One of the best pieces of advice I received in terms of parenting was from my sister in law. I was feeling my usual guilt of not being the best mother I felt I could be. The twins were past the baby food stage and entering the impossible picky eating stage and I couldn't get them to eat any vegetables. I was complaining of this shortcoming to her and she told me, "Don't worry about it; I never forced my boys to eat vegetables; I figure they can worry about it when they get older". Stephanie always kept her children active and healthy and kept good snacks in the house so i knew she didnt mean that she just let her boys gorge themselves into a pixie stick coma every night but rather she chose not to stress the little things and basically give herself a break. This must be something that comes with age or years of parenting because I'm still struggling to accept that there is no such thing as a perfect mother.
Clark Moustakas, a leading expert on humanistic and clinical psychology said "Accept everything about yourself- I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end- no apologies, no regrets". If I'm going to have to learn to accept who I am as a mother and how I raise my children and run my household without regrets then I'm going to have to come clean.
My 10 Truths
1) I never remember to brush my children's teeth every day. I try so hard- I've written notes on my hand, on the fridge, put notes in my Outlook, left toothbrushes out in easy to spot places in hopes to remind myself and nothing works.
2) okay, that's not entirely true. sometimes when I do remember, like early in the morning when I've miraculously managed to get all three toddlers in the kitchen at once to wrestle coats, sneakers, socks, hats, and gloves onto their wriggling bodies and am running 15 minutes late to the babysitter's, I see the toothbrushes and toothpaste sitting on the counter and I pretend they aren't there.
3) I also occasionally pretend when one of the kids drops a chip or a half a sandwich on the floor and picks it up to continue eating it, that I didn't see that either. Or I give a half hearted "oh no, wait, stop!" just for show. I'm giggling as I write this one.
4) I'm really great at doing dishes on a consistent basis (we have no dishwasher), keeping the kitchen straight, and doing the vacuuming but laundry- clean and dirty- is in numerous locations around the house. Every time I put the laundry away, 6 more piles multiply like freaking Gremlins.
5) Our house should be cleaner. I don't dust, I don't wash the floors as often as I should, I don't keep up with yard work, toys are EVERYWHeRE,I'm just plain not very organized. I'm hoping to accomplish all of these as the children get older but for now, 3 boys three years old and under and two wildly shedding dogs is all I can keep up with. Oh, I'm also very good at rationalizing.
6) I probably let my children watch too much tv. I really don't know how other mothers entertain their children 12 hours a day without a few or more hours of tv or a movie. My kids destroy the house enough that if I let them play all day without a few hours here and there sitting on the couch, I would be cleaning and screaming all day long.
7) Bedtime should be sleep time, but after a nonstop morning, full workday, and rambunctious evening, i only pray that the children stay in their room. I should have done a better job of discipline starting out for if I had I wouldn't have at least one naked poopy child coming down the stairs at 10pm once a week, have to clean up little bits of paper off their floor each morning from playing dump truck, wash their floor from juice fights, or scream up the stairs nightly to say no jumping on the bed, no hitting, stop screaming, lay down, go to sleep, keep your feet on your side of the bed, or if you poop in your pants you are cleaning it up yourself!
8) I take my twins to Dunkin Donuts at least once a week and allow them half a glazed donut. I feel wickedly guilty about this one because I'm basically giving them a dose of sugar and lard so I can get a coffee. However I am working to wean them off of donuts by trying to leave the house later so I'm unable to stop and not be late for work. Working on weaning myself off their coffee as well.
9) Our Christmas tree is still up. Yeah, I know, it's almost February. Like last weekend and 10 weekends before that, I plan on taking it down this weekend.
10) Poor Liam never got a true baby room. With the twins we painted their wall, put in cute rubber flooring, put up pretty shelving and lined them with stuffed animals. Liam got a room with a crib. He got the spare room with 2 dressers and a closet full of my clothes and bare walls. No cute mobiles, musical aquariums, or stuffed animals in his bed. No wonder he wakes up twice a night crying for me- he's depressed and has nothing cute to cuddle with. And perhaps this is why he ends up cuddling in my bed twice a night and nursing at 14 months old. Oops!
