And, We're BACK! With Four Year Olds and Some Thoughts on Summer

I suppose the great thing about not blogging forever is that when you DO finally blog, you have a lot to say, right?

Let's just jump right in, shall we?

Last week the twins turned four. FOUR.

Celebrating, a day early. This is the first year I made two cakes.

Ask me how on earth this happened and where the last four years of my life went and I will say I HAVE NO IDEA.


At four, Harry is a highly observant little conversationalist. He is thoughtful, loves to asks questions about how things work and it's safe to say his language has EXPLODED. He is still highly emotional (I've lost track of how many times we've had to threaten to take his Lego blocks away after he crumbles when something doesn't "fit" quite right or a Lego vehicle falls apart). We are working on ways for him to manage his many, MANY feelings (the majority of them involving his beloved Lego blocks). He is still a bit of a stunt man, falling off chairs and practically diving head first into rooms. He can be a real snuggler when he wants to be. He eats apples almost as if they are an obsession and can play quietly and independently for very long stretch (one word: Lego).


At four, Lucy continues to be one of the happiest, smiliest people I've ever known. Ebullient is really the word I would use to describe her. She is strong-willed (highly unusual amongst four year olds, I know-HA HA HA) and independent, which is fabulous when she is doing what she's asked to do (put her pajamas on by herself) but not so terrific when she's decided that she DOESN'T want to do what you've asked her to do (put her pajamas on). Have I mentioned that both she and her twin brother are teaching me a thing or two about tantrums? Ahem. Lucy loves to color, draw and play with anything related to horses. She is definitely able to entertain herself more, lining up La La Loopsy girls and creating complicated scenarios and conversations with them. But her favorite playmate of all these days is her big sister Ellie. When Ellie gets home from school it's as though Lucy's day really starts. Last night I overheard her out in the backyard calling, "Eleanor! ELEANOR! You come here! Because I love you and I want to be with you all the time!"

It's hard to believe a little over a year from now these two will be heading off to kindergarten. They still seem SO LITTLE to me and it seems like they have so much maturing to do. I know that a lot happens between turning four and almost turning five. It really is a sweet age (when it's not maddening), and I'm trying hard to enjoy things when I can and not be driven completely insane when things get, shall we say, frustrating.

The school year ends in a little less than two weeks. Like most parents, I'm looking forward to a slower change of pace and perhaps am a little nervous about making everything work. Trust me when I sway I needed a bottle of wine, a spreadsheet and a bank robbery to figure out camps and schedules for all these small people.

Leo and Harry have summer school in July, then Leo goes to camp for all of August, Ellie is attending a variety of camps (art, science, gymnastics) for one week stints but is definitely going to home more this summer than she's ever been before (we shall see about that--she's promised me that she wants this, that she's ready for "down" time--but the jury is out on how this will play). Lucy's schedule is the only one that won't change, she's still doing preschool five mornings a week (though her school becomes a bit more "layed-back" and "camp-like" during the summer months, with water play and theme weeks (camping week, space week, fairy tale week).

Hopefully it will all be JUST FINE and everyone will be reasonably happy, but if not, I am trying to keep this in mind.

It's my mantra for the summer and really should be, even beyond. Erin and I have a running joke that someone is always not quite happy. Eating lunch outside? Three of them cheer and one pipes up, But it's cold! I need a sweater! I want to eat inside! Watching a movie? Three of them agree but one complains, I don't wanna watch that one! We watched it last week! And ask me how hard it is to make dinner (heck, ANY MEAL) for four children and have them all content. It's just not possible. And for a people pleaser like me, it can be exhausting--that endless, constant feeling that something is always not quite right. So, Summer of 2015. Wish us luck!

