What Do You Do All Day??

Before I was a parent, I have to admit that I did often wonder what Stay-at-Home-Moms actually did all day. I didn't think that kids were quite as much work as they actually are - boy was I wrong!!

Rather than try to document just what it is that I do all day, I'll let someone else do it for me. I received this in an email from a friend, and I do not think that I could have said it any better myself!!

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess.

A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

Morning Nap

Part of Ella and Aidan's normal morning routine is a nap at about 9 AM. We haven't graduated to the cribs for this nap yet, as they love to still sleep in their bouncy seats.

This wonderful "break" used to last at least an hour...sometimes two. I use this time to shower, make the bed, pick up the upstairs, and select their outfits for the day. If I still have time left before they wake up, I also clean. For some reason, these days they barely give me enough nap time to get in a shower. They are suddenly napping for only about 1/2 hour!!

This morning, I didn't even dare shower...I chose to clean the upstairs, since it is dirtier than I am. Part of my routine is to dust all of the picture frames....as I made my way down the stairs wiping off the staircase frames, I peeked around the corner just to make sure that they were both still asleep.

Hardly.

This is what I should find:

Today, this is what I found:

Mischievous little buggers.....guess this is the end of the cherished bouncy seat nap.

n o r m a l

Well, once again, my body has failed me…in a different way this time…but still a frustrating struggle. I recently had my thyroid tested for abnormalities. Here is the whole story.

I have never really been a skinny person (well, at least since graduating from college, that is). On our wedding day in 2003, I looked OK – not at all perfect – but OK. Fast forward exactly one year, and on October 18, 2004, while walking on the beach in Ocean Isle, Mike and I decided that we would try for a baby. I had been insistent on waiting at least one year, and now it was “game on”!

We came back from that walk on the beach and I tossed my pack of pills in the trash. I also decided to get into the best physical shape that I could, so that when I got pregnant right away (HA HA), I would bounce back into shape easier. Well, I did it, and I lost nearly 15 pounds in 3 months and I looked good…and was really happy with myself.

Well, then reality set in as each month of pregnancy failure occurred…and enter the fertility treatments. No one could, or can, tell us why we had to resort to such measures….all of my tests always came back “NORMAL”…normal, normal, normal. Now fast forward through 3 years of pills, procedures, surgeries, and countless injections of various hormones (who knows what the heck all of it was at this point…I never asked…if it was going to get me pregnant, I didn’t care what it did to me in the long term), and I am a sickening 20 pounds over what I initially weighed BEFORE losing the weight…and I just now finally get pregnant.

Getting pregnant with twins, I was supposed to gain around 45-50 pounds…I gained about 30….perhaps because I already had a nice cushion for Ella and Aidan to begin with! 6 weeks after their delivery, I had lost all 30 pounds and was right back where I was upon getting pregnant (20 pounds overweight). Not too bad….everyone told me that the weight would just fall off over the next few months.

Wasn’t that a joke!

Here I am 9 months post-partum and I look like a beached whale. I actually gained weight and am 7 pounds heavier than I was at my 6 week check-up.

You can imagine how desperate I was to have my thyroid panel come back with some sort of anomaly. Don’t I deserve something from all that my body has been through in the last 3 years to come back with an answer...a solution of some sort?

Of course not…the test results?

NORMAL

Here we go again…no one can tell my why I have to struggle so hard to lose the weight. Does anyone ever wonder why I am rarely in any of the pictures with the kids? Well, because I am grossed out at the sight of myself. I don’t want to ever remember, or have any hard proof, of ever looking like this. It is unacceptable to me to look like this 9 months after their birth..it makes me look lazy…and I am anything but lazy…I don’t have time to be lazy.

Enough rambling…this was therapeutic for me. Be on the lookout for a skinnier Jen…not sure when…but this last “NORMAL” has me mad…really mad….and even more determined to make my body what it used to be, and to try to find myself again.

Toddler Menu

Now that the babies have been given the official Dr. approval to eat basically anything except shellfish, honey or peanut butter, meals have once again taken on a whole new direction.

I remember being a bit freaked out when we first added rice cereal into their diets. I have to laugh at myself at thinking that was a tough change to the daily agenda. Now we are responsible for ensuring that their nutritional needs are being met on a whole different level. Granted, we still have a few months of formula left to go, but the end of that easy solution is fast approaching. Gone will be the simplicity of simply giving them a bottle and knowing that they are getting all of the nutrients that their little bodies need. It will be all up to us...suddenly that $112 a week for formula doesn't seem so bad!!

