Catch Up

Here are some catch-up pics from the past couple of weeks. I know I haven't posted in awhile....I have been going through detox from two years of election hooplah. Starting from the top:

1. Dress-up at Mily's

2. Thomas' first cotton candy at Norah's birthday party

3. Burger King with Linda, Elizabeth Parker, and William

4. Thomas in heaven (train table, book store, DOORS!)

5. Carousel ride with Daddy at the zoo

Happy Halloween!!

T and E were very quick studies on the subject of trick or treating. They had a blast Halloween night, but David and I had a much greater time watching them.

First Hayride!

After a long week at home with a sick boy the twins and I joined playgroup for a hayride. We arrived early so all the kids could play outside and enjoy the weather before the ride. T and E were a little reserved on the hayride. Elizabeth was not crazy about the music. I admit it was a little loud, but the ride was nice.

Following the ride T and E picked out pumpkins to take home. As I paid for the pumpkins I turned to see Thomas eating an apple. He "shoplifted" for the first time. I quickly reached for my wallet while apologizing, but the nice lady wouldn't take my money. E started to get an apple for herself, but I told her they should share. They were so cute helping each other eat the apple...and obviously starving. That was my cue to take my kids home and feed them.

I love fall!!!! It's time to buy some mums and pansies!

Mommy Time

Thomas and Elizabeth rarely have one on one time with either David or me. So we have experimented with splitting them up some on the weekends. Last Sunday David took T to the zoo while I took E to the park. Yesterday, David took E to the zoo, and I took T to the park. It was nice getting Thomas out of the house after being cooped up all week with strep. It was a perfect fall morning....the sun was out, the sky was that bright fall blue, and there was a nice breeze. We had a wonderful time.

Privacy

We have sort of been working on potty training at our house. Tonight, while reading and sitting on her Elmo potty, Elizabeth asked me for privacy....my two year old asked for privacy. I granted her wish and then heard her ask the same from her brother.

Sick!

Thomas has strep. He is VERY sick. He has spent a lot of time on the couch with "montee" and blanket while watching Curious George on t.v.

Fall is Here!

It has finally started to cool off a little bit here in Guam, ahem, I mean South Carolina. After the twins woke up from their afternoon nap we went outside to enjoy the nice fall afternoon. They had such a good time and completely wore themselves out. There was very little chatter tonight after David and I turned their light off and shut their door:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

The twins decorated Daddy's birthday cake this afternoon and had an awesome time doing so. Gramps and Grandmother came to town today to help us celebrate. We all went out for dinner and then had cake and ice cream at home.

Preschool Update

Things have been crazy at the Hopkins' House since preschool started. It has been a huge adjustment for the twins and for me. I always assumed Elizabeth would have the toughest time adjusting, but I was wrong. Thomas has definitely had a much harder time than his big sister. For the first three weeks both of them screamed whenever I left them. Thomas would actually start tearing up....lips quivering.....as soon as we entered a parking spot. It was awful leaving them as they cried "mama, mama." However, they each reached their arms out for their teachers as they cried which was very comforting to me. T had trouble with each transition and cried for me with each change in activity. Their sweet teachers reported that each time Thomas cried Elizabeth would say, "Mama always comes back, Thompise." It warms my heart to think of Elizabeth trying to comfort her brother. I want them to be close and look out for one another.

So far, this has been week two of no crying at the classroom door or during transitions. Thomas actually ran and hugged Mrs. Christie on Tuesday. I'm glad to know he missed her.

T and E's language skills are growing exponentially each day. They are talking in full sentences now and continue to amaze with the things they say. Sometimes it takes me a couple of times to figure out what they are saying, but we usually end up on the same page. They both love to sing now. E really has a good memory when it comes to music and seems to remember words/phrases after hearing them only a couple of times. They both like to boss each other and are quick to let me know whenever the other one "is in trouble."

I can't believe how blessed we are to have them. They are both healthy and thriving.

Insurance Companies!@##$#@@!

I despise health insurance companies! I am convinced they work on the following mission statement:

Let's make things as difficult as possible for our customers so they just give up, see who they want where they want.....without looking at their plan......so we don't have to pay their benefits......but they ALWAYS have to pay their premium......

I don't know what the answer is to fix this multi-billion dollar business that is failing miserably. It is failing the patients who pay their premiums and the doctors who are trying to make a living by caring for their patients.

All I need is a lab to draw blood on my son. Guess what!!! There is one lab that my insurance will allow me to go to, and it is not where I live. It only took me 45 minutes on the phone to three different people to find this out. Granted, it could be worse. It could be 60 miles down the road. My point is why can't I CHOSE?????

Sorry......I am off my soapbox now.

Thomas' appointment went well today. I will post when I have more time;) It is time to get my sweet children up from their nap.

Popsicles, Friends, and Fun!

My friend Blair is always so good at getting us out of the house especially when David is out of town. She had us over for dinner tonight, and the pictures speak for themselves! Oh yeah....the grown ups had fun too.

Our First Ice Cream Cone!

Friday night we had dinner with friends, and it was fabulous! The kids had a great time playing with their friend Mily, Blair and I had a great time drinking sparkling wine and chatting, and David and Robbie had a good time discussing photograpy. After dinner the twins enjoyed their very first ice cream cone. Thomas devoured his while Mily and Elizabeth took their time.

Fun Times!

Bees and Butterflies

After nap this afternoon we all went outside to take a family picture. As David was getting his photography "stuff" ready Thomas and Elizabeth were running through the lantana chasing each other, bees, and butterflies. They were both laughing hysterically and having a great time. Later tonight during bath time Thomas and I had the following conversation:

Me: What was your favorite part of the day today....what did you like best?

T: Bees and butterflies.

I love being able to have meaningful conversations with my children.

The Language of T and E

E's Language:

Doodie Mama -- translation -- Cookie Monster

DupDup -- translation -- Blanket

Thompise -- translation -- Thomas

T's Language:

Toowuh -- translation -- Too (ex: Elizabeth likes cookies toowuh)

Tookies -- translation -- Cookies

Wibeh -- translation -- Elizabeth

The First Day of Preschool

Tuesday was the twins first day of preschool. David and I both took them and walked them to their classroom. Mrs. Christie met us at the door as we hung up back-packs and deposited diapers and cups. We gave kisses, and I said my standard phrase, "Mama always comes back," and off they went. My eyes immediately started to well up with tears which completely shocked me because I am not a "cryer." Neither T nor E saw me crying....thank goodness. I could hear Thomas crying through the closed door as David and I left. I honestly expected a phone call around 10:00 am to go pick them up, but I did not. T and E made it until pick-up time which is noon.

David and I both went to pick Thomas and Elizabeth up. We could see them through the door sitting in the circle with their papers. They looked SO big as we watched them. Mrs. Christie reported that E cried off and on all morning which I expected. This was a HUGE day for them....a gigantic adjustment for them as well as for me. The adjustment may take awhile, but I feel this experience will be so good for them.......

Alabama v Clemson

David got last minute tickets to the Alabama v. Clemson game in Atlanta this past Saturday night. We drove down to Atlanta Saturday morning, dropped the twins off at Gramps' and Grandmother's house, and headed downtown. We had a great time at the game while the twins had a great time with their grandparents and great Uncle Jimmy.