So there's my 10 truths as a mother. I'm definitely far from perfect and have a lot to work on but at the end of the day I have 3 super happy, loving, ridiculous, and crazy little boys, an amazing husband, and a loving happy household- which isn't that what matters most?
My 3
Here comes trouble!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
My Night
My night:
5:30 pm:Picked up boys from babysitter as usual. Got Keagan and Liam out the door while Rowan kept kicking his shoes and socks off. Walked Keagan and Liam to the car and told Rowan I would have to leAve him behind.
5:45pm: Rowan shows up at the car door with shoes on.
5:55pm: kids strapped in, heading home, twins have taken off socks and shoes.
5:57pm: twins screaming for me to put on Bugs Life. I put it on, they sing the theme song and then scream at each other to stop singing. Arghh
6:00pm: Rowan is now screaming poop, mommies boobies, and stinky penis. Encouraged to continue by his hysterically laughing brother. Double arghh
6:15pm: home. Reassemble socks and shoes, unbuckle kids, carry Liam, purse, and jackets into the house all while pushing past a licking 220 lb Mastiff and a jumping 90 lb yellow Lab.
6:30-7:30pm: all hell has broken loose. Keagan and Rowan jumping behind the couch and throwing all their toys behind it calling it the dump. Liam climbing to the top of the couch and somersaulting down to the floor.
7:40pm: manage to cook chicken fingers and broccoli. Broccoli uneaten. Rowan ate ketchup with his fingers for dinner, rubbed Desitin on his hands after and asked me to smell his fingers.
8:10: tell twins it's time for bed. Keagan says no, jumps behind the couch, I pull him out, put him in time out and drag Liam and Rowan upstairs for story time.
8:11pm: make it up the stairs only to have Liam pull all the clothes out of the twins' bottom drawer and climb in it. Twins think this is hysterical so all 3 climb in. Arghhh.
8:15pm: pull them out and coax them to their bed for storytime with the offer of Flintstone vitamins and toothbrushing with their new Thomas the Train toothpaste.
8:17pm: not working. All 3 are running around their step stool pretending to be Lightening McQueen.
8:45pm: Stinky the Trashy Truck read 3 times, hugs, kisses twice. Drag a clinging Liam down the stairs in hopes of getting him to sleep by 9.
9:15pm: dinner for myself and husband made, Liam still awake climbing perimeter of couch. Twins still running across their room, pound, pound, pound. Now jumping on their beds while I threaten no fun this weekend, Nanny McPhee, no birthdays, time outs, etc. Nothing doing.
9:30pm: Liam passes out while nursing. Keagan and Rowan are screaming for orange juice and hand sanitizer. So random.
9:33pm: Rowan licks the hand sanitizer off his hands. eww.
9:45pm: juice drank and back up to bed where I have to tell Rowan the Cars movie in a 30 second story format. Keagan prefers the story I.ve made up about alligators and monkeys not eating their vegetables. Kisses and hugs again. This never ends.
10pm: FREEDOM!
5:30 pm:Picked up boys from babysitter as usual. Got Keagan and Liam out the door while Rowan kept kicking his shoes and socks off. Walked Keagan and Liam to the car and told Rowan I would have to leAve him behind.
5:45pm: Rowan shows up at the car door with shoes on.
5:55pm: kids strapped in, heading home, twins have taken off socks and shoes.
5:57pm: twins screaming for me to put on Bugs Life. I put it on, they sing the theme song and then scream at each other to stop singing. Arghh
6:00pm: Rowan is now screaming poop, mommies boobies, and stinky penis. Encouraged to continue by his hysterically laughing brother. Double arghh
6:15pm: home. Reassemble socks and shoes, unbuckle kids, carry Liam, purse, and jackets into the house all while pushing past a licking 220 lb Mastiff and a jumping 90 lb yellow Lab.
