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Twin Jammies & Projects

I didn’t think that I’d be the type of mom that dresses my girls in similar out fits. Turns out I’m wrong. I am that mom. It’s a little bit embarrassing, but I think they’re so dang cute in their ‘twin jammies’ and at this point Maggie, the only one of the two that can voice her opinion, absolutely loves matching her sister. I’m not inclined to make this a habit, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be doing this again. Not having a sister to be matchy-matchy with, I can’t totally wrap my brain around the complaints that I might field down the road. So it goes, this whole parenting gig is one twist after another. 

We’ve had a few recent playdates with some of my A-Town girls and their kiddos. Thomas and Maggie are both in the stage of loving to make little animals and figurines talk, and thankfully they’ll do it together. Hearing them have conversations with their little toys is very entertaining. Barry and I try to play ‘Dollies’ as much as we can, but it can get really repetitive. The other evening I went for a walk and when I left Barry and Mags were playing a very involved game of  Dollies and by the time I got back from my walk, which seemed like a long time, they were still playing, except Barry was lying flat on his back with his eyes closed holding his dolly up on the coffee table half-heartidly. So, when Thomas comes over and is just as excited to play Dollies (although he might call it something else), Maggie is very into it. 

Both Thomas and Maggie also aren’t too interested in the babies when they’ve got each other to play with. Every so often they’ll come check to see what the two little ones are up to, but for the most part Thomas and Mags are happy as little clams to play together. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that we’d meet up for a playdate and they wouldn’t even ‘play’ together. Now they play so much and so hard that by the time it’s time to go, there is often tears and sadness. 

Sister Switch
Audrey telling Mira about the embarrassing twin jammies. What Audrey doesn’t know is that Mira has the SAME pair! TRIPLETS!!
This is what a puppet show given by 2 year olds looks like.

Maggie gave up naps long ago and that means that we often have an early bed time around here and try to keep our afternoons fairly relaxed and stress free. Very rarely does she take a nap, but yesterday she was yawning so much mid-morning that I took an opportunity, once Audrey was asleep, to read some books in bed. Maggie will jump at a chance to read a book and she wasn’t convinced the bed was the place to do it, but eventually bought into the idea. After reading a few chapters out of her Nancy Clancy book, we turned the light off and snuggled. I was informed, many times, that she did not want to ‘lax. Miracle of all miracles she fell asleep. 

And I had exactly three minutes of a quiet house all to myself before Audrey decided to wake up. 

It was a restful three minutes. I stared at the wall and wondered what I should do with my free arms and free time. Audrey answered for me. Thanks, Chica. 

We still have quiet time in the afternoons, but I need to be more intentional about it. I feel like so much of my day is telling Maggie to wait…wait for me to finish feeding, changing, bouncing, dressing her baby sister, or feeding and changing myself. By the time Audrey is asleep and I have a few minutes, I work hard to try to fully engage with Maggie. We often have a ‘project’ going on that we like to work on together. Last week we made a month-by-month mini scrapbook for Audrey and Maggie was my Sticker Girl and Cutter. Yesterday we made a St. Patrick’s Day sign from some of her old paintings and glitter. Mags loves projects and to be able to tap into that creative side with her is really fulfilling. It also makes me feel a bit better when I’m asking her to wait yet again. If we’ve got a special project set up, we an talk about the next steps that we’ll do on it while she waits for me to finish. 

Working hard on making her own stickers.

And when she can’t wait any longer, she’ll start in on her own project. Sometimes this is good….sometimes it isn’t. Either way, having a few projects to work on keeps the grumps away. If you’ve ever experienced a grumpy almost 3 year old on any given day…..you’d move heaven and earth to have a project as a distraction. 

Counting Project

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Snapshots of it All

The fog is lifting and I feel myself assimilating with the rest of the world slowly but surely. I haven’t been too gun shy about getting out with my two little chickens, but I think my brain can finally handle some additional information beyond making sure we’re all safe and sound. For example, this past weekend I went to my cousin Danielle’s baby shower and Audrey and I carpooled with Cora and Sue. On the drive home we talked about some good music and bands and I realized that I pretty much have missed out on the past year in terms of music. I love me some Rolling Stone magazine, but apparently my reading comprehension skills failed me as well. I am no fully aware that Mumford and Sons are not new to the rest of the world, but I’m in love with both their albums and have them on constant repeat. AND…I’m counting down the days to this. Cora says that I should just download it, but I kind of want to go to an actual store and buy it. 

