My new ride (hopefully)

Isn't this the coolest bicycle around? And who would look adorable riding in the back? Yep, at one time I would have been hauling Zeus & Zoe, but I think Maddy and Libby would really enjoy this. We could even bike over to the humongous Harris Teeter and still have room for groceries!

The great people at Madsen are giving away two of these bikes on July 15 and all you need to do to is have some sort of web presence and link back to their site.

So, consider giving the girls a new ride and click the button below.

Dreadmill

It poured here tonight when I was going to go run, so I headed over to the gym for a 3 mile run on the dreadmill. The run wasn't so bad tonight, but I have no idea what was up with my shorts. And by up, I mean literally .... creepin', creepin', creepin' up my hiney.

I hate that. I kept tugging at the sides not trying to do a full on "yank." I swear these shorts only ride up when I'm on the treadmill. Is there any logic to that being true? These are the same shorts I wore for my latest half-marathon, so I know it really can't be all my imagination.

So, for all of the folks that had to witness my pulling and shifting while running, I'm sorry.

And to the guy who hung onto the top of the treadmill while running, just let go! I promise it won't go anywhere!

Pink CHI, RIP

After a lovely three years with my pink CHI flat iron, she met her untimely demise on Saturday. One too many spills on the tile floor rendered her useless. And believe me when I tell you that I had a washcloth around my hand trying to revive her and not burn myself as I was in the midst of hair-straightening on a very humid day. It's been a few very scary and poufy last several days.

So, I would like to introduce, Blue CHI. I know that we will grow into a (hopefully) long love affair and I promise that I will try not to drop you on the floor. I was also glad to find that ULTA had you on sale and I also had a 20% off coupon to use when I invited you home.

Transition

It is hard to believe that in just under a month, my babies will be one year old! It really feels like it has all gone by in the blink of an eye.

As most Moms of eleven-months know, I am counting down to the end of formula! Hurray! Yippee! Ca-ching! I really didn't want to do the math, but when I added it up, I was shocked. I stopped breastfeeding and pumping at eight months, but it made me wish that I had kept going a little bit longer.

A can of Neosure is $14.99 (the cheapest I can find it and Similac has all, but stopped sending coupons.) I used to have handfuls of $5 coupons, but now we're lucky to get one $3 coupon every other month.

Maddy and Libby go through a can of formula a day. 31 days x $14.99 = $464.69. OUCH.

That's a car payment, or childcare, or college savings, or half of our new fence, or new clothes for me, I mean new Brooks Brothers shirts for Hubby! I will excitedly buy them the best gallon of organic whole milk that I can find on June 21!

My question to the Mom's out there ... how did you transition? Part milk/part formula and just gradually increase the milk, decrease the formula? Did you still warm everything up? How long did it take you to switch to 100% milk? They like yogurt and cheese, so hopefully this will be an easy transition.

Just a swingin'

This afternoon, we took a little impromptu trip to our neighborhood park for a swing and a stroll.
Maddy and Libby loved the swings and I need to remember to take more black and white photos. Happy Memorial Day, everyone.

Insanely happy

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. They make you forget about all the sleepless nights, crying, and poopy diaper for the past eleven months.

Obsessed

I have been watching these on eBay and I am obsessed.

Everyone I have mentioned them to looks at me like I'm a bit nuts. I keep imagining them all framed the same and hung together in my living room. I have a bare wall over our sofa and I think they would look perfect. I will admit that I am also obsessed with shades of blue and really want to repaint our entry way with a soft blue. Then these prints would coordinate even better.

Do I know anything about British birds or their eggs? Well, no. Does it really matter?

Off my chest

This won't make sense to anyone but Hubby, so here goes.

I try to do something nice for two people very close to me.

I basically get shit on in the process and feel like I have something held over my head. Actually, I don't feel it, I know that I have something held over my head.

It is decided that the nice thing won't happen, but I still can't help but to feel mad and bitter about the thing that was held over my head. It was surprising and hurtful. I know that I need to be the bigger person and let it go, but why is it so freakin' hard?