3

NOTE: Once upon a time I did birthday posts for each kid. I know it's pretty much only grandparents, some family members and the other three or four readers kicking around the cobwebs and tumbleweed here lately, but for posterity's sake, I like the "keepsake" quality of these little birthday posts. So I'll try to keep them up as best I can. I know that the "multiples" police would be on me about making this a single post. They should each have their own. Well, I'm the Mommy and I'm going to make the rules and for now, at age three they get a package post. Also, we won't talk about the fact that this one is sixty four days late. So in order of appearance, the first birthday of this year was Harry and Lucy's, in June.

I don't think I can find the words to convey how quickly the last three years of my life have gone by. Oh sure, the every-two-hours-tandem-breastfeeding-in-the-middle-of-the-night sure didn't fly, and neither did those dual scream fests when both Harry and Lucy had ear infections. In a hotel room. In the middle of a freak October snowstorm.

This Too Shall Pass.


June, 2011. One day old.

And did it ever.


June, 2014

It will get easier.

It will get fun.

They'll stop being two babies and they'll start being two little people!




That's what everyone told me, from the pediatrician, to the seasoned veteran moms of multiples that chatted up me and my giant double newborn stroller, everywhere we went.

 And you know something? They were right.

Anyone who's read this blog with any frequency will know that I haven't exactly kept it a secret: Newsflash: Having two babies isn't easy! But I've tried really hard to not wish Harry and Lucy's baby days away, to not pine too much for the times when they will be older and it will be "easier."



Because as cliche as it is, it's true. One day you turn around and your newborns are three year olds. (Yes, yes, I know, before I realize it they'll be slamming doors in my face before heading off to college--let's not get ahead of ourselves).





At age three, Harry is rough and tumble and cuddly at the same time. He'll run straight at you with his hard little light brown head and throw his arms around your legs. Then he'll look up and say, "You like that Mommy?" 

It seems like he can play for an hour by himself with the Holy Grail--the "Big Boy" Legos in Leo's room (shhh, don't tell Leo).



His language continues to explode. It's been such a joy to get to know him better and find out what he's thinking about and what's going on in that little brown head of his, these past few months. Preschool, which he started in June, has been wonderful, cracking his little world and mind, wide open. This summer he's marched off the school bus singing nursery rhymes that I didn't even know he knew. He's showing an interest in Broadway show tunes (Ellie got him hooked on "Annie"), could a mother be more proud?



He loves to make silly faces and takes great pleasure in making you laugh.



Harry is both strong and sensitive. The other night before bedtime, during what's become a nightly jumping fest (don't ask, let's just say I'm amazed the cribs are still standing), Harry bumped his elbow pretty hard on the side of his crib. A look of pain washed over his face and I asked him if he was ok.
"The crib hurt my feelings," he said.


First day of preschool, June, 2014.

At age three Harry loves:
-Trader Joe's dried (dehydrated) strawberries and strawberry bars (but not ACTUAL strawberries).
-Anything Batman.
-Legos.
-Legos.
-Legos.



At age three, Lucy continues to be a force. Her loquaciousness both impresses me and exhausts me. With the others in summer school and camp, I have spent quite a bit of time with just Lucy these last few months, which has been both a gift and a challenge.




The Queen oversees the opening of birthday gifts from Grandma Jerry.



I seem to recall having similar feelings about Ellie at age three. I was confounded by her witticisms and adorableness, yet often flattened by her ability to be so frequently downright unreasonable. Here's a perfect example of Lucy at age three:

"MOMMY!! Look at me! I'm going potty!"

[I look at her and even add in some positive reinforcement: "Great job, Lucy! Great pottying!"]

"MOMMY!! Stop looking at me! Leave me alone!"


This is what happens almost any time we try to take Lucy anywhere, outside of the house, for more than thirty minutes (photo taken at the Intrepid Museum in New York City).

To be fair, Lucy is also one of the funniest, silliest, most cheerful people I've ever met (cheerful as long as she is getting exactly what she wants, that is). She just has this, how shall I put it? Very demanding tone. And she likes to do things her way. Erin says she has NO idea where she gets this from (OK, I might be a tad bit of a control freak). Or maybe it's more like a shriek? I think school is going to help Lucy, a lot. I think she's bored. I mean, I try to do things to keep her stimulated and entertained. But I can only do so much. She's just, a force, who needs constant...something.


