too.”  I guess I’ll take it???

[I tried to write in bullet-point format as best I could...but it was hard!]

Fab Friday (at last!)!!!

UGH!!!  Here I am, behind again!!!  But…despite the R-U-N-N-I-N-G that has been this week, I’m so thankful for those little moments that make time stop…

1)      We transitioned the girls a couple of weeks ago to regular blankets…moving away from their zipper blankets for the first time in their little lives.  (Sniff, sniff!)  After the first couple of sleeps, they’ve done great, and it’s just priceless to see Baby A when she wakes up.  She rarely gets out of her bed without balling up her blanket to give it a big hug. 

2)      Baby A is very particular about certain things, and she can’t stand to see someone with their sleeves rolled up.  As soon as I push my sleeves up and she zeroes in on it, she makes a beeline for me.  “Here, Mommy…just let me help you with these sleeves.”  Hahaha!

3)      The girls have been really fixated on time zones lately.  They love to call out a state or country and ask, “What time is it in India  / China / Australia / Brazil right now?” 

4)      Daddy calls most days during his lunch break to check on the home front.  He always speaks to each of the girls for a minute or two, and I can tell that he often asks about the morning’s behavior.  In response to his asking B if she’d been in timeout, she responded, “No, not that I know of!”  [I might note she has selective memory at times.  HA!]

5)      One night, as I put B in her bed and wished her goodnight, she grabbed my hand.  “Mommy, I love you so much I just can’t believe it,” she told me.  Cue tears from this mama!

6)      We had such a fun time playing with our friends M&C on Monday.  I still marvel how well the four kiddos play together.  We are so very blessed to have such wonderful friends!!!

7)      When M&C were here, they asked about the play “intercom” on our toy cash register.  I explained how you use it to make announcements in a store…like if someone broke some eggs, you might hear an announcement, “Cleanup on aisle 10, please!”  I was momentarily stunned when the kids later started yelling, “There’s a broken egg on the couch!  Clean it up!”  I was SO thankful to realize they were only pretending.  And it’s cracked me up [no pun intended] all week at how this has been a recurring theme.

8)      I overheard B ask A, "Sissy, did you bite me?" "No, I kissed you," she replied.  I couldn’t help but laugh to myself…but really…if you have to ask, we have a problem. ;)

9)      One day B was making a futile attempt to demand something of A, but A was ignoring her.  Then, from B, I heard, "Mommy, she's not responding to me!"  I can't help you there, Sister. I don't respond without a "please", either...HA!

10)   The girls got an awesome new book from Aunt Alison for their birthday, The Snail and theWhale.  That no doubt prompted B’s random poetic observation: "Snails are small experts at drawing, because they slither and leave a trail.”  

Hoping to be back on track soon...as I sure don't want to miss a beat!

Super Stuff on a Monday

In addition to our blissful return to routine, and...of course!!!...the girls' FOURTH BIRTHDAY on Saturday, it's been a pretty fantastic week!  Here are a few of the highlights...

1)      Grandma Linda got the girls watches for Christmas.  They have had so much fun with them…although I’ll admit they can drive me a little batty sometimes.  Starting on the way home from Alabama, the girls reported every couple of minutes “what time” it was.  Of course they can’t quite tell time…at 2:40, they’d say, “It’s two, eight!”  And then, “It’s two, nine!”  I've gotta love their fascination! 

2)      Over the holidays, I said told the girls, ”Miss Demara said for me to give you a hug.”  Baby A responded, “Well, hug me!”  And later, when I told them that Aunt Alison wanted me to tell them Merry Christmas, A said, “Well, tell me!”  C'mon, Mama...get it together!

3)      The girls were so excited to start back to school.  For an entire week before, they kept confirming which day they would go.  On Thursday morning, I asked them what they were most excited about.  Baby A answered, “Hugging Mrs. E,” and Baby B said, “Just everything!”  When pressed, she said she was most looking forward to seeing her classmate J.  I am so thankful they're loving school!

4)      Baby B has been battling a cough for a couple of weeks now.  She has had no other symptoms, but I decided to have her checked by the pediatrician, just in case.  I was so proud of how my big girls behaved…B let Dr. F pick her up and set her on the exam table.  She followed his instructions to a tee, and she even chatted with him…a first!  Then I asked Dr. F a quick question about Baby A, and she “performed” just as well.

5)      After our appointment on Friday morning, I surprised the girls with a trip to our favorite downtown bakery for one of their ahhh-mazing cinnamon rolls.  They were so tickled to see two of their “aunts” walk in for an early birthday celebration.  They’ve been there to celebrate every birthday, and this year was no exception.  I’m so thankful for such sweet friends!

6)      The girls were so excited about turning four on Saturday.  The first thing Baby B said when she woke up on Sunday was, “Mommy!  I’m still four!” 

7)      Baby B has been focused on going to college lately.  In answer to several different questions, she’s answered, “I’ll do XYZ when I go to college.”  And she told a nice random lady over the weekend that Mommy would start back to work when she goes to college.  I wish!  HA!

8)      The girls were playing High-Ho Cherry-O with Daddy, and he was lamenting over landing on the bird (who eats apples from your basket.  B quickly told him, “You get what you get and you don’t get upset!”  You tell him, Sister!

9)      One morning B asked me, "Mommy, when the people first came here, why did they land on the moon?" It didn’t take me long to realize she was cross-referencing our books about the pilgrims…and their recent fascination with astronauts.  HA!

10)   I’m not sure where this came from, but my A cracked me up.  She was walking around with a pretend bottle of catsup…”I’m spraying for bugs!”  Huh???  She’s seen the pest control folks spray outside every couple of months…but I’m not sure how that made its way into inside play?!

11)   Two near-misunderstandings this week made me laugh…the girls don't know many characters, but they were given a Winnie the Pooh coloring book and we got it out last week. I usually say "the bear", but I slipped and said "Pooh". Immediately..."Mommy!!! Why did you say POOP????"

12)   And…our page-a-day calendar had a picture of two cats, seemingly playing poker. Baby A told her daddy, "Look, those cats are playing a POKING game!"

13)   Baby B was drawing something, and A came over to have a look.  “Oh, cool, Sissy!” she remarked.  It was just so casual…and so grown-up!

14)   At some point over the holidays, I heard Daddy downstairs “trying to teach the girls to whistle”.  Of course they can’t whistle…but they like to purse their lips and make a “woooo” sound.  They have been asking me to whistle certain songs from time to time, though, and they stand, completely mesmerized!

In the midst of an incredible big and busy time, I'm so thankful for the little things that are the icing on the [birthday] cake!