Hey Hog Fans, notice my shirt? A couple of AL fans noticed it, and told me I was at the wrong game. I had two responses: "Hey, I am supporting the SEC" and/or "I married into Alabama."

Big Day

I took Thomas and Elizabeth to meet their preschool teachers today. They were a little overwhelmed by it all. They start school on Tuesday. This is going to be a huge adjustment for them....for me too. I do feel like they will love school once they get used to being away from me. I hope they adjust to the change quickly.

Fun Day!

This morning I took Thomas and Elizabeth to a place called Fun Zone. It was full of those huge bouncy contraptions, and they had all shapes and sizes including a castle, basketball court, jungle, etc. We....and I do mean we....had a blast (adults are allowed to get in/on with their children). We jumped, climbed, slid, and ran for a solid hour. When it was time to go Thomas' face was red, and he had sweat beads on his little nose. Elizabeth's hair had twice as many curls as when we left the house. I was just plain sweaty. We left Fun Zone and headed to a park on the Saluda River for a picnic. We were recapping the morning's events, and Thomas said it best:

"Wibeh had fun. Thomas had fun. Mommy had fun."

Our picnic at the park was fantastic. T and E were so excited about it and talked about it all morning as we got ready to leave the house. We didn't get to spread our quilt because of some morning rain showers, but we found a dry picnic table with a view of the river. It wasn't too hot, and we had lots of shade. We ate our lunch and talked about our surroundings. Thomas decided a nearby lawn mower was, "too loud," while Elizabeth pointed out birds she saw. I enjoyed watching my children and listening to them talk. They are such sponges right now. It is amazing to watch.

twinchronicles.com

Just because twinchronicles.blogspot.com seemed sooo long, you no longer have to key those nine extra characters.... Twin Chronicles has it's own domain now!

Amazed....

Thomas and Elizabeth amaze me daily with new things they say and things they remember. They are pretty much talking in sentences now, and it blows me away. Today, I asked E if she would close a door for me. She said, "Close door," and gave it her best shot. I didn't think she was tall enough to do it but was curious. When she couldn't do it I asked, "Are you too little?" She replied, "too yitta." So, I asked T if he could close it for me. Elizabeth thought about this as we walked into the kitchen. She then looked up at me and said, "Yi Yi too yitta...my Thompise close dough-uh." (Translation: Elizabeth too little...my Thomas close door) She has become the caretaker of her brother by both reminding him of rules (ex: "No, Thompise....no open door....wait Mommy."), and offering her help when he is distressed (ex: Need hep, Thompise?) I absolutely LOVE watching them interact with each other.

Thomas thinks his sister is SO funny. He laughs at her and says, "Wibby funny." The other day I had to take T to the hospital for a CT scan (long story) while David stayed home with E. They are rarely apart from one another. Thomas asked for his sister several times while we were waiting for our turn. He kept saying, "Where Wibby, where Wibby?" He was very happy to see her when we got home. T and E love each other and play well together. They are also pretty good at fighting with each other too. I guess that means they are typical, normal brother and sister.

Life is good.....

American Idol 08?

Elizabeth loves The Beach Boys and requests them daily. Lately, she has begun singing along with the music. Here are a couple of her favorite phrases:

"........pink slip Daddy."

"Don't worry, baby."

"Help me, Rhonda....help help me, Rhonda"

Is it time to start thinking about entering her into American Idol????

Thank You Notes

T and E's birthday thank you notes have taken me longer than usual this year, and it is for a good reason. I wanted to have some thank you notes with a "doodle" of the twins. I kept forgetting to order them.....and kept forgetting....Anyway, I have them ordered and am so proud of them I wanted to post their "doodle" on our blog along with the website from which I ordered them.

Here is the website:

www.sugarlumpstationary.com

Two Year Checkup

I can't believe Elizabeth and Thomas are two years old. One would never guess by looking at them now that they were preemies who spent time in the NICU. I took them for their two year old Well Visit last Friday, and we received a good report. Elizabeth is 33 1/4 inches tall, weighs 24 pounds and one ounce, and has a head circumference of 18 1/2 inches. Thomas is 34 3/4 inches tall, weighs 26 pounds and five ounces, and has a head circumference of 19 inches. They have both grown a little over two inches in four months!!! Isn't that amazing? Two inches!! I was just thinking how their slide looked shorter/smaller than when we bought it, but I guess it is because our children have gotten bigger (haha).

All other areas of development are on target....they are running, climbing stairs, putting several words together, etc. I love watching them communicate, and they seem so proud of themselves when they communicate effectively. As a speech pathologist I have felt pride and happiness for my students as I watched them learn and develop communication skills, but it pales in comparison to what I feel while watching my own children. They constantly amaze me with their observations and the ability to communicate what they observe....the things they remember from recent past experiences.

Motherhood is so rewarding! I feel so blessed to get to stay at home and watch my kids grow and learn.

Birthday Weekend

I have been meaning to write about the twins' birthday weekend for awhile now but just haven't had the time. This year's party was much more low key than last year with fewer guests. With the rising cost of gasoline I didn't expect our families to be able to make the trip to SC. Even though we missed many family members we still had a great birthday weekend with some family, friends, and couple of neighbors.



The festivities began with the arrival of some dear friends of mine from Georgia, Emmett and Marcia. I used to work with Marcia and haven't seen her since I was pregnant with E and T. It was great seeing her and her husband, and I was so glad they finally got to meet the twins. Next came Gramps and Grandmother Jane and Uncle Jimmy (who drove all the way from Virginia JUST for the party) who all stayed the weekend with us. Gramps and Grandmother went blueberry picking with us and then babysat while Uncle Jimmy went birthday shopping with David and I.



The birthday party was a hit. I wondered how the Thomas and Elizabeth would react to their guests, but shouldn't have worried. Our neighbors Ron and Meg came with their children Ava and Cole, and Eddie and Linda came with their grandchildren Elizabeth and William. The kids enjoyed jumping in/on the Jump N Slide inflatable bouncer. Thomas and Elizabeth enjoyed being sung to and loved their Elmo cake. Thomas devoured his cake and ice cream while Elizabeth only took a few bites. The presents were great, the food was delicious, and the company was awesome. I must say the entire weekend was a hit.

I can't believe T and E are two years old. Time has flown the past twelve months. David and I grow more in love with our children each day and can't imagine life without them.

Favorites

At age two Thomas and Elizabeth have developed several "favorites."

Favorite characters: Elmo and Curious George
Favorite movie: Elmo's Potty Movie
Favorite toys: Tool Bench (Thomas)
Baby and diapers (Elizabeth)
Favorite food: Waffles (Elizabeth)
Blueberries (Thomas)
Favorite music: The Beach Boys.....yes....they request the Beach Boys


They are sort of going through a phase where they would rather "read" themselves rather than have me read to them. It makes me sad. I miss reading to them.

Blueberries!!!

