reanbean

My Tiny Talking Parrot

My conversation with Tiny this morning…

T: Mommy! Read book? Read book?

r: Wait, Tiny. You need to put on clothes first (she’s standing before me in just her diaper and a onesie).

T: Put clothes. Put clothes.

r: Take this shirt and these pants. They’re so pretty!

T: Peedy! Peedy!

r: Let Mama help (as I see her attempting to put her shirt on upside down).

T: Help! Help!

r: It’s a little big, so let’s roll up the sleeves.

T: Too big? Too big?

r: Yes, Tiny. Just a little too big.

T: Too big! Too big!

r: (once Tiny is all dressed) There you go!

T: Darwego! All done!

r: Yes, all done.

T: Peedy! Peedy!

r: Yes, you’re very pretty.

T: Mommy! Read book? Read book?

r: Okay, Tiny. Go get your book…

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a wonderful day surrounded by good company and great food. We had a great day over at Grammy and PawPaw’s house. Tiny and Buba passed on the turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie, but enjoyed the bacon wrap appetizers and the whipped cream part of dessert. We’ll work on the rest next year.

Today was my day to post over at How Do You Do It?, so head on over to read more about my little monkeys.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi, Santa Claus!

Today, Tiny and Buba went to see Santa Claus at the mall. We’ve been talking about Santa Claus, reading books about Santa Claus, and singing songs about Santa Claus in hopes of getting the kids excited and not scared about getting their picture taken with Santa.

This morning, I showed them the picture from last year. ”See,” I said pointing at the very authentic looking Santa. “That’s Santa Claus. And there’s baby Tiny and baby Buba sitting on Santa’s lap.”

Tiny shrieked, “Hi, Santa Claus!”

I explained that we would go to the mall and they would sit on Santa’s lap and get their pictures taken. “Sit, sit.” Tiny repeated, letting me know that she understood.

When we got into the minivan to head down to the mall, I asked the kids, “Where are we going?”

“Santa Claus! Santa Claus!” they chorused from their seats.

“And what will you do when you see him?” I asked.

“Hi, Santa Claus!” Tiny replied. “Sit, sit.”

They seemed genuinely excited, and that excitement lasted all the way up until we were standing right in front of Santa. Buba stared with curiosity, so  I thought he might be okay. But Tiny was scared. “No, no, no, no, no,” she shouted, stomping her little feet and pulling me down the ramp.

“It’s Santa Claus,” I tried to explain, but Tiny had already made up her mind. I was just about to walk them away, when Santa encouraged me to let Buba try sitting on his lap. Buba went willingly, but cried as soon as Santa had a hold of him. I grabbed Tiny, and we sat on the bench next to Santa. Tiny was really going nuts now. Even sitting on my lap, she was fighting to get away. I wanted to get her out of there, but Santa encouraged me to give them both a minute (there was no one waiting in line). Tiny and Buba did calm down a bit, but the photo is certainly not one that I’ll be sharing.

Of course, the second we started to leave, Tiny turned back and waved her little hand saying, “Bye-bye, Santa Claus! Bye!” And she continued to talk on and on about Santa Claus as we made our way back through the mall.

Say Cheese!

When we took Tiny and Buba to get their holiday pictures taken last November, it was a bit of a disaster. It was the day before Thanksgiving, and I had chosen that day for two important reasons: 1) T had the afternoon off, so he was able to accompany us. 2) It was a Wednesday, and so the weekday buy one get one free deal was applicable. However, the portrait studio waiting room was packed with kids and parents. We had a 4pm appointment (because they were napping 1-3pm), but waited over half an hour to be called into the studio. Tiny and Buba were about 8.5 months old, and early evening was not a good time for them. The more we waited, the more nervous I became. They kept it together really well while we waited. But, of course, once we actually got to the picture taking part, they fell apart. The photographer took about 8 pictures and then sent us on our way. I didn’t really love any of the photos, but these pictures were going to be the only gifts we were giving to family and friends. And there was no time to make another appointment, so I was stuck. I picked the best of the bunch, placed our order, and left unhappy.

We went back to the same studio for Buba and Tiny’s 12 month and 15 month portraits (because except for the holiday photo shoot, we’d always had a good experience). While we got much better pictures those times, T and I both agreed that the experience was most similar to a workout at a gym. Because now Tiny and Buba were mobile. So not only did we have to try to get them to look at the camera and smile by shaking toys and making silly sounds and faces, but we also had to keep them from escaping. All this in a tiny, little room that was about 100 degrees. We were all dripping with sweat by the time we left.

