eleven months

eleven months...

CG

Lamlam

one month

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three months

four months

five months

six months

seven months

eight months

nine months

ten months

ten months

Ten months...

Charleigh Grace

Logan Addison

one month

two months

three months

four months

five months

six months

seven months

eight months

nine months

thursday things

1. I've actually done a few things I've seen on Pinterest. Some things are just genius, if you ask me. And this little idea (which I didn't pin, actually...except to my little mind) saved me at least 10 minutes when I made chicken tacos the other night. I had cooked the chicken in the crock pot with some some Ranch seasoning, fajita seasoning, chicken stock, and salsa. When we got home from P-dubs' delightfully chilly football game, I took the chicken out, put it in my Kitchen Aid mixer with the paddle attachment and turned it on low. Perfectly shredded chicken. Ten seconds at the most. Maybe everyone knows this little trick and are snickering about my previously used two-fork-method. Never again, though. Now I know the secret. 

2. I am currently taking all the videos off of my phone. Apparently, I have recorded about 83% of the girls' waking moments. And some of their sleeping. 

3. I did something this week and I need you to please not judge me. Because, honestly, I read about someone doing this one time on Facebook or a blog or somewhere and I was a little judge-y. {I'm a serious work-in-progress, in case you weren't aware.} I used the Harris Teeter Express Lane online shopping. Why am I embarrassed to admit that?! Because what kind of perfectly physically capable person just doesn't go in to the store and do her own shopping?! Let me tell you why. For $4.95, I was able to get my shopping done on a morning when naps were staggered and then it down poured. I had one baby dressed and ready to go, waiting on the other to wake up when the skies opened up and rained discouragement all over this weak, little heart. We needed everything. Milk, eggs, bread. I hadn't gone shopping since we got back from our trip. And I couldn't wait to go when the girls were in bed because, well, then they wouldnt have eaten. Dire situation. The thought of setting up the double stroller and getting them strapped in during a rainstorm just about did me in. So, I took the plunge and ordered online. It was so easy. They take coupons. A wonderful employee calls you if they're out of something and will substitute a similar item for the same price. Paul picked the order up on his way home. Amazing. I highly recommend it if you, like me, ever find yourself simply unable to do it all. And then give yourself a little grace about it.

4. I'm still transferring videos. Oh my.

5. Look what I just discovered that Logan must have Googled. 

The Netherlands. Huh. And, wow, I have a lot of tabs open. 

6. The above mentioned shopping extravaganza made it possible for me to make this tonight. 

And, let me tell you, that couscous is no ordinary couscous. It's brown butter mango pine nut couscous. That I made without a recipe. {I know it doesn't seem hard but I never make anything without a recipe. Such a rule follower.} I was inspired by something Paul had at Bobby Flay's restaurant in Atlantis. It was wicked good. I was proud. P-dubs was happy. Howie didn't care. It was a good night. 

batman and robin

I have a little over one week left before the girls turn one. When they're teeny, tiny one seems like it will never happen. You know it will and you know you will say all the things everyone always says about time flying and so much changing so fast. And blah blah blah.  But geez louise, is it true. It's like all of a sudden they just decided to be big. They suddenly have these personalities that have opinions. They try to communicate and think you should understand them. 

I mean, they had personalities before, for sure, but I'm talking PERSONALITIES. All caps. All bold. Whoa. They point to things and 'tell' you what they feel like having for dinner. They suddenly know how to throw {almost} full out fits when they don't get their way. {I choose not to be present for any/all full  out temper tantrums that may happen in the near future. They surely won't do that. Right? Ha.} 

They laugh at each other as if there never was anything as funny in the world and never will be again.  They tickle and play. They 'read' books and babble on with their review of it. They give Eskimo kisses and hold you tight long enough for you to know they mean they love you. They play peek-a-boo. Emphasis on boo.  They say 'dog' and 'daddy' and a million other words that they think we should know. They're on the verge of walking. 

And while they're teetering on the cusp of complete mobility, they conspire against me or Howie or the vacuum cleaner and head in two different directions, laughing and looking back. Seeing who will get chased first and who will become the chaser. Howie never chases either of them. But they must think he is because it becomes the most hilarious thing that's ever happened to them. Except that one time when they got this close to the vacuum while it was running. Oh, boy. They'll still be chuckling about that one when they're old and gray and rocking together on the front porch. 