I had to document these pigtails AND this bow since she lets me "do" her hair about every six months. Also, why don't my curls look this good in the New Jersey humidity?

Lucy likes to know the name of every person and object she meets and sees. When we are out and about or reading a book she'll see a person (the checker at the grocery, a character in an illustration) and ask, "What's he name? What he name is?" The questions come rapid fire--sometimes I don't even have time to answer before she's moved on to the next one. I've even started making up names for inanimate objects since she doesn't like what I call things. (For instance, if I say it's a "piano" she'll say, "No it's not!" So I'll say, "It's Penelope Piano!" And that makes her happy. It's like she's so social and loves people so much that she thinks everyone should have a name.


Speaking of books, this is the work of Lucy. Destroying property to this extent? I have to say this was a parenting first, for me. Oh and of course she blamed Harry. (To be fair I'm sure Harry contributed to this project (based on the placement of the pages) but I am pretty sure Lucy was the instigator).


See? HAPPY. This was Ellie's last day of school. When I was snapping a shot of Ellie's last day of first grade, Lucy was right there and refused to be outdone by her big sister, demanding: "Take MY picture Mommy!" 

At age three Lucy likes:
-Anything My Little Pony
-Fairies
-Dressing up
-Chocolate (she got Ellie's sweet tooth, that is for sure).

To quote that old post of mine from when Ellie was three, 'I love three. I hate three.'





She is his "Loo-swee," he is her "How-rie."

They are hilarious, mischievous, clever, maddening, fascinating, frustrating, boisterous, impossible little balls of fun and love. They exhaust me and bring me and the whole family endless amounts of joy.

Happy birthday, dear Harry and Lucy!

On Autumn Leaves, Daisies (the Organized Kind), Toddler Escapees and Misbehavin' (Charts)

1. I forgot how much fun leaves are.







They are great for burying, throwing, piling onto toy dump trucks...really the possibilities are endless. We broke down and hired the yard crew to help out this year but they didn't come until this week, while everyone was at school and work (and obviously, after these pictures were taken). As well intentioned as I am, neither Erin or I have the time. I tried to rake a little on Saturday while the kids were playing outside and, well, if that's not the definition of a Sisyphean task, then I don't know what is. Someday, we'll have quite the little built-in work crew, but that day is not today.


Leo might enjoy the leaves most of all.

2. Ellie joined Girl Scouts. Well, Daisies. No pictures yet but I'm currently on a mission to purchase the  requisite vest (see above). The store where it can be purchased is only open for three hours two Saturdays a month. I know! I am pretty sure if I do make it to that store I will also need to know the secret handshake. She had her first meeting last Friday and I had to got to leave work early to attend the first parent meeting. There was a lot of squealing and giggling going on at her meeting, which I peeked in on, but that's about all I know of Daisies at this point. Also, there will be cookies to sell (and eat) later in the year. A lot of cookies, so that's something to look forward to. (I had to laugh at one mom at the meeting who made a point of saying she could not be a "cookie helper" because she wouldn't be able to trust herself with all those cookies in her house--apparently "cookie helpers" are required to store the ordered cookies).

3. Did I tell you the babies climbed out their cribs? I didn't? Well, The babies climbed out of their cribs. It happened last week during nap time. I was at work and the babysitter called to tell me she found Harry and Lucy sitting outside of their room, smiling and laughing. And apparently, quite pleased with themselves. Yes, the moment every parent fears, finally happened. I guess this should also be the time that I admit that I believe all children should be in cribs until at least age 20.