This happens like they’re having morning coffee every morning. Maggie will do all of the talking…but will ‘translate’ whatever sounds Audrey makes.

I keep saying it over and over but it is so true: Maggie truly is the sweetest big sister. No matter what Maggie is in the middle of doing, if she passes Audrey in any capacity, she’ll stop and greet her little sister with a squeeze, smile and a sometimes aggressive nuzzle. “Maggie, too close!!” is on constant repeat around here, but it’s hard to be too hard on her when she’s just loving on Audrey. Once Audrey can do a bit more, it will be less of what Maggie can’t do and more of what she CAN. I look forward to that day. 

Last week.

Audrey is plumping out more and more. She’s got rolls started on her legs and I love me some rolls on baby legs, so I’m thrilled. She feels less fragile and more sturdy because her head control is improving as well. She’s moved out of the newborn snowsuit for our walks and into the 0-3month one.  We’ve hit a huge streak with the weather and I’ve been able to get outside for a walk the past 10 days or so. Sadly, I do not ever bring my camera along because pushing a stroller, wearing a baby, and corralling a dog is far too much for me as it is. Eventually I’ll get there and be able to document our outings, as it stands now, I’m just proud that I’m getting outside. It feels like I’m the ring master of a 3 ring circus some mornings, and by the time we’re actually out the door I’ve already broken a sweat. It’s probably a combination of being out of shape and trying to get 3 little morsels ready at exactly the same time. 

This Week

By the time we get back, I’m often ready for a break because I’ve spent the entire walk answering questions about Maggie’s observations and making sure that Sydney doesn’t drop a huge poop in the middle of somebody’s yard. Audrey is the easiest because she snoozes all bundled up next to me. There was a time where I had abandoned almost all hope for Maggie to get back into the stroller after she discovered the joys of being able to walk along with us. I’m not ashamed to say that I started to bribe her with ‘stroller treats’ to get back into the routine of striding out.  We’re now contemplating upgrading our stroller or getting a double. Considering that we’ve got the very first B.O.B stroller ever made, I have a feeling any direction that we go will be an improvement. We’re a long ways off for Audrey to ride along, she’s content to be carried at this point. 

When Barry gets home at the end of the day, we’re all excited and happy to see him. Life is so much easier with two parents around. In the past few weeks, at two seperate times, both Barry and I got sick. Like on the couch or lying in bed, dead to the world, sick. When I was sick, I slept for nearly 24 hours. I’d wake up, feed Audrey, pass her to Barry, and promptly go back to sleep. I also probably ate 99 popsicles and an entire liter of 7UP and cranberry juice. I was very worried about not being hydrated enough and the only thing that sounded good was cranberry juice and 7 up. (For whatever reason, I find cranberry juice to be comforting…I don’t drink juice often, but when I do I always pick cranberry juice. It’s what I wanted when I went into labor with Maggie…along with pudding. Ha!)

When Barry got sick, it conveniently was over a weekend, and I tried with all my might to get out of the house. He didn’t really have that luxury when I was sick since I needed to feed Audrey. I ran more errands and lolly-gagged at more places than I had since having Audrey. Barry is the type of person that doesn’t want to admit that he’s sick. Even when he was huddled under a quilt shivering, he was still trying to say that he felt fine. Poor guy. Anyhow, not having another adult to team up with during crucial times (bath, dinner, bed, feeding, diaper changes, etc.) really made me appreciate Barry all the more. I’m fine during the day, but doing an entire weekend all alone with a newborn and almost 3 year old is not my idea of fun. 

I am not nearly as good at playing “Run/Tickle” as Barry is and quite frankly, I’m fine with that. I also don’t have as much stamina to jump on the bed as he does. Plus, Maggie really, really looks forward to that time of her day and practically asks to play the moment Barry changes out of his work clothes.  We’re now back in the saddle in terms of happily greeting Barry as he comes thorough the door and filling our house with happy, joyful games of “Run/Tickle.”