Back from MIA

It has been too long since my last post, and so much has happened since the twins' well visit. I'm not even sure where to start and will probably not remember the exact order of all the events. The biggest event is that THE PACIFIERS ARE GONE!! The straw that broke the camel's back was one particular incident in which my precious Elizabeth woke me up screaming madly. I dashed up the stairs to find her pacifier in her hand next to her mouth.....I guess she needed me to put it in her mouth for her? The next morning I told David that the upcoming weekend we were joining forces to eliminate the pacifiers. It went better than either of us expected. The first night T and E cried for about 20 minutes. When I say cry I mean a pissed off "Give me my pacifier you !@$#@%^#$@@!" The second night they cried for 30 minutes, and each night after that the crying time decreased. Thomas was over it after night three, but Elizabeth took about five nights to get over it. Whew! Glad that hurdle has been jumped and left behind.

The second milestone/event was that Thomas had his first "big boy" haircut. Bless his heart, his hair was so long if he had been Thomasita I would have used a barrette to keep it out of his eyes. David made an appointment at a "real" barber shop in Columbia, and we met there one evening around 5:45. Elizabeth threw up in the truck right in the middle of downtown Columbia so I didn't get to see the event. David took Thomas inside while I cleaned E up and the truck up. By the time I finished David was back at the truck holding a baby boy who looked like he was about three. David reported that Thomas screamed the entire time. In spite of his behavior he has a very nice looking hair cut. Needless to say, with me outside and David trying to console Thomas we have very few pictures.

The third milestone was really more of a "mommy milestone." I spent my first night away from the twins since their days in the NICU. David has a customer in Pennsylvania who invited us to the Penn State v Ohio State football game. Gramps and Grandmother Jane were our first overnight babysitters. They drove in Friday night, and I flew out Saturday morning ( I was so sick but wanted to go anyway). I did better than I thought I would. I had pumped myself up all week, and was fine the whole time I was gone. I knew Gramps and Grandmother would take good care of the twins....I was never worried about that. Anyway, T and E did fine and reacted very strangely when David and I returned home. They just looked at us like, "Oh, you are back," and went about their business.....no excitement....nothing. I think they had a great time and wore Gramps and Grandmother out. They ate well, napped well, played well, and slept well at night. It was a successful weekend.

Halloween was lots of fun. I was too sick to take the twins to any of the pre-Halloween activities I had planned but was feeling much better when the actual night arrived. T and E were "Cuddly Elephants" for Halloween though David says they were "Roll Tide Elephants" (he never mentioned the Roll Tide bit until after Halloween was over. I made sure they had their Razorback onesies on under their costumes.) We only took them to three houses in the neighborhood and then went to the Kernen's (their adopted grandparents) house. Thomas and Elizabeth were good sports even though they were tired and not particularly fond of their head pieces. We didn't get pics that night because it was too dark but will take pics in their costumes this weekend. They really were adorable...I'm not partial -- not me.

We are starting Storytime at the library tomorrow, and I am really excited about it. The twins love books and love to be read to. I will let you know how it goes.

Well Visit

Elizabeth and Thomas had their 15 month Well Visit yesterday. It was an interesting visit in that both of them had a fit before the doctor came in to see them. Thomas' fit was so bad his entire body was covered in red hives when the doctor came in. "What's going on?" she asked. I answered, "You just missed his fit." She smiled and said, "That would explain the hives." Besides that their visit went well. Thomas weighs 22 lbs. 15 oz. and is 29 3/4 inches long. Both of these fall in the 25th percentile for his age and gender which is a BIG jump for him. He is finally in the "white area" of the chart :) Elizabeth weighs 19 lbs. and 13 oz. and is 28 1/2 inches long which puts her in the 5th percentile for her age and gender...still in the "red area" of the chart. Sweet Elizabeth may never reach 20lbs! Both T and E are proportionate in height and weight so no worries. Thomas' head circumference is 18 1/4 cm, and Elizabeth's is 18 cm. I can't remember the percentiles for these measurements...their brains are growing!

So far, T and E don't seem to feel bad from their shots. I took them to My Gym after their appointment yesterday, and playgroup met at the zoo today. They had such a good time at the zoo. They loved the bears, monkeys, penguins and sea lions. I wish I had taken the video camera. They both got so excited whenever they saw the animals. E kept pointing and talking while T squealed and waved his arms. I love to see them react to the world around them. They have been to the zoo four times now and seem to enjoy it more with each visit. I had a good time too. I enjoy the conversation with the other ladies.

