Nature walk

It's been gorgeous here the past couple of days, so I decided to take along my camera on a little nature walk to try to capture some of the pretty fall colors in our neighborhood. I don't know how much "nature" we saw on the walk ... there were several squirrels, a couple of kids, a Labrador retriever, and several Volvos ... but I will say that the fall foliage is beautiful.

Ready to go. On the walking path in our neighborhood.

Libby stayed awake for most of the walk.

Orange

Red

Yellow

Love all the trees.

Our street.

We're on the charts!

At our 4 month appointment today, we were excited to hear that Maddy and Libby made it on the growth charts. Maddy is up to 10 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 22 3/4 inches long and Libby is 11 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long. This put Maddy in about the 5th percentile for height and weight and Libby in the 7th for weight and 10th for height. Whoo-hoo! At their 2 month check up, they didn't even show up on the charts. Our Pediatrician was very pleased with their continued growth and development. We had another round of shots (glad that's over) and they are both still snoozing after a good bout of crying.

We left with the go ahead to try rice cereal, vegetables, and fruits if we would like. I think we may try a little rice cereal this weekend and see how that goes first. Does anyone out there make their own baby food? I think I may attempt to try - my biggest problem is that we aren't the best about eating vegetables ourselves ... especially ones liked cooked carrots, squash, and peas - some of the veggies that are on the list to try. This may just force us into cooking (and eating) more veggies ... not a bad thing at all. I think it would be better for them if we make the food and also more cost effective. I know I saw a cookbook in the Williams-Sonoma catalogue ... does anyone have any good recommendations for baby food cookbooks or websites, otherwise all I'll end up making are sweet potatoes!

So a good appointment, and we left with 2 cans of our NeoSure formula. Always excited for samples, especially ones that retail for almost $20 a can and seem to be scarce on the shelves lately.

Things that make 'em cry

For the longest time, well the past 4 months, nothing has seemed to shake the girls and upset them - vacuum, TV noise, daddy's loud voice, phone ringing, doors shutting, etc. We've purposely tried not to keep the house extremely quiet, but also don't blare the TV either. We want them to be used to noise and learn how to sleep through some noises. We do have dogs that bark and I do like to vacuum our house. Well, maybe I don't really like it, but a necessary evil.

We have noticed recently that loud sneezes (like Hubby's or Zeus') will start the lower lip quivering and will result in crying. Yesterday we found a few more.

We made it to church for the first time with the girls. We were on time and I was actually wearing make-up and a skirt. Complete with just a small amount of spit-up on the bottom that I didn't notice until we were in the car. The girls were fed and looking pretty dreamy, so we opted to just carry them into church in their car seats. All was going well until the organ played. Both looked up startled and poor Maddy's lip went down immediately. Luckily, it didn't last long and they were fine for the rest of the service.

We decided that lunch would be good - we were prepared and the place we chose wasn't busy, so we rolled the train AKA double stroller right in by our table. We all had a chance to eat and I took Libby to the restroom to change her diaper. They had one of those changing tables in the stall and everything was fine until I stood to close to the automatic flusher on the toilet and it flushed. Loudly. A look of fear was on Libby's face, then she started to cry. Poor girl. I got the diaper changed and grabbed her, luckily not "flushing" the toilet again. Whew.

Lucky for us, we aren't around church organs or standing around in bathrooms that often!

What to do?

I have been a fan of the Jenny Bee Designs calendars since I found them a couple of years ago. I look forward to the 1st of the month so I can put out that month's new card. I went to their website today to find out that they won't be putting out a new calendar until 2010! I'll have to find a replacement this year. What's a girl to do?

Here's a cute one from Magnolia Grace on etsy.

Or I could opt for animals from Story by Mia.

This Tara Hogan letterpress one is pretty cool.

Paper Source has this one that I like a lot.

Or I could go the thrifty route and use the little paper one that our realtor friend sends us, but somehow it just doesn't do it for me. Decisions, decisions.

Happy Halloween!

I couldn't resist sharing a few pictures of my little pea pods. Have a fun Halloween!

Obviously Maddy is a little more excited about her costume than Libby.

Who knew peas liked pacifiers??

Have I told you lately?

Does getting pooped on by your oldest daughter mean she's trying to tell you that she loves you? She did smile at me afterward ... I guess that counts for something.

Strollin'

After no outdoor time since Thursday, we finally made it out of the house this afternoon. Hubby came home sick Thursday afternoon, it hit me on Saturday night, so Hubby and I have been doing some serious single-parenting over the past few days, trying to keep the girls out of harms way. So far, so good. It has been a blur of sickness, washing everything in sight, eating the BRAT diet, and using an obscene amount of anti-bacterial everything. Why does getting sick always rekindle my love of applesauce?