I have been trying new foods with them lately..I have yet to find something that they do not like to eat. I remember being so proud when they would eat puffs! Now they are like little adults! As best that I can recall, so far they have had:

All of the varieties of Stage 2 & 3 jars of Baby Food
Lemons (Aidan will eat a slice all the way to the rind)
Cheerios (their favorite!!)
Oatmeal
Cheest Toast / Grilled Cheese
Waffles
Pancakes
French Toast
Blueberries (halved)
Mango pieces
Grapes (halved and quartered)
Hummus
Hard Boiled Egg
Scrambled Egg
Cheese
Yo-Baby Yogurt
Morningstar Veggie Burgers
Morningstar breakfast scramble patties
Pieces of Chicken Nuggets
Turkey
Chicken
Meatballs
Macaroni and Cheese
Peas
Carrots
Veggies from vegtable soup
Avacado
Banana
Tortillas
Cereal bars

They are so funny (and different) with the way they both eat..

Ella prefers to be very dainty and pick up one little piece of food at a time. However; she also likes to hold one piece of food captive in her right hand while using the left to pick up food. Do we have a future leftie like Mike on our hands?

Aidan is the total opposite. He shoves as much food as he can in that little mouth of his with both hands at the same time. I can't put too much food on his tray at one time, as he has a tendency to fill up his mouth so much he can't fit anything else in there!!

This was their first experience with macaroni and cheese. I didn't know if they would like it, so I bought them each one of those Gerber prepackaged toddler meals. Turns out they liked it a lot! We have also been working on eating off of plates and using utensils. I know...it's VERY early for that...but you never know..it just might work! Not only are they totally adept with their sippy cups (and have been since 6 months old), but they also drink from our adult straws in cups of water.

Ella takes a try (notice her eating out of the tray / plate!!):

Step 2

Forget my dainty reputation, this stuff is GOOD - I'm digging in with both hands!

Ella with her macaroni held captive!

Aidan wouldn't eat from the tray so we had to serve him his own little portions:

Needless to say, it took Mike and I at least an hour to clean up from this meal!!

Saturday in the Park

Today was absolutely gorgeous outside!

When the babies got up from their afternoon nap we took them around the block for a walk in the sunshine and ended up at our neighborhood park. We have this fantastic spot in the woods with swings, a play set, monkey bars, a tennis court and short walking trails right down the street within our very neighborhood. Ella and Aidan love to go on the swings! I think this was the first time that they really truly enjoyed it. All of the previous times they pretty much just sat there and looked a bit frightened by the whole "swinging" process.

This time; however, they both immediately squealed with delight and could not get enough swinging. I have visions in my head of two little ones begging: "Just 5 more minutes Mommy...pleeeeeease!!".

Guilty Pleasure

I am not a fan of my little ones watching television at all, ever. But, when in the throes of teething he**, sometimes I just need to be a bit more flexible.

Like most households with small children, the hours of 5-7 PM come to be known as the "witching hour". Nothing you can do will ease their frustration or captivate their interest.

Except this.....I give you the Baby Einstein DVD trance.

This simple moment of silence provides me with just enough time to get their dinner prepared and on the table. They don't get to watch these DVDs everyday...but on the rare occasion when I am reaching the brink of insanity, it is a nice emergency back-up plan!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I tried my best - I really did. I wanted so badly to capture a really good picture for their first Valentine's Day.

But, they are teething...both of them. Yep, they are BOTH getting all 4 of their top teeth at once, at the same time.

Needless to say, these pictures are the best I could do with extremely cranky babies. Smiles are hard to come by these days in this house. People think that having one baby teething is no fun. All I can say to that is try it with 2...I have been alone with them for 3 days straight now and I am about to start crying myself.

I did; however, manage to bake a cake for Mike last night between all of the waking, crying and fussing......

Happy Valentine's Day!

Babies and Dogs

Most people who know us know that Mike and I met because of our dogs. Yep, Ripley and Abby became friends before Mike and I did! They had this immediate "connection" that would draw them to one another anytime we happened to be out walking them at the same time. Many dogs out there love to greet other dogs, but there was just something different about these two.

Mike says that Abby even knew the sound of my car over any other. I lived on the floor above Mike, and he says that whenever I would pull in the parking lot, Abby would jump up on the couch and go nuts whining and barking to go outside because she knew that I would be coming in and going right back outside with Ripley.