Other times, it's like they meet in secret in the corner of their play yard to plan their recon missions for the afternoon. Charleigh gets the stairs. Logan gets the front room. Or Charleigh gets the bathroom while Logan gets the laundry room. 'She'll never know what we're up to,' they must say. 'She'll never guess where we are.'

 'Divide and conquer.' Or at least...divide and buy enough time to try to eat anything/everything that can be found along the way.  And then they meet back with stories of strange, unknown lands {There are markers in the guest room. MARKERS!!} and bits of Howie fur and brittle grass that have been carefully protected in tightly clenched fists. 

And just when you have their personalities pegged as this way or that, they change on you. Suddenly, it's Charleigh laughing with Logan's voice as she tries to get the lid to the toilet up. And it's Logan cautiously taking steps as Charleigh gleefully flings herself wholeheartedly from the ottoman to the couch. That girl just might walk first at this rate. Maybe she's decided it's time to take the lead for a bit as Logan has grown wise and careful in her old age. But then again, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Logan woke up tomorrow and decided it would be the day to walk. Don't put us in a box, Mom. Just don't. 

Meanwhile, I run around keeping them from hurting themselves.  It's my one mission in life at this point. Baby proofing only goes so far, people. And it may not be nearly as cool as their daily missions but right now I'm the Alfred to their Batman & Robin. So really, I make their missions possible. 

thursday things

1. Joe Biden's teeth are really white. 

2. My grandma can't seem to get the sisters' names right. In her defense, she's only had 11 months to get used to them and she's 88. She's constantly calling Charleigh 'Carly.' {Not like the child was named after her husband or anything.} But, in her defense, she did nanny a certain Carly Simon long ago so she gets confused. True story. And it's a boy name for a girl. Even more confusing. Poor Logan is called 'Nolan' at least a few times a week. Understandable. Take away the 'g', add another 'n', switch some letters around... Love that cantankerous woman. 

3. I saw these magnetic pajamas for babies on GMA. They're supposed to save oodles of time for the busy mom. It just seems dangerous to me. Although, tempting when you're chasing after a surprisingly speedy and strong crawler trying to snap those last three snaps. 

4. We found where the sidewalk ends. Hmmm. 

5. While we were in the Bahamas, there was an Ocean's 11 type heist on the resort casino. It was not nearly as successful as the job in Ocean's 11 and George Clooney was not involved. Neither was Brad Pitt. Darn. 

6. We moved into this house over a month ago. We bought paint that same weekend. Oh, but we just got around to painting it this past week. I dislike it a lot. Back to square one. Those little paint card things lie. They lie, I tell you. 

7. My babies turn one-year-old in two weeks. I need to figure out how to stop time. Just for a little bit. 

rare

Last week I had the rare opportunity to have some alone time with both girls on the same day. Lola had a doctor's appointment for a little diaper rash issue so Charleigh spent the morning with Dionne. 

Let me tell you, taking one baby to the doctor is a completely different story than taking two. She had that crinkly, paper covered table all to herself and I wasn't trying to keep two children from falling off of said table when the inevitable crinkly-paper-induced-glee set in. Completely different story. She chatted with the nurses, charmed the doctor, and studied everything intently until she was convinced she could use the stethoscope, thermometer, etc. better than the pros.

After we picked up C-bug, we found Paul working from home for the afternoon. Always love that. While Logan slept off her crinkly-paper hangover (so.much.excitement), C and I went to pick up lunch. And because I only had one baby, I didn't have to go to any of the fine dining establishments boasting the requisite drive-thru. Taking in one baby to pick up lunch to go? Completely different story. She charmed the worker making the subs, she had every businessman and construction worker waving tiny, little waves at her (isn't that funny how people do that?), she waved back and batted her eyes and won over every heart in the place. 

And as I drove home, I thought about how wonderful it was to give my full attention to each girl. Because, although I wouldn't trade having twins for anything, there are times when I feel torn. Trying to capture two expressions. Witness two reactions. Deciding who to pick up first when they're both crying or they both wake from a nap at the same time. Because, truthfully, so often they need me all at once and I have to choose. 

I love having twins. I love spending the day watching them interact with each other. But I loved having this reminder that they are so individual and need me so uniquely.  I loved giving my undivided attention to both sisters. It was nice to spend time with them without thinking 50 steps ahead for logistic's sake. It was an encouragement for my mothering heart to dote on both precious babies so intentionally. 

But when Logan finally woke up and joined us for lunch, Charleigh reached over to her sister to share some of her food. And in that sweet moment, it just made me so thrilled and unbelievably thankful that, as much as I love them separately, I get to love them together.