thanks, mom

"And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50a.m. all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

'My mother did this for me once,' she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck. 'My mother did this for me.' And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation..."

~'The Mother's Prayer for Its Daughter {Tina Fey}

Thanks, mom. 

thursday things

1. The Citi Bank commercial where the girl climbs to the top of that crazy rock as the camera spins around her makes me nervous. And I worked on ropes courses for quite a few summers in my college days. But that commercial makes my stomach flip flop. It also gets that "Somebody left the gate open" song stuck in my head. All. Day. 


2. P-dubs thinks too many of our conversations start like this: 'So, you know that blog I read?'

3. When you feed your precious baby sweet potatoes, her poop will look exactly like sweet potatoes.

4. Guess who's back in town? And she's loving every minute of grandma-dom. 

5.  My sister just called the 28-year-old contestant on American Idol 'old.' I'm sorry, what?!? That young whippersnapper better watch it. 

6.  Today my mom and I discovered Creamsicle Oreos. Wicked yummy. 

7. Look who's 6 months old today.  SIX MONTHS. I'm beside myself. That's half a year. I can hardly believe it.

8. At Bible study this week, one of the girls brought these cherry almond scones. They were amazing. You should make them. I should, too. 


9. I want a mini-van. But I don't. But I really do. But I REALLY don't.


10. We are headed here this weekend and we can hardly wait. Family time. Lake time. Life is good. 

a baby story

A friend of mine from college (that I didn't really know at college but I wish I had) has this sweet blog and she's telling her baby girl's birth story starting from before she was a twinkle in her parents' eyes. I started this blog to gather our memories, share our joy in life, and hopefully through that honor the One who makes it possible.

 But I didn't really do a great job documenting my early pregnancy. And since I can't remember what I just had for dinner or where I left my phone (EVER) and can hardly remember the girls being tiny and new, I want to relive some of those moments so I'll be able to tell the girls about them someday. 

Their story started long before I ever saw two little blobs on the screen at my first ultrasound. It started when I was 19 and told I might not be able to have kids. Or I might. Who knows. From that time until I met and married my husband, my heart was being prepared for a multitude of scenarios--a long process to get pregnant, possible IVF, a long road to adoption. But the possibility of multiples was never a scenario I considered. 

So many people we run into say things like, 'You have twins!? I always wanted twins.' And I think it's funny because I never once thought about it. Growing up, I imagined I would someday have kids but there weren't twins in the bunch. I realize now more than ever that I serve a God who can do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine. I thank Him thousands of times a day as I watch our girls learn and do new things. It's almost like breathing to me now. Thank you for this sweet girl. Thank you for her smile. Thank you for her sister's determination. Thank you for her strawberry mark. Thank you for her sister's laughter. Thank you for her silly toes. Thank you for her sister's tiny voice. Thank you. And I still think, 'Who does He think I am that I can handle this?' But I'm so glad He does. 

the saggy baggy elephant

Do you remember those Little Golden Books from when you were little? The girls and I were reading one at bedtime (which means, you know, I prop them both up on pillows and channel my old teacher self and half read/half make things up to keep their interest) and I was cracking up at some of the descriptions they used.  They just don't write children's books like they used to. So, I challenge you to use one and/or all of these underused descriptive words/phrases courtesy of the Saggy Baggy Elephant. 

• 'The parrot's saucy laugh didn't help a bit.'
•  'He was a beautiful, sleek tiger.'
• 'The tiger didn't care a fig about Sooki's troubles.'
• 'My skin always did fit...maybe it's because I take a lot of exercise. But if you don't care for exercise, I shall be delighted to nibble a few of those extra pounds of skin off for you!'
• 'You're a perfectly dandy little elephant.'

I'm convinced we don't use words like 'saucy' and 'dandy' enough these days. So go 'take some exercise' and read a Little Golden Book while you're gettin' your elliptical on.  

rice cereal

We're not sure how we feel about it around here. 