I think Maddy and Libby were as ready to go for a walk as we were. They were bundled up with their little hats, blankets up to their chins, and at one point all you could see on Libby were two eyes and a pacifier. Note to self - start bringing cameras on walks. After our walk, they both ate and immediately fell asleep. Ahhhh, babies sleeping, dogs snoring, and Hubby watching football. Not a bad Monday night.

Gifts!

I took a chance and entered a contest over at the Gifting Gumshoe and I won! Whoo-hoo! The Gifting Gumshoe always posts about great gift ideas, so if you need a little inspiration for upcoming birthdays, baby showers, or the holidays, be sure to check her out.

My great gift is a monogrammed chair cover from Sewgirlie. It will really dress up my outdoor chair for the next time we go to a Sunday Music in the Park. This might also be good for those parties where your chair always seems to be taken by someone else. Hmmmm ... there won't be any denying whose chair this is! Sewgirlie was so prompt with the order and they have tons of personalized products on their site. Lots of great gift ideas.

I was also nominated by the Gifting Gumshoe for the Kreativ Blogger award, so as part of that I should list 6 things that make me happy. I am also supposed to tag six others, but I am always horrible at that, so please consider yourself tagged and if you were having trouble finding blog fodder today, here you go.

6 things that make me happy are ...

1. Crisp fall days where the sun is shining, but it's cool enough for a long sleeved shirt or jeans. It's the perfect day to be in the yard or take a walk and it feels great to feel the sun on your face.

2. My family - Hubby, the babies, the dogs. They all do their part to make me smile and laugh every day and it really doesn't get much better than that. It doesn't matter if it's seeing smiles from the girls, or watching Hubby read to the girls, or the way that the pups wag their big ol tails so excitedly.

3. Good music. This has always done it for me. It doesn't really matter on the genre, but a good song always seems to lighten my mood and make me sing out loud. Yeah, you probably don't want to be in the car with me when this happens, but it still makes me happy.

4. Bringing in the Christmas tree. I love the smell of it and the excitement and anticipation of the season.

5. The feeling after a good long run. I love the way you feel when you're running and you just feel really strong and light in your steps. You're tired and sweaty when you're done and maybe that's the part that feels so good. You are finally finished and just feel so accomplished. Oh, and that long drink of cold water has never tasted so good when you are done!

6. House parties. I love sitting down with good friends and catching up in the warmth of someone's home. This is of course made better with good food and wine, but I love it when the conversation just flows. It's just fun and easy.

Dinner and shots

Not those kind of shots, but Synagis for RSV. The girls were approved to receive this shot and while I wasn't excited about the idea of adding a monthly shot for several months, if it will keep them from getting sick during flu season, then I'm all for it. They were little troopers and cried just for a bit and then both fell soundly asleep in their car seats while we sat and patiently waited for 20 minutes to make sure they didn't have a reaction. No reaction ... thank goodness. We did find it interesting that our insurance didn't approve them on the basis that they are twins, or were born prematurely, or their small birth weight, but because I have asthma and we have a wood burning fireplace. That we never use, but shhhhhh, don't tell.

The dinner part of my post is the goulash that I made last night. The change in temperature here has made me looking up recipes for comfort food. On my list has been goulash, brownies, shepherd's pie, chili, etc. Anyway, I forgot to take photos of my dinner making in progress, but if you are looking for a good and easy recipe that will make enough for 3 hungry adults with plenty of leftovers, you can find it here. It is great with crusty bread and salad. Oh, and red wine, but sadly I settled for water last night.

Do you find yourself changing your menu when the weather changes? What is your favorite comfort food?

Four months ago

Hubby was driving really fast to the hospital and we were just hours away from meeting our babies for the first time.

It's hard to believe that four months has flown by in what feels like the blink of an eye. Here are a few photos from earlier today.

Libby

Maddy

Maddy - Libby

Giggles from Maddy

Smiles from Libby

Crib gymnastics

I wish I would have had pictures to show this, but Libby turned a full 360 degrees in her crib last night. I still don't know how she does this without waking herself up. Hubby had checked on them around 5am and she was 180 degrees from where we put her to bed. By 7:30, she was all the way back where she started. Go figure.

I think I'm glad we opted not to use the cute bumper pads for their crib, because with the way she's moving, I think we would have been removing them sooner than later.

I kind of feel like the student cramming for final exams, except that I'm just gearing up for their 4 month appointment with our Pediatrician and working on the items she had mentioned. "More tummy time, girls!"

One thing that I've had a hard time with is putting the girls to sleep on different sides of their heads. Apparently with preemies, their heads are more oblong, so they tend to lay on their sides and not the back of their head. Most babies will get a flat spot on the back of their head, but we have the opposite problem, where they will continue to flatten out the sides and get more oblong. Our Dr. mentioned that we should try to alternate sides as well as to also place them to sleep on the back of their head. Well, Libby really seems to favor her left side and even with toys all on the right, she will still look to the left at the boring crib slats and wall. It seems that no matter which way we place her, she'll turn to have her head to the left. (I think this is also how I sleep, so maybe she's just taking after me!)