Last Friday the MOMs club had an outing to a blueberry farm. Gramps and Grandmother were up for the fun so we took Thomas and Elizabeth for a little blueberry picking. I wasn't sure how much they would like picking blueberries.....I knew Thomas would LOVE eating them....wasn't sure what Elizabeth would think. All my skepticism went out of the window as soon as we arrived. We each had our own buckets, and as soon as I showed T and E how to pick and instructed them to only pick the blue ones NOT the green ones they were off to the races. Every blueberry Thomas picked went straight into his tummy....none in the bucket unless Gramps or Grandmother put them in. Elizabeth loved picking the berries. She kept saying, "I right here, I right here," to let me know where she was. She was the cutest blueberry picker east of the Mississippi (I know I am partial). We finally had to stop picking because of the heat and the ever increasing size of Thomas' belly. We picked three pounds of blueberries among the five of us. We froze some and ate some.

Grandmother taught me how to make a blueberry cobbler, and I made one Wednesday with the berries we picked as a family. It was delicious, especially once topped with some vanilla ice cream.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELIZABETH AND THOMAS! You are two years old today.

Mama and Dada love you.

Arkansas Pics

Arkansas

We have been back home for a couple of weeks now, but I haven't had time to post. Thomas and Elizabeth were really tired upon our arrival and needed several days to catch up.....so did I. We had a wonderful visit with family in Arkansas. I got lots of quality time with my nieces and nephew and kept them during the day while we were there. Thomas and Elizabeth really enjoyed their cousins and learned all of their names. Thomas fell in love with Aunt JoJo and quickly learned to say he was "JoJo's boy." David was not excited about hearing that and is still trying to re-program him to say he is "Dada's boy." The entire trip flew by with lots of summer time fun. We went to one of Cullom's baseball games, swam in Unc and Aunt Angie's pool, went to Cullom and Caroline's birthday party, rode on a tractor with Uncle Mark, played outside in the dirt.....lots of dirt, played in the water hose, danced to High School Musical hits with cousins, went swimsuit shopping for Mama in Jonesboro (fun for T and E....NOT fun for Mama), had lunch and ice cream at Franny and Grandaddy's house, rode a motorcycle with Uncle Chris (T did, not E), ate homemade dewberry cobbler.....the list goes on and on.

It was so nice being home for 10 days. It was so peaceful out in the country, and even in the metropolis of Osceola things moved at a much slower pace than here in SC. I never get to see or visit all of the people I want to when planning a trip home, and each visit seems to go by faster. It is strange seeing how quickly my nieces and nephews are growing and quite frankly, how my parents and grandparents are aging. I miss them all so much and want my children to know them.....really know them.

Happy Father's Day!

David chose to spend Father's Day at the zoo so we were there when the doors opened. The weather was quite nice in that it was overcast and sprinkled on us a few times. We saw lots of animals, and David took lots of pictures with his new lense (he hasn't gotten to use it since he got it for Christmas). Thomas and Elizabeth tasted their very first "Icee" and tried to learn how to use a straw.....haven't mastered that skill quite yet. We had a wonderful day together as a family.

Happy Father's Day, Dada!

Pictures from our GA visit

The twins and I had a wonderful time visiting Gramps and Grandmother in GA. We took lots of walks and met many neighbors. We played outside, inside, had lots of storytime, and ate lots of homecooked meals. Thomas adored Belle their black lab. He scratched her belly, gave her lots of "pat-pats" and tried to imitate her bark. Elizabeth was a little afraid of Belle at first but warmed up to her pretty quickly. We met some friends of Tom (Gramps) and Jane's (Grandmother) for dinner on our last night. Thomas and Elizabeth love to go out, and they acted like perfect angels at the dinner table.

I enjoyed the adult company and the help and felt completely at home. We look forward to seeing them for Thomas and Elizabeth's upcoming birthday party.

We love and miss you, Gramps and Grandmother!

Heat Wave

Yes, the news is right. We are having a HEAT WAVE here on the east coast. It has been 99 and 100 degrees here for the past couple of days. The air conditioner has run non-stop, but it rarely gets below 78 degrees inside the house. David and I bought the twins a new slide on Saturday and put it to use that afternoon. We quickly realized it was too hot to be outside so David moved the slide inside after T and E went to bed last night. They were so happy and surprised to see it this morning and played on it most of the day.

And We're Off!!

Starting tomorrow the entire Hopkins family will be on the go for the month of June. David is headed to Seattle for a week while the twins and I are headed for Atlanta to visit Gramps and Grandmother Jane for the week. Following our Atlanta trip the twins and I will be flying to Arkansas for a week and a half to visit the Cullom side of the family. I am so anxious for everyone to see how much Thomas and Elizabeth have grown and how much they have learned. I am also anxious to see how the twins respond and interact with family members they haven't seen in quite a while.....months.



The truck is packed!

Storytime

This is how I spend so much of my day each and every day. Elizabeth and Thomas love books. They love to be read to and love to read to themselves. Elizabeth has memorized some of her favorite books including Uncle Gronkel's Busy Day, and Old MacDonald Had a Barn and reads them out loud over and over. We have books that have been taped and re-taped to keep them in one piece. So far Elizabeth and Thomas haven't torn up too many of their books, and we constantly try to teach them to be kind to their books. Whenever the twins are sick as they have been this past week I read certain books at least 20 times a day. I love to watch the twins' faces as they anticipate favorite phrases or events in each story.

I loved reading as a child and often read to my cat Coco. Grandaddy swears to this day that Coco could read. I read out loud and acted out the different characters parts and usually got embarrassed when a sibling walked in the room. I loved the world of "make believe" and imaginary characters and alternate universes. I still love to read though I don't have nearly as much time to do so. I miss getting lost in someone else's world....somone other than Mr. Gronkle or Humperdink, or Maisy. But oh how I love reading to my children and watching them as they learn and verbalize new words and ideas. I'm happy to see them share one of my passions and hope it continues as they grow.

I finally learned how to post pics today!!

Elizabeth has strep.....needless to say she is not feeling very well.





This picture was taken a week or so ago when the twins were feeling like themselves. This represents a favorite new game....climbing on the loveseat to play with the light switches.





Thomas got this maraca for his first birthday from Aunt JoJo, and it has become one of his favorite toys. We rarely see him without a maraca in his hand. In spite of having strep he was a very happy boy today.

Size Does Matter

I took Elizabeth and Thomas to Daylight Donuts this morning for a MOMS club outing. Who doesn't love donuts and what woman doesn't enjoy coffee with company? I decided to let the twins pick out their own donut. Elizabeth picked a regular size donut with pink icing and sprinkles.....a very girly choice. Thomas picked a cinnamon twist that was probably the biggest pastry in the entire case! I must say it looked delicious, and was definitely something I would have chosen for myself. Due to the size of Thomas' choice I decided I would just share with him. I figured there was no way my little boy could eat even half of what he chose. I was wrong....Thomas ate his ENTIRE half of the cinnamon twist and was covered from head to toe in sugar and cinnamon. There is no doubt he belongs to me:)

Charleston

We took the twins on their first trip to Charleston, SC over the weekend. It was a business/vacation trip for David, and we got to tag along. I must admit I was skeptical about going to Charleston with kids. We have been several times, and it is definitely an adult town with lots of nice restaurants, bars, and historical tours. Not to mention that it is an extremely old city with sidewalks that are not always stroller friendly...ahem...double-stroller friendly. With all that being said it was a wonderful trip. The weather was beautiful so we lathered Thomas and Elizabeth in sunscreen and walked all over the city with the twins each in his/her own umbrella stroller. David got some good pics of Thomas and Elizabeth chasing birds and squirrels and playing on cannon balls at the park at the Battery. I should mention that we went with a couple from Seattle, Greg and Kim and their two year old son Reese as well as a business associate named Itsuko. The twins had a blast playing with Reese. He is actually the first child I have ever seen T and E interact with. They watched his every move and tried to do whatever he did. They also asked for him whenever he wasn't around and are still asking about Reese. David and I have decided that it such an easy drive to Charleston we could just go for the day.....that we should go more often.