Apparently, there's much debate about the 'rules' for introducing food. I want to do bananas but P-dubs says that will make them want only sweet things. {When did he become such an expert?! I know, I was wondering the same thing. I guess someone at work told him that.} I read somewhere that a lot of cultures start out with bananas and their children are actually less picky. Our pediatrician said we could introduce whatever in any order we wanted and that there's no proven need to follow the 'rules' anymore. Whatever we go with, I hope we get more of a reaction than we did out of the rice cereal. {Which was none at all.}

oh my

Nursing the girls together used to be a peaceful, sweet time. Lately, I've become the official mealtime referee. Things I never thought I'd say to a couple of five-month olds....

 

-keep your hands to yourself 

-get your finger out of your sister's ear

 

-don't eat your sister's hand

 

-quit chatting and finish eating

 

-quit cheesing and finish eating 

-careful of her eye

 

They think they're hilarious. I do, too.

help a mama out

Lately I've been doing some things I would like to blame on pregnancy brain--like putting the carton of milk in the cupboard or walking all the way upstairs and not knowing what I needed (or even remembering how I got there). But I'm not pregnant. Unless being sleep deprived is the new 'pregnant.'

I was talking to one of my oldest and dearest friends (who's also a super-mom to four boys) yesterday and she assured me this is totally normal and then said, 'Dont worry it'll get better in about 4...years.' Oh.my.stars. As surprised as I am that one can function so well on such little sleep, something's gotta give.

 I won't name any names but a little someone who looks a little like this:

And another little someone who might resemble this:

 ...have still been waking up 3 or 4 times in the night. So multiply that by 2 and I'm up a lot. I really can't complain because the girls are such wonderful, easy babies but I think by now they should be sleeping longer stretches, no? 

There were a few times where they slept around 6 hours before their first nighttime feeding and I thought I must be dreaming. Dreaming about sleep--now that is desperation.  But we haven't seen a stretch like that in quite a few weeks. Maybe I did dream it.

 I'm sure they're not hungry everytime they wake in the night but that's pretty much the only thing that will get them back to sleep. Which isn't so bad since they're still sleeping next to our bed and I can nurse them without everyone waking up all the way. But, eventually, we would like them out of our room...you know, at least by the time they're in high school. {Reasonable goals, people.} They go down on their own just fine and don't fully wake for about 12 hours.They just won't sleep much longer than 3 hours at a time without being fed. So...give me your best advice. I've read a few books parts of books about sleep training but would love to hear how other mamas have accomplished this. Because we love sleep around here. We really do.

now I know...

Now I know that 'second breakfasts' are not unique to hobbits and other fantasy characters. Nursing moms of twins have just as much love/need for two breakfasts. Hungryallthetime. Or is that just me?


Now I know what it's like to have a sick baby. {And then two sick babies. And then a mildly sick husband. And then a very sick self}. And I don't like it one bit. 

Now I know if I send P-dubs to the store for some dog food and milk, he will come back with this: 

You know, man food. As opposed to 'girl food' {quinoa} that I feed him all the time. He did buy me a can of multi-grain Pringles which I find very sweet. 


Now I know when my wonderful mother-in-law buys a pack of disposable diapers for the girls and we use them when we go out, all of their pants fall down and they can suddenly fit back into newborn sized onesies. {What?!}


Now I know that our dog-obsessed neighbor girl {who comes charging at Howie screaming 'Can I pet him?!? Can I pet him?!? I just want to pet him!!!!' and chases us as I try to hustle that poor dog back into the safety of the house while rambling that 'He has issues and is a little skittish and I think he's scared and maybe another time, ok?'} has no such fondness for mammals of the baby human variety. Thank goodness. Although it does crossover to caterpillars. 