6:30-7:30pm: all hell has broken loose. Keagan and Rowan jumping behind the couch and throwing all their toys behind it calling it the dump. Liam climbing to the top of the couch and somersaulting down to the floor.
7:40pm: manage to cook chicken fingers and broccoli. Broccoli uneaten. Rowan ate ketchup with his fingers for dinner, rubbed Desitin on his hands after and asked me to smell his fingers.
8:10: tell twins it's time for bed. Keagan says no, jumps behind the couch, I pull him out, put him in time out and drag Liam and Rowan upstairs for story time.
8:11pm: make it up the stairs only to have Liam pull all the clothes out of the twins' bottom drawer and climb in it. Twins think this is hysterical so all 3 climb in. Arghhh.
8:15pm: pull them out and coax them to their bed for storytime with the offer of Flintstone vitamins and toothbrushing with their new Thomas the Train toothpaste.
8:17pm: not working. All 3 are running around their step stool pretending to be Lightening McQueen.
8:45pm: Stinky the Trashy Truck read 3 times, hugs, kisses twice. Drag a clinging Liam down the stairs in hopes of getting him to sleep by 9.
9:15pm: dinner for myself and husband made, Liam still awake climbing perimeter of couch. Twins still running across their room, pound, pound, pound. Now jumping on their beds while I threaten no fun this weekend, Nanny McPhee, no birthdays, time outs, etc. Nothing doing.
9:30pm: Liam passes out while nursing. Keagan and Rowan are screaming for orange juice and hand sanitizer. So random.
9:33pm: Rowan licks the hand sanitizer off his hands. eww.
9:45pm: juice drank and back up to bed where I have to tell Rowan the Cars movie in a 30 second story format. Keagan prefers the story I.ve made up about alligators and monkeys not eating their vegetables. Kisses and hugs again. This never ends.
10pm: FREEDOM!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I think I got the worst news today. The Supernanny canceled her show. She canceled her show and I didn't even get my chance to be on it. I even had the whole application 90% filled out and ready to send in, I just needed to find the perfect "aren't we the cutest little family, but don't those boys look hellacious?" picture, answer a few more questions about things we would like Supernanny Jo to fix and it was ready to send in. I cant believe she is canceling her show! I seriously thought that although they weren't taping out here she'd set my application aside, show it to the producers- along with our adorable family picture of course- and insist they fly to Virginia Beach because how could these poor parents go one more night cleaning poop off the floor and tolerate such sassy little boys?! I hadn't sent the application in but I felt like we were a shoe in. Oh the injustice of it all! A co-worker told me today that if Supernanny were smart she'd come to my house and see what a real challenge is like. EVery night I have at least one darling thing the twins say or do- I know we could really boost her ratings!
Tonight the twins told me they wanted to eat the baby while hungrily eyeing sweet Baby Liam (as we call him). Well maybe they werent "hungrily" eyeing him per say but they did proceed to growl at him and actually lick his toes....isn't this Supernanny worthy? Of course I don't think they had real plans to eat him, after all, all the pacifiers would disappear if there was no baby which would make Rowan very angry. They were watching Ice Age where the saber toothed tigers want to eat the little baby so thank goodness Their actions at least came from a movie. But don't underestimate 11 month old Baby Liam. This little boy can hold his own and may need some Nanny intervention himself for he is climbing all the stairs, pulling hair, pulling plugs out of outlets, trying to put the cords in his mouth, still trying to get his hands on dog food, running across the couches and trying to launch himself off, and screaming- really loud- on purpose- which I know because he glances my way and laughs.
I would really like to see someone else's approach to reigning these rambunctious boys in. They are too stinkin smart for their own good and would certainly give Supernanny a run for her money. If she's going out, why not go out big, go out with a bang and come to my house? I'm sure there wouldn't be a dull moment!