So what do you do now? Play nice-nice and act like nothing ever happened or hold a grudge that keeps you up at night? Neither option really feels right to me at the moment, but I'm hoping that the wine I'm drinking will help me sleep.

I guess the quote, "nice guys finish last" is true.

Fangs

Libby now has four teeth ... her bottom two, and two on the top. Instead of her top front teeth coming in, her lateral incisors came in first.

Since I'm new at parenting and didn't really grow up around a lot of babies, I wasn't sure if this was "normal" or not. I guess it's the latter after visiting friends for their son's baptism yesterday and one shouted out, "Oh my gosh ... Libby has fangs!"

I haven't been able to get one picture that shows these little beauties, but it really is the cutest and funniest thing I have seen in a while. Has anyone else seen this happen in babies or should I be calling the orthodontist now!?

Must have

How can I get so excited about cupcake liners? Well, when they are this cute, it's pretty easy.

And, that they match these invitations perfectly.

More birthday and cupcake goodness to come in the next few weeks.

Sweet

I was very surprised to receive this special gift a few days after Mother's Day. Hubby took Maddy and Libby to paint a coffee cup for me for my 1st Mother's Day!

Isn't it cute?

It has both of their little hand prints, names, and Happy Mother's Day 2009 written on the top. I love it and I can't wait to use it each and every morning.

I just wish I could have seen a photo of Hubby and the girls making this. I also heard there was a poopy diaper and no changing table fiasco, but that is probably best saved for another post!

Sigh.

I love peonies. My Mom knew that I wanted to plant some in my yard and the last time she visited, she planted two bushes (?) of white peonies in our front yard. They are just starting to bloom and as much as I love to admire them outdoors, I couldn't help but bring one in to enjoy.

Much better

I promise that I didn't shove everything out of sight. I really did clean, throw, or put things away. I do still need to organize my basket that I use for my work stuff, but that will have to be a project for tonight or tomorrow morning. It really helps me to have a basket ... I can work in our family room, or when a sitter is here, I just grab my laptop and basket and head to our office. So now you can see:

• My laptop
• Envelopes that need to be addressed
• Gerber daisies from this weekend replaced the candle.
• Hubby's laptop was deposited on the table.
• Hubby's laptop password gadget
• My work notebook
• Kate Spade calendar
• One pen
• Entry forms that need to be mailed back to my home office.
• The two outfits that need to be returned ... now hanging on a chair, but I need to keep them out or I'll forget to do it!
• Hubby's suit jacket hanging on the other chair.
• Nearly empty bottle of water.

Now if the rest of my house would magically clean itself, I'd be all set.

What's stressing me

I am really sick of my messy desk today. This desk is also our kitchen'ish table ... it's located in our family room, just off our kitchen.

In this picture, you will notice the following:

• one laptop that is almost buried under my pile of shiot.
• My notebook that I use for all of my work notes, and at least two or three pens.
• Kate Spade calendar underneath the work notebook.
• Manila envelopes
• Calculator
• Half-full coffee cup from this morning.
• Empty Lance peanut butter crackers package. What salmonella scare?
• Paper clips
• Anti bacterial wipes
• Business cards
• Entry forms from an event this weekend, and empty zip lock bags that the entry forms were in.
• Two outfits for M&L that need to be returned.
• My work basket that I use to stash paperwork that is overflowing. I think it may be time to file.
• Two pairs of cute shoes for M&L from Mad About Plaid Girl. We heart hand-me-downs from her daughter.
• A bunch of USPS priority mail boxes for shipping eBay stuff.
• My wedding notebook that I was using to look up old addresses.
• My tendonitis hand/wrist brace that I should be wearing.
• My address book
• Envelopes
• Remote ... rocking out to 80's on cable TV.
• My candle holder thingy in the center of the table.
• A Junior League cookbook, tee shirt, and coffee mug that I got at our Annual Meeting last night.
• My 1st and probably still favorite Kate Spade purse.
• 5K race application
• Pay check
• New Blackberry cover.
• Ewwww ... my retainer sitting on top of the paycheck, because I was on the phone and realized that I was lisping, so I took it out and obviously forgot to put it back in the case. Gross.
• Lint roller. 2 labs, enough said.
• My address embosser.