I kept all of this in mind as I prepared for our holiday photo portraits this year. I made our appointment on a Saturday (so we lost out on the buy one get one free deal) and booked the very first appointment of the day (so no line, no waiting). Up until this point, we’d only had Buba and Tiny photographed (mostly because I was self-conscious about my postpartum figure), but this time I decided that I’d like to try a family portrait as well. So, T and I dressed for pictures too, and I tried to keep all of our clothing as lightweight as possible to keep us from melting under the heat of all the lights. I had no idea how Tiny and Buba (now 20.5 months old) would behave, but I tried to prepare them that morning, telling them that they would have to sit down and smile (say cheese!) while they got their pictures taken. Tiny repeated the directions all morning, “Sit! Cheese!”

I have to say, this photo session could not have gone better. The photographer was the best one we’ve had since Buba and Tiny were infants. She got them smiling and laughing by making faces and noises, clapping and saying Yay!, and giving them balls to throw to her and then pretending to be so excited by their great throwing abilities. We had also brought along Santa Bear to help bring out the smiles, and he managed to make his way into a few of our photos as well.

I’m not really sure what mad the difference this time- the kids being older? the fantastic photographer? the timing of our appointment? my prep work at home? Perhaps all of it, perhaps none of it. But at least this year I’m really excited to give out our photos as gifts. Let the holiday season begin!

In Fear of the Flu?

I can’t remember the last time I listened to the news and didn’t hear a report about H1N1. Unless anything has changed, it seems that H1N1 is rampantly spreading throughout Massachusetts, as well as across the nation and around the world. For some, this virus is deadly, but others recover with time and rest. The advice has been to get the seasonal flu shot AND the H1N1 vaccine, but to do so you may have to wait in line overnight. Because the number of vaccines available doesn’t even come close to the number of people who wish to be vaccinated. And so, in the mean time, we all must live in fear of the flu. Or do we?

I do not even attempt to hide the fact that I’m slightly germaphobic. I do not sit directly on public toilet seats (in fact, I avoid going to public bathrooms at all, if I can help it), I pull my hand inside my sleeve before opening doors, and I carry a bottle of hand sanitizer and/or wet wipes with me wherever my children and I go. When Buba and Tiny were infants we did not go to playgroups- partly because it was tough for me to get us there without disrupting our nap schedule, but mostly because I was so fearful of them mouthing on another baby’s toys (especially one who went to daycare).

But even I know that I can’t keep us locked in the house until cold and flu season passes us by. While I could probably handle it just fine, it wouldn’t be fair to Tiny and Buba (who have received their flu shots and the first of the H1N1 vaccines). However, that’s not to say that I’m just going to throw caution to the wind. I’m all about playing it safe. And for me, that means doing as much as I can to keep germs at bay.

So when we go out shopping, I opt to push my duo in our tandem stroller while I pull the shopping cart behind me. Yes, it make us look like a train, but I don’t have to worry about what germs they might be sitting in. We play with kids whose mothers know about my germ issues. While I tried to hide the crazy at first, it was so much easier to just confess my germaphobia to the other moms. They help redirect my kids (or their own) if they see a shared toy headed towards their mouths, and they always let me know ahead of time if their child is sick, has been sick, or might be coming down with something so I can decide whether to keep the playdate or reschedule.

But the truth is, my germaphobia is not something I wish to pass down to Tiny and Buba. I want them to be able to enjoy their childhood, and not be worried about the germs that are everywhere. So this fall, even with swine flu popping up all over the place, I let my guard down a little. Although we skipped signing up for gymnastics and will not be crawling in a large pool of plastic balls, we did  join a storytime group at the library and continue to play at the local playground. This may not seem like a big deal, but it was huge for me.

Of course, I do wash my kids’ hands as soon as we get into the van. I just can’t help myself.

Nap Nap Baby!

My husband and I have been all about schedules and routines since Tiny and Buba were born. It was a must for us, because keeping two babies on the same schedule is no small task. And without a synchronized schedule, there would be no rest for the weary. A consistent nap schedule was a top priority (still is). And so, from the very beginning, we’ve always had a nap routine which lets Tiny and Buba know that nap time is near.

In the beginning, the routine was just swaddling, soothing, laying them in the crib (yes, just one crib at first), and then turning on the white noise. Once we stopped swaddling, the routine changed. I started to play soft lullaby music and  would rock one baby while the other swung in the cradle swing. Then I placed them into their sleeps sacks, put them into their own cribs, and turned on the white noise. The routine changed once more when they outgrew the cradle swing. At that point, I started reading to them before their naps. I also introduced them to piggy and rabbit, their Angel Dear cuddle blankets that they only get at nap time. I continued to play the soft lullaby music and use the white noise maker.