Tonight the twins told me they wanted to eat the baby while hungrily eyeing sweet Baby Liam (as we call him). Well maybe they werent "hungrily" eyeing him per say but they did proceed to growl at him and actually lick his toes....isn't this Supernanny worthy? Of course I don't think they had real plans to eat him, after all, all the pacifiers would disappear if there was no baby which would make Rowan very angry. They were watching Ice Age where the saber toothed tigers want to eat the little baby so thank goodness Their actions at least came from a movie. But don't underestimate 11 month old Baby Liam. This little boy can hold his own and may need some Nanny intervention himself for he is climbing all the stairs, pulling hair, pulling plugs out of outlets, trying to put the cords in his mouth, still trying to get his hands on dog food, running across the couches and trying to launch himself off, and screaming- really loud- on purpose- which I know because he glances my way and laughs.
I would really like to see someone else's approach to reigning these rambunctious boys in. They are too stinkin smart for their own good and would certainly give Supernanny a run for her money. If she's going out, why not go out big, go out with a bang and come to my house? I'm sure there wouldn't be a dull moment!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Please tell me it gets better!
Tonight has been one of the most awful nights Ive had in a long time. One of those nights where you just want to scream at the top of your God given lungs, "I'VE HAD IT!!!". In fact I think I screamed something similar to that. After a long week at work- I know it was a long week because I looked like hell for most of it. My hair a wild mess, my makeup half missing from my face (left all my makeup on the kitchen sink),clothes a wreck- it was just one of those weeks where you hate all your clothes, feel like a tank, don't want anyone to see how awful you look but so tired you don't care and you need a paycheck so you have to go into work.
All week the twins have been doing horrible at potty training. We had a good few weeks; a really great run but now they've reverted back to their old diaper wearing selves. They've also been up forever at night which is great for the sitter during the day- they must sleep at least 3 hours! - but for me it has been pure hell.
I hate to think that I'm a screaming kind of mother but Im worried im turning out that way. My three year old twin boys won't listen, they wont stop, they do whatever they feel like doing. Is this normal??? Tonight it was stop hitting, stop jumping on the couch, stop crawling behind the couch, don't throw the pillows, don't jump in baby liam's playpen, don't play in liam's bouncer, don't give the dogs your food, don't throw toys down the stairs, don't jump on the table, get off the table, don't throw dog food, don't stick your finger in baby liam's bellybutton, don't pinch baby liam, don't push baby liam on the ground, don't touch the tv, stop yelling, screaming, whining, fighting, crying, arggghhhhhh! Is it any wonder I feel like I'm losing my mind? This was just all one night!
Finally we sent them to bed but not without a fight. They were playing in the hall, we said go to bed. They threw wet- vac pieces, blankets, and underwear down the stairs, we turned off their lights. But the best part came right when I just about had liam to sleep in my arms. Keagan bursts in liam's room with a naked rowan in tow saying Rowan pooped his pants, rowan pooped his pants and it's on the floor!!! well that is just icing on the poop cake.
It's times like these I wonder where I went wrong. Have I got mothering all wrong? super Nanny makes it look so easy but my patience is thin when I have to go through the same song and dance every night. Am I raising wild rotten animals or imaginative free spirited twin boys? Have I gone against everything in the mom book- empty threats, bribes, giving in? All i know is I screamed and I yelled, they laughed and jumped on their beds. I made Rowan pick it up- naturally he was all too happy to do so. I shut the lights out and slammed the door.
After I finally, finally got liam to sleep and in his crib the twins were yelling for a hug and a kiss. I let out a sigh and cuddled in next to them snuggled together for a kiss. I whispered "I love you" to keagan and he gave me a wet lick on the face and said "I love you stinky diaper". I whispered "I love you" to Rowan and he sweetly whispered "I love you mommy". And in that moment I was thinking, I may not be perfect or be the best mom, or do anything right for that matter, I know I love my sweet monsters. They're not perfect and im sure theyre not the best 3 year olds but I know if we stick together we may just make it out alive.