All in all we have had one busy week. We went to My Gym Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; saw the pediatrician on Wednesday; and went to the zoo today. That means tomorrow we will HAVE to go grocery shopping. Lately, T and E have been really impatient while grocery shopping. Imagine that....impatient 15 month olds. I can't say much because I am not a very patient person myself. We will have to get the shopping done tomorrow. I try to stay clear of the store on the weekends....it is a mad house.

Off to watch some mindless t.v.

15 Months

Elizabeth and Thomas are 15 months old now and seem so big....not babies anymore.

Elizabeth is walking more and more though she still prefers crawling or pushing her "scooter" as David calls it. She can point to her nose, head, mouth, and eye but still gets a little confused at times. She likes to point to said items on other people too. She waves "bye-bye" and says mama and daDI. E continues to love books and will bring books to us to read. E likes to point to pictures as we read. She likes to "pat-pat" her brother and will lay her head on him to "love" on him. Sometimes T tolerates this but not always. E has become a picky eater and changes her mind frequently about what she likes. Cheese is the only constant....and fruit. She uses the signs for "milk, more, and all done" mostly during meal time though she will sign to request milk after naptime. She pretty much uses the sign for milk to mean any sort of drink. Elizabeth follows some simple commands (ie "give thomas his bib, hand me a diaper, bring it to me"), and she laughs out loud when she farts --definitely our child :)

Thomas walks really well when holding two hands and just yesterday started walking while only holding one of David's hands....it won't be long. He is SO fast when pushing his scooter now that he is practically running. He too loves his books and "throws" books at us that he wants us to read. Just like his sister, he loves to point to pictures for us to name. His dog book is definitely his favorite. I'm not sure how long it will last before we need to buy him another one. T says mama, but that is his only word right now. He waved "bye-bye" today for the first time while I read Pat the Bunny! It was wonderful! Thomas is a pickier eater than his sister right now and changes his mind daily on his likes/dislikes. Like E, cheese and fruit are his constant likes. He uses the signs for "more and all done" and screechingly refuses to use the sign for milk :) He will point to it though.....much better than his screaming. T follows some simple commands (i.e. "bring it to me, show me the tractor, get your dog book"). Thomas is my behavioral challenge at the moment. He throws kicking, bucking, screaming fits especially when having his diaper changed. I tried to ignore them but have started putting him in "time out" for his fits which consists of a pack and play in our bedroom. Once he calms down I go and get him and explain that big boys don't throw fits. One day I'm sure he will get me for writing these posts....oh well.

We are still taking the twins to My Gym and more classes for their age group have been added. I am going to try to get them there at least three times a week. We are meeting up for playgroup with about five other moms once a week, and that is going really well. T and E love to play with their friends. I will try to take some pics next time. I am also planning on registering them for story time at the local library which is held once a week. They will love that, and so will I. I have heard it is hard to get registered because the classes fill up fast. We will keep our fingers crossed.

I am taking E and T to the pediatrician for their 15 month well visit this Wednesday and will post their growth updates.

I'm off to do my Monday chores :)

Sick

I slept with Elizabeth last night for the first time in a LONG time. Everyone in our house is sick though Thomas and Elizabeth have it the worst. ( I don't think I am sick) Crud...lots of crud... in their noses, chests, etc. Ears were clear as of Monday. Anyway, E was coughing with almost every breath it seemed in spite of her new medicine that is supposed to stop the cough. So, I put her in the guest bed with me. I sat up and she slept on my chest. That is how she slept when we first brought her home from the hospital because she was so congested from reflux. She is in her bed now.....hope she sleeps better tonight.

Thomas, on the other hand, slept pretty well for a sick fella. I only remember going in to see about him once last night.

I'm keeping them home this week -- no My Gym, no play group -- just the errands that have to be run. Hopefully they will be well soon.

Elizabeth Can...

Family Coming

We haven't had any company since the twins' birthday party so we are excited about our company coming. Auntie, Uncle Gary, and cousin Eric will be here this afternoon. T and E have never met their Uncle Gary or cousin Eric so that should be exciting. Gramps and possibly Grandmother Jane will be arriving tonight. Great Uncle Jimmy is coming in Friday. I should probably mention Daddy will be home today. He has been out of town on business since Monday. We have lots planned for our company like going to the zoo, Edventure, and shoe shopping. Now that T and E spend so much time walking with their walker thingys they need some shoes. Hopefully, Auntie will help me take the twins shopping.