+++++++++++++++++++++++

Elizabeth went "tee tee" in the potty today! I bought a potty several weeks ago but haven't been very diligent in the potty training arena. Elizabeth is the only one of the two who has shown any interest and will sometimes tell me "tee tee" after she has already gone in her diaper. It is a start...I know. Last night before bed time we put T and E on the potty but nothing happened really....T sits for about one second and is then off to open/close a door....E usually sits for quite awhile but doesn't actually go. E did go tee tee in the floor and I quickly sat her on the potty where she finished...Yay! Today they each got a turn on the potty after their nap, and E went tee tee in the potty! I was so amazed, and so was she! T sat longer than one second --- maybe three seconds. I know we are far from being diaper free, but it is a start.

22 Months Old!

Thomas and Elizabeth are 22-months old today! They are so full of themselves these days saying new words, loving on each other, fighting with each other. They are most definitely wearing me out:) and filling my heart.

Thomas' obsession with doors continues though now he says, "doughaaa" as he spots one. He can spot a door anywhere....in books, on passing buildings, in grocery stores, at the zoo, etc. He also says, "no, no, no" whenever he touches something he is not supposed to (we can thank Mimi for teaching him that one). The CUTEST new word of his is "Wibeh".....his version of Elizabeth. I love to hear Thomas say his sister's name.

Elizabeth has started saying "no, no, no" as well....I guess she learned it from her brother. Her newest word she learned at lunch today...."wowor"....translation...yogurt.

We took E to the pediatric opthamologist yesterday because her eyes have started crossing with and without her glasses on. The doctor decided to increase her prescription since she is obviously trying really hard to focus.

They are growing by leaps and bounds!!

Thomas' First Broken Heart

We took Thomas and Elizabeth to the park today after eating out for lunch. They love, love the park. After swinging we went in search of "wa-wa." There is a winding creek with water falls and bridges throughout the park, and T and E will request finding the "wa-wa." As we journeyed to the first bridge Thomas spotted some balloons. Both T and E love balloons and can spot them from their car seats while traveling down the road. We headed toward the balloons and found a nice young woman decorating for her daughter's first birthday party. She was very generous and gave Thomas and Elizabeth each a balloon to play with. David wisely predicted the future at this point. We continued our journey as Thomas and Elizabeth played with their balloons. As predicted, Thomas' balloon popped.....gone....just like that. He looked around for it and burst into tears when he realized it was gone. His heart was clearly broken. He cried all the way back to the car. There was no consoling him...all attempts at redirection were futile. Elizabeth still had her balloon which only made things worse for Thomas. He cried most of the way home.

What a hard lesson for a toddler to learn. His balloon was gone. He didn't really understand why it happened......where it had gone. Thomas had a broken heart. There was nothing Mama or Dada could do to fix it. This was the first of many, I'm sure. Wish I could stop them all from happening, but that would be denying him the opportunity to develop character and strength...to learn how to deal with hardship and disappointment. Life is full of both.

I have said it before and will say it again. Parenting is the most humbling experience thus far.

My Mama

I have been crabby and a little homesick this week. My mama was here last week, and we had such a wonderful time. It was the first time mom had ever come for a visit by herself. She got lots of time with Thomas and Elizabeth and lots of "giving time." She is so generous....she would give me the shirt off her back if I said I liked it. I guess most mamas would do as such for their children. We had so much fun buying flowers for the yard, taking the twins to the zoo, playing outside. Thomas and Elizabeth had such a good time with their Mimi and sounded precious saying "Mimi, Mimi." They got her all to themselves on Friday. I went to an all day continuing education class in Columbia while Mama kept the twins. It felt extremely good to use my brain and be around other professionals. It felt good for my mom to get to spend the day with the twins. She was so funny....she got everything prepared and downstairs so she wouldn't have to take the twins back and forth until nap time. She had their toothbrushes and toothpaste in the guest bathroom, their clothes out on the couch, etc. I saw Thomas and Elizabeth as they woke up and told them "bye-bye" and "mama always comes back." They never missed a beat....no crying...I was SO glad.

Mama and David left on the same day. Mama back to Arkansas and David to Vegas for a few days. For several days now T and E have been saying, "Mimi, bye-bye." Poor David had to come home to a crabby, homesick wife.

It is time to plan a trip to the Delta.

Springtime Fun

Elizabeth and Thomas had a great time with their Nana and Grandpa Jim recently. Neither was too clingy to me though Elizabeth had her moments when she had to have only "mama help." They were only here for a couple of days, but the morning after they returned to Florida E and T both woke up saying "Nana?" I told them Nana had gone bye-bye so then they would say, "Nana bye-bye." It was really cute.

The weather has been so beautiful here lately, and we have stayed really busy with trips to the park, trips to the zoo, and lots of badly needed yard work. Thomas and Elizabeth love to "work" in the yard with mama and dada. Thomas found a caterpillar the other day and watched it for the longest time. I told him it was just like his book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, and it would eventually turn into a beautiful butterfly. The next day he looked for his caterpillar in the same spot, but it was gone.

This past Sunday we went on a family outing to the State House. It is breathtakingly beautiful....so old and lovely landscaping. Elizabeth loved the birds and was in constant search of them. She had a difficult time understanding why they flew away whenever she got close to them. Check out the photo gallery.....David got a great picture of the twins holding hands....definitely one I want to frame:)

We are welcoming my mom this evening for a week long visit. I have been telling T and E that "Mimi" is coming. I'm excited about spending some time with my mom as well as her getting to spend time with the twins.

Here's to a good week:)

Visitors!

After a pretty long visitor dry spell we have company coming. David's mom and stepdad are coming up Saturday to stay for a couple of days, and my mom will be here on Tuesday to stay for about a week. I'm looking forward to the company and to the twins' reactions to company. Elizabeth really bonded with my mom on our last visit to Arkansas. She would not hold my hand on a trip to the mall....she insisted on holding Mimi's finger. It was very cute, and my mom completely melted over the whole incident. I wonder if Elizabeth will remember Mimi.

Elizabeth, you can see!

Elizabeth got her glasses today. We talked about her glasses all the way to the optical shop but when it came time to put them on her sweet face E was not happy. The nice lady that helped us was very patient and got the glasses adjusted pretty quickly. She put a pair on me as well while E and I looked in the mirror. This seemed to help E decide to keep the glasses on long enough to see her reflection. I put her down to see what she would do. She was very deliberate with each step she took....extremely weird to watch. As soon as we got home I sat down to read with the twins. I wanted to show Elizabeth how much her glasses would help her read. I was also anxious to see her reaction. From that moment she decided she liked her glasses. She wore them for the rest of the day with no problem. She ran around the house, read books, played outside, went for a stroll...all with her glasses on her precious face.

I took some pics, but it will be a few days before I can post them. David is out of town, and I STILL don't know how to post pics on our blog.