All week the twins have been doing horrible at potty training. We had a good few weeks; a really great run but now they've reverted back to their old diaper wearing selves. They've also been up forever at night which is great for the sitter during the day- they must sleep at least 3 hours! - but for me it has been pure hell.
I hate to think that I'm a screaming kind of mother but Im worried im turning out that way. My three year old twin boys won't listen, they wont stop, they do whatever they feel like doing. Is this normal??? Tonight it was stop hitting, stop jumping on the couch, stop crawling behind the couch, don't throw the pillows, don't jump in baby liam's playpen, don't play in liam's bouncer, don't give the dogs your food, don't throw toys down the stairs, don't jump on the table, get off the table, don't throw dog food, don't stick your finger in baby liam's bellybutton, don't pinch baby liam, don't push baby liam on the ground, don't touch the tv, stop yelling, screaming, whining, fighting, crying, arggghhhhhh! Is it any wonder I feel like I'm losing my mind? This was just all one night!
Finally we sent them to bed but not without a fight. They were playing in the hall, we said go to bed. They threw wet- vac pieces, blankets, and underwear down the stairs, we turned off their lights. But the best part came right when I just about had liam to sleep in my arms. Keagan bursts in liam's room with a naked rowan in tow saying Rowan pooped his pants, rowan pooped his pants and it's on the floor!!! well that is just icing on the poop cake.
It's times like these I wonder where I went wrong. Have I got mothering all wrong? super Nanny makes it look so easy but my patience is thin when I have to go through the same song and dance every night. Am I raising wild rotten animals or imaginative free spirited twin boys? Have I gone against everything in the mom book- empty threats, bribes, giving in? All i know is I screamed and I yelled, they laughed and jumped on their beds. I made Rowan pick it up- naturally he was all too happy to do so. I shut the lights out and slammed the door.
After I finally, finally got liam to sleep and in his crib the twins were yelling for a hug and a kiss. I let out a sigh and cuddled in next to them snuggled together for a kiss. I whispered "I love you" to keagan and he gave me a wet lick on the face and said "I love you stinky diaper". I whispered "I love you" to Rowan and he sweetly whispered "I love you mommy". And in that moment I was thinking, I may not be perfect or be the best mom, or do anything right for that matter, I know I love my sweet monsters. They're not perfect and im sure theyre not the best 3 year olds but I know if we stick together we may just make it out alive.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Real Work Starts After 5pm
I honestly don't think my work actually starts until i get home from work. I work in advertising at the local newspaper as a sales coordinator for the recruitment department and I have to say i love it. Instead of bossing my children around i get to be told what to do all day- maybe that's why I love it so much. I make my co-workers happy and my advertisers happy by catering to their needs and don't have to listen to whining and screaming and fighting or be the referee.
This past weekend was quite the whirlwind. I knew the husband had plans to see a show Saturday night with a friend in Hampton and to watch the football game on Sunday so i had a lot of time to fill with all 3 children. Friday night started off as usual. 6pm I get home with twins Keagan and Rowan, and baby Liam. The twins run around the living room, the dining room- usually pulling everything off the dining room table, up and down the stairs while baby Liam toddles to the kitchen and plays in the dog water-again. Seriously, he makes me feel like I have triplets. Liam does not listen when I tell him no- and he knows when i say it because he stops, turns around, and smiles at me- and then keeps walking. And did I mention he's 9 months? 9 months and walking like he's 19 months! Friday night i made the twins grilled cheese and gave them OJ to drink in their sippy cups. I know, children at 3 probably don't use sippy cups but im so sick of cleaning up spilled milk and juice I could die. They spill EVERYTHiNG. At this very moment Keagan has just come down the stairs (it's 1