Little Lovies

Today while attempting to make lunch, my little lovies both came up and hugged my legs at the same time. They made their lovie noises and then wandered back off to explore the bird's room. I stood there all covered in sparkley lovie dust and I think I flew a few inches off of the floor.

I ran in to check on the girls a few minutes later because Cricket sounded alarmed. Peanut had tipped over the vacuum cleaner and pointed at it with much animation on her face as if to say, "Mommy, I saw it move all by itself!" Needless to say, Cricket has a fearful fascination with the vacuum and is always a bit wary of its presence.

After lunchtime the girls went about exploring the kitchen and pulling out the stainless steel pots and pans which they have done so many times before, but this time Peanut stepped into the cupboard and then couldn't figure out how to get back out again. She has done this before when she climbed a stepstool and then tried to figure out how to get back down. The first attempt was less than graceful, but the second try turned out much better as I showed her how to use one foot at a time.

Last year I picked up a little push car for the girls at a yardsale and lately it has become a hot item. I discovered a second one online for $7 and the girls were a little excited about the new purchase.

We planned a trip to the zoo this week, but a big storm got in the way, so we ate some snow and then everything was better.

Lovies love yogurt, so I mix a little honey or Stevia into some plain Fage and then toss in some frozen berries. They love it and I love giving them something healthy, albeit messy!

We moved a plastic slide inside that a neighbor gave us and the girls are professionals now. They love to slide and also love to send things down the slide as well.

I never tire of hearing their giggles, their songs that usually consist of the word Mama repeated over and over, and even their little cries for help. They are my little lovies, and I hope that I can be worthy of their chubby little arms wrapped around an arm or leg or neck. They are so perfect and I can't imagine anything more perfect than being a mom.

A Tidbit of Blissful Irony

I miss writing. I really do. It's like going without exercise and your whole body starts yelling at you, "Hey, what's up? We want some MOVEMENT around here!" And if you fail to listen, it rebels with unsightly lumps and flab.

Thankfully, unlike my lack of writing lately, I have been listening to my body and the results are pouring in. 75 days into Jillian Michael's 90 day Body Revolution fitness program and I have dropped from a size 16 to a size 8. I still have two weeks left of the program and will get a little closer to my goal by the end, but I don't intend to stop there. I still have my flabby kangaroo pouch skin that will someday be rock-hard abs, but for now, it is just a sweet reminder that I really did carry two precious little souls inside of me.

While getting ready in my bathroom yesterday, my girls were excitedly emptying the vanity drawers of thrilling items like sparkling gold twisty curlers, a salt crystal deodorant stick from years ago when I thought that I could survive without antiperspirant, a colorful retainer case, a tube of lotion, and then my firstborn held up a little white package. It was an ovulation test. I stood there and smiled to myself at the irony of my child handing me an old ovulation test.

There are moments when I dance with my girls to love songs and I catch myself in tears at the beautiful truth that they are mine. I made it. I survived the long wait. I didn't have to wait an eternity after all, just a little more than a decade. I want them to know that I enjoy them, that I cherish them. I don't want their memories to be of me yelling at them. I want them to remember me looking into their eyes and smiling, knowing that no matter what, I still and always will love them.