Cute Factor

Elizabeth now makes her babies cry. She says, "waaa......waaaaa.......waaaa" and responds appropriately by loving them. It sounds and looks so cute!


On Tuesday night I took Thomas and Elizabeth to the Moms of Twins Club meeting because David was out of town. I unloaded them from the truck and realized I only had one hand for them to hold (I was holding food in the other hand). I grabbed Thomas' hand and told him to hold his sister's hand. They each grinned and held hands for about a second. I tried to tell him again and got the same response. Finally, I said, "Hold Elizabeth's hand like you hold Mommy's hand." It worked! They walked and held hands all the way to the church steps. It was just precious watching them! I wish I had it on video.


Elizabeth's glasses are in however we can't go get them. Both T and E have the flu. No cute pics with her new glasses for a while.

I'm an aunt.....again!

Karlee Malone was born at 1:05 Central Standard Time . She weighs 6lbs. 4oz. and is 19 inches long. She is beautiful! I can't believe my brother is a father. Congratulations, Sumner and Angie. You have just started a wonderful yet humbling journey. I love you and can't believe we aren't there to give Karlee a kiss.

Eye Appointment

David and I took Elizabeth and Thomas to a pediatric opthamologist this past Monday because I have a family history of amblyopia. In the brochure given to me by the doctor, amblyopia is defined as "poor vision in an eye that does not develop normal sight during early childhood." It is caused by any condition that affects normal use of the eyes and visual development, and in most cases is inherited. The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood. My sister has this condition and was not diagnosed until around age seven (I think) and is blind in one eye as a result. She was told by her opthamologist that all of our children should be tested around 18 months of age.

Anyway, we took the kids in to be tested. Both Thomas and Elizabeth behaved really well. Thomas wasn't crazy about the eye drops used to dilate his pupils, but we got through it. The doctor was wonderful....so soft spoken, patient, and laid back. Luckily, neither Thomas nor Elizabeth has amblyopia. However, Elizabeth is extremely farsighted and will have to wear glasses. The doctor put a lens up to both mine and David's eyes to give us an idea of what Elizabeth sees, and I was shocked. It was so blurry I couldn't make out anything. He asked had we ever suspected she might have trouble seeing, but neither one of us had. She loves to run and play and loves, loves, loves to "read" books. The doctor prescribed glasses but only for half the strength she needs so that her eyes will learn to focus. We will go back in July so he can check her vision again.

Elizabeth was really cute while trying on glasses. She kept saying "glasses" and "Dada".....she wanted to show him each pair. Once she got tired of trying them on she would say," uh-uh" and shake her head. Now I just watch her amazed at the things she can do while not being able to see very well. I guess she doesn't know any better.....it is how the world has always looked to her. I am anxious to see how she responds to her glasses. My guess would be the glasses will reinforce themselves.....being able to see with them on will make her want to wear them. In my experience as a speech pathologist that has been the case with students wearing hearing aids for the first time. We will see what happens.

Happy Birthday!

Thomas and Elizabeth are 20 months old now. They are at such a fun stage and seem so big and grown up. They eat from their own plates and are getting better at using utensils. They play and talk non-stop. Of course, most of their talking is their own language, but they are attempting more words each day. E and T keep David and I laughing constantly. E has suddenly become very attached to her pink monkey given to her by Gramps and Grandmother. She holds it smiling and says "Nini" which is how she says monkey. It is quite cute. Thomas uses the biggest question hands right now and is so deliberate when saying words. His eyes get really big and he looks so intently in our eyes making sure we are hearing him. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

I have registered Thomas and Elizabeth in a Methodist preschool for next year. They will go two days a week until noon. I am so excited about the whole experience for them. They will make friends, learn how to socialize with other adults....all without mama being there.


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David is out of town for a few days. He is actually in my "old stomping grounds."......Northwest Arkansas. How I would have loved to go on this trip with him though I know the area has changed SO much since I lived there. It has been seven years since I lived there....so hard to believe how quickly time passes and life changes. I am currently feeling very "middle aged". I look like hell when I wake up in the morning with puffy, saggy eyes. When did this happen? All of the sudden?

Amanda and I had an interesting conversation the other day about how different we are now compared to when we were 25ish. She recently went shopping with some twenty-somethings and was brought face to face with such differences.

Her trip went like this:
Amanda went straight to the sale racks.......twenty-somethings bought $160 jeans
Amanda buys black, tan, white.........twenty-somethings bought pinks, yellows, etc.


When exactly does it happen? At what age do we become so practical? I guess what is important to us changes. When I was 25 I was single and on my own spending money only on myself. Now I don't care as much about clothes and appearance but instead find delight in watching my children grow and learn.

HOME SWEET HOME

We are finally home from our adventures in Seattle. We flew out late Saturday night, and Thomas screamed hysterically the entire 5 1/2 hour flight. It was awful! At one point I wanted to ask the pilot to just land....it didn't matter where...just land the @#$$#@! plane. We survived without any of the other passengers throwing us off the plane and landed in Atlanta around 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Gramps was waiting for us outside and took us to his house. He fed us, and the four of us took a four hour nap. We woke up for an outstanding home cooked lunch with collard greens, rutabaga, Lima beans, field peas, and corn bread and then began the drive home. It was absolutely the LONGEST drive home EVER! We have been recouping all week with David working, me doing 20 loads of laundry, grocery shopping, and playing with babies....haven't had time to touch the cleaning. T and E haven't been feeling well, but the weather has been spring like. I have taken them outside as much as possible...David told me going outside always makes him feel better when he has a cold. I think it has worked for the twins.


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Thomas and Elizabeth had their 18-month Well Visit on Monday...I know it was almost two months late. Anyway, they had a great checkup in spite of being sick. Elizabeth is now 31 inches tall, weighs 21 pounds, and has a head circumference of 18 1/2 cm ( not really sure if it is measured in cm or in.) She is in the 25th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for head circumference! Thomas is 32 inches tall, weighs 24.2 pounds, and has a head circumference of 19 (cm or in). He is in the 50th percentile in terms of weight which is a HUGE jump for him. The pediatrician had no concerns about their physical or cognitive development. She did put E on antibiotics for a double ear infection :( Thomas' ears were clear though he shares the same snotty nose and cough as his sister. They both got two vaccinations each -- HEP A and DTAP.



Thomas and Elizabeth have grown leaps and bounds since their 15 month well visit especially in the area of expressive language. All of the sudden they have started talking. Elizabeth imitates almost everything we say (unfortunately she has already said her first cuss word) and is starting to put two words together (ie. "thank you", "doctor bye-bye") Thomas has fewer words than Elizabeth and is just beginning to imitate some words. His newest word is "bubbles" which he spotted in the washing machine today. He also said "baby" for the first time today as he lifted a baby doll out of the toy box. Thomas and Elizabeth both shake their heads for "NO" and nod their heads for "yes".



