Moving Day

There is this theory that you should always throw away stuff before you move so that you won't drag all of this junk along with you to your new home, but what if you don't have time? I guess that I am in a similar situation, but I am moving all of the junk from many locations to one. It doesn't make much sense except that I am hoping to consolidate it and move it strategically BACK to the former locations. I just have TOO MANY FILES right now, and sifting through hundreds of thousands of files, while immensely boring, will help me with my future endeavors, so here we go. Sorry, no time to write at this moment. I am slogging through MILES OF FILES!

Fa-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-LAAAA

To say that the holiday season has been anything short of blissful would be a lie. In my opinion, everything is more fun with babies. We try to focus on Christ at Christmas instead of a commercial Christmas, so we have been doing some fun activities. We visited a creche, the Dicken's Christmas, visited some religious sites and some other fun activities. Here we have our baby angels who really are angels! They are both walking now, too! How crazy is that. Ah, they are the gift that keeps on giving. Merry Christmas everyone!

How to Make Life Easier

If life with two babies seems challenging, just imagine four. Think about trying to get four car seats into a car, four babies in a grocery cart, four babies to church, four babies down for naps. After thinking through all of this for weeks, I found some solutions. One baby in a carrier, one baby in the cart, two babies in the stroller, pulling the cart. It's funny how you find solutions when you are placed in a difficult situation.

I feel a bit like Abraham, being asked to offer his son only to learn that it was a test of faith. While we aren't out of the water completely, a solution was found to keep the twins with their mother. At the same time that my girls have become ever more demanding and needy overnight, I learned that I would not have four, but two, and suddenly two seems easy.

And it's snowing...

What have I been doing over the past several days? Speaking with attorneys, car dealers, insurance companies, case workers, and of course, my sweet husband. I have been trying to imagine life with four children under 1 year. I had a man tell me that he had four children and so he could sort of relate. I almost laughed, but I am too nice to do that. I just smiled and nodded.

Unless you are in a situation like that, you can't even begin to imagine what it is like. It is difficult to find someone who can handle two babies simultaneously without being overwhelmed by them in under an hour, let alone handle the situation with love and gentleness. I have little tolerance of children being snapped at (or worse) by an over-stressed adult. To make matters worse, while arranging for an attorney consultation on the phone in my bedroom, I heard a muffled cry and ran to the childproofed living room to find Cricket's legs protruding from the side of the couch and Peanut standing on her back merrily playing with a toy. I thought, they simply can't be left alone even in a childproof room if I intend to meet my objective of raising them to adulthood!

We have consulted with many specialists regarding this matter and still are not locked into a final decision. C wants to make sure that before we commit to this that we get the best possible legal advice. We did find an attorney who is licensed to practice law in both states in question, and he will be looking into the matter and getting back with us on Monday. In the meantime, we are trying to buy more time to get our ducks in a row. This would be so much easier if we weren't straddling two states and two court systems.

I really should be investing time in completing a credential right now, but I don't see how I will be able to complete it if we decide to take these girls. On a somewhat merrier note, my Jillian Michael's Body Revolution just arrived. We will see if that optimistic 1/2 hour/day is still available to use to my discretion. Today I read the following from Isaiah 40:31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Holy Poopie Pants, Quadruplets?!

A family member had twins six months after we did. We knew that circumstances were not ideal for these twins, and as we struggled through the logistics of caring for two babies, we knew that it would be even harder for those babies and family members. Last night we received a request to take these girls at least temporarily (meaning a minimum of three months, and perhaps much longer) so that the children don't become the custody of the state in which they live.

We didn't commit to it, but instead asked many questions. We privately discussed the legal ramifications, financial impact, help requirements and other details. I am not sure at this point what we are doing to do. As I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel as nursing comes to an end with my own girls and they become more mobile, I think about going back to the four month mark. That was a tough time, learning how to be mobile with two babies and being so very tired!

Am I ready to change 40 diapers a day? Am I ready to bathe four babies twice a week? How would I feed them all? How do I meet their developmental needs? Would I ever be able to leave the house again? It is an overwhelming thought, and would certainly impact my recent plans for the future. We could potentially have four girls in the same grade at school (assuming that they are developmentally up to snuff). Would I fall in love with them and not want to give them back? Again, we have not yet committed, but will know more in the next day or two.

A few post-insomnia ramblings

I should be asleep. I rarely get an opportunity to sleep from 9 PM on, but today was extra special. C took care of the girls this morning until noon, and then the girls nursed nicely (without teeth involved) so I didn't have to pump after feeding, and then they both went down before 9 PM and haven't woken up since! Of course that translates into an early morning for me, but since they are sick I'm not going anywhere. I had time to watch a TV show tonight! I know, you'd think that a stay at home mom would watch TV, right? Not me. It's nonstop action in this part of the woods.

Anyway, life is good. I never tire of the sweet smiles and fun noises that come from my tiny princesses. Cricket softly whispers "Nnnguh, nnnguh, nnnguh" to me and I think my heart will melt. Peanut yells, "Ay!" And I know she means me.  They love rough housing, which translates into me placing the girls side-by-side on the floor and gobbling their tummies. They both have such different laughs, but so very perfect. It's the sweetest sound.

I have turned my front room into a giant playpen. Gone are the candle lamps, the stone chess set, the tall, slender vase. They have been replaced with exersaucers, a talking mailbox, and a ball that rolls by itself and invites the girls to come play. My yoga mat has become a convenient changing pad, and the ceiling fan is really just a big mobile.

