A Look Back 7/24 - 7/30

Friday, 7/24:

• Killian fell asleep in his highchair after breakfast...

• Went to Stride Rite with the kids and my mom to get Killian and Piper their first pair of shoes. Yes, you heard right, their first pair at nine months old. Thanks, Mom. 

Saturday, 7/25:

• Killian started to crawl for the first time. Very exciting!
• Piper started clapping her hands for the first time. Also exciting!

Sunday, 7/26:

• In the morning when we were still in bed, Lily wanted Dan to get her something that was under Piper's crib. After many "get it for me" requests, Dan said, "No, not now." Lily responded with, "Awe, you serious?" 
• Went to the pool today. First time for Killian and Piper. They liked it.
• FYI: (Piper is 9 months old) That ladybug bathing suit Piper is wearing was Lily's bathing suit that she had when she was 14 months old.

• Had a, "My baby is getting so big" moment when Dan took Lily in the regular pool and she was able to stand in the shallow end.

• Lily wanted to watch Sesame Street but it was very close to bedtime...

Lily: "Put on Sesame Street, please."

Me: "Sesame Street isn't on until tomorrow."

Lily: "It's on Heplix." (Netflix)

Me: Yup. She's got me there!

Monday, 7/27:

•  Killian is definitely Lily's little mini-me - boy version!

Tuesday, 7/28:

• Lily's new thing...

Lily: "Mommy, want to play in my room?"

Me: "Umm.." taking a little too long to answer.

Lily: "Mommy. Listen. Yes or no?"

Me: Thinking - Oh boy. She's a little smart ass already! 

Wednesday, 7/29:

• Trying to sell some baby gear that we don't need anymore. It's hard to part with the things my three babies used, even if we will never need them again. I wish I could keep everything and make a little museum for when I want to feel nostalgic and for when my three babies are adults and maybe wanting to see and feel what they had/used when they were born.

Thursday, 7/30:

• Don't you hate it when you're laying in bed and you put your arm up over your head, then all of a sudden you feel something tickling/crawling on your arm so you throw your arm up and sit up; looking around to see if you can find a bug, you see nothing; then you can't lay back down because now you're freaked out by the possibility that there was a bug on you and if you lay back down it will inevitably end up crawling in your ear? Yeah... that happened.
• I finally got to do something I wasn't able to do in a few days...

Lily: "Can I smell you, Mommy? Mmm. You smell good. You took shower and now are clean."

Me: Didn't realize I smelled so bad before. Luckily the stars aligned and I was able to take a five minute shower. 

A Look Back 7/17 - 7/23

Friday, 7/17:

• Dan and I went to a wedding and since we got dressed up I wanted a picture taken. Of course, our wonderfully cute and funny three and a half year old had to get in on it. She put on a pair of my shoes to look pretty and followed us out the door. For some reason, I can't remember, she wasn't wearing anything but her underwear. Hmm?
• The wedding reception was good. They had a live band, which I don't think I've ever been to a wedding with one. They were really good. I had been feeling slightly sick - a little soar throat and dry cough, but I didn't want it to ruin my good time. Unfortunately, I had one beer and got a headache and something I can only describe as heartburn, even though it wasn't quite heartburn. But I still tried my best to smile and dance a few times. Well, the highlight of the evening was when the head guy in the band kept eyeing me and kept signaling me to hit the dance floor. At one point he came over to me as I was eating salad and said, "Are you seriously eating your salad one leaf at a time?" Uh, no. Two leaves at a time! Anyway, at the end of the night the band had a lot of people gathered on the dance floor. Dan and I were there, too. The main guy started to do a back and forth singing thing with the crowd. I had a feeling that I should've been really vocalizing because he kept looking my way, but I had that soar throat thing going on. Well, he stopped, told the crowd to wait a minute 'cause he's been eyeing this couple all night, and then he came over to us. Ah! Now I'm in the spotlight. Exactly where I don't like to be. He actually told everybody that I was eating my salad one leaf at a time. Fortunately (or unfortunately), our friend, Kevin, caught most of it on video...