This routine is so set in stone, that Buba and Tiny know it well. As soon as I start cleaning up their lunch, they look at each other and shout, “Nap nap baby!” There is no fussing, no crying, no chasing around the house. Nap time is just what comes naturally after lunch these days.

one month old

Working Mom Tryout

Before my twins were born, I was an elementary school teacher. Tiny and Buba were born in the spring of 2008, during my 8th year of teaching, and I have been home with them ever since. This was not the original plan; however, neither was having twins. Once my husband (T) and I discovered just how much daycare for two infants was going to cost us, it made the most sense for me to take a two-year child rearing leave of absence. With this being my second year of leave, it will soon be time for a final decision: Go back to teaching or resign.

I love being home with my kids. Some days are better than others, but overall, I just love that I get to be with them through almost every part of their day (the only exception being the time I spend tutoring in the afternoon when T is home with them). I get to observe them at play and see how today they can do things that they couldn’t do yesterday.

But on the other hand, some days (usually the no-so-good ones) I long for a little more adult interaction. You know, lunch with another grown up that includes conversations about things than child rearing. The kinds of conversations you have in a workplace lunchroom. We do occasionally get together with other moms and their kids, but trying to have an adult conversation while also supervising toddlers at play is no easy task.

So, as I said, I’ve been doing the stay-at-home-mom thing for 20 months. But this weekend, I had a chance to see how the other half lives. I had the opportunity to shadow a Lesley University professor (basically student teaching at the collegiate level), which required me to be “working” 8am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Given that these are essentially the same hours that I’d be teaching if I return to work, it seemed like the perfect situation to give me a sense of what things might be like.

The morning was hectic and rushed. Trying to get Tiny and Buba up and ready for the day while also trying to get myself ready, was tricky (and this was without having to get them all packed up for daycare). Sure, T could have been more helpful, but if I go back to work, we’ll both be scrambling in the mornings anyway. Once I was out of the house, I enjoyed a peaceful ride to work. Although, I did have to eat my breakfast in the car, as there had been no time to do that at home, I managed to arrive without spilling anything on my clothes. And the day went pretty smoothly. I really enjoyed being in an academic setting again, working with pre-service teachers, and presenting lessons. I didn’t think much about what T and the kids were doing without me. In fact, I didn’t feel the least bit sad about what I might be missing until I walked through the door that evening. Tiny ran to me with a big smile and through her arms around my legs with a big, “Mommy! Mommy home!” It was then that I felt just a little sad that I had missed an entire day in my kids’ lives. And Sunday was much the same. Luckily, I knew it was just those two days, and on Monday, every thing would be just as it was.

So, where does that leave me? Still not sure. And this is why: I do really love being home with Buba and Tiny, and in my heart, I know I’d rather be home with them. If I go back to work, almost my entire salary will go towards daycare and our income will stay the same. Plus, we’ll have the added stress of trying to get us all ready and out the door in the mornings. I’d get to spend my day teaching young minds and talking with colleagues, but I’d miss all the things that my kids are doing. And my main reason for going back to work would be just to have a job. In this economy, it seems silly that anyone would consider giving up a job. And what if no one wants to hire me back in three years? I worked hard to earn my current teaching status and the respect of parents in the community. Do I really want to have to start all over? And how will I keep up my certification? How will I manage to stay current with the “hot topics” in education?

T says it’s okay (and I think he’d prefer it) if I want to resign. He thinks my dual certifications in elementary education and reading will make me very marketable, so getting rehired should not be a concern. But still…

I have until mid-February to make my decision. Please, weigh in.

20 months old

Rachel over at Motherhood.Squared writes the most beautiful updates about her twins. This is my first attempt at following in her footsteps.

The last three months have gone by so quickly. It seems we’ve fallen into a nice groove, and our days flow by rather smoothly. Each day is much the same as the one before, but also very different, because you both are learning and growing so much every day.

At the 18 month well visit, you both measured 31 inches tall. Tiny weighed in at 18 pounds, 11 ounces, and Buba weighed 20 pounds, 14 ounces. The pediatrician’s only concern was about Buba’s head size. It seems Buba’s head circumference had not grown since the 15 month check up, and the doctor wrote up orders for us to have his head x-rayed at Children’s Hospital to be sure the head bones were still capable of growing. Of course, everything came back a-okay, but having your head x-rayed was not at all a positive experience. So, we took you out to lunch at Friendly’s to try to make up for it. You gobbled up the hot dog and orange slices we ordered for you and still had room for black raspberry ice cream at the end.

Several days later, you both came down with your first stomach bugs. Buba was the first, and Tiny followed just one day later. For a week, I tried to shower you with TLC while trying desperately to get you to drink the Pedialyte. These were not fun days, but you both handled yourselves very well, and even managed to appear in very good spirits between bouts of sickness. Although we couldn’t get out and about in our usual fashion, you enjoyed walks around the neighborhood and playing in the front yard.