I'm off to enjoy my quiet time and coffee.

I am Speed

One of Thomas' first pair of pajamas had a character from the cartoon movie "Cars" on the front. In big letters across his chest were the words "I am Speed." One night I read it to Thomas in a silly voice. "I am Speed, I am Speed" He giggled everytime I said it. So for a while it kind of stuck and for several months I knew if I said "I am Speed" in that voice, I could make him laugh. There's nothing better than hearing the twins laugh so whenever I can figure out how to do it I make the most of it.

When the twins learned how to walk behind their little walker-thingys, they gained a new kind of "freedom." Sometimes it's as if they're racing each other around the house. Elizabeth so far has the speed advantage, but I'm sure it won't be long before Thomas is giving her a run for it. It's so fun to watch them race around the house so we thought we'd share it with everyone via a new video we call "I am Speed."

Sleep deprived.......again

David and I are once again sleep deprived. Why? I have one word.....PACIFIERS. We are up and down the stairs 4 maybe 5 times each night looking for pacifiers with a pin light. It is driving me CRAZY! I would rather be up nursing every three hours.....at least I would be providing nourishment while being sleep deprived and would know about what time I could expect to be up again. Pardon the crankiness. David and I are both puzzled.....should we take the pacifiers away? We think it is time......Can we take the crying? Now that the twins are out of the "crying it out" phase we will definitely have to psyche ourselves back up for more crying phases. Everything we (david) has read says the longer we wait the harder it will be.

Any advice?

Mama

Thomas called me Mama tonight. I wasn't sure if he was calling me mama or just babbling, but he would say it as he crawled toward me. This happened several times. I can't put into words how it made me feel...how I am still feeling.

Play Group

We went to our first playgroup yesterday and had a great time. Blair, one of the moms who I met at My Gym organized the group. I have been wanting to do something in addition to My Gym to increase the twins' chances for socialization with other kids but am not the organizer/leader type. Five moms, including me, met for lunch and then went to Blair's house so the kids could play. Elizabeth and Thomas had a great time and loved Mily's toys. The grown-ups had a good time as well. I was afraid Thomas would be the only boy, but there were two others. We are going to meet again next week.

It is so bittersweet watching T and E grow. I watch proudly as they play independently and alongside other children, and then they come to me with hugs or pats as if to say " ah, there you are" and are off again. I want my children to grow into little independent people ready to take on the world all the while knowing they have me as a safety net.

Thomas pulled up today!

I am sad to say that I did not see him do it, but Thomas pulled up to stand in his pack and play. I was in the bathroom getting dressed and heard him talking very loudly and happily. I peaked in and he was standing up smiling at me! He has been trying very hard to pull himself up...what a work ethic my boy has. All that hard work paid off today.

Smiles from Twinland :)

13 Months Old

Happy Birthday Elizabeth and Thomas! They turned 13 months old yesterday. My how things have changed in one month. The only baby food they eat now is the fruits and the cereal. They love deli meat, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt, green beans, stewed carrots, new potatoes, tortellini with red sauce, graham crackers, and bagel (whole wheat and blueberry). They also love fresh banana, peaches, and plum. Thomas likes cantaloupe and pineapple, but Elizabeth does not. It is so funny watching them feed themselves. They will look at the table to see what their other choices are and definitely let me know when they are not happy with whatever food I have picked up for them. They are down to one bottle a day, and it is at bedtime. T and E are doing much better with cow's milk, thank goodness. I have started giving them a cup of water when they wake up from their afternoon nap. They are usually pretty thirsty. They still take two naps a day. Every time I think they are about to fade their morning nap out they fool me. It makes no difference to me. I figure they will let me know when they don't need that morning nap anymore.

T and E went to a birthday party last Friday and had a great time. They ate cupcake for the first time. They were homemade and delicious...or at least Thomas and I thought so. Elizabeth did not like them. I can't believe I have a child who won't eat a cupcake. I'm sure it is a passing phase :) They had Capri Sun in their cups and sucked it down! The three of us had a good time. It was a great way to get the weekend started.

Elizabeth is cruising around the furniture now and walking behind a push toy completely by herself. I'm guessing she will be walking by Thanksgiving. Thomas loves to walk behind the push toy too but is not as steady on his feet. We have a baby gate for their bedroom door but need some for the kitchen. I need some way to keep them better contained....for their safety.

The more they move the busier I get.

Thomas is mobile!