We listen to German radio hits for kids, and I am beginning to memorize the songs. The girls get plenty of exposure to the English language through toys, friends, and neighbors, so I am always trying to balance their bilingual exposure. I also listen to German books on tapes and I translate children's books as we read them. I definitely have had to extend my vocabulary. A dragonfly is a Libelle; such a pretty word. Many words for zoo animals are similar, but I never realized how many creatures show up in children's books!

Ah, at last I think that sleep has discovered me. Off I go, until my sweet angels break from their slumber. Then we will dive into another day of tiny pink bottoms, chubby fingers grasping at green peas and avocado, and sweet, clingy arms reaching for mama or daddy for a comforting hug before scrambling back onto the floor to discover something new.

Bueller? Bueller?

Perhaps you are one of those faithful readers who checks back to see if I've written anything lately. It's possible, I suppose, when your writer all but abandons her blog. I guess you could say that Facebook has seen more of my late-night, sleep deprived ramblings lately. I have been writing, just not here. I have something in the works.

I think babies are so incredible. They are just plain magical. They magically make your energy vanish rather quickly as well, but they are still so very magical. I can think of nothing more perfect and wonderful. Peanut is going to teach me how to be carefree again, and at the same time, she will be my greatest worry because she's going to be fearless just like I was. Cricket is going to teach me how to be gentle. I don't think that kid gloves have ever been my strong suite, so this will be a great lesson to learn. They both pour pure joy into every moment. It just doesn't get any more rich than this. I mean, Maybe with time it will, but the whole experience is so blissful. I'm so obnoxiously happy. It's like falling in love again, but different. Gosh, I love being a mom!!!

Gold Star Recipient

I ebay. I mean, I am an ebayer. I buy things when it's practical, and occasionally I sell things. It's pretty great when you can upgrade your cell phone, for example, for twenty bucks, and turn around and sell it for over $200... Twice. I have an iPhone, so upgrades are just fluff anyway.

I have 100% positive feedback. Today I received feedback for some old magazines I sold (as in, 100 year old magazines, but no, I am not a hoarder), so I finally earned my gold star! It's a monumental day that has only taken me four years to earn ten whole feedbacks! I feel very gold-starrish. Ebay is one of those social-media-meets-yard-sale kind of places. Come, take my junk! In fact, if you'll pay for the shipping, I'll even mail it to ya, and then we will both say nice things and feel WARM AND FUZZY about the junk swap. And now I feel sleepy. Goodnight!

How Old to Begin Baby Sign?

I saw a video of a three month old doing a single sign on YouTube when my girls were about a month old. At six months most babies have the motor control to begin signing, but I figured that it couldn't hurt to take advantage of these rapidly growing minds to expose them to signs earlier. By three months they were signing milk (one hand opening and closing as if on a cow teat), and soon they picked up diaper (both hands pointing at the waist), and mother (an open vertical hand with the thumb touching the chin, and moving away from the face.) The latter was better by five months because they could open their hand easier.

They have also learned other signs including book, more, father, play, bath, toys, hurt, up, and so on. The great part is that they don't get easily frustrated because they can communicate their basic needs. Also, we top them off with formula if they are still hungry after nursing, so they came up with their own signs to differentiate between breast milk and bottle milk. They also came up with other signs as needed.

Babies understand far more than they can communicate, and it's a long journey before they can clearly verbally communicate all of those needs. Aside from being very tired, sick, or late for feedings, these girls are quite happy and content. I think that any parent who wants to avoid frustration caused by early communication barriers would consider giving babies this communication tool. The real key, however is listening/watching. My girls will cry if I don't respond to signs in a reasonable amount of time, so I make it a priority to pay attention to them. If I won't listen now, they won't communicate with me well down the road.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was both painful and blissful for me.

  I awoke to three cards from my little family, and beautiful flowers from my sweetheart.

 C left for meetings early in the morning, and returned to help me pack up the girls to visit my mom. We went to church with her, and since many people in her ward knows me, there was plenty of love sent our way. Some people I'd never met knew about "the twins," and came up for a closer look. My sister and brother were there, and once we returned home from church, another brother and family were waiting as well.

I fed the girls as soon as we returned home, and despite their sleepy state, they both were charmers the entire time. They smiled, cooed, giggled, and were a sheer delight with cousins, aunts, uncles, and their Nana. It was a very memorable and delightful day.

When we returned home I fed them again (every 3 hours, that is), and C brought me two warm oatmeal cookies with coconut almond milk. The final feeding and bedtime went smoothly because the girls were so tired from their exciting day. The painful part? While returning from changing Peanut's diaper in the car, my boot caught on the curb and a fall was imminent. I was holding Peanut with both arms in front of me, and so I just created a cage with my body to protect her from getting hurt. She came out of it unharmed, and I gently positioned her on the grass while I maintained my prostrated position on the sidewalk to catch my breath. My knees and shoulder took the brunt of the fall, so I limped around for the rest of the day, but said nothing of it except to C. Needless to say, I won't be jogging much this week.

In Case You Were Wondering What I've Been Up To...

One...

You're like a dream come true.

TWO...

Just want to be with you.

THREE...

Girls, it's plain to see, 

That

 You're

 The

 Only

 Two

 For

Me.

And

FOUR 

Repeat

 Steps

 One through three.

 FIVE...

 Make you want to fall in love with me.

If ever I should think my work is done, 

Then I'll start back at ONE...