Mind you, I would be way less concerned about this if we were only talking about one baby, but two babies? Free reign? In a room with just each other? Oh goodness, NO. I am afraid to even talk about this out loud because I fear that our "solution" (threatening the babies that if they don't stay in their cribs they'll have to go to the doctor and get a shot) will stop working. I'm just not mentally ready for toddlers in beds. Just, no.

4. Ellie is suddenly very focused on behavior charts.



It took me a while to realize the guy on Ellie's behavior chart? Is totally flipping us off (Ellie claims it's supposed to be a thumb's up, but I'm not so sure).


There seems to be a ton of talk about behavior in first grade. Several times since school has started, she's told me that she didn't get to do computers or have free time because of bad behavior (not hers, but someone or "someones" in her class). She is frequently adding and subtracting stars to the above chart and even has Harry and Lucy in on the action. "Do you think I should take one of Lucy's stars away?" Ellie asks (The answer is usually, yes-cough, cough-wait, did I just say that?).


Lucy's version of a "thumb's up." And yes, it makes me laugh, every single time.


Columbus' ship, by Leo
Columbus Day, came and went. I don't know about you, but I did not get the day off.

Oh Yes, We Partied Like Two Year Olds

Morning of the birthday.































The big, bad two year olds, themselves.









































Did I mention the grandparents from Oregon came to help celebrate Harry and Lucy's birthday? All nineteen of us took the train (thirty minutes) into New York for brunch on birthday morning to see if we could blow Harry's (aka Train Lover) mind (not pictured, photographer Erin).


As you can see we made it to the Big City intact (not pictured: my glass of white wine).


Lucy had the worst time of anyone, as usual.

Mutual Admiration Society.

After brunch we returned home for outdoor water play (it was over ninety degrees and fairly humid).

And of course, cake.


 Lucy's reaction to her first ice cream cake: "WOW!"


My reaction: I cannot believe I forgot the matches and have to go back inside the house again (it's a running joke that when there are 6+ of us, no one is ever outside at the same time and something is always forgotten in the kitchen).

But matches were found and candles were blown (of course, no pictures of the actual moment, are you crazy?). I make everyone sing "Happy Birthday" twice even though Harry and Lucy are too little to care yet (as far as we know).

I'd say the presents were a hit.



Test driving the new vehicles.



A little unsure.


That's more like it.

And now, they are two! In other words, we've survived another year! And I have to say, it just keeps getting better.

Stairs: Check

In other news, it's confirmed: Lucy likes chocolate. (You'll notice she was also offered berries but opted for the chocolate cookie. Good girl).

There I was, yesterday afternoon, mindlessly washing dishes. There were Leo and Ellie, playing Legos in Leo's room. There were Harry and Lucy, wait...where were Harry and Lucy?

I don't know what made me stop and think, in bright flashing lights: "BABY GATE," but I'm here to tell you that mother's intuition is alive and well because "BABY GATE" practically screamed in my head at just the right moment and dash I did.

Yes, I forgot to resecure the baby gate after the twins got up from their morning nap. And so there was Harry and Lucy, the co-conspirators at the top of the stairs, giggling at me in tandem and giddy, visibly bursting with pride (tiny puffed shoulders and grins, oh the grins!) for what they'd accomplished. It seemed like they'd been just waiting to be discovered.

I suppose one could argue that mother's intuition would have had me remember the neglected baby gate before they reached the top, but that would have robbed them of quite the little (thankfully, benign) experience and us of a great family tale to be recalled for years to come.

And in case there was any question? Those two can definitely get up those stairs all by themselves (coming down is a work in progress but thankfully they didn't try that yesterday). Ahem.

In other, other news: Happy twenty-two months, guys! You exhaust me and complete me. How is that even possible?

Weekend Update

For some reason, this was the first weekend in recent memory that I haven't collapsed into bed on Sunday night and felt like I had been hit by a truck. A truck driven by four, small people.

I  laughed a lot. I mean, we always laugh a lot in our house. How could we not? But this weekend I seemed to more than usual. Was it Ellie's calls of: "Last one upstairs gets a rotten egg?" or was it Lucy, padding around the house and singing (in quite a good tune, I might add) Barney's "I Love You" song? Over. And over. And over.