Does anyone have any recommendations on crib toys that your children really loved and would gravitate towards, or head positioners that help keep them in check?

on my mind this morning

Coffee. I swear it's close to one of the first thing I think about when I get out of bed. Not sure why, because we've been on a pretty good sleep schedule with Maddy and Libby. (I hope I'm not jinxing this as I type). We feed the girls between 8pm-10pm and put them to bed after that. Typically, they then sleep until 4am-7am. Wonderful. Not too shabby for babies of their weight, I think. I can't believe they'll be 4 months old on Tuesday. Where has the time gone?

Pizza. Hubby picked up pizza from my new favorite pizza place in town. I had the "A Kiss Before I Go" that has Tomato Sauce, Fried Eggplant, Wild Mushrooms, Mozzarella, Carmelized Garlic, Fresh Basil, and Parmesan. Yum. Leftovers for lunch! I should have taken a picture, because their pizzas are so pretty, but I was too much of a pig!

Hair. Since I was beginning to debate if my grey hair was cool aka Stacy London or scary aka Cruella De ville, Hubby surprised me and coordinated a cut, highlights and a massage for me on Thursday. His parents had volunteered to come visit and watch the girls, so he surprised me with this treat and coordinated all the details. Wonderful. Hubby rocks!

All for now ... happy Saturday!

money, money, money

I bet the anticipation is killing you ... I wish I could tell everyone that there were bigger bills hiding under the ones ... when I first opened the drawer, I really thought that Hubby was gearing up for a bachelor party. So I had to ask him what was up with the cash stuffed in the drawer.

Apparently, it's one of his new savings plans - every night he takes all of the ones out of his money clip and saves them. I have been shocked how quickly it has added up. For me, this trick wouldn't work because I'm addicted to my debit card and rarely carry cash.

So no worries - he's staying away from dances that require tips and saving for the holidays. I've told you we buy for 25+ family members on his side, but that's a post for another day!

I'll leave you with a picture from a few days ago. The girls have recently discovered the Baby Einstein star from their floor mat. Baby Einstein star = coos, smiles, and wide eyed stares from m & l.

What would you think

if you opened your dresser drawer and saw this?





Would love to hear your thoughts!

miss manners

Don't people know that it's not polite to talk about people while they're still in earshot? I guess it's not polite to talk about people in general, but at least do it where I can't hear you.

Yes, I know that my babies are small, but if you were nice enough to say hello I would tell you that they are actually three and a half months old and that I know better than to take 2 day old infants out in public, and if you'd bother to ask me any questions, I could give you the long story that involves tales of bed rest, my water breaking, a c-section delivery, and ends with identical twin girls. And can anyone tell me why people think they are a boy and a girl? Especially when they are in matching PINK car seats, dressed in pink clothes, with girly pink toys dangling from their car seat?

I realize that this post makes me sound like I'm bitter and angry. I promise, I'm really not. Maybe I could go into my comedic mode and say, "You should've seen them when they weighed 3 and 4 pounds!" I guess I just get into my Mama Bear mode and get a little defensive. I need more comments like the one from my friend today (Hi MH!) who noticed how big they are getting and how much they have filled out.

Now, don't get me started on the grocery store employees who feel the need to pounce on me when I'm shopping and then grab their little hands. Not to be a germaphobe, but let's think about what the cashiers do all day? Handle dirty boxes and cans, dirty cash, and no telling what else. Next time, I'm self-checking and pushing the antibacterial wipes in their hands!

Can we go for three?

On Monday night Maddy and Libby slept from 10:30'ish to 5:30AM, and last night they slept from 11'ish to almost 7AM! I actually got up before them, and then of course went back to sleep for a few minutes! I really hope we're on the beginning of a trend - a full night's sleep would be heavenly for everyone.

So, let's hope for a third night, and a fourth night, etc. I love motherhood, I really do. But, I also love sleep and I miss it terribly. I think that I may now be addicted to my morning coffee and have actually caught myself trying to smell to see if it's already brewed before I make an unnecessary trip downstairs if it's not ready yet. Very sad.

We don't look like we'd scream & cry and keep everyone in the house awake, do we?

Halloween decor

Who needs the big inflatable spider when you have the real thing? I was working in the yard today when I noticed this guy hanging out near our azalea bushes.

I found out he's a writing spider ... harmless, but a little ominous looking. Wonder what he's trying to tell us?

Over the river and through the woods

It's really more like down the highway and on the Interstate ... to the Grandparents house we go.