Since having the babies, our poor dogs have taken a serious second place. I always swore that would never happen, but it did. The poor things just dont get the attention that they used to. We love them just the same, but things and priorities just seem to get shifted. I feel like such a rotten dog Mom..Ripley was my life and my therapist. She "nursed" me through my beloved cat Winston's death just a month before our wedding. She licked my face and stayed by my side when all I could do was cry as we struggled through 3 years of infertility treatments. After the miscarriage, she hugged me the best that she could when I didnt get out of bed for a week, and once I did, would just keep dropping to the floor in tears.

In terms of the twins, Abby could care less. She was initially curious, but now she pretty much ignores them. Ripley on the other hand, simply cannot get enough of them. She is ALWAYS right there with them...I think she thinks that they are her babies.

I thought it might be fun to post a few pics of our Dog-Mom in action, guarding over her precious little twins with the same love and attention she has given me over the years.

9 Months and Counting!

Well, the babies had their 9 month check-up this morning and all went well. No shots, but they did get their fingers pricked to test for anemia - both tested just fine.

Here are the latest stats:

Ella:

21 pounds

29 1/4 inches long

Aidan:

25 pounds 3 ounces

30 1/2 inches long

The Dr gave us the OK to feed them pretty much anything with the exception of shellfish, honey or peanut butter. He also said that they are the picture of perfect health and that they will be moving about much more in the coming weeks.

I have been concerned that neither one is crawling or really pulling up just yet, but he said not to be concerned at all, and asked if I had ever seen a 2 year old that wasnt walking. According to him, they will do it when they want to and when they are ready.

On the flip side, they are both well ahead of the curve with their early mastering of their sippy cups and ability to feed themselves finger foods. He said they are also doing really well with their vocal and social skills and their interactions with each other are fantastic.

So, all in all, it was a great visit (especially with no shots!). Oh, and we are also supposed to have them switched from formula to whole milk around 11 months.

They are so absolutely adorable these days. They discovered each other a while ago, but in the past two weeks, have found that they have the ability to make each other laugh. The other day we were driving somewhere and I heard laughing and commotion in the back seat. I looked back to see them cracking up at each other and chewing their toes. They also copy / mimic each other. What one does, the other is sure to follow suit!

A few other interesting tidbits:

Ella:

Likes: to scream with delight / joy; to bounce / jump; making a mess in the bathtub

Dislikes: elevators; the vacuum cleaner; strangers

Aidan:

Likes: his thumb; being pushed around the kitchen in his highchair; taking off his socks and chewing on them

Dislikes: having his face and hands wiped after a meal; wearing a hat

Of All The Crazy Comments...

Last night, Mike and I went out for an early dinner (with the twins, of course) to Outback Steakhouse. Having little ones in tow instantly enters us into the "early bird" dinner hours in which only old people and those with small children dine.

Anyway, shortly into our meal, our overeager waiter (who was probably about 23 years old) makes the typical comment "Are they twins". He followed this up with what has to be the most asanine comment we have yet to hear in regards to the twins.

He continues the conversation by telling us how "popular" twins are these days...you see them everywhere and how it's all over the news how common they are.

Here comes the doozie:

He tells us how he and his girlfriend will be getting married soon and how they have been thinking about having twins because they want a girl and a boy. How did we get them? How much did it cost? Where do you get them?

Hmm...

Anyone who knows me knows darn well that my sarcastic "are you kidding me" tone of voice immediately appeared in reaction to such a statement.

I asked him just how he planned to orchestrate such a feat...and he said the same way you guys did.

Really?

(I'm not sure Mike was listening at this point - he was dealing with Aidan who was insisting on more bread and water).

I then started rambling on about testing, procedures, injections, surgeries, miscarriage, a problem free, but not worry free pregnancy (I dont even know what all I said at this point - it's all a blur). You dont just sign up on some roster somewhere for your "pick of the litter"!!

I think I scared him off.

Long Awaited Pictures....

These pictures are long overdue...we had the babies Baptized over Thanksgiving weekend. I never really got any good pictures, so I decided to put the kids in their outfits and give it a try to get some pictures myself. Their outfits are so beautiful (many thanks Grandma Parker) and I was worried that they would outgrow them before I had a chance to take any pictures. These pictures are not really all that great...but the kids are getting bigger, and are not that willing to sit still much anymore!!

In terms of the Baptism, we had a lovely ceremony at St. John's Episcopal Church, and then Mike's Mom hosted a small luncheon at their house. The babies did great and we all had a wonderful time.

In case anyone is wondering who the Godparents are:

Ella:

Godmother: Mary Wiktorek

Godfather: Chris Frankenberg (my brother)

Aidan:

Godmother: Sara O'Mara

Godfather: Carl Eichenberger