Anyway I am not questioning the laughter. Laughter is good, since I also spent an inordinate amount of time keeping these people (the smaller two, obviously) from falling headfirst off chairs.

Speaking of laughing...

...Harry, at his first haircut was...decidedly not doing so.

Pre-haircut, big brother Leo (who knows a thing or two about haircut trauma) was clearly concerned for his little Hair-Bear.

Ahh. Much better. And I didn't even cry! There is something about official "first" haircuts that always makes little boys look so transformed, so "old" (where's my bay-beeeeee?!) yet this time, I just thought Harry looked perfect. And clean. Did I mention this is the boy who likes to rub oatmeal/pasta/yogurt/anything he can eat, into the back of his hair? This new do' should make life a bit tidier.

At least, in theory.

On Sunday we went out to brunch with the gang. I'm always struck by the leaps the babies make in just a month. Most times, brunch with all four is akin to dining with four escaped convicts, but for some reason, yesterday was different. Of course it was still anything but relaxing, but I always feel very accomplished when we do anything that involves leaving the house for a few hours.

Lucy at brunch was a character. Are you familiar with Bread and Jam for Frances?

"He took a bite of sandwich, a bite of egg and a drink of milk. Then he went around again. Albert made the sandwich, the egg and the milk, come out even."

This is what she reminded me of. There was Lucy, sipping her water (cup with a straw), taking tiny, delicate bites of her biscuit and finally, pinching miniature finger-fuls of scrambled eggs.

Now if I can just keep everyone upright in a chair, we'll be good.

20

It's taking all my willpower to not post the picture I really want to post here, which included not one, but TWO naked baby tushies. Since Harry and Lucy may want to run for public office someday, I thought it best to hold back on that one. In other news, you may not be shocked to learn that bathing two toddlers who won't sit down in the bathtub is both challenging and a comedy of errors.

Ellie had a wonderful time in the bath with the babies. Unlike me, Harry and Lucy loved being squirted by the various rubber bath animals. There was much squealing and happy shrieking from all three. Until Harry peed (what's that saying? It's all fun and games until someone pees in the tub?) and Ellie was absolutely scandalized and...scene. Bathtime was promptly over.

Ellie is on her way to learning to read. She has quite a few sight words. The babies are her perfect audience.

It occured to me yesterday that the babies twins are now twenty months old. That feels like another "momentous" milestone just as entering the "teen" months was. So here they are, now marching squarely toward two. Gulp.

Lucy is...how shall I say this? The BOSS. Or at least she thinks she is. "Don't want it!" "No way!" "Come on!" "Color!" (meaning, she wants to draw, which she always does when she spies the big kids huddled around the kitchen table, drawing) are just a few of her favorite and frequent phrases.

She knows what she wants, and when she wants it. And Look Out if you stand in her way. Just look at that focus. She's going to brush that doll head's hair and she's going to do it right.

And dear, sweet Harry. I've never known a baby who could amuse himself more than this one. He "reads" books to himself. He is absolutely in love with Leo's train table, whether it's covered with trains or Duplos he is on the case and happy as can be. He also recently discovered Thomas trains (see him clutching his little Thomas in the bath, above). He carried that train around all weekend and was seriously perturbed when he found out he wasn't allowed to sleep with it. He's saying a few more words. This week he busted out with "night, night." Most of his words seem closer to approximations than full words but we can usually figure out what he's trying to tell us.

Speaking of "night night," we have a newish bedtime routine. Rather than just plopping the babies in their cribs, turning on the sound machine and music and turning out the lights, as we did for months and months, we're now finally reading books before bed (add this to my list of things I felt guilty about the twins missing out on, since I always dutifully read to my singletons).