• Dan and I get home from the wedding around 2:00am and my mother, who had been babysitting, was up with our twins. They were wide awake. Never have they been up in the middle of the night for more than a second while we put their pacifiers back in their mouths. Luckily, they fell right to sleep when we put them down.

Saturday, 7/18:

• So, our twins had a repeat of waking up in the middle of the night. What the hell? We leave for one night and now chaos has ensued. Hopefully it doesn't become a habit.
• Yup, my slight sickness has now become something more. I actually was falling asleep on the couch in the afternoon - something I do not do unless I am really sick. This is so stupid, too because I just ended a ten day round of antibiotics for strep not four days ago.
• Was playing in Lily's room. She took down a doll from her bookshelf and handed it to me. She wanted to brush it's hair so she went to get a brush. As I was waiting for her, I shook the dolls hair and I saw something big and black jump out and go across my chest. I freaked, not knowing what it was and fearing the worst now that I had no clue where it went. I stood up and shook my, can I say dress, even though I was still in my nightgown at three o'clock in the afternoon? Anyway, I shook my... dress, and out came a big, black spider falling to the floor. I let out a scream then smashed it with one of Lily's toys. Luckily I got it 'cause I would not have been able to stay in the room any longer if I hadn't. Ugh! Heebeejeebees!!
• Walked in the bedroom to find Piper asleep like this...

• Lily looked very pretty in her dress...

• At bath time, Lily got a beard like her Uncle K.C. ...

Sunday, 7/19:

• Cleaning day. Still didn't feel well, but better than I had felt. Decided to clean the floors and do three loads of laundry. All in all a fun Sunday (sarcasm, people).

Monday, 7/20:

• Play date for Lily at our house. It must have been the hottest day of the summer so far. Brutal! I had set up our small kiddie pool and our water pad spray mat thing (don't know what it's called). Great to cool off the kids but for me and my mommy friend, the heat just did us in. I suggested playing inside and with little coaxing, the kids agreed.
• In the late afternoon, it started raining. It felt great. Since Killian and Piper were taking a nap, Lily and I walked around outside letting the rain cool us off. A fun time until I heard thunder. Where there's thunder, there's lightning, so in we went.

Tuesday, 7/21:

• Woke up early in the morning to the sound of Killian whimpering. He whimpers in his sleep all the time. I waited about a minute or two to see if he would calm down on his own. He seemed to stop and I looked over at Dan's side of the bed not knowing what time it was. I saw something moving and squinted to see what it was. I saw a baby's hand in the air with fingers moving around. I then saw an adult hand playing with the baby hand. I thought Dan must have gotten up and took Killian in bed with us. Then I heard the whimpering again coming from the crib. Now I thought maybe it was Piper in bed and Killian was still in his crib. I got up and saw Piper still sleeping in her crib and Killian still in his. I was very confused and when I looked over to see what Dan was doing, he wasn't there. His side of the bed was empty and he had already left for work about a half hour before. FREAKY!!!!

Wednesday, 7/22:

• Lily had a peepee accident...

Lily: "Lily peepeed. Sorry, Mommy."

Me: "It's OK, Lily. Just be more careful next time. You know when you have to go, right?"

Lily: "Yes, Mommy. Lily sorry. You still love me?"

Me: Heart aching - "Yes, Lily. Always. I love you so much. Nothing will ever make me stop loving you, no matter what."

Lily: "OK, Mommy. Lily love you. You're the best." 

• Piper fell asleep in her highchair after breakfast...

• while Killian cried...

The Colors of a Child

My three year old loves to dance. She loves to watch others dance and tries to copy their movements. One show we watch together is So You Think You Can Dance. It's fun to watch it with her as she tries to mimic all the diverse dancing on the screen.

On this week's show, the two dancers pictured above were paired together for a jazz routine. As I sat and watched the technique and musicality of the dancers, my daughter saw something else...