Now I know that just when you think you have characteristics pegged to a certain baby, she goes and does the complete opposite. My chill baby has suddenly taken to happily screeching at anything and everything she thinks may be listening--the dog, me, the dishwasher, the people a table over from us at dinner, her toes. And my noisy baby will just as suddenly sit wide-eyed and quietly observant through a whole church service or a dinner out. And the once-a-week-pooper will poop three times in the span of an hour and a half. It just gets downright nutty around here. 

happy easter

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter from the Minor Family!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Matthew 28:6

things i failed at this week

1. Grocery shopping: I like that I can grocery shop mid-day when it's not too busy and the spectacle of two babies doesn't cause too much ruckus. Well, this week is spring break. Apparently, when it's spring break, everyone goes grocery shopping. I didn't get that memo or I would have stayed home and eaten peanut butter with rice cakes and frozen burritos for the rest of the week. {P-dubs gets tired of a meal after one time so I can't imagine that poor boy on a whole week of Amy's Organic Burritos.} 

A few things about this spring break shopping frenzy: A. Grocery shopping does not sound like a fun spring break activity for the kids. Or any adult for that matter. And...B. Did every parent in the district get spring break,too?! I didn't get that memo either. Because P-dubs definitely still went to work every single day. Anyways. Usually, I wear one baby and put the other in the cart in her seat. But both of them were sound asleep and I didn't want to wake one of them to Moby her. So I pushed the stroller and pulled the cart. Bad idea. Way more of a spectacle. Most people were really understanding. And I was actually {surprisingly} really graceful doing both things. My husband will never believe this. But there were a few men shopping who kind of gave me looks. {Who are these men and where did they come from and is there a class where I can send my husband to learn these skills?} I refused to feel bad. I wanted to say, 'You try shopping while trying to keep two babies quiet and get everything on the list all in the hour and a half time window until two little creatures are expecting to be fed. By You. And only you. No matter what.' Sorry, I'm not sorry. But I got my shopping done for the next two weeks. So really this fail is not so much a fail as a fiasco.

2. Being late to Bible Study: Well, really I was mostly on time. BUT the girls were still in their pajamas. When we met their dad later for lunch he kindly mentioned NOTHING about this fact. Although he did notice Sweet C's ears were dirty. Try as I might, I just can't seem to keep them sparkling. That girl's got some waxy ears. 

3. A walk in the park...without a stroller: I was supposed to meet Amy and her twins for a walk on the greenway. I pulled in and popped the trunk. No stroller. But, as a mom of any baby {multiples or not}, you know if you bothered to pack them up and get them out of the house, you forge ahead at all costs. Thankfully, Amy is up for anything and wore one baby while I wore the other. We took turns pushing her double stroller as we passed terrified-looking college students who I'm sure were encouraged to embrace abstinence by the mere sight of us.

4. Walk numero dos...80 million degrees:The next day I met my friend Kelly to walk with her and her little boy. I had the stroller but, goodness gracious, was it hot. {Is this really April?! I am scared of what July may feel like...} At the beginning of our walk the path diverged in the wood and we should have taken the road less traveled. But it went straight up a hill. And I was lazy and the other path just looked so easy and calm and shaded. And a little downhill.  On the way back a half an hour later our chosen path did not seem so wise. Because what was downhill was uphill. {Duh. I know.} And Logan would NOT be contained in her seat anymore and, thus, I was carrying her and pushing the double stroller with one hand up a hill. While sweating. A lot. I need to start working out. Robert Frost would not have been thrilled with my decision. But I've learned my lesson. Go the hard way first and the way back is much easier. 

5. The opposite of fail--a Hunger Games ring tone {which is still kind of a fail because I'm lame like that}: My sister put the ring tone on my phone this morning because I don't know how to do fancy things like that. Now I can get goosebumps every single time someone texts me instead of just at the end of a Hunger Games trailer that comes on TV. P-dubs hasn't heard this happen yet but I can only imagine what he will think of it. He married one cool little lady. {Who, by the way, most certainly did NOT just watch the Justin Beiber movie with her sister. Another fail? Oh yes. But that's my life and I love it.}

a few of my favorite things: part 2

A few of my favorite things...continued. Babies come with a lot of stuff.


Nothing compares to our bombdotcom stroller but these things have made life with two babes a breeze. Well, at least easier than it would be without them. 