Yes, you correctly read the title....Thomas is mobile! He has been so frustrated lately watching his sister move all over the place, but he has finally found his own way of crawling. Until today we weren't sure how he was moving. We would put him in one area of a room and a few minutes later would see him in a totally different area. Don't think we leave him unattended...For example, while I was bathing Elizabeth I left Thomas in their room (door gated) by the bookshelf. When Elizabeth and I returned to the nursery he was by the door. This evening when David got home we saw Thomas' version of crawling. He sort of moves like a crab....he moves by getting on both hands, one knee, and one foot and then sits and then repeats the whole sequence. Make sense? We are going to try to get it on video. I was almost in tears tonight when he moved himself from the kitchen to the living room -- the first time he has ever been able to get to another room without assistance. He was SO proud of himself.

Yay Thomas!

Feeling Brand New

I went to a Moms of Twins Club meeting last night and feel like a brand new woman. I spent two hours with women! I had an uninterruped dinner, yummy dessert, and lots of conversation. I joined a few committees and am looking forward to our upcoming consignment sale. I am determined to be an active participant this year because I need the socialization, and the twins need time with someone other than me. I left the twins with David, and Thomas was screaming when I walked out the door...not because I was leaving. We weren't sure why he was so mad, but he got over it quickly I was told. David had leftovers in the frig for supper and had good play time with the twins before giving them their bottles and putting them to bed. When I got home all was quiet. I'll bet David enjoyed the night as much as I did.

Opinions are like.....

b---holes...Everybody has one and most of them stink. That is what I wanted to tell a lady at Wal-Mart yesterday. The twins and I were doing our grocery shopping when a lady noticed that T and E had pacifiers in their mouths. It's no secret...our babies are attached to their pacifiers. They LOVE them. I challenge anyone to get them to sleep without one. The lady was quick to let me know that she took the pacifier away from her children once they turned one ---"but your twins can't be one yet. They are so small." I answered, "They are small for their age, but they were preemies." Once she found out my babies were one she began her lecture of the whens, whys, and hows of getting rid of the pacifier. When I say lecture I am not using the term loosely. This stranger was giving me "a talking to" about how I really needed to take the pacifiers away. I was very polite and said several times, "I am just not ready to take on that challenge."

Why do strangers feel the need to give their opinions concerning children and how to raise them?

Lifesavers of the First Year

Now that the birthday party has come and gone along with all the company I have had moments here and there to reflect on the twins' first year of life. I have gone back and read twinchronicles from the beginning and been so happy David decided we start our own blog. While it hasn't been the greatest blog -- I'm not a gifted writer -- it has served its purpose in keeping our family members up to date on the twins and their continuous development. As I have looked back I have tried to come up with a list of things that "saved our lives" this first year. They may not work for all new parents and some may not agree with them, but they worked for us. Take them or leave them:

1. On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
This book was recommended by some good friends of ours while I was pregnant, and it saved our lives in terms of getting the twins on a good eating/sleeping schedule. I have found more bad reviews of "Babywise" on the internet than good, but it worked for us. I have found most moms who belong to the Moms of Twins Club recommend this book and its principles as well.

2. Jennifer from grad school
A mother of two small children herself she answered every "HELP!" email I sent. She was so supportive and non-judgemental when T and E were screaming rather than napping, and her advice helped tremendously. I can hear her saying "consistency is key." No matter how stupid my questions were from letting the twins cry to what to feed them and when Jennifer was always ready to help.

3. My huge nursing pillow from Aunt Peggy
Being able to nurse my twins at the same time was a huge lifesaver in terms of time management and sleep for both me and David. I don't know what I would have done without that thing. David has asked if we still need it....I'm not ready to let go of it (haha). I loved nursing T and E!!

4. Breastfeeding Class
I took this class while I was pregnant and am so thankful I did. Most of what I thought I knew about breastfeeding was wrong. Taking the class was extremely helpful and lessened the stress once the twins were born.

5. The Lactation Center
Every single lactation specialist I came into contact with was wonderful. They came to my room when the twins were born.....there was one present the first time I tried to nurse each of the twins in the NICU....one came to see me before Thomas was discharged and before Elizabeth was discharged....I have called the Warm Line (help hotline) numerous times and been called back every single time....they fit me for good nursing bras ( my boobs were HUGE and my Target bra was not getting the job done.), weighed the babies for free....let me nurse the twins in the Lactation Boutique....the list goes on and on.