"That like Uncle K.C. and Cici" Lily said as she pointed to the television. Yes, my brother and his wife are of two different races. She of Guyanese decent and my brother a mix of German, English, Irish, and American Indian decent. The thought of them compared to this couple never crossed my mind, but to my three year old, this was just like her uncle and aunt. She was happy that she made this connection. She was happy that this young, beautiful, and talented girl reminded her of her Aunt Cici.

"Her hair in tie like Cici. Same like Cici, Mommy." My daughter's eyes glimmered with affection for this dancer as she moved across the television screen. Though I originally thought about color as her motivator to compare, I was now taken to a different place. A more innocent place where she may have seen the difference in the color of their skin, but was more enamored by the fact that this girl, this dancer, has similar hair to that of her aunt.

Now if we could all see through the innocence of a child's eyes, the world would be a more beautiful place.

A Look Back 7/10 - 7/16

Friday, 7/10:

• Got my hair cut. I decided to go back to my beloved pixie cut. This time though, keeping the front a little longer than I've had in the past. I was going to let my hair grow to the middle of my back or longer, but was getting annoyed by the mid length. I think I look my best with really long hair or really short. Also, I tend to hide behind long hair. I feel more confident with it short. I'll probably always keep it short now instead of my constant back and forth I've been doing since I was seventeen. And seriously - I lost two pounds just chopping it off!

Saturday, 7/11:

This is what a real mom of multiples looks like!

• Decided it was time to go grocery shopping when I used one of the last diapers for Killian and Piper after we ate breakfast. Luckily we had enough diapers to last through his morning blow-out. Sanitize wash kind of day.
• Dropped the kids off at my parent's house so Dan and I could go shopping without distraction. After unloading the groceries at home, we went back to my parent's to have dinner. My sister's boyfriend was there and this was the first time we met him. After dinner, Lily had to go #2. After helping her wipe her butt, this was the conversation...

Lily: "Does everybody want to see my poopoo?" 

Me: "I don't think everybody wants to see your poopoo."

Lily: Maybe not everybody, but somebody wants to see my poopoo."

Me: "Well, maybe you should ask if anybody wants to see it."

Lily: Now out of the bathroom and in the dining room, goes up to my sister's boyfriend, "Do you want to see my poopoo?" 

Me: Laughing silently. Sadly not embarrassed by this question coming out of my 3 year old's mouth. I am a true mom. 

Sunday, 7/12:

• We revisited a park at an Elementary School close to where we used to live before buying our house. The memories came back to the days where we watched Lily slide down a slide for the first time, and the times we took the ten minute walk from our apartment so Lily could play. At least this park isn't too far away. I really like it and will want to go back more often.

Monday, 7/13:

• Killian and Piper turned 9 months old. Took the monthly shots. All my babies are getting so big.

Tuesday, 7/14:

• Lily turned 3-1/2 years old. She's so beautiful, inside and out.
• Took Killian and Piper to the doctor for their 9 month checkup. Here are the stats:

Killian is 25 pounds, 14 ounces, 29 inches

Piper is 22 pounds, 1 ounce, 28 inches 

• The pediatrician thinks I'm lying when I tell her what they eat during the day. She thinks I'm overfeeding them, but I'm not. They eat three times a day: 22oz of formula a day, 1/4 cup of cereal (rice) + 1/2 banana or 1oz applesauce each for breakfast, 4oz of vegetables each for lunch, and 1/4 cup of cereal (oatmeal) each for dinner which I'll now be replacing with a protein. How is that over feeding them? I like their pediatrician, she was my pediatrician, but I think it's time to look for another. At least to get another opinion about their weights and hopefully someone who doesn't make faces when I tell them exactly what I feed my babies.

Wednesday, 7/15:

• Lily likes looking at this book we have - 100 First Words. She, for some reason likes it as her bedtime book. This was a fun moment in parenting...

Lily: "That a goose. What do goose eat?"

Me: "Umm. I think grass or corn."

Lily: "No."

Me: "No? So what do they eat, then?"