Tomorrow will be the first family road trip (minus the dogs - they are heading to doggie camp for playtime, chilly swimming, and a bath) for Papaw's birthday. Since we need to be sure we bring everything that we might need for the day, we actually started a list that I need to pack up between now and tomorrow morning.

Diapers
Wipes
Burp cloths
Extra outfits
Pumped milk / bottles
Breast pump and empty containers
Small cooler
Formula
Blankets
Large blanket for floor
Mylicon drops and saline drops, just in case
Camera
Hand sanitizer
Baby Bjorns (possibly)
Couple of toys / rattles

What else? Luckily they have a pack and play so Maddy & Libby can nap there and it's one less thing that we don't have to bring. I'm sure there is something that we've forgotten. Keep your fingers crossed that they do well - it's only a 2.5 hour drive, but it's amazing how fast two little girls can get very loud!

dream, dream, dream

So what does it mean if you dream you're going on a job interview and you forget to put on your bra and contacts? Definitely two things I don't leave the house without.

Mom of the year award

That is exactly what I won't be winning.

I had an appointment to have Maddy & Libby's photos taken today. I knew that it would coincide with one of their feedings, so I packed bottles so I could feed them while we were at the studio. When we arrived Maddy was pretty fussy, so I decided to feed her while our favorite photog was getting set up.

I pulled out the little cooler bag and noticed it was upside down. No big deal, I thought until I unzipped it and noticed that the bottles were both less than half full. The milk had spilt all in the bag and leaked onto their extra change of clothes, blanket, etc. Such a bummer, because I knew they would be hungry, plus the milk is like liquid gold.

Of course, neither one was very happy with the less than stellar lunch, so I tried to breastfeed as well. In a very gorgeous studio with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, oh and with large windows everywhere and construction workers walking by, who are working on other studio spaces down the hall. Yeah, that didn't go over too well.

Luckily they were troopers and both did fine even though they had just had a little appetizer instead of a 3-course lunch . I would post photos, but of course the Mom of the year left my camera at home, so hopefully I'll have some great shots to show you in a couple of weeks.

Going to mark all of those damn bags with an UP arrow for our next outing!

Back to the books

Since I had the girls, and even while I was still pregnant, my reading really consisted of baby milestone books, what to expect kind of books, life with twin books, and of course children's books. Good Night Moon, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Pat the Bunny .... you know the deal.

I love to read, but it's really hard to make the time for it now. As a kid, I was obsessed and would read for hours. Just sit and read. I know my Mom loved it. I still love to read and finally tried to get back in the swing with my book club to read Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey. He wrote A Million Little Pieces, which I loved. Don't care if he made it up or not - I thought it was an incredible book and I think you must have spent some time heavily using drugs to write about some of the things he described in that book.

Back to Bright Shiny Morning ... Not sure how I'm feeling about it yet. It's written in his typically style - sometimes descriptive run on sentences or short one liners. Lots of chapters about life in Los Angeles, facts and figures about LA. I liked several of the characters, but I guess I was left waiting to know how they all interact. Maybe I missed something, but I guess they only had the city was their common thread. Anyone else read it?

I just started Bitter is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster. Can already tell that I will love it! Easy read, full of sarcasm and fun. What's not to love about that?

why i heart facebook

His friends post pictures of Hubby from his college days, circa 1990.


I love you! xxxooo!

hot damn

My Joes jeans fit! I kept eyeballing them in my closet, but was too afraid to try them on. I would glare and snarl at them on occassion for mocking me. For some reason, today I found courage deep within and tried them on. Still can't believe they fit, but Hallelujah, since I didn't want to have to start replacing my "good" jeans. If I have pants that fit, I can deal with buying new tops.

baby's first meme

I saw this on miss zoot's blog and decided to play.

I figured I’d create one of those survey/meme things for us babies as a way for us to get to know each other better. Remember, it’s what YOU like, not what your parents like.

1. Cloth or disposable? Cloth for burping and spit-up, disposable for our bums. Remember, there's two of us and Mom can't imagine washing all that crap (literally).

2. Breast or bottle? All of the above. We get a little Neosure formula added in, so we take what we can get.

3. Eczema or reflux? Our skin is great, thanks. No true reflux, but Libby loves to spit-up and Maddy loves to freak out the parentals and make it come out of my nose. That gets them moving quick!

4. Jumparoo or play mat? We only have the play mat right now, but we're hoping for the bigger gear down the road.

5. Mommy or Daddy? We love both of course. We love napping on Dad's chest, but we also think Mom's pretty sweet as well.

6. Sling, front carrier, or stroller? Since we are just now big enough for the Baby Bjorn, we've only been riding in the stroller so far. Hopefully, we're going to give the Bjorns a try soon. Mom also has a sling and I think she's used it once ... said it was kind of awkward, but she was hoping to try it again when we were bigger so she could use it in a different position.