One of my concerns has been the limited variety of foods in the twins' diets. It seems to be worse at supper time, and I usually go through the pantry and five or six different foods before they will eat anything. I asked the pediatrician "at what point do I say this is what mama cooked, and this is what we are eating?" The doctor said, "Now." So, as of Monday night we have all been eating supper together.....same time, and same foods give or take a variation. It was quite a milestone. I remember about a year ago wondering when we would really eat as a family rather than the twins' meal....clean up....the grown ups' meal.....clean up. Now we have arrived. David and I just watched Thomas and Elizabeth who each had their own plates and eating utensils. They looked so big! Monday night they ate well though I had fixed one of their favorite dishes -- whole wheat tortellini with red sauce, carrots (they didn't touch), and strawberries. Monday was a good start....they haven't eaten very well since Monday night with the exception of breakfast each morning. Oddly enough I haven't been all that worried. I figure some of it could be due to them being sick or them not feeling well from their shots. Surely they will come around especially if they want dessert to come back....no pudding in several nights.



Thomas and Elizabeth are currently on one waiting list for a two day a week preschool next year. I have one more school to visit and will probably put them on that waiting list as well. They need the socialization and the exposure to other adults besides me. Elizabeth has a hard time separating right now. I know it's my fault....I rarely leave them....not because I don't want to....it is just more complicated with two and with no family close by. Hopefully, eventually, with David's new job we will move closer to family. He has an upcoming business trip to Northwest Arkansas....oh how I would love to make that trip with him.....or move there! (Don't think that will happen, but it sure would be nice!)

Date Night

Last night David and I went out on a date with Kim (his coworker) and Greg. We left Thomas and Elizabeth at Kim and Greg's house with Kim's mom, nanny, and their son Reese and went to this wonderful restaurant called Wild Ginger http://www.wildginger.net/ We had such a great time. The restaurant was beautiful, the food was divine, and the adult company was excellent. It has been so long since David and I went out on a date.....I guess the last time was a Christmas party this past December. Anyway, it was perfect.

Of course, those that babysat might not agree with my description of the night. Elizabeth cried (ahem, screamed) off and on until David and I returned. The nanny had to hide our backpack in an effort to keep E from crying. At one point during the night E laid down by the front door and cried. Thomas, on the other hand, did not miss a beat. He and Reese played all night.

Needless to say, David and I need to get out more both for us and our children.

Tonight we are meeting up with a guy from my hometown in Arkansas along with his wife and six month old boy/girl twins. I haven't seen Jonathan since 1992 and look forward to our visit.

Toddlerhood Socialization

Today I took Thomas and Elizabeth to the Science Center to play in the Toddler Area. We had a great time. T and E slid down the slide a million times, splashed in the water area and popped lots of bubbles at the bubble table. There was much less crying and fit throwing this time around in the toddler area. There were fewer children and more time for interactions with other kids. I enjoy watching and teaching the twins how to share and take turns, and they did a much better job at both skills this time versus our last visit. These skills are so hard for toddlers to learn. Thomas and Elizabeth met a little girl who was having a hard time with socializing. I shouldn't say a hard time....she was trying to say hello but did it with pulling hair and hitting. She got Elizabeth first, but it was over quickly and didn't seem to bother E much. However, when the little girl got Thomas she got two handfuls of hair and held on for dear life. The mom was begging her to let go while Thomas was screaming. Once she let go Thomas looked at me like, "What the @#$#@ just happened?" The poor mom apologized and quickly disappeared. I felt sorry for her. I wasn't upset in the least. The little girl was just being a toddler. Toddlerhood is all about socialization and figuring out the world. T and E have gone through the same thing, and I'm sure will go through it again. The mom was so embarrassed and apologetic, but I assured her I wasn't upset.....that my kids do the same things.

After the Toddler Area we went to the tropical butterfly room, and it was amazing. There were butterflies everywhere....big ones, small ones.....flying everywhere. They were really beautiful. E kept saying "pretty, pretty". Thomas wasn't into the butterfly room. He didn't like them flying close to him.

Today was another adventurous day for the twins and mom. I delight in watching their reactions to the world around them.....and the people.

Centers of Attention

Today the twins and I were invited to have lunch at David's workplace. Actually, I was informed the twins would be the "Guests of Honor." Greg (from the aquarium) came to the hotel so we could follow him to the office. Remember....I have no sense of direction and no internal compass. Anyway, we arrived and met everybody. Thomas and Elizabeth are usually very shy and a little clingy when in a crowd, but today they were like little starlets. They were friendly and independent exploring every room, every crevice of the office. They charmed everyone and were really cute (I'm biased, I know). Nikki (from the cabin) came to my rescue by bringing foods she knew T and E would eat. Also, they both ate BBQ pork....I was shocked and happily so. We arrived back at the hotel in time for their nap. All is well in Seattle.

I saw the first raindrop in Seattle this morning. I should point out that the sun is now shining, and it is warmer here than back in South Carolina.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY!

Today is my dad's birthday. He is exactly 30 years older than I am. He is the same as he always has been.....works too hard....sleeps too little......gives more than he has......doesn't take care of himself but expects his patients to.

We love you Poppy!

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Today I took the twins to the Seattle Aquarium. We met one of David's coworker's husband (Greg) and two year old son (Reese) there and had a blast. I decided to park the stroller and let Thomas and Elizabeth walk/run around. Thank goodness Greg was there though we were still outnumbered. None of the children ran in the same direction. Greg and I were constantly saying, "You watch these two while I get the other one." I spoke with Daddy this morning, and he told me to take pictures at the aquarium. HA! FAT CHANCE. By 11:00 Greg and I both felt like we had run a marathon, but the kids were just getting started:) We parted ways, and I took the twins to a restaurant on the pier thinking they would enjoy some fish. With enough ketchup they will eat anything, right? Wrong. Thankfully, I never travel anywhere without a banana and some other snack. Oddly enough today it was goldfish crackers. I didn't much care for the fish either so off we went to the car.

The car....this is where the day gets really interesting and more of a "typical Ashley" day. I locked Thomas in the car with the keys, my cell phone, and my wallet. Thank goodness the parking attendant was present, and thank goodness we were not in the middle of the summer. Thomas did really well. He smiled and looked at me as if he was wondering why his silly mama and sister were standing outside the car. He eventually fell asleep and remained that way the entire time the lock smith was trying to get into the car. I was pretty calm in spite of the whole situation. The parking attendant was an interesting man from Ethiopia and talked the lock smith into not charging me. I was sure I was going to be swindled out of at least one hundred bucks....I would have paid anything to get my son out.

Anyway, we made it back to the hotel where I fed the twins a late lunch. They are both napping now.

Still haven't seen rain in Seattle.

The Beautiful Northwest

Our weekend in the Olympic Mountains was wonderful! The Pacific Northwest is absolutely beautiful....the mountains, the water, the evergreens, the temperature. The "cabin" we stayed in was right on Puget Sound with a view of the Olympic Mountains from every single window. I use the term cabin loosely....it was a spectacular home. The company was even more spectacular. We had great conversation, great food, and great fun. We played on the beach, walked on the beach at night, saw an otter and a seal, etc. etc. Thomas ran for the water just as he did at Hilton Head Island, SC though the water here was not the same temperature. It was freezing, and he had a fit when I wouldn't let him stay in the water. I must get that child in a real swimming pool this summer:) Thomas also wanted to eat the rocks on the beach. Elizabeth loved just sitting on the beach and pointing to the birds. She would point and say, " bud." She also liked walking on the rocky beach BY HERSELF! She is so independent right now. One might not believe this, but I have not seen the first drop of rain since we arrived. It has been sunny and overcast and perfect.