Lily: "Maybe... little girls don't go to bed."

Me: "They eat little girls that don't go to bed?"

Lily: "Yes."

Alrighty then. Sounds good to me!

• Took some videos... 

I love how Killian tries to put the pacifier back into Piper's mouth.

I love how Piper seems to be like, "Wait a sec. This isn't mine. Here Killian, take yours back." And Killian's all like, "Nah. I'm good. I got yours now."

Thursday, 7/16:

• I am officially ten pounds lighter than I have been since before I got pregnant with Lily. That's right! I haven't weighed what I weigh for four plus years. It feels good but I'm not done. Still not feeling my best, so I will continue on my path.

Just Don't Do It

A picture from Uncanny Annie's facebook page seems to be making the rounds on social media and I thought I might put my two cents in, for what it's worth. Being a mom of twins has definitely opened my eyes to a world that I never knew existed when my daughter (now 3-1/2 years old) was a baby. It's so different being out and about with twins, and I'm not talking about all the stuff I lug around. No, it's the comments and looks from complete strangers. So I had a thought, for all you people out there that think it's OK to ask personal questions to a mom of twins (or more), this is how it would be if you asked the same kind of questions to a singleton mom:

You would never think to ask a mother of a singleton how she conceived, so let's look at the questions I get asked on a regular basis when I'm out with my twins and 3 year old. BUT instead of looking at the questions as they are asked about twins, let's look at them as they would be asked about a singleton. Yes, may seem ridiculous, but so are the questions...

I was in Kohl's the other day with all three of my kids. My three year old happily jumping around the racks of clothes while my twins were happily playing with their stroller toys. I was shopping for me, something I rarely do these days, but I needed a dress for an upcoming wedding. So there I am, minding my own business and, no exaggeration, every person that I passed or who passed me stared at my twins and/or made a comment. Sometimes the comments were to me, sometimes they were to my three year old, and other times they were just out there in the air for me to hear or not. Three different women asked my three year old, "So, your the big sister? How nice that you got two baby brothers to look after." Uh, my twins are clearly boy/girl. So I don't put bows in my twin daughter's hair, but I dress her in girly clothes. On this particular day, my son was wearing a Star Wars shirt and dark gray shorts, and my twin daughter was wearing a turquoise tank with a pink, purple, and yellow polka dotted skirt. Clearly anyone who just glanced at my babies could tell they were different sexes. These three women though, were blind. They had to be.

Then there was the woman who told me, as she was touching my twin's feet, that she knew a set of twins once. Oh, good for you! I just smiled and slowly backed my stroller up so she would get the hint to "Stop touching my babies with your dirty stranger hands!" Seriously, don't ever touch a baby or a child unless you know the mother or father personally.

OK, I think I made my point here. For all of you who still don't get it, let me recap:

1. It's very nice that you are curious about twins, but please refrain from asking personal questions. It's rude and frankly non of your business. If you're that curious about how twins are conceived or if twins run in families, look it up on the internet. Just don't ask us.
2. Don't touch my kids. It makes me uncomfortable and it makes my kids uncomfortable. Unfortunately, most kids are too naive or respectful of adults to tell the person not to touch. Also, you might get bitched out by the mom. Sorry not sorry. Those are my kids and you are a stranger. Just don't do it.
3. Don't get pissy because all of us twin mommies (or triplet, quads, etc) don't want most of the attention when we are out and about. Give us a break. We're lucky to even be out and about. Don't bombard us with questions we don't really care to answer. Always think, "Would I be asking this mom the same questions if she just had one baby?" If the answer is yes, then it might be OK to ask, but if the answer is no, just don't do it. 
4. Look, I am very aware that some women may feel the need to ask certain questions because of their own personal reasons/struggles and I feel for you. Believe me, I went through so much pain and heartache to have my three babies. But that doesn't mean I want to discuss my trials with every stranger EVERY SINGLE TIME I leave my house. That's why some women write blogs. Look some up on the internet if your curious about other women's reproductive journeys. That's what it's there for.
5. Lastly, if you are to make a comment, please be respectful and make it quick. We really just want to get in and get out of wherever we are before the next feeding or tantrum pursues.