7. Pacifier or thumb? Pacifier all the way for Libby, sometimes for Maddy. Maddy's located the thumb on a few occasions, but not all the time.

8. Bumbo seat or bouncy seat? Bouncy seats roooooock. We looooooove the vibbbbbratiioooon.

9. White noise or silence while sleeping? Noise machine, but when we get older, we'd like a fan like our Mom.

10. Crib, Pack’n'Play, or parents’ bed? Crib since Night One. We heard we're getting ready to try out the Pack N Play for an upcoming trip to the Grandparents.

Does your baby need a Meme? Have at it!

Hopping on Oprah's bandwagon

I don't know if any of you saw Oprah's show documenting child predators the other day, but it was so shocking. Seriously - I really had no idea how sick and twisted people are. Oprah closed her show asking viewers to write your state Senators to have laws changed so these predators can no longer harm innocent children and babies.

Information is below. I wrote to our Senators that day and I'm passing along this information so you can do the same. It really only took just a few minutes.

There IS something we can do to actually make a difference! We can help get these predators caught through high-tech software that tracks this sort of activity. Please see the below for more information on how we can help get Senate Bill 1738- The Protect Our Children Act passed. Please take a few minutes and send a request to your Senator to "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.". Instructions to do so are below. It should only take a few minutes (really). Please pass this information on to anyone else you know...

Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act
Hundreds of thousands of babies (!) and children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

• Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
• Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
  Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.
  Act Now!

Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them mmediately.Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference! Call Your Senators. If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."Write to Your Senators. If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.

Dear Senator:I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children and babies being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.(Your name here)

Keep your children safe from online predators
If you think an online predator has been in contact with your child or that your child is in imminent danger, contact the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI or go to www.fbi.gov

From The Oprah Winfrey Show Internet Predators: How Bad Is It?

3 things

3 things on my mind today ...

1. We are shopping for a new laptop and it really overwhelms me. Our home computer is old, currently dead, and we've realized that it's time to make a purchase. We shopped a little yesterday (kind of hard with twins and the train stroller in Best Buy), and did more research online. I'm torn between PC vs. Mac and just get a little frustrated by too many options and too many questions about what I need/want. I just want someone to tell me what I need, show me where to order, and it'll be delivered by a nice man in a brown uniform and none of those damn surveys on any of the websites seem to do that.

2. I'm feeling less than inspired on the ol' blog as of late. I'm sure you can't tell since I've been pretty apathetic about posting lately. (insert sarcasm here) Also, #1/dead computer makes it a little hard. I'll be back posting at a more regular basis at some point.

3. The girls are great and sweet and make wonderful little sounds and noises. They can just look up at me and it really does melt my heart. I still can't believe how much love I have for them. They also make some not-so-sweet sounds that if I didn't know better, I would think I had teenage boys in the room, but that's another story. Hubby and I had a lazy Saturday morning and just spent time with them in our room, while we partially watched a movie and gazed at them. I can't remember the last movie we watched and it was fun to see them sleeping and playing on the duvet. They look so little in a big bed. Not sure why I enjoyed this so much - it was just new for us and great to have the entire family in our room. Zeus & Zoe were also in attendance, happily napping on the floor.

mixed emotions

sad = computer dead, big ol black screen and won't turn on dead. (borrowing Hubby's laptop for a few minutes)

happy= Target has Halloween candy in stock, so my pantry is full of mini boxes of Hot Tamales.

So I don't fall for the bodywrap infomercial

I made it to Mom & Baby yoga again on Monday and it was great. The girls both slept like, well like babies and I was able to get in an actual workout, complete with abs (I use that term loosely) and glutes. At one point we were in boat pose and the instructor told us to roll on our backs and then up into the standing position.

I proceeded to roll on my back, and then in my very ungraceful like, turtle on its back fashion, got stuck there on my back when I didn't have the strength to sit up, let alone stand. I just had to laugh. I knew that my core strength was pretty bad after the c-section, but I didn't realize that it was that bad. Geez.

So the baby weight is gone, but nothing went back where it belonged and I've been left with pooches and bulges that are getting in my way! My old clothes don't fit, but I can't keep wearing yoga pants, PJ bottoms, and maternity clothes forever either. Any good brands that I won't look like I'm wearing my grandma's clothes, but will start to feel somewhat normal? I need things that "float" away from the tummy and hide a multitude of sins. Oh, and yeah, don't cost a lot. Remember, I'm working from home these days and my boss is way behind on payroll.

Never too early

I think I've mentioned before that I love Halloween. Since the girls won't be doing any trick-or-treating this year, I'm not sure if a real costume is in order. So when I spied these, I knew they would be perfect! Plus, they're from Old Navy and on sale. What's not to love?