On the more typical days, we try to get out for at least one field trip. Some days, we go to the library for storytime,  to the local playground, or to a friend’s house for a playdate, but often we just run errands. You know many of the day employees at Stop and Shop, Ace Hardware, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Target, the bank, and the post office. You say hi and bye and smile and play peekaboo, and you love all the attention you get while we shop.

At home, you play and laugh together (although there are plenty of moments when you don’t get along), and I love to watch you spin yourselves dizzy. You like to wear hats and stand up on your riding toys, even though it’s not allowed. And you both love to walk around the house wearing various objects – an empty book box, one of Mommy’s old slippers, your trick-or-treat bag- on one foot. You are very active, as most toddlers are, but you also enjoy sitting down with your ever growing collection of books.

This fall we enjoyed many new activities with you. We had lots of fun apple picking and eating apples as we went along. You loved the juicy honeycrips we picked, as well as the cider donuts we bought before going home. The following weekend, we picked pumpkins, and you both had a great time carrying the little ones around. But the best part seemed to be watching the tractor plow the field. You both yelled, “Tractor! Tractor!” as it went up and down the field.

Then came Halloween- your first one going out in costumes. The costumes I bought at the twin sale were quite big, but we made them work. You wore them to a party at the senior center and for trick-or-treating in the center of a neighboring town and around our neighborhood. You had so much fun collecting candy in your bags, and everyone thought you were so cute.

Tiny, you know all the routines in our day and are quick to let me know if I forget to do something or change how something is done. You watch everything we do, and want to do as much as possible on your own. In the morning, you wait by the dresser as I pick out your clothes, and quickly snatch them from me while running off to try to dress yourself. Sometimes you come very close to getting your shirt on properly. You insist on wiping your own tears and runny nose, crying “titu (tissue)!” until we get one for you. You seem to learn new words and signs every day, and love to repeat words and phrases you hear us use frequently. You are headstrong, independent, and you want to do what you want to do. But you are good at following directions, especially when we are out in public. Buba can get away with nothing under your watchful eyes. I hear your piercing screech or loud “no-no-no” if he even thinks of doing something naughty. But when he is sad, you are so very comforting, bringing him his stuffed koala and giving him kisses to make him feel better. You show great affection for Monkey, Panda, Meow (a gray cat) and Cookie (a mouse wearing red overalls), and love to sit them down so you can read to them.

Buba, you are so loving and playful. When we go out to a storytime or playgroup, you think nothing about plopping yourself down in another mom’s lap or tilting your sweet little face up to give a kiss on the cheek. At home you love to hide behind your crib or under the kitchen table and call “Mommy!” repeatedly until I come and find you. When I ask you to come to me so I can put on your jacket or put you in your high chair, you turn and run in the opposite direction and laugh and laugh as I run after you. At 15 months, you spoke fewer than three words, but now your vocabulary is so extensive that I’ve lost count. When you say something that you find funny, real (bye-bye Poofty (Poofty being our cat Pokey)) or nonsense (ma-ma-ma mu-mo), you say it over and over, giggling in between. For a long time, you were more than willing to give into Tiny’s demands for toys in your possession. But now you are more assertive, standing your ground and holding on tightly. You are even so bold as to try to take toys from Tiny! You are getting better about playing with other kids, but still love to go off into a corner to play with the wire and bead toy or sit with a stack of books. You enjoy kisses and cuddles from Quack Quack (the big yellow duck), Meow (the cat), and Koala. And you especially love playing with “baby bida (baby spider)” who sings the ABC’s while you dance.

It is so much fun to see what loving, smart, funny kids you are becoming. Your laughter and smiles warm my heart, and I am so proud to be your mother.

Love you!

Mommy

Jumping In

I’ve been planning this new blog for at least three months, probably longer. I could list a bunch of reasons why it’s taken me so long to get it up and running, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear them. Let’s just say that this experience reminds me of my student teaching days when my mentor teacher told me I was in charge of teaching an interdisciplinary unit on forest animals. Where I was teaching, there were only standards and frameworks. No curriculum guides and no textbooks. So, I was basically creating this unit from scratch. Each day, for about a week, my mentor would ask when I thought I’d be ready to start teaching the unit, and each day, I’d tell him I was still working on the lesson plans. Finally he told me, Kid, sometimes you’ve just gotta jump into something and let it take you where it takes you. Have some faith and confidence in yourself that you’ll be able to make it all work out just fine. And he was right. Once I got the unit started, it actually made it easier to plan the remaining lessons. Our third graders loved it, and I received outstanding observation reports from my mentor and supervisor.

And so I finally realized, late last month, that it was time to follow my mentor’s superb advice once again. So here I go, jumping into the blogosphere with stories about my kids, my relationship with my husband, my work, and the things in life that make me stop and think hmmmm.