some days are...poopy

Today I'm feeling a little anxious...terrified, if we're being honest. {Which I try to be.} Today is Day 1 of cloth diapering. Cloth diapering?! Who does that?? Why would I be crazy enough to shrug off the cleanliness (well kind of) and convenience of disposables? Umm. Because remember this one time I had TWO babies at the SAME TIME? And these two little bums are in almost constant need of a diaper change. Hello, expensive. {Also, it's good for the earth.}  So here we go.

Update #1: So far, so good. And these cloth diapers are so stinkin' adorable. Stinking adorable. Har. {It's easy to crack yourself up when you're home all day with two little people who think it's the most hilarious thing in the world when you stick out your tongue.}

Update #2: My once a week pooper WOULD choose today to be her poop day. And, wow, you should have seen the faces she was making during the...ummm...process. It's like she KNOWS. Oh. My. Goodness. These babes might be witness to a mama meltdown the likes of which they've never seen. Better get on it.

Update #3: It wasn't that bad. No meltdown necessary. Don't get me wrong, if my once-a-weeker were more predictable you better believe I'd be slapping a Pamper on that sweet tush on her 'poop day.'  But, alas, babies are the opposite of predictable. They are crazy. Crazy babies.

great resolve

As I was driving through my neighborhood yesterday morning, I saw about 16 people running/jogging/walking. Now my neighborhood has quite a few committed runners/joggers/walkers but 16 people in a two mile span is kind of a lot. Oh...but it was January 2nd. January. Second. Ah... I realized many of these people were probably on Day 2 of trying to fulfill some inspiring New Years resolution. And it got me thinking about what my resolution should be. I'm under no dreamy impression that I would be able to resolve to work out everyday. Or every week for that matter. Let's be real. But there are a few things I should probably work on. Let's be more real... a lot of things. I should resolve to try to be more put together. These babies are 9 weeks old for goodness gracious. I should be able to at least appear to be a normal person as opposed to a spit-up covered mom of twins.

Sidebar: I SWORE I would never be one of those moms that always wore yoga pants and had spit-up on every article of clothing. I mean, how hard is it really to keep one's shirt free of spit up?!? But as it turns out it's harder than you think. These babies are tricky. You think you've burped them long enough. You think the spit up cloth is positioned just the right way to catch any and all liquid that may come from said vigorously burped baby. But then they sneak attack you when you least expect it.

Sidebar #2: As I write this, I'm wearing blue and green snowflake fleece pants, a black t-shirt, gray cardigan, and olive green baseball cap... Any goal of appearing like above mentioned 'normal person' at this point might be a little lofty and ambitious.

So maybe I should make a resolution I might actually be able to complete. I've already written about my desire to live more gracefully...like Mary. I think something that will help me do this is to simplify my life...particularly my terrible habit of over committing and double booking. I do this ALL the time. It drives P-dubs crazy. It irks my sister to no end. (I'm not sure who it bothers more...but it's a good bonding point for them. This probably bothers other people too but they're just too polite to say anything.) I say yes to a coffee date the same afternoon I have a doctors appointment and people coming over for dinner. {I just really love people.}I act like there are 27 hours in a day...or I justify my plans by saying, 'Well this should only be an hour and then a 20 minute drive and I'll make it to such and such' when I know full well I will lose track of time, talk for an hour and a half, and the drive will be AT LEAST 35 minutes with traffic. I can't tell you how many times my sister has called me asking where I am and I say, 'On my way!' as I'm literally just getting in the car. So I'm gonna work on it. I'm not going to try to cram too many things into too little time. I might have to say no sometimes. Which I HATE to do. But in the end I think it will make my life a little more graceful. Still spit-up covered but graceful.

Cutest spitter-uppers ever.

2011

One year...
Two babies...

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

The Beautiful Mess

2012...can't wait.

dear baby (part 2)

Dear Lola,
You've been mine for two months and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. From the second I knew there was a 'you' I've been loving on you and worrying about you. The day I found out I was going to have you, I ordered decaf coffee at breakfast.

You moved so much in my belly I swore you would be my active baby. But you are so calm and quietly curious. When we have you out and about in the Moby wrap you stick your little head out to look around like you don't want to miss anything. Where your sister is fiery and noisy, you are gentle and soft. You whimper more than you full out cry. You are sensitive and seem more concerned and worried than your sister. Sometimes you just need a good swaddle and a quiet room. You seem to need a little 'alone time' to recharge every once in awhile. 

You are still so tiny and your sweet face is like a little elf. I could stare at you all day long. You have darker skin than your sister, too...still not sure where that came from...and most people who meet you say that you look like me. Your daddy thinks your mouth is just like mine. You lost some of your hair a few weeks ago and we're hoping it might grow back red like your mama.

 You hate bath time but love snuggling. When you do get mad, one little foot stomps like you're throwing a tantrum.When you want your pacifier you really want it but, when you don't, you act like it is gagging you. You're not dramatic AT ALL. 

 

Your daddy and I can't get enough of you and we thank God every day that He gave you to us. You are so precious and I love you so much it hurts my heart sometimes. I can't wait to watch all the ways you will change in the next few months. I'm so glad I get to be your mom!
Love and kisses,
Mommy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dear baby (part 1)

Dear Charleigh-girl,

You are two months old and I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to be your mommy. I thank God everyday that he gave me you. What would I do without you?! I loved you from the second I knew I might have you. I daydreamed about what you would be like and those dreams don't even begin to compare with everyday, real life with you.

 

You are already my silly, happy girl. You started really laughing and smiling this week...especially at your daddy. Something about him just tickles you pink and I love that. You are feisty and sweet all wrapped up in one little package. You can be angry as all get out one second and laughing the next. And vice versa. If we're being honest, you can sometimes be downright demanding. Where your sister is calm and serious, you are wild and goofy. I could watch you make faces all day long. We can't figure out exactly who you look like but your Grammy sent a picture of me at your age and it looks an awful lot like you. You are a lot like your Auntie Noney with your faces, though. That girl can't hide what she's thinking or feeling and it seems you can't either. I think I will be telling you to 'Fix your face' just like I tell her. 

 

 

 

You are a messy, noisy eater getting milk all over your face pretty much every time you nurse. You lost almost all your hair a few weeks ago and looked like a balding old man for awhile but thankfully it has started to grow back! And you have a strawberry mark on your head that has gotten bigger and bigger since it first appeared a week or two after you were born. Your dad calls you his little unicorn.  You're bigger than your sister but still smaller than most other babies when they are born. You are strong and wiggly and HATE being swaddled. You think you can stand up and try to walk off all the time. Let's wait on that for a little while, ok? 

Almost escaped from your swaddle...

...because you prefer to sleep like this.

You've changed so much in the last few weeks and I can't wait to see your funny personality come out more and more. You can entertain us for hours. You are so precious to me and I love you more than you could ever know. Your daddy and I are already so proud of you and thankful that God picked us to be your parents!

Love and kisses,

Mommy