Time waster

You must go to this site immediately! It lets you do fun stuff like this ...

Me circa 1960

Me circa 1984


Yep, I guess I should get off the damn Internet and go take care of the kiddies!

shmack talking

Hubby and I were invited to join a couples fantasy football league with 7 other couples in our neighborhood. Hubby is a die-hard football fan, Steelers specifically, but if there's a game on from September to February, college or Pro, he's watching. He's already part of a fantasy football league where the guys are fanatic, but the most I know about it is the amount of shmack talking that they do via email, because when he looks busy on the Blackberry, it's normally reading someone's rude comments about one of the other guys.

So, I am looking forward to our draft party tonight, even though I don't really have the slightest idea about what to expect. I love to watch college football and will watch some pro, but honestly I don't understand all of the aspects of the game. So, either I'll be picking all of our players based on the uniforms or player cuteness factor or I can become really good at talking trash to the other teams!

smile report

I have been patiently, um make that anxiously waiting to get a real smile from the girls. We've seen plenty of the sweet smiles that they make when they are fast asleep, but I wanted one of those real, melt-your-heart smiles when they are wide awake.

I'm happy to report that Maddy gave me THREE big smiles this morning after her breakfast. She was wide awake after her feeding, so we were talking about life and when I saw these smiles , they just about melted my heart. So sweet.

Then, Libby offered me several toots and a big explosion of poop. So much for all smiles this morning, but I guess those are just the joys of motherhood!

more questions

So exciting ... two questions from the exotic Libby who is now kicking up her heels (and loafers) in Hong Kong!

1. what's your favorite breakfast food? This one changes depending on my mood, location, and the weather. If I'm home, I normally eat granola with fresh fruit and milk or if I don't have granola, then I eat cereal. In the winter, it's typically oatmeal with fruit. Or english muffins with peanut butter and bananas. Now, if I'm not cooking or it's the weekend and Hubby cooks, then I love a good omelet with lots of cheese, peppers, and onions or some type of breakfast casserole with eggs, cheese, and sausage.

2. if someone gave you plane tickets and you had to use them right this second, where would you go? Hmm, right this second, I would be on a plane to Nashville, TN so I could see my parents, family, and some of my best friends from home. My parents of course have met the girls, but neither of my brothers or my friends from home have had the opportunity. I'm dying to see everyone and hopefully our Thanksgiving plan to venture there will work out.

Poopapalooza

Just when I'm bragging on the dogs, I now have to report that they were pretty naughty. I was getting our cooler of milk and bottles ready to go upstairs (yes, our house is 2-story and our bedroom and nursery are on the 2nd floor. The cooler is a much safer route instead of stumbling blindly downstairs to the kitchen at 3am). Anyway, I walked into our bedroom to find POOP on the floor. Not baby poop either, but a little present from the dogs.

Our dogs are 4 years old and I feel like if we would have had a "I can't hold it" situation, then their present would have been left near a door. This was just plain bad manners and I'm sure their way to say, "pay us a little more attention, willya?"

Has anyone had this happen with their pooches? Any behavior modification techniques would be most appreciated. I don't want the dogs to be mad at us, but I also can't tolerate any more presents like this.

The Z Dogs

Heather asked how the Z-Dogs are transitioning with the girls. They are doing well with the girls. We did bring home baby blankets so the dogs could get accustomed to their smell. They sniffed a few times and walked away. I don't really know what I expected - barks of glee? They are still sort of non-committal now that the babies are home. They do a bit of a "hover-sniff" around them and then normally go lay down. I've seen a few toe-licks here and there, but nothing to be worried about.

I know the dogs will love the girls much more when solid foods are involved and there are plenty of spills on the floor. Zoe is much more of the mama dog around them, and Zeus tends to sleep a lot and stay out of our way. We are trying our best to make sure that the dogs still get plenty of attention, but I will say it's a lot harder than we imagined. Of course, our walks are the best when we have the double stroller AKA the train, plus two dogs. All people can do is laugh or make comments about how we have our hands full. Yeah, we kind of figured that one out on our own!

Photography

Jules, yes I do take hundreds of pictures each week. I may take 100 at a time if I'm trying to get a shot for say, our birth announcement. If it's just random shots, then I just snap as I go when the mood strikes. I also have a new camera, so I've been playing around with it to figure out settings, etc.

Right now, Hubby and I both have small photo albums, but I haven't decided what I want to do as far as a large photo album or scrapbook for them. I really need to decide and start something soon or I'll never get caught up! They each have a baby book, so that will need photos as well. I've never been a great scrapbooker, so I may go the traditional photo album route instead.

I do try to keep the photos organized electronically and weed out and delete the bad shots ... otherwise we'd probably have no memory left on the computer! I also love my old 35mm camera, so I plan to buy some film soon and take some the old fashioned way.