Of course nothing in our house can be simple, so when the twins' bedtime hits, which is usually about halfway through Leo and Ellie's dinner, everyone scrambles upstairs ("Last one up gets a rotten egg!" calls Ellie), fights for rights to the rocking chair, and thus begins a rollicking rendition of "Baby Beluga."

Lucy bobs her head and shakes her hips and Harry bounces and sways and throws himself onto his mattress and rolls around to the beat. I scratch his little head like he's a puppy and he flashes me a grateful smile. Leo and Ellie then each sing their own lullaby, alternating nights (some kind of fight about this breaks out nightly, trust me). And then at some point Ellie's Dreamlite became part of the mix (I know, it's practically a Vegas show, right?).


Or maybe more like a circus act.

Breaking News

Me: Oh, Hi Harry. What did you do today?

Harry: (If he could, you know, talk):

Oh, nothing. Just LEARNED HOW TO WALK!!!

1 x 2 (Part Two)

I have started and stopped this post many times. I don't even know where to begin. But really, I've been telling this story all year, this first year of twins.

The first year for any baby is momentous, incredible when you think about it.

In one short year (depending on what time it is--in the middle of the night? It's looong) they go from this:

June 1, 2011

and this

To this:

and this

The first of many cupcakes, I'm sure.

But the first year of two babies? It's flown by at such a speed that I almost feel like someone stole a year of my life. That has a negative connotation, but I imagine you know what I mean. It's been a leetle busy.

With two babies, you can't help but compare personalities. And they've been different since the day we met them.

Why yes, Lucy is snacking on a lemon. Why do you ask?

Harry, who started out with a shock of black hair and brown eyes (his hair has softened to a caramely-almost-blonde- but his eyes remain firmly brown--I had to have four kids to get one with my eye color), has grown from an uncomfortable, fussy newborn with misery (for all) inducing reflux, to a jolly, low-key, independent guy, often content to sit and play with blocks and toys with buttons and tags. Until he's not, of course.

He's very much a watcher. A thinker. He takes in the world around him, studies things earnestly, but he's also quick to smile and laugh. He has a deep little voice: "A-duh" is his favorite thing to say right now. He also finds Leo to be the most hilarious person in his entire universe. All his big brother has to do is breathe and Harry comes cackling.

He started out as the "dominant one," stealing every toy he could from Lucy. Now? She takes from him, he whimpers, looks up at me (or the nearest warm body), whines, cries...well, you get the picture. He's a bit...sensitive.

Lucy, who came to us with virtually no hair and blue eyes, has blossomed into a little social butterfly. She smiles at everyone and anyone and starts every day with a gigantic smile on her face. She is the baby of whom you say "I'll have what she's having!"

She's also the confirmed Family Daredevil, most apt to be found in the corner, amongst electrical cords, trying to take down a lamp. Or an end table. Tell her to stop and she laughs at you. She mocks you, she really does. This weekend I dubbed her Evil Kaneevil. While Ellie was the baby who did exactly what she was told, I fear that Lucy is the one that says Oh yeah? And quickly runs in the opposite direction. The rate of her gross motor development is astounding (these crazy 46-chromosome kids, I tell you!), one day she's pulling up, the next day she's pushing a tiny musical table across the room (walking by Monday? It honestly wouldn't shock me).

Speaking of needing four kids to get one with brown eyes? I also apparently needed four kids to get one with curly hair. The weather around here has recently turned humid and with that has come proof of Lucy's ability to frizz and curl and ohmygoodness I am LOVING it. Finally, a child to share products and commiserate with.

Everyone I've met (at Target, at the park, at the pediatrician's office, at Costco) who knows anything about twins has said the same thing to me:

"If you can just make it through the first year..."

And well? I guess we did just that.

Harry and Lucy, your impending arrival terrified me and your presence has turned our lives upside down in the best possible way. You've taught me about our little family's boundless capacity for love and I'm proud to say I have a PhD in sleep deprivation.

And I know the best is only yet to come.

Happy first birthday, guys!