6. Baby Swings
Before we bought the swings David and I never got to eat supper at the same time or without one of the twins screaming in the background. We bought swings that sit low to the ground, play music, and have a "light show". Thomas and Elizabeth loved them from the start. We have used them for so many different activities....they drank their bottles in the swings, watched Baby Einstein (while David and I ate supper) in their swings, had juice time on the porch, etc. As of this week they have outgrown their swings. They now have their cups in their booster seats and watch Baby Einstein while sitting on the floor.

*** If there is one regret I have in terms of using area resources for help it would be joining the Moms of Twins Club earlier. I didn't join until January of this year and haven't been able to be as involved as I would have liked to be. If I could do it over I would have joined while I was pregnant. The club is so helpful to those on bed rest or those with babies in the NICU. I wish I would have had access to this wonderful group of ladies before the twins were born. I would definitely recommend to any woman pregnant with multiples to find an area Moms of Twins or Moms of Multiples group. Whenever I have questions about the twins I can email the group and get tons of answers and differing opinions. It is a great resource. I plan on becoming more active with the group now that the twins are older. I need the friends, and the twins need "Daddy Time".

Of course, our family members and friends have been great as well, but these "top six" are tips that anybody could use (except the Jennifer one....not going to post her email address).

I hope this post helps anyone out there who might be expecting more than one miracle.

1st Time at the Beach....and Measles

Thomas and Elizabeth had their first beach experience recently. Last Sunday we drove to Hilton Head to visit Tim and Helen, some friends who used to live in Georgia but now live in Delaware. They go to HH every summer with their family and were nice enough to invite us to stay with them for a few days. It is only a three hour drive from us so we took off when it was time for the twins' morning nap. They were good travelers though they did not have much of a nap. We went to the pool Sunday afternoon -- the resort had a great baby pool. T and E LOVED it crawling, splashing, going under (accidentally), swallowing water, etc. They were not the least bit afraid of the water. On Monday we took them to the beach once they woke up from their morning nap, and they really loved it. I was certain Elizabeth wouldn't like the sand since she has her "sensory issues", but she proved me wrong. They both loved playing in the sand....the wet sand where the surf came in. They loved the water. We really had to watch E because she would crawl in the water deeper and deeper without stopping. It didn't matter if it was covering her mouth/face she just kept crawling. They both made funny faces whenever they got saltwater in their mouths! I remember my first taste of the ocean...Yuck! E was good about keeping her sun hat on, but T didn't like his. We finally gave up on his hat. No worries...they were bathed in sunscreen... Helen and I made sure of that. Helen's family had a huge tent like contraption that the twins sat under to have their lunch. The weather was perfect -- not too hot and there was a nice breeze blowing. T and E played a little after eating their lunch but were getting sleepy. We took them to the pool to get some of the sand off, and then they both had baths and a nice long afternoon nap. David and I had a nap as well -- we were on vacation, right?

The entire trip was wonderful! There were lots of grown-ups and big kids who played and fussed over the twins. T and E loved the attention, and David and I loved having the breaks. We haven't gotten to visit with Tim and Helen much at all since we got married so that was nice as well. It was refreshing for me to get out of the house and around other adults. The sun was heavenly and no gnats there! The gnats are so awful at our house that we rarely go outside...they swarm T and E.

We have lots of cute pictures from the trip and will post them soon.

Now the twins aren't feeling so well. They have slight cases of the measles from their vaccinations. Technically, they have not had a fever (E's was 100.5 tonight....pediatrician does not consider that a fever) so I hope we have not exposed anyone so far. I didn't realize what was going on until Friday afternoon. When I spoke to the nurse she talked to me like I was an idiot. I have a good mind to call and complain about her. I definitely have my moments (numerous moments) of insecurity as a firt time mom, and the last thing I need is to be "talked down to" when I am concerned for my children's health. I can't imagine I am the only mom in history to call about vaccination concerns. I read the information sheets about each vaccination but wanted to talk to a health professional to ease my mind. Initially I thought it might be a sun rash, but the more I thought I kept hearing my inner voice saying "vaccinations.....vaccinations... vaccinations." It clearly states on each info. sheet to call/report any concerns. Anyway, I haven't decided whether I will call and complain or not. Any opinions out there?

Birthday Party Recoup

The last of our company is gone. Callie flew out about 5:30 yesterday evening. I am always so sad when my family leaves but try to keep my tears to myself. No need to upset anybody if it can be avoided, right?

