Sunday

The Den

Happy Sunday

A Day Apart

In days past when I had alot of time on my hands (read: bedrest), I had read alot of books on raising twins and fostering a strong sense of their own identity. A few of the books had suggested that starting in the toddler years it is a good idea to separate them every once in a while, giving them each some one on one time with a parent. Bill and I have done this a little before, he would take Nixon to Home Depot while Reaghan and I went to Holiday Market or vice versa, but today we decided to do a whole morning alone each with a kid. It started out because I really wanted to go to the outlet mall in Howell, the kiddos needed new PJs, but surprisingly Bill didn't think that spending a morning shopping at an outlet mall and then having lunch sounded like a great idea. Besides, we recently had bird number three in our basement, so he wanted to do some investigating to find out how in the heck they keep getting in there and then fix the problem. Since Nixon has a bloody fit every time I subject him to shopping, and Reaghan is a budding fascionista, it was an easy choice with kid I would take.

Reaghan and I had a terrific time shopping, got some great deals, and then had a nice little girly lunch at a Chinese restaurant near home. While shopping I had let her walk in the stores part of the time and was totally surprised at how well she behaved - no snatching at items, though she did make a few selections (a very cute kitty t-shirt and a pair of pink sunglasses with flowers) and at the restaurant she sat in a booster seat instead of a high chair for the very first time! Reaghan was very impressed with the order of beef with broccoli with brown rice that we shared at Ginger, ate nicely with her spoon, and even kept her voice down! When we got home she showed all of her favorite items to Nixon and Daddy and then went upstairs for a nap with no problems!! There was alot of horseplay going on in their room right after we put them down for nap, no doubt because they hadn't seen each other for three hours, but they eventually settled right down.

Bill and Nixon had a great time as well. They hit the hardware store, then had a "manly" luncheon at BW3. Bill reported that Nixon was a perfect gentleman the whole time, downright chatty, and even flirted with the waitress (I'm sure daddy was proud).

Tonight is our monthly date night, we are heading to Ann Arbor to go to the Earle. We've decided that each month on our date night day that we will hang with a kid in the morning. I think that not only is it good for the kids, but in a way its really nice for us as well. You really feel much less stressed out with only one kid, and it is so nice to have that one on one time with them. Maybe next time I'll do a mommy-son breakfast!

It'll be fun!

By the way, special thanks to Leighla for her guest spot! Maybe the experiance will lead to her starting her own little blog!

Travels Colorado Here we Come!

Well...I guess I should start with an introduction. I am Leighla, a friend of the Double Dinks. I live in Grand Rapids with my family. I am the mother of Aaron. Aaron is one week younger then the twins. Most of you I believe have either met me or all of us before.

But Meet Aaron and our dog Cicero >>>>>>

So, a few weeks ago we took our first trip to Colorado...yes we braved the plane ride with our darling 20 month old.

Who at the time was sick and cutting his last tooth, getting over pink eye, and sick with a fever everyday the entire week prior to our departure....which later carried on into our trip.

So...the flights were not bad...on the way home we did run into a snotty woman in front of us, that I was ready to take on. That being said I will move on from that story. We traveled prepared with toys, food (Cherry Lollipops were the food of choice, and did you know they can also work as earplugs if necessary, trust me on this one), and the ultimate travel item a portable DVD player with 200 hours worth of Blue's Clues, which is Aaron's favorite show. Oh, did I mention a car seat, since there is no way Aaron would just sit and be happy...you got to strap that boy down and never let him up until you reach your destination.

Now, in Colorado we were in a beautiful condo with the slopes behind us....gorgeous just gorgeous. And my little man wanted a bite, and he got one. Then after the bite he had a wonderful time playing outside....until.....

Temper tantrum city....I would guess part of the tantrum was brought on by exhaustion from being sick, but who knows...he really let me have it. So, with the tantrum I was not about to just stand outside in the cold and let this go on. Lately, his events let's call them had been lasting ten minutes or so. Instead I gave my stern mommy warning, picked him, legs kicking and all, and hauled him back in our lovely condo, who's walls were beginning to close in on me. While his father was out enjoying the mountain.

After getting him into the condo, I sat down to try and ignore my son's rage. The screaming and tears eventually subsided, and a strange breathing pattern emerged. I thought to myself no way.....what is he doing....but yes still fully clothed boots and all, he had fallen asleep, and was SNORING! on the floor in the door way. Classic Toddler.

Now, I tell you this story but the trip was really great and Aaron settled down, and we did have a great time. Maybe we will talk again soon.....Leighla

Vomitorium

You know its bad when you open up the door to the bedroom and a wall of stink hits you.

It started on Monday with a call from daycare saying Nixon threw up. Bill, being the awesome dad that he is, picked up the kids and brought them home only to be awarded with a vomit bath compliments of Nixon.

I walked in the door to Bill and "sickee" on the sofa watching TV while Reaghan goofed off with their toys. Being the concerned mom that I am, I gave Nixon a half a cup of Pedialite to drink and took over the sofa duty from Bill. Bill took one look at the cup and said "Not a good idea."

"Well, he needs fluids or he'll get dehydrated."

"Just warning you...not a good idea."

You guessed it. Five minutes later, just when I started patting myself on the back for assuring my son had a healthy hydration level, he opened up on me. I say 'opened up' because I'm pretty sure that is the term that fireman use when they turn on their hoses - and that is exactly what it looked like. Only smelly...very smelly. Bill snickered.

(To be continued...sick baby interruption)

Ok...I'm back.

So lets just say it escalated from there. Reaghan ended up tossing her cookies at daycare on Thursday, so I ended up spending both Tuesday and Friday home with toddlers with sickness from both ends. It was bad...way bad...but several loads of laundry and too exhausted parents later I think that, to quote that little chick from Poltergeist, "This house is clean."

At least I hope so.

Mmmmm puke breath.

Whew! What stinks in here?!

Coming Up For Air

Hello world...nice to see you again.

Thats been pretty much the feeling ever since I went back to work. So far rejoining the workforce has been such a freeing (is that a word?) experiance for me that I really don't even notice or mind how tiring it can be. Besides, it is true what 'they' say - its a totally different kinda tired than chasing after a set of 21 month olds all day.

I really enjoy my job, most of my co workers, and the wonderful sense of accomplishment I get after completing a job well done - messy or not. The best part of it all has been the feeling that my life is under some sort of control again, not that it was spiraling down into the abyss before returning to my career, but anyone with toddlers knows that their days are only as predictable as their kids moods at the time - and they change just as quickly as Michigan weather. So now for the most part I can expect a certain amount of order to my day, and a certain amount of disorder at the end of the day which I feel much more capable of handling - and even enjoying.

Oh! I almost forgot! Remember that guest spot I promised everyone a bit back? Look for my friend Leighla to pop in and chat you up in the near future...