Thank you for reading!

A Look Back 7/3 - 7/9

Friday, 7/3:

• Conversation at 12:45 in the morning... 

Lily: "Lily so drinky. So long since I eat."

Me: "You're thirsty?"

Lily: "Yeah. Lily drinky. Check my temturer." **Takes the forehead thermometer and scans forehead**

Lily: **Shows thermometer to me** "4-0-5, Mommy."

Me: "Oh yes. 4-0-5. I see. Big temperature."

• Lily had a dentist appointment. It was a normal cleaning but I did have a concern about a black spot on her back left molar. Yup... a cavity. Ugh! A three year old with a cavity? Are you serious? Now she has to get a filling. I wrote a post about it HERE.
• In minivan with Lily, stopped at a red light...

Lily: "Mommy! That a nice house!"

Me: "What house?"

Lily: "That. Is that a house?" **Points to a 7-Eleven**

Me: "No. That's a store."

Lily: "Oh." 

Saturday, 7/4:

• Went out to my aunt's house in Greenport. Saw the tall ships... from afar. Didn't want to spend the day online waiting to get on one. 
• Lily went on the carousel with Dan, my sister Jackie, and my dad. She insisted on sitting on a white horse. When she saw a kid get on a white horse, she started to cry saying it was her horse.

• My brother let me have a sip of his beer. I wanted to drink it all. Actually, I wanted to pour some over vanilla ice cream, crawl up on the couch hugging the bowl, breathing in the delicious aroma that is root beer, and getting drunk in the process. A mom can dream, right?

Sunday, 7/5:

• Went to a birthday party for a girl I went to school with's son who was turning four. It was a Mickey Mouse party and they had a Mickey character there. Lily was so happy because she loves Mickey Mouse. While she was standing near him, she kept calling his name and asking him if he wanted some lemonade. 

Monday, 7/6:

• Hung out with a friend I haven't seen since I was pregnant with my twins. I think she enjoyed playing at the park more than Lily!

Tuesday, 7/7:

• Killian and Piper were in a pool for the first time. A little sitting pool, but a pool non-the-less. They liked it... I think. They didn't complain, not even when Killian spit up. So gross!

Wednesday, 7/8:

• Lily has been very observant about what she thinks is dangerous. While watching Disney's Tarzan, she kept saying, "Mommy, that danaous." Yes, Lily, don't ever "surf" on a tree limb. That is definitely "danaous!" She cracks me up!!

Thursday, 7/9:

•  Killian & Piper had their first ride in a swing! Piper seemed to really enjoy it. Every time the swing stopped, she kicked her legs, wanting to swing some more. Killian, on the other hand, didn't quite know what to make of it. He was actually swinging it himself. He kept moving his body a little back and forth. I think he was a little scared.

•  I had all three in the kitchen with me while I was preparing dinner. I needed to keep an eye on them, especially Lily who likes to think she is big enough to pick up and move Killian and Piper. While they were playing with Lily's magnetic alphabet toy, this happened...

• Killian loves his feet. Actually, he loves everybody's feet. Here's a short video of him telling me that...

A Cavity?

Lily eating yogurt

Lily actually likes brushing her teeth. She doesn't eat too many sweets. She loves drinking water and only has a small juice box once a day at dinnertime. She would rather eat vegetables than anything else, so why? Why does my little three year old girl have a cavity?

My heart sank deep into my chest as the dentist confirmed what I already guessed. The very small black dot on Lily's back, left molar is in fact, a cavity. "How does a three year old get a cavity?" I asked the dentist as she was finishing up her exam. "Lack of brushing or not brushing good enough. Mom, you really need to help her when she brushes. Do you?"