It is amazing to me how different the USA is from state to state. I know that sounds like a really simple statement, but it is like a completely different country out here compared to home. The produce in the grocery store is amazing in terms of variety and freshness. I was in awe when I saw the produce section for the first time. The people out here seem so much more health conscious......they are more active, fit, seem to eat healthier. I had REAL oatmeal for the first time in my life.....steal cut (spelling?)....completely different from Quaker instant. I didn't even know there was a difference until I read it in a post on sweet/salty (a great blog of an acquaintance of mine). This visit has made me thirsty for more knowledge about nutrition. I want to do a better job of feeding my family. There is so much I don't know. As far as being fit....I have a LONG way to go. I must become fit so that my children learn the importance and want to be fit as well.

I have always wanted to go to Europe, but now I ask myself "why?" Why when there are so MANY places to see in the great United States of America?

Trainwreck

That is the one word to describe Seattle Day Three. The entire day up until a few minutes ago was a trainwreck. Last night I wrote a long post detailing the day, but there was some kind of computer error causing the loss of the post. So, since I am not in the mood to be witty or creative I will give you the quick and dirty of yesterday's events.....lost in downtown Seattle, screaming kid in backseat, no parking, vomit, vomit covered BORROWED car and BORROWED carseat, falling down fits in hall with witnesses, spankings (hairy eyeballs from witnesses), babies who would not go to sleep.

Toddlerhood has hit me between the eyes!

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On a lighter note and on to Seattle Day Four the twins and I are headed to a cabin at the base of the Olympic Mountains with the company owner's daughter, wife, and granddaughter today. It should be exciting with a ferry ride and all. I will medicate my sweet daughter who gets motion sickness. David will be joining us tomorrow evening, and we will be staying until Saturday. I can't wait to see the mountains and the twins' reaction to them. I'm also looking forward to watching them play with a new friend, Hunter who is one year younger than T and E.

Hopefully, this excursion will help me get myself in a better frame of mind after yesterday's trainwreck of a day. I have decided I don't do well with bad days.....I let the little things bother me....need to work on that.

Seattle Day Two

Today was another beautiful day in Seattle. It was a little cloudy and pretty cold as we headed to the Pacific Science Center, but the sun was shining brightly as we strolled home. Thomas and Elizabeth had a GREAT day today. Before we even made it to the science center we saw two firetrucks at the condos next to our hotel. I enjoyed seeing the firemen as much as the kids enjoyed the trucks. The science center was a blast! There was an area for toddlers only, and it was full of toys to climb on, climb through, slide down, beat on, splash in, etc. The slide was definitely the favorite. T and E climbed up the ladder and slid down at least 1,000 times. Each time they slid down the slide they had the best smiles on their faces. I tried to get some good pictures, but my trigger finger is really slow. Besides the slide T and E flew a holicopter, drove a race car, played musical pots and pans, and blew bubbles. After an hour of solid play the twins were hungry so we went in search of food. After an interesting lunch with a pretty long fit from Thomas we bundled up for the stroller ride home. On our way we saw a helicopter take off from a t.v. station's building top. Now the twins are napping, and I am about to have a cookie and some coffee.

Stay tuned for more Seattle adventures.

Seattle with the Twins

The four of us are currently in Seattle for two weeks for David's new job. We flew out of Atlanta late Saturday night in hopes that the twins would sleep for the 5 1/2 hour flight. Elizabeth was an angel while Thomas had a tougher time getting comfortable. All in all it was a good flight. We are staying in a hotel suite in downtown Seattle within walking distance to the "the needle". Yesterday we went to Target to get necessities and then all took an afternoon nap. We are all sick right now....coughing, sneezing, snotting. We will get through it.

Today has been pretty eventful so far. The people here go to work REALLY early. I guess it is because they are three hours later than the East coast. Anyway, David left for work at 6a.m. and my day started. I got myself ready and took the twins down for breakfast. After breakfast I got them dressed and we bundled up for a walk to the Children's Museum. Our first stop at the museum was in the painting room. Thomas and Elizabeth painted for the first time and loved it. Elizabeth painted her face and tasted it several times. It must have tasted good since she kept doing it. Thomas wanted to paint the block table (not a good thing). Elizabeth seems to get so frustrated with me right now. She wants to do everything by herself and has a fit whenever I try to help. Thomas is also into throwing huge fits at the moment. He throws himself into the floor kicking and screaming and bucking whenever he does not get his way. He threw a huge tantrum when I washed E's hands first. I just ignored him as all the other moms and children stared and walked past Thomas. At home I put T and E in "time out" for throwing fits. What's a mother to do in public? It has definitely gotten harder to take T and E out in public because of their venture into the "terrible two's", but it is much better for all of us to get out rather than to stay at home. The fits usually pass pretty quickly, right?

In spite of the new challenges of motherhood, we had a good first morning without Daddy in Seattle. Our future plans? The Science Center, the aquarium, the zoo.......lots to do and see in Seattle. Have I mentioned how BEAUTIFUL it is here? The snow covered mountain tops are breathtaking, and I can't get enough of the evergreens. We haven't seen a cloud in the sky so far, though that is supposed to end tomorrow.

Stay tuned for Seattle Day Two

Grandaddy is going home

Grandaddy is going home today. A week ago Friday, he was not expected to make it through the night, but he rallied and is going home today. He is not completely the same man he was before entering the hospital in that he shuffles while using a walker rather than exhibiting the long gait his six foot frame once commanded. His mind is back after taking a few "vacations." Grandaddy was always able to orient to person but got confused with time and place. Once Daddy told him he could only go home once he could walk to the bathroom he became to get out of his bed.

Apparently, some type of infection caused this whole ordeal. Grandaddy's CT scans were normal showing no evidence of stroke. His heart is worn out and causes him to sleep about 20 hours per day in order to stay alive. There is nothing meds can do at this point. In spite of all this, Grandaddy is happy and has shown a great sense of humor. He was so happy to be surrounded by his family.

I love this man. He and my grandmother taught me what family is all about...sacrifice, unconditional love, and loyalty. For this I can never thank them enough. I hope I can pass these lessons on to my own children and grandchildren.

Back to the Delta

Daddy admitted Grandaddy into the hospital via ambulance the night of all the storms in Arkansas....I forget which night it was. He had the flu. The twins and I told him good-bye Thursday morning as Jo and I prepared for the long trip home. Yesterday morning Callie called to say that Grandaddy wasn't doing well. I believe her exact words were, "He is dying." I lost it sobbing in front of Thomas and Elizabeth. I tried to stop because I didn't want to scare them, but they weren't scared. They patted me and just watched me. It was quite sweet. I booked us all tickets back to the Delta. Poor David didn't get home from Seattle until 11:30 last night. I think we slept three hours tops and are off to the airport in less than one hour.

I don't know what the next few days hold for Grandaddy. He has been in and out of consciousness since yesterday morning. I'm not ready to say good-bye, but I don't want him to stay if his days are to be spent in a bed. I do know that he is the kindest man I have ever met. He is a member of the Greatest Generation and helped save the world when he was in his early twenties. I love him and have loved him for as long as I can remember.

Hello

I am officially the worst blogger in history. So much has happened since Christmas......I guess Christmas is where I should start.