5. "Bassinets" Fisher-Price Newborn Rock 'N Play Sleeper.
These sleepers are small, fold up and travel easily, and are inclined {a definite need with Charleigh's reflux}. We had to drape fleece blankets over them in the winter because it was a little chilly and drafty. My mother-in-law bought these for the girls and I am forever indebted to her. {Which was true before she bought these for us since she did birth and raise my husband. No small feat, I assure you.}

So tiny! They fill the whole thing up now.  Oh the good ol' swaddle days...which brings me to...

6. Summer Infant Swaddles
We used these with the girls until they were about three months old. The velcro makes it easy as pie to get a tight, safe swaddle and it leaves the leg area loose enough for movement for their hips and legs. I know some babies break out of these at about a month and a stronger swaddle is needed but they worked great for us. 

7. Diaper Bag(s)
I have two diaper bags. Is that excessive? Here's why. My aunt bought me this oh-so-adorable pink paisley Vera Bradley number when I was pregnant with the girls. And I LOVE it. It has great pockets inside and out and a clip for keys or  a pacifier. I love that the whole back is a zippered pocket. You can never have too many pockets, if you ask me. And she got me a matching wallet. I am S-P-O-I-L-E-D. And thankful.

Very Berry Paisley. Love me some paisley. Especially of the Brad variety.

The second diaper bag was a Christmas present from my mom. Upon the monumental occasion of us cloth diapering, it appeared we may need more room when going out. Enter the Petunia Pickle Bottom Abundance Boxy Backpack.  This thing is big. And roomy. I've heard people refer to it as the Cadillac of diaper bags. I personally think it's cooler than a Cadillac. Which says a lot about my life.  I can fit cloth diapers for the day, a change of clothes for each girl, pajamas, burp cloths, toys, two bottles and formula (in case, ya know, I just absolutely CAN'T nurse where I am which has never happened but I'm paranoid and better to be safe than sorry right?!), wipes, my phone, water bottle, lip gloss, wallet, and the kitchen sink. It's great--designed especially for "mothers with many darlings." I love that I can carry it over my shoulder or wear it as a backpack (so useful when I'm carting around two baby carriers on my own.)  Which is when I look like I'm about to hike the Appalachian Trail.  It is that serious. There's a regular sized, less intense boxy backpack that a few of my friends have and they love that size. Once again, this was an expensive baby item but a good investment. The outside is made of wipeable PVC-free material and is so heavy duty it would probably last through three more sets of twins. Lordy-be that's a crazy thought. It also comes with a detachable changing pad and a wipe case. I only wish it had more pockets on the outside...

8. Dry Shampoo

Because who has time to wash their hair everyday? Not me. This is my favorite dry shampoo and I've tried quite a few. All the other ones have left my scalp dry, itchy, and flaky. The only problem with this one is that sometimes it doesn't spray exactly right. You kind of have to vigorously shake the can and spray at the same time. This requires skill. But it's worth it to not look super greasy when it's been one of 'those' mornings. 

9.  Baby Log App
I wish I had this app when I was in the hospital. I had a hard enough time trying to keep track of which baby was which in my post-surgery, Benadryl-induced haze--let alone keep track of a piece of paper where I was supposed to remember to write who did what and ate what and how much and on what side at 3 in the morning. This app is great because I can easily keep track of two babies at the same time. I still sometimes can't remember which side which girl needs to nurse on or when Logan pooped last so I find this very helpful. Without a doubt, when I sit down to nurse I say "Hey, can you hand me my phone?" (And "Could you please bring me some water?" So thirsty.) And, I've never done this, but you can sync with other phones if you have other caretakers.  I'm of 'the only apps on my phone are free' persuasion but I did pay for this one. It was needed. 

Bummer I never got to use the contraction app. But, see, it was free?

You can see graphs of how much/how often your baby eats, etc. Graphs are fun.  You can also  tweet it. Twitter it? I don't know. And I don't really know why you would want to do that.

I should have made this an even ten. But I'm tired. Good thing I have some dry shampoo for the morning.