So it's almost here. The birthday is almost here. My babies are officially 2 years old tomorrow at 8:35 and 8:36 pm.
I am almost the mother of 2 year old twins. People will stop me and ask if they're twins (they will always stop and ask if they're twins) and then they'll ask, "how old are they?" As if the mismatched outfits, marker-covered arms, and contrary attitudes don't give it away. When they ask this I will say, "They're 2." Maybe I'll say, "They just turned 2," that way my babies won't sound so old.
Today the woman delivering our census asked if Lola and Jackson were twins (as I said, they will always ask if they are twins). Then of course the next question was, "How old are they?" "They'll be two tomorrow," I told her and she looked at me with what I would swear was the tinniest bit of envy. Not one of the looks I usually get. I get curiosity, amazement, and occasionally pity. But not often envy. Her look made more sense when she said she had twins that had just turned 26. She and I are, I'm sure, very different but in one way at that moment we were very much the same. We are so proud our twins have made it this far and still a little sad that so much time has passed.
So much time. 2 whole years. Tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Bedtime
Lola and Jackson each have a different list of things they take to bed. Lola's list is rather short (at least compared to her brother's) and consistent. Each night Lola gathers up her 3 blankets, monkey, baby and Elmo and brings them into her room for story time. Occasionally she adds a book or a special toy, but usually it's just the same 6 things, 3 blankets and 3 dolls.
Jackson has a very different approach to bedtime. Once we tell him it's almost time to read books and go to bed he begins gathering up every toy, foam letter and number, book, car and doll that he has played with the previous hour and throws it in bed. Many nights I sneak back in to his room and remove half the stuff from his bed to give him some more room to sleep.
Well last night something happened that has never happened before. The bedtime ritual went as usual as the kids prepared for bed: Lola gathering her 6 things and Jackson throwing in as much as we would allow. After the night-nights were said and lights were out they started laughing and squealing, clearly doing something they found hilarious. They played loudly for about half and hour and then the noise died down. Aaron and I went in about 9 o'clock and here is what we found:
Apparently the game that was soooooo hilarious was her throwing everything she had into Jackson's crib:
The picture was so funny I had to risk the flash to get it! Can you believe he's sleeping so soundly with all that stuff!
Jackson has a very different approach to bedtime. Once we tell him it's almost time to read books and go to bed he begins gathering up every toy, foam letter and number, book, car and doll that he has played with the previous hour and throws it in bed. Many nights I sneak back in to his room and remove half the stuff from his bed to give him some more room to sleep.
Well last night something happened that has never happened before. The bedtime ritual went as usual as the kids prepared for bed: Lola gathering her 6 things and Jackson throwing in as much as we would allow. After the night-nights were said and lights were out they started laughing and squealing, clearly doing something they found hilarious. They played loudly for about half and hour and then the noise died down. Aaron and I went in about 9 o'clock and here is what we found:
Apparently the game that was soooooo hilarious was her throwing everything she had into Jackson's crib:
Friday, February 5, 2010
Almost 2
Lola and Jackson are still over a month away from their second birthday and already I'm looking askance at that date. It looms there, ever-present on the calendar. It mocks my sentimentality. March 11 approaches steadily no matter how much I beg time to slow down. Surely my babies aren't turning 2 next month. Not MY babies. Not my BABIES!
The signs of change have been overwhelming lately. Aaron and I have bought potties, begun the registration process for nursery school and are planning our first vacation away from the kids. Come over for a visit and you'll notice that the high chairs are gone; the kids ask for what they want to eat and then climb up on the chairs at the table, ready to eat like big kids. And maybe the most difficult change for me to accept... Lola and Jackson only sit in my lap and cuddle during 2 very precious times in the day: after they first wake up, all drowsy and unsure of the world, and when they are watching television. I'll admit it now and certainly deny it if you ask me in person; I occasionally put on Sesame Street just so they'll both snuggle in my lap on the couch. I kiss the tops of their heads and smell their hair like I did when they were infants. That snuggle time is like a drug and sometimes a momma just needs her fix.
Sure I'm enjoying planning their Elmo birthday parties (yes, we are having more than 1... 3 Freedman birthday parties are happening this March). And so much of their growing up makes our everyday lives easier. And really, would I rather the alternative? Certainly not. I don't want them to NOT grow up. But it's still hard. And it's even harder when I begin to think that Lola and Jackson might be it. They might be my last.
