Conversations with a Stud

Me:          'I sure do LOVE watching you play buddy.'

Linc:         'I sure do LOVE watching you clean mama.'

Truer words have probably never been spoken.

Lately

We're alive!  

 You know the thing is, you go to Italy one week, and then your daughter gets her tonsils and adenoids out immediately after you return, and then you know what happens???

Italy all of the sudden feels like a MILLION years ago!  

Because real life done-did slap us across the face when we returned.  

(And then suckered punched us in the belly when we were down.)

A little more than 2 weeks after the surgery, I can (almost) safely say that we have survived.  

But barely.

Because that surgery is no joke.  And it knocked our Pearl out for more than 2 weeks.  

She was miserable.  She was tough.  She was sassy.  She was sad.  And quiet.  And hungry.  

And she couldn't get enough of her mama.  

She just started feeling a bit better in the last 24 hours.  She doesn't sound like our girl yet, and she is certainly far too skinny.  (Insert sad face!)  

But she smiled, played and slept through the night.  

Thank God!

And Brian + I need another vacation like this one.    

Lincoln was so good the last 2 weeks.  We didn't get out of the house hardly at all.  His sister was either too sick or too grouchy to play, his mama was carrying a 35 pound baby on her hip 24 hours a day and his dad was working round the clock.  

So what did our son do?

Play happily by himself, enjoy the extra sweet snacks around the house, patiently help his mama, work in the yard with daddy and grow like a weed.  

Seriously this kid has grown so much lately. (Insert sad face.)

I can honestly say that in all of my 3 years as a mother, these were by far the hardest 2 weeks.  

And I was alone with twins from the beginning people!!!

Motherhood humbled this week, but I must say, I am just ever-so grateful to be a mom.

And to be able to be home with my sick girl, not at 'work'.

And even though I'm all kinds of tiny, without any 'cushion' to be found, I'm the coziest source of comfort for my gal when her world is spinning.  

And that feels like a million bucks. 

Perspective

The blessing and the curse of having twins is...

...You only get every stage once.

And mostly, I would say this is the downfall of having twins.

I have loved each and every stage with our turds. Every sleepless one.

And with 2, at the same time, things are a little extra busy. And it just goes by too dang fast.

Can I tell you how much I love 2??? The age, not the quantity. I'm not sure why 2 has such a terrible reputation. Because I think it is flat-out amazing-ness. So creative, so smart, challenging + rewarding.

I am so thankful I get to hang out with Lila + Lincoln every day. And thankful that Brian understands the importance. Because even though I miss seeing adults (regularly), the occasional morning latte and carpooling with my best bud...I wouldn't change it.

Never, ever, ever.

Even if teachers miraculously started making more than 40 grand a year.

*wink*

Because I Can

And because it makes them smile.



***It isn't as pretty getting out as it is getting in.***

It's Official

It's official folks. The twins now know that I am no longer just some random chick that has spent every waking moment with them for the last 18 months. I am officially 'mama'. Lila has been saying it for a few weeks now pretty regularly, and then last week it was mama everything. Puppy mama. No mama. Outside mama. Up mama. It was like the period at the end of every sentence she said. B + I could not stop laughing. Also last week, probably because of the constant 'mamas' from his sissy, Lincoln picked it up too. More mama, Hi mama, cracker mama and on and on. My favorite from my girl, of course, is 'I luh you mama!' And my dude, well it just melts my little heart when he says 'OK mama'.

I know sooner than later it is going to be the most annoying word on the planet. I was a teacher after all. I wanted to die at the end of the first few days of school when the little ones would say teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher all. the. time. But for now, I want to remember this sweet moment. The moment my children started saying my name. It feels pretty freaking good.

EIGHTEEN

Dear Lila + Lincoln,

Eighteen. Eighteen months ago you were born into our family. Eighteen months ago, to the day, is when we officially became Team Swish. Which makes you 1 1/2. Which makes me a little sad, and a lot proud of how much everything has changed since then. Today when we were driving home from your doctor appointment, I just stared at your sleepy little faces. I told Daddy that sometimes I feel like I might just explode into a million little pieces because my love for you is like. growing. by. the. minute. I also remember telling Daddy, (18 months ago to the day and on our way to the hospital), that I knew that I loved each one of you, but it was just so hard to comprehend it because I hadn't officially met you. And then out you came, and just like the freaking Grinch, my heart grew 2 sizes on February 3rd. And my heart keeps on a-growing. Seriously, you guys better stop being so damn precious because I'm not that big and at this rate, I might literally explode. And that would not be good, because who would do all of these jobs then. Yeah, you pretty much still need me.

Lila Pearl, we sure chose the right name for you because you are a gem. A true gem. I don't know how it happened that something so sweet came from me, but God truly has knocked my socks off with your sweetness. And you're so beautiful. As much as daddy + I would love to take credit for your beauty, you just look like you! Maybe a little of us here or there, but mostly you just are perfectly, uniquely you. And we love that. You are starting to learn to sing, you love to dance + you speak so clearly. Some of my favorite things you say are: 'No Kinky', 'No, no Jez', 'Dada at wurk', 'luh you Mama', 'kank you', 'snacks', and 'rock baby'. You march to the beat of your own drum, and we hope you stay that way forever. You are everything I wanted in a baby girl, and I hope you know you have the coolest mom ever. Ok, the funniest.

Lincoln, you are one cool dude. You are sweet and rascal all poured into one tall, extra-lean frame. Your gigantic eyes, and even bigger personality have drawn people to you for 18 months. We recognized something special immediately in you when you were born. You are just a rad little guy. You will stop in the middle of some serious playing, run over to me, give me a kiss, and run back to play. Ahhhhh! Your vocabulary is huge, and you cuddle up with me and listen to stories forever. You love Jez, your blanket, dancing, yelling, kicking the ball, digging, bees, trucks, sissy + daddy and blueberries. You crack me up for days and I love everything about having a son.

Alright turds, Happy 18 months. Your daddy + I love you very much.

Love,
Mama

Rockstar

I have had to fill out a lot of paperwork lately that has asked me to list my occupation. Job title....hmmmm--that is a very interesting question to ask a stay-at-home mama. Here are some of the options I'm considering using the next times I need to answer the same question.

Household Manager
Personal Assistant
Domestic Goddess
Short-order Cook
Meal Planner
Dishwasher
Cleaning Lady
Ass Wiper
Wardrobe Consultant
Chauffeur
Nurse/Boo-Boo Kisser
Playground Lady
Personal Shopper
Errand Runner
Social Coordinator
Party Planner
Photographer/Videographer
Hair Stylist
Freakin' Kiddie Clown
Beatboxer Extrordinnaire
Noise Maker
Shuttle Bus Driver
Referee
Lifegaurd
Dog Walker

I mean the list could go on and on. Believe me, I will be listing these in the future because sometimes 'mom' just seems boring. (Although any mom knows it is anything but!) Perhaps I will just write in ROCKSTAR. Because after a day of completing all of the above mentioned tasks, and more, I feel like one.

I'm proud to be the mama of this mess!