Christmas was magical. Thomas and Elizabeth didn't know what to think when they got downstairs that morning. Santa Clause was generous but not over the top. David and I loved watching their faces as they played with toys and learned how to open presents. We look forward to each Christmas getting better and better as the twins grow. I made a late Christmas lunch for David's mom and stepfather, and that turned out well. I made duck dressing for the first time, and it was delicious....shouldn't brag, but can't help it:)

Since Christmas life has just happened with the death of Alexis and then more recently the death of Daryla. Daryla was my dad's secretary and office manager and had worked for him for 25 years. I really can't remember his clinic without Daryla being present. She died of a heart attack at the young age of 46. Darlya was hysterically funny, in your face honest, and fiercely loyal to those she loved. She was one, if not the only one, who could give my dad a good cussing when needed and get away with it. I love her and can't believe she is gone. I have no doubts that she is in a much better place than the rest of us right now.

With the ringing of the New Year David accepted a new job with a poultry company in Seattle. He was not looking for a job, but this one found him and made him "an offer he couln't refuse." No, we won't be moving to Seattle. David will be working from home and will spend one week per month in Seattle. Since he took the job things have been wild at our house with one week in Seattle, one week at home, a week in Atlanta and now back in Seattle. I took the twins to Atlanta as well and spent some time with the Wright crew and then went to visit Gramps and Grandmother Jane. David will be in Seattle for the next two weeks so I am taking T and E to Arkansas....two weeks is too long to go solo besides the fact that I just want/need to get home. I have a brand new niece to meet, hugs for Amanda upon losing Alexis, and hugs for my family and friends upon losing Daryla. Jo is flying over Wednesday and we will drive together the 12 + hours to the Delta.

Needless to say, things have been crazy here, and we (adults) are worn out. I don't know if it is the twins' age or my age or the season, but I am exhausted all the time. Just walking up the stairs makes me short of breath, and I always have to make that climb twice. I know.... I am out of shape and need to exercise. It would be great for my body and my mind. Just need to make myself do it. My health is more important than a clean house, right? My weight has dropped as well. I never get on the scale, but my clothes don't fit. Eating has just become such a HASSLE! I don't have the energy to make much (when making for myself) and rarely have the time to sit and eat (not unlike any other mother out there) so it is not enjoyable. I eat when I get the shakes.....not good I know.

I'm not whining....really. Do the rest of you with toddlers feel the same way? How do I get my energy back?

Thomas and Elizabeth are great, by the way. Elizabeth has a couple of new words she learned at Brett and Amy's house. She says "kitty" and will imitate me when I am calling for Thomas. It is really cute. Thomas says "yuck" when pointing to the trash can or the recycle bins, and he really enunciates the word. They are growing so fast and challenging me at every turn.

Motherhood......so exhausing but so rewarding at the same time.

For Alexis

One of my dearest and best friends laid a daughter to rest today. Alexis was thirteen years old and was killed in a car accident the day after Christmas. She was on her way home after seeing family in Wisconsin. Alexis left behind so many people who loved her. I did not know Alexis all that well, but have known her stepmother, Amanda, for as long as I can remember. Amanda loved Alexis as her own and is devastated by her loss as is the entire family and community. I pray for peace and light for all who are missing Alexis.

As I get older death becomes so much more tragic and confusing to me...especially the death of a child. I can't imagine losing a child. The mere thought takes my breath away. Alexis' death has left me with so many questions regarding my faith. I consider myself a Christian though I am not actively working on my relationship with the Lord. I haven't stepped foot in a church since Thomas and Elizabeth were christened last Christmas Eve. I do pray daily, but they are quick prayers here and there throughout the day....not real conversations with God. I begin praying when I lay my head down at night, but I always fall asleep somewhere between "Dear Heavenly Father" and "Amen." Maybe my lack of a spiritual life is the reason I have so many questions. I don't know.

Alexis' death was a complete accident. My biggest question is does God cause accidents? He has the power to stop them from happening, right? I have never believed that God is the puppet master and controls every aspect of life on earth though He most definitely could. Such control would be no fun, right? Isn't it more rewarding for Him to see His children practice free will and still choose Him and His way? Since He didn't stop the accident why didn't he save Alexis? Did God know at the moment Alexis was conceived that she would die in a car accident.......or was it just an accident that resulted in God wanting to take her to be with Him?

The Bible says that we are not to ask why.......but how much of it does God decide? I know He decides who, but does He always decide how and when or does He just let life happen?

I have been thinking about Alexis' tragic death in two ways......1) There is so much life she will never experience....no first date.....no driver's license.......no prom....no high school graduation. The list is endless and heartbreaking. 2) There are so many grown-up disappointments she will never have to endure. Alexis left this world with her innocence. Don't all adults long for childhood innocence at some point in their lives?

I know the Atwill family will forever have a hole in their hearts from the loss of Alexis, but I also know that heaven has gained an angel.

Peace and light to you, Alexis.

Aflac?!!!!

Thomas' first word (besides mama) was Aflac....yes, I said Aflac. I heard it, David heard it, Amy and Julia even heard it. Weird, huh? Why Aflac one might ask...Nana gave the twins a duck that says Aflac, Aflac, AFLAAAAC! when squeezed. T and E love that duck.

Thanks, Nana!

Buffet Style Post

Everyone has been sick at our house...coughing, snotting, sneezing, sore throats, ear infections...we have had it all. T and E are on the upswing as they are nearing the end of their antibiotics. I'm feeling better, but David is still coughing his head off. Franny says this is just life with kids. I NEVER use to get sick. Oh well, as one of my fellow twin mamas says," It is what it is."



Thomas is walking all over the place now. He and E play chase around the kitchen squealing and laughing with delight. I have tried a couple of times to catch it on video but can't seam to get a good camera angle. I will keep trying. It is hysterical to watch though somebody always gets hurt-- usually Thomas. He is not as good on his feet as his sister just yet.



Tuesday night was the annual Mom's of Twins Club Christmas Party (for moms only). I was on the committee this year. It felt good to be involved in something. That night David was out of town so for the first time we had a babysitter that was not a family member or close friend of the family. One of the young women from My Gym watched the twins for us. T and E did fine when I left...no tears. I had moments of sheer anxiety on and off all night feeling a desparate and urgent need to go home. I know this is a sign that I need to get out more....corrections....we need to get out more (meaning David and I). I guess one of my friends could tell I was anxious because out of the blue she said, "Let it go, Ashley." Anyway, I got home around 10:00, and the twins were fast asleep. There are lots of things I need to "let go," but this is not the time or place to address them. I have thought about putting the twins in some sort of preschool, Mom's Morning Out, etc a couple of days a week to give me some time and them some time away from Mama, but I can't make my mind up. I don't want to send them somewhere for "crowd control," but want it to be a structured environment with goals for the children. On the other hand, they are young and part of me hates to start "school" at such a young age.....we go to school our whole lives it seems. I am the worst at making decisions.

CALLING ALL MY FELLOW SPEECH PEOPLE: David and I think T and E need a speech evaluation. They will be 17 months old on 12/13, and the only words E uses spontaneously are "mama" and "dada", and T only says "mama." E will imitate sounds while T imitates nothing. They do communicate with gesturing, vocalizations, and some sign but have no words yet. I'm not worried about the receptive language at all right now but am starting to get concerned about their expression. Any opinions?