I am going to clean. Will hopefully report back with an updated picture and you will no longer feel like you are playing "Where's Waldo?"

Ode to joy

I don't know if these girls will ever know how much joy they bring me. It is wonderful to celebrate Mother's Day with them and Hubby this year.

By taking naked baby photos to use for wedding rehearsal dinner slideshows in many years.


What a difference a year makes, huh?! Mother's Day 2008, with Zoe, Baby A, and Baby B.

Mother's Day 2009, with Libby and Maddy

Recycle bin

I was paying checks online this morning and balancing my check book. I always end up with a wad of receipts that I either tear up or throw in our recycle bin. I also had money that I had pulled out of my wallet to use to pay the woman who cleans for us.

When I was done, I was putting everything away and throwing away old receipts when I remembered that I wanted to put the money in the drawer so I could give it to her when she was done cleaning later today.

I looked around and ... no money. I went through my file folder, looked in my purse again, flipped through my calendar, under my laptop, in my pockets, on the floor, but I couldn't find it.

I was starting to get a little worried and could not find the money. Had Hubby taken it accidentally? Did the dogs eat it? Am I losing it??

For whatever reason, I thought to look in the recycle bin and there sat three crumpled twenties, all mixed in with my receipts. Glad I found it, but I am a little worried that I am losing it! Or just trying to do too many things at once.

Is it love?

When you get home from Chick-Fil-A with your much anticipated Ice Dream to find out it's not in the bottom of the bag, and Hubby asks if you want him to go back and pick it up?

I do think it's love ... now I'm not sure if it's more for Hubby or the Ice Dream, but that may be another post and my lifelong love of frozen dairy products.

Makes a mom proud

How did they get old enough to wear polo shirts? And have a total of five, yes five teeth? Maddy has one, Libby has two on the bottom and is cutting two on the top. Oh, and they can eat bites of shredded chicken and other "real" food, and sometimes "wave" hi or bye, but only when they are in the mood. Oh, and Libby can now pull to a standing position and Maddy has done it once. Yikes. And crawl up stairs. Bigger yikes.

Hubby said that since I have prepped them out in coordinating polo shirts and polka dot pants, that they will rebel and want to be skater punks as teenagers. Oh well, I went through that phase too, but I came around.

Hey, he has teeth too!

Daddy gets all the attention when he comes home.

Libby

Maddy

Required reading

As any new Mom and especially a Mom of twins, there are several books that make it onto your required reading list. Most of the ones that I've enjoyed dealt with topics about sleeping, development, giving each twin enough individual time, twin speak, etc.

I was happy to find out about the latest "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book, titled Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More, co-authored by Susan Heim who keeps up with fraternal twin boys herself. You can find out more about Susan here. This book takes a lighthearted look at stories of raising multiples ... the good, the bad, the ugly, and the funny. The 101 stories range from finding out "there's 2 in there", to the special bond of twins, to lessons that every parent of twins should read.

This book would be perfect for Mother's Day and with many of the stories only 3-4 pages long, even Moms of twins can find time to enjoy a few moments to read.

Do you eBay?

I'm not sure how to link to my eBay listings here and make them look good, so phooey.

My Mom and I are selling four pair of cute shoes on eBay. I listed, but she's shipping. She lacks the computer skills and I lack time to make it to the post office! If you are in the market for any cute, size 8, preppy sandals or flats this Spring, send me an email and I'll send you a link.

We have these new Kate Spade pink leather flats, size 8, with box. Never worn. So cute. I love the flower.
Gently worn Lilly Pulitzer slides, size 8, with box. Worn a couple of times with minor wear on soles. Very light pink leather with bow. "Cassy" style.
Polka dot pink and green Unisa heels with ribbon bow. These are sassy and so cute. Worn maybe once with minor wear on soles.
These fun and comfy Preen USA slides. These do show wear on the soles and inside, but are so comfortable and cute you won't care. European size 39, converts to USA size 71/2 - 8. For more information, send me an email and I will send you a direct link. My email is listed under my complete profile information. Happy looking!

A little secret

My little secret consists of 13.1 miles, several steep hills, a stranger turned running buddy, and friends & family at the finish line.

After I ran the 5K in March, I decided that I wanted to try to do another half marathon and do it before the girls turn one. I didn't really blog about it and didn't really talk about it. Basically out of fear that I wouldn't be able to do it!

Well, today was the day and I made it and also set a new PR - 2:22! I ran the NC Half Marathon, that was held in a neighboring city. I had taken my place near the back of the line because I really couldn't tell how many people were racing. It turns out that they started the race while people were still in line and in the porta potties, so I think a lot of people had a flustered start.

As they sang the National Anthem, I got a little emotional ... just thinking about all the many blessings of the past year. The next thing I know, the gun sounded and it was time to run so I turned on the iPod and was off. Right after I started a woman ran up next to me and said, "I hope you don't mind if I run with you. I thought you looked like a comparable runner and I don't want to run alone." Ummm, well, since you didn't give me a choice, I said that it was fine. Of course, I'm thinking that I don't want some lady chatting the entire time. But, after 3 miles flew by, Jill and I were old friends and I had decided that this wasn't too bad. We chatted about our families, professions, running, c-sections, music, blisters, hats, socks. You name it, we may have talked about it. We walked all the water stops, walked a few hills, and ran at a better pace than I thought I could do.

All of a sudden, we were done with 6 miles, then 8, then 9, then 11 and I was amazed that it was almost over. We had a beautiful day for running - cloudy, temps in the 60's and even a few raindrops. We made it to mile 12 and Jill wanted to try to sprint the last mile, so off she went and I enjoyed the last mile by myself. I knew I didn't have that much left in me, so I wanted to conserve energy until I was closer to the finish.

I neared the finish and could hear the crowds and realized it was pretty close, so I dug in and ran. I felt like I was flying until this guy that I had passed earlier whizzed by me. Grrrrr.

I crossed the line, received my medal, and found Hubby and the girls immediately. Hubby made a sweet sign cheering me on. Yay! We all enjoyed some post-race festivities, then came home to a much needed shower and short nap. I think pizza is now in my future.

My new running buddy, Jill.

Thank you for getting me up some of those hills and for sharing a piece of Gatorade gum!

Bending down to see Maddy and Libby. Hope I can get up!

Showing off our medals!

Me, OG Mommy Runs , and AK.

This was OG Mommy's 1st half marathon and she did great!

AK is a true stud and has a 3-month old baby!

It is also rumored that she wore heels in the delivery room.

All about photos

One more post about photos. This picture was taken back in December, right after we had Maddy and Libby's christenings. One of my favorites.

Anyway, I'm usually not one to scream "come vote for my babies", but I did want to tell you about a little contest that I entered over here. No idea what they will win, but the contest was for a) multiples and b) cute babies, so I figured why not.

So, please check it out and we'd love your vote. Voting is open until for just a few days, so don't delay. There are lots of cute photos and if you are a Mom of multiples, this blog is a great resource.

On another photo note, once I can recharge my camera's batteries, I hope to post some photos of the great party Hubby and I attended last night. It was a fundraiser for the Junior League and was truly a great time. Good food, good drinks, a great cause, a gorgeous setting, and good friends. Can't get much better than that. This party meant that I actually put on a cocktail dress, heels, make up, and left the babies with a sitter. Gasp! It really is amazing that all of the stars aligned and I left the house without sweet potatoes or spit up on my shoulder.