Thanks for the question!

and the diamond award goes to .....

I was nominated by the lovely MMM, so I thought it would be nice to share the wealth. After all, who doesn't want a big shiny diamond, virtual or otherwise. Here are the rules ...



Put the logo on your blog
So, here it is

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you (already done - see top and daily reads)
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on yours (see below and daily reads)
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs


On that now as I nominate:
Life with OG
Mad About Plaid Girl
Le Petite Blog
Well I Do Declare
Old Southern House
The Plan
Pink Daisies

ask away

I've decided so I don't start blogging about the 4-eared kitty that I just saw on msnbc.com (scary), and I know that it's going to get a little boring here if I only write about topics like "breastfeeding - which hold works for you?" and "poopy diapers - how many today?", and my personal rhetorical question fave "why are you crying?", I've decided to open up for any burning questions that you've been dying to ask me.

So ask away in the comments section and I'll answer them this week. Just think, you're doing your part so you don't have to read about "Diaper Genie vs. Diaper Champ - which is less stinky?"

8.21.08

Happy two months, Madeline and Libby!

I heart delivery men

Usually my love of delivery men is limited to those from florists and Papa John's, but recently it has expanded to include the nice guy who delivered our new front-loader washing machine on a Sunday and took $75 off the price because of a ding that I can't even see. Then today, it further expanded to include the man who delivered our glider from Sears. And, while still not properly packaged, it's not shattered or broken like the last two and is ready to be assembled.

finally

I'm so glad that someone wrote about this. I think I have commented about his playlist every time we watch Phelps swim.

Maddy and Libby's pick of the day

Maddy and Libby here reporting life from our family room, AKA, where we spend most of our day time hours. We wanted to tell you about these cute new blankets that Mom found on etsy. Right now, we're still using the same-old, same-old receiving blankets with ducks and bears, but we really wanted to be a little more sophisticated and let's face it, as we're getting bigger these receiving blankets just aren't swaddling us as much as Mom would like.

She found these great blankets from Elephant Ears. Aren't they cute? We love the retro Alexander Henry fabric and they are huge. We can't wait to be swaddled up in these and Mom says they'll be great for tummy time or for our strollers. I know we'll be the talk of the neighborhood. Plus, Mom was so impressed by the super cute packaging and swaddling instructions.

That's all for now ... we're gonna go listen to this classical music that Mom has playing in the background and squeeze in a little nap before our next meal time.

xo,

M & L

Mom for Hire

I typically have steered clear of blogging about work - I guess it comes from reading about people like dooce and how they were fired for what they wrote on their blogs. Hmmm, she's now making a good living off her blog ... not a bad idea.

So, about 3 weeks ago, I received an email from our VP asking me to come into the office for a meeting. She explained that the owner wanted to update me on the latest financial outlook of the company, etc. I read between the lines knowing that our financial outlook wasn't great when I started my FMLA a month prior, so the meeting probably meant one of three things: layoffs, salary cuts, or dropping the major project that I work on.

So, I went in for the meeting to find out that I was part of a nine-person layoff and there would be no bonuses or raises for the rest of the staff. At least I had the foresight to predict this, but basically it still is extremely unfortunate and very disappointing. I was told that I would be rehired if the financial situation changed, but who knows when/if that will happen.

So here's the thing, at some point, I need to have a job that pays me. As much as I would love to be a SAHM, I really like what I do and like the fact that I earn some income, plus I think I will need adult interaction. Right now, with the girls born prematurely, I would really like to try to work from home or work part-time before moving back into a 40+ hour work week and putting the girls in full-time child care.

So, dear blog readers, I ask a favor of you ... I know that I typically only ask for advice on clothing, babies, dogs, furniture, shoes, wine, etc. but now I'm asking if you have any work contacts for me.

I'll give you some general information about my experience and if you think you may have a lead, please leave a comment, and I can send you specifics - resume, etc via e-mail.

I have a BS in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. I have over 10 years experience working in marketing, public relations, advertising, writing, and I have my Certified Marketing Director designation. (I promise - it's real.)

I started out my career working with a regional shopping center and focused on marketing the center and our retailers, then moved into the agency world for a while working with clients that included pharmaceutical, health care, and a national retailer. From there, I went to my latest gig, marketing and PR for two regional lifestyle magazines. I've done a little bit of everything from writing - business, ad copy, newsletters, short articles, etc., website updates and overseeing redesigns, writing and implementing marketing plans, media buying, public relations, event planning, account supervision, working with sales teams, etc.

I'm a hard worker, team-player, detail-oriented and thorough. This description comes from a past boss, not by me. I would greatly appreciate any leads, ideas, or contacts.