The birthday party was a success. The food was great ( I did not cook...had it catered) and friends and family were wonderful. David and I were afraid Thomas and Elizabeth would be miserable with so many people and so much noise, but they had a blast. They enjoyed their cousins, enjoyed hamming it up for pictures before the festivities began, enjoyed birthday cake, and they enjoyed playing while I, along with their cousins,opened gifts. Most of our family seemed to be happy with how things went. I wanted the day to be a celebration of life...the twins' first year. David and I are so blessed to have been given these extraordinary children, and to have had the ability to celebrate their first year. Many parents don't get that much time with their children. As parents our children are a gift from God....on loan until he is ready to call them home.

On a much lighter note, Callie went with me to the pediatrician's office on Monday for the twins' 12 month well visit. Thomas weighed in at 20 lbs and 1 oz, and measured 28 inches long. Elizabeth weighed in at 17 lbs and 8 oz and measured 27 1/2 inches long. They remain in the 5th and tenth percentiles in terms of height and weight -- not a concern because they are proportionate. Neither David nor I are big adults so we don't expect to have big children. Thomas is not crawling, but the doctor was not concerned....she said crawling was no longer considered a developmental milestone because it is not really necessary. She did say that she wanted Thomas to be able to pull to stand independently and to get from a lying position to a sitting position independently by his 15 month checkup. If he is not performing those two skills by then she will send him to an orthopedist and a physical therapist. Callie who is a physical therapist gave me some exercises to do with Thomas to help him along. She also told me to "stop giving in to him" when he fusses. I have already had him working this morning. As you know, I have been concerned with the twins' milk intake and talked to the pediatrician about this as well. She said they needed at least 12 oz of milk a day but no more than 20 oz. If I can't get them to drink 12 oz a day then focus on calcium rich foods such as yogurt, cottage cheese and other cheeses. She was not opposed to giving them strawberry or chocolate milk -- just wants them to get their calcium. I feel much better now that I have some guidelines and won't feel like a bad mom if I have to resort to choc. milk. They each got three shots (MMR, HepA, and chicken pox) one in each arm and one in a leg. I am so glad Callie was with me to comfort them. Needless to say they were both mad. I don't think I have ever heard Elizabeth scream that loud. All in all in was a good checkup.

Here's to another year full of excitement!

Hide and Seek

Elizabeth has developed a new game for mommy now that she has discovered the freedoms her mobility has allowed. She hides things....toys, diapers, books. Lately, during my nightly ritual of picking up toys I have been unable to find blocks, puzzle pieces, etc. Yesterday I discovered that Elizabeth had put those items up for me but in her own place. She likes to hide things in the changing table, under the changing table, and her swing. I laugh each time I find a toy in a new place. She seems to have so much fun taking things out of place and finding a new place for them. She is such her own little person. Today she learned she could take the diapers out of the diaper hanger and spread them on the floor. We played a great game of throwing them up in the air and watching them fall. Thomas laughed until he couldn't breathe! He loved this game.

Speaking of Thomas, he has developed quite a temper. I think he is becoming frustrated that he can not move and get things that he wants which results in him screaming at the top of his lungs. Several times this morning he was so mad I had to just leave him be to have his fit. Other times he wanted me to hold him, but it lasted for about a millisecond, and he would fling himself in the floor. Where did my easy going baby boy go? Poppy will love Thomas' temper.....says I need to pay for my raising.

We are welcoming our first round of family tonight. Mama, Jo, Grace, Caitlyn, Caroline, and MaryJo are on their way, and I am so excited! I can't wait to see them. I think David is excited too.

Gotta go...naptime almost over.

Progress at the Gym!

I took Elizabeth and Thomas to My Gym yesterday morning, and they had such a good morning! Neither one of them cried until the very end of the class, and I am assuming it was because they were tired. Elizabeth didn't cry during separation time at all. I was so proud of her! She crawled off to do her own thing several times, and after a few minutes would look back to see where I was. I was completely thrilled! They both tried new skills....no crying. I should mention it was a calmer class with fewer children, and the children were weirdly calm. They all must have been tired from Independence Day celebrations. I'm hoping this is a sign that they won't be too miserable at their birthday party with all of the family and friends we are expecting.

Both Elizabeth and Thomas drank their milk at lunch yesterday, but they did not drink much today....disappointing. We will keep trying. They are both napping now. Time to do some much needed housework. I've been so busy running errands and making phone calls this week that I haven't done my "daily chores". Hmmm, I hate the way that sounds.