Everything becomes sentimental when it might be the last one. "Awww, we might never feed a baby in a high chair again." Suddenly those disgusting food covered chairs are incredibly sentimental. "Awww, once Lola and Jack are potty trained I might never change a diaper again." Never before did I think I would lament our last diaper change.
And maybe it won't be our last. No irreversible decisions have been made. But I'm very aware as our lives shift from infant to toddler and soon to preschooler that the shift will possibly be permanent. And knowing that Lola and Jackson's second birthday celebration might be our last makes it bittersweet. So as March 11th looms, I try to make the sweet overpower the bitter. I try to think about celebrating what is instead of feeling sorry for what isn't. And if planning 3 birthday parties helps me do that, than 3 birthday parties it is. A momma's gotta do what a momma's gotta do, right?
The signs of change have been overwhelming lately. Aaron and I have bought potties, begun the registration process for nursery school and are planning our first vacation away from the kids. Come over for a visit and you'll notice that the high chairs are gone; the kids ask for what they want to eat and then climb up on the chairs at the table, ready to eat like big kids. And maybe the most difficult change for me to accept... Lola and Jackson only sit in my lap and cuddle during 2 very precious times in the day: after they first wake up, all drowsy and unsure of the world, and when they are watching television. I'll admit it now and certainly deny it if you ask me in person; I occasionally put on Sesame Street just so they'll both snuggle in my lap on the couch. I kiss the tops of their heads and smell their hair like I did when they were infants. That snuggle time is like a drug and sometimes a momma just needs her fix.
Sure I'm enjoying planning their Elmo birthday parties (yes, we are having more than 1... 3 Freedman birthday parties are happening this March). And so much of their growing up makes our everyday lives easier. And really, would I rather the alternative? Certainly not. I don't want them to NOT grow up. But it's still hard. And it's even harder when I begin to think that Lola and Jackson might be it. They might be my last.
Everything becomes sentimental when it might be the last one. "Awww, we might never feed a baby in a high chair again." Suddenly those disgusting food covered chairs are incredibly sentimental. "Awww, once Lola and Jack are potty trained I might never change a diaper again." Never before did I think I would lament our last diaper change.
And maybe it won't be our last. No irreversible decisions have been made. But I'm very aware as our lives shift from infant to toddler and soon to preschooler that the shift will possibly be permanent. And knowing that Lola and Jackson's second birthday celebration might be our last makes it bittersweet. So as March 11th looms, I try to make the sweet overpower the bitter. I try to think about celebrating what is instead of feeling sorry for what isn't. And if planning 3 birthday parties helps me do that, than 3 birthday parties it is. A momma's gotta do what a momma's gotta do, right?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Breakfast Smoothie, Two Ways
Lola and Jackson approach life very differently. Any of you who know us can testify to how different they are. So it's kinda fun to give them both the same item or task and see how they handle it. A fun little family experiment. Here's what happened when I gave them each a cup of smoothie and a spoon for breakfast:
Lola:
She ate her smoothie neatly with her spoon and barely had to be wiped off after breakfast.
And Jackson:
And notice that Jackson carries a collection of toys and other precious things with him everywhere he goes, even to the table at mealtime:
It's really fun to watch my kids becoming who they are.
Lola:
And Jackson:
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Two Cute
Sometimes having 2 toddlers can be a challenge. There are twice as many tantrums, twice as many tears about lost blankets, special toys and sippy cups, and twice as many strong opinions about exactly how many pieces a banana should be cut into before being served. There are twice as many children to argue with about how much ketchup should accompany a serving of chicken. And there are 4 tiny missing shoes to find every time you leave the house instead of 2.
But there are also times when having twin toddlers is just so absolutely adorable that I can't imagine ever having just one!
To fully appreciate the absolute adorable-ness of this picture you must know that they got their books and onto the chair together all by themselves. I was in the kitchen and looked up to find out why it was so quiet. This is what I saw, Lola and Jack enjoying some side by side story time:
But there are also times when having twin toddlers is just so absolutely adorable that I can't imagine ever having just one!
To fully appreciate the absolute adorable-ness of this picture you must know that they got their books and onto the chair together all by themselves. I was in the kitchen and looked up to find out why it was so quiet. This is what I saw, Lola and Jack enjoying some side by side story time:
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