Six weeks

All babies look alike but some look funnier than others. Except when you're their Mama. Then they are the most beautiful baby to ever enter creation. 

Here's a look at my four beautiful creations at around 6 weeks.

Claire

Sophia

See the sisterly resemblance? Sophia thinks they look so much alike that soon we'll have a hard time telling them apart. Not in pictures, but in person. 

And these next two are supposedly twins. I wouldn't believe it myself except for the damage that was inflicted on my body carrying them around for nine months.

Max

Alex

Yup, they're fraternal.

Ohhh La La Mamasita!

Sophia is our resident artiste.  The girl could spend hours upon hours cranking out colorful renderings of our family, trees, hearts, flowers, disembodied faces that demonstrate how angry she is at me, butterflies and on and on. The latest example is a picture entitled "Mommy and Daddy in Luv".  I think it's wonderful that she associates our relationship with love but also that she had the good sense to "airbrush" me a little. I haven't looked so slim AND curvy  since senior prom! 

Additionally she is learning to write her name so she signed the piece with a big, crooked "S" in between the mommy, daddy and the giant heart. Just like Sophia to put herself in the middle of all the love! 

A "First" that I Can Fall in Love With

Shhhhhhh...Do you hear that? Come a little closer.  Closer..... Closer..... There.                           

Still nothing?

Let me turn up the mic a little...

Okay now? 

Can you hear it?

What you're listening to is the whispy, beautiful, enchanting sound of silence. 

(Oh, how I've missed you old friend!)

This newfound treasure (albeit fleeting) is the heavenly result of another first in the Trouble on The Double Household. 

Three small children playing together. Nicely. Quietly even. In their own room.

Yup. Alone. Sans Mommy. Without Parental supervision. Solo.

Before you speed dial CPS let me describe how very adequately baby proofed this particular room is. 

All toys small enough to shove into one's little mouth, nose or ear removed.--- Check

Outlet covers tight and secure--- Check

Toy boxes without lids so as to avoid a potential suffocation hazard-- Check

All heavy furniture secured to the wall-- Check

All strings,  belts, window cords and shoelaces removed so as to avoid strangulation---Check

All knives, razors, prescription drugs, household chemicals, pools, trampolines, matches, scissors, rabid dogs and poison ivy removed from the premises--- Check!

 The place is so safe it may as well be a rubber room. 

So back to the "First". 

This morning while in my bathroom making myself look like I haven't age twenty years in the last 18 months beautiful I realize that the wee ones have stopped trying to climb up my pant leg and have exited the room.  A little alarmed by their sudden streak of independence, I follow the trail of Legos down the hall and as I get closer to the boys room I hear what sounds like the voice of a very seasoned summer camp counselor. 

"Okay Kids! First we've going to set up a tent. Then we'll get into our sleep bags, then tell spoooooky stories and roast marshmallows by the fire. Anyone have any questions?!?"

In response I hear "DADOUN DADOUN" and then a scurry of activity.

(DADOUN DADOUN is about as advanced as the boy's vocabulary is from day to day. That and the occasional "Hot!" or "NO!")

Despite the language barrier all three campers were working together to make the best of their "woodland campsite". They were enjoying time together, peacefully. Without needing a parental figure to step in and moderate. 

So I left. 

And finished getting ready. By myself.... Took my sweet time even!

I have to admit that I did check on them every few minutes (just to play it safe!) but they were so engrossed in their game they never became distracted by my presence.

I'm sure the type of quiet, cooperative play I witnessed today will be rare, especially as the boy's start developing their own ideas for how a camping trip should go down. But as for today I'll treasure the sound of silence and the sight of Sophia, Alex and Max experiencing the joy of having each other.

 

A Little Bit Like Old Times

Wasn't I at one time that overachieving Mom who had daily "learning activities" planned for my daughter? Things like indoor finger painting (with subsequent framing and hanging of art), tea parties and picnics in the living room (complete with finger food we cooked as a team!) or even construction of mini collages from old magazines to illustrate that day's lesson or even better the "letter" of the week.

Wasn't it true that at one time Sophia watched less then thirty minutes of tv (per DAY!) and spent the rest of her time out in the world filling that ever expanding little brain of hers with new experiences via trips to the library, children's museum, zoo, park and Mommy and Me classes?

Didn't I once create a list of "must do" activities from a book entitled "100 Games Smart Babies Play" with the goal of playing all 100 games by the time she was three?


Seventeen months after the boy's arrival and I vaguely remember being "that" Mom. The kind of I'm-never-without-my-lipstick Mom who has time to sit in her very tidy home and quietly plan her weekly goals and lessons not unlike a model preschool teacher.

Sophia on the other hand has not forgotten. She relished life as an only and all the fun, entertaining, purposeful activities she and I used to enjoy. She loved going on outings every day, not watching quite as much tv ( okay so she's probably fine with all the tv watching) and getting loads more individual time.

Sigh. If only I had been a lousy mom all along, she'd never know the difference. I could kick myself for not being more forward thinking!

But now that I am starting to have little more breathing room, and because I have given up caring what the kitchen looks like, I'm reincorporating PROJECT TIME!! back into our afternoons. So far this month we've painted and decorated terra cotta planters, used finger paints, splatter painted with water colors, written "letters" to our family and cooked together for snack time. Admittedly not as well thought out as in our pre-twin life but fun mom and Sophia time all the same.

Since she was nostalgic for Disneyland last week I tried to incorporate that into our projects. Here's a picture of the themed snack we made.

A yummy nod to a certain license protected character.


Even during PROJECT TIME! she has to be fabulous.


Since she was eating a face off her plate she insisted on not using her hands.

Reason #446,172 For Why I Love being S.A.M's Mommy: Baby Tacos

If you've never wrapped a warm, giggly, sweet smelling baby into a soft towel and then snuggled and loved on said baby then sweetheart you are missing out! Add it to your bucket list and do it as often as you get the chance. It's definitely one of those little joys in mothering that makes up for all the other crap that gets directed your way throughout the day..almost. That and twice a day naps (for the babies! I'm lucky if I get 10 minutes to sit down) but who's keeping score?

Here are my own yummy tacitos in May 2008 & today after a good time at the pool.
(Yes, they have been outdoors quite a bit this summer..as evidenced by their brown little legs).

Puppy Love

Cupid's arrow struck Alex hard. The moment he spotted those strawberry blond curls and baby blue eyes he was smitten. He ran across the playground, dodging swings, past sliding five year olds and avoiding Nerf balls in order to get a better look. At first he was shy, exchanging goofy glances from behind my legs. But after a few mutual smiles and undecipherable words exchanged, he went for it wrapping both his arms around her tightly. At first she laughed. Smiled. Cooed even. But thirty seconds later she was over the love affair and wanted nothing more than to run away. Alex, however, was still in love. For the remainder of her time at the park he chased behind her, intermittently trying to hug her, kiss her, and woo her with gifts of sippie cups and fish crackers. Not even the old "pulling her hair" trick could regain her attention. Alex was crushed. Finally it was time for her to leave the park, Alex waved sadly as her mother wheeled her away in a stroller. Yet heartbroken as he was to have loved and lost, he soon discovered two "older" girls, three years old both, who were more than happy to dote on a charming, smiling 16 month old boy. Alex was in love again.

He has a lot to learn about wooing a lady!

Overheard in Our House.....

Said in a voice reminiscent of Bogart in Casablanca's final scene....

"I love you Dora... You too, Monkey Boots." "Now come here so I can give you a lil' smooch".

If only Mom could get such love!