I felt like I failed in some way, or at least, that's how she made me feel. Fact is, I do help Lily brush her teeth. I help her every morning and every night. Lily brushes, then I brush. I also pay close attention to that back, left molar because six months ago, the dentist mentioned they were keeping an eye on it. So have I failed as a parent? As a mother?

I made the appointment for Lily's filling and got out of the office as quickly as I could. I was a little embarrassed, truth be told. I felt like I was being judged. In my head, all I could think was, "I actually do brush Lily's teeth with her twice a day. I know some parents who have such a hard time getting their kids to brush even just once a day. Why is Lily the one who gets the cavity?" When I got home I did some research on cavities in toddlers. I found out that I wasn't the only parent questioning why this occurs.

I found out that dentists will blame the parent. They blame lack of brushing. They blame not flossing. That definitely is part of it, but there could be another reason why a three year old can get a cavity - family history. Read this article: The Surprising Truth About Cavities posted on parents.com.

So I'm not a failure. Sure, I could floss more with her, but really? She's three. I'm lucky I get a chance to actually brush her teeth since she loves brushing them all by herself like a big girl. She likes to floss, but when I say it's my turn, she has a fit. "Lily big girl! Lily do it! Not Mommy! Lily!" Yes... all exclamation points!

So we go back next month to get the cavity filled. Now I have to make the choice of having them attempt to fill it with or without nitrous oxide. Things I wish I didn't have to worry about. As a parent, I can only assume there will be so many things I will be worrying about and this is just one grain of salt from the bottle of life.

A Look Back 6/26 - 7/2

• Friday, 6/26: Killian and Piper have been paying attention to one another a lot lately. I caught this on video...

• Saturday, 6/27: Pulled off Dan's surprise Star Wars 40th Birthday Party. Killian and Piper were amazing with all the people in our house. Didn't cry once. Lily was amazing as well. She was such a good sharer of her toys. So proud of her. I posted a blog about what I did for the party HERE.

Dan NEVER comes in the side door, but of course, decides to do it on this day.

• Sunday, 6/28: Lily begged for the ice cream man. Stopped the ice cream man. Lily got a vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles. Took two licks of it and said, "Lily done. Tummy says, 'Thank you. I full.'"
• Piper's the sleepy princess. Caught this on video...

• Monday, 6/29: Lily has a dentist appointment this week but on one of my calendars it said, "Thursday at 11:30am" and on another calendar it said, "Friday at 11:30am." So I called the dental office and they said her appointment is on Friday at 12:30pm. Uh. OK. This is an example of mommy brain.
• Killian and Piper were in their cribs alone in the bedroom and I heard laughing. I poked my head in and they were facing each other, both on their bellies, making the other laugh. First time I have heard them communicating like that. Wish I caught that on video. 
• Tuesday, 6/30: Woke up feeling OK but as the day went on I felt more and more sick. Horrible ear pain and terrible pain when I swallowed. I was also getting dizzy and had tightening in my chest. At 5:45pm I took my temperature and it was 101.2º. I figured I shouldn't wait to go to the doctor since if I was contagious with something I didn't really want to get the whole house sick. Turns out they couldn't find anything wrong. I hate that! The doctor did say that it may just be too early for the strep test to come back positive. There may just not be enough bacteria to detect strep at this point. Because of my symptoms though, he treated it as strep and now I'm on antibiotics for ten days. I just hope no one else gets sick, especially Lily, Killian, and Piper.
• Caught this on video, Killian giving Piper a pillow...

• ... and this where Lily gives raspberries to everyone and everything...

• Thursday, 7/2: Lily has been saying, "Oh my God, Oh my God." It's the funniest thing. She scraped her knee Wednesday, so today, Thursday, she said, "Oh my God. Look at my booboo. Oh my God." I tried not to laugh in front of her.
• At bedtime, Lily has the realization she, too will get a period...

Lily: "When Lily bigger girl, Lily have blood like you."

Me: "What?"

Lily: "Lily have blood like Mommy. One day. Not now. When Lily big girl like Mommy."

Me: "Yes, yes you will." **laughing so hard in my head**