Deja vu

Of course we know that the girls really look alike, but when I saw this picture of Maddy today, I felt deja vu.

Maddy - 7 weeks

Check out a very similar picture of Libby.

Libby - 4 weeks

No more preemie diapers

Picture a small picket line with very small babies, parading picket signs chanting ... "No more preemie diapers ... they must go."

That is where I was say around 2:30ish this morning. Someone woke up, so my routine is to check to see who is crying, find the appropriately marked bottle in the cooler. (long story - Maddy receives milk mixed with formula, so at night it's been easier just to use bottles and have everything ready, plus Hubby can help out with those nighttime feedings that way!) Next, warm up bottle, then go to change diaper so bottle is warm by the time said baby is changed and ready to eat.

This morning, I found Maddy completely soaked - down to the mattress pad, so this is through one preemie diaper, one outfit, one blanket, one sheet saver pad, one sheet, and one mattress pad underneath. Needless to say, I think this little girl is getting too big for her britches and it's time to switch over to the whopping Newborn diapers, which seem to be a little more absorbent. Whoo-hoo!

Hubby had to join me in the trenches to help get everything changed on the bed, which anyone can tell you, is not fun anytime of day, but is especially not fun at 2:30AM.

Oh, and did I mention that our washing machine is broken and we are not so patiently waiting on a part? We may be making another trip to our friend Ben's house for use of his laundry facilities. So much nicer than the laundromat!

Very sad

I know for most people, it may seem crazy to have your parents stay with you for over 6 weeks, but seeing my parents drive away this morning has brought me to tears. It already did last night, just thinking about it and I'm sure it will again later today.

I have never had an affectionate, lovey-dovey relationship with my parents. We joke that they aren't huggers, but I've always known that they love me and of course, would be there for me in any situation. After all, they are my parents. My dad is very stoic and quiet, where my mom is a little crazy and doesn't care what others think. I guess I'm grateful that I'm a little bit like both of them.

I think seeing my mom love those little grand babies so much also shows me how much she loves me. I know this sounds like some weird comment and I should probably be laying on a couch talking about this somewhere. While she's not affectionate with me, we laughed that she was going to kiss their cheeks off she gave them so many kisses. I'm sad because my parents live 8+ hours away and I'm not sure if they'll get to see the girls as often as they would or I would want. I'm sad, because my parents are 65 and 75 years old, and not to be morbid, but they won't be around forever.

I know that my parents have probably driven Hubby crazy (Thank you, Hubby for not losing it or leaving us.), but they have been such a huge help and it's been so great to see them with the girls. It's definitely been an emotional rollercoaster since our 1st days in the NICU, to the girls both coming home, to late night crying sessions, explosions of poop, and trying to be the first person to get the girls' smiles.

My mom never cries, and did this morning when they were leaving. I know that it's really time for Hubby and I to truly start life with just the four of us, or six of us ... can't forget Zeus and Zoe! It will be so good for us to establish our routines and get into the groove of parenthood on our own. I know I have to stop this sappiness, because someone will be up soon and ready to eat and to get my love and attention, and that is what's important.

3 days of gifts

Our wonderful friends have been keeping our postal carrier quite busy over the past few days. So much mail has been addressed to the girls, and luckily it's not from the hospital or insurance company! I wanted to share a few of the items that we've received over the past few days ...

From a good friend of mine that I have known since the 2nd grade, some adorable personalized note cards. These will be perfect for thank you notes or writing letters to their Grandparents.

Not one, but two books from Mad About Plaid, who I have also known since the 2nd grade. These books are so cute and I know the girls will cherish them. The illustrations are great and it's so nice to have a book about twins, for twins.

One package from our favorite Canadian friend Lisagh proved to be preppy and pink - what more could two girls want? Two beautiful wall-hangings, made by Lisagh. Check out her Preppy Petunia etsy site for more of her lovely creations. Now just to find the perfect spot to hang these in their nursery.

Yesterday, we received two boxes marked "open immediately." Since I'm typically a big rule-abider, we did. From one of Hubby's managers, we received two gorgeous red Japanese maple saplings to plant in honor of the girls. What a lovely gift. These came from Eternitree, and I noticed from the website, that Oprah is also a fan.

Later on, we were paid a visit from A and E, two of our good friends. They came bearing the cutest monogrammed bloomers for the girls. Who could get a spanking in these? The girls also received "lovies", these adorable and super-soft bunny and lamb blankies. Now, if I can just find one of these in adult size, I'll be all set.

What wonderful friends - our girls couldn't be any luckier, as are we.

Little St. Louis Fans?

My Dad has always been a HUGE St. Louis Cardinals fan. My brother and sister in law sent these little onesies for the girls. I'm not sure how Maddy feels about the Cards ... hopefully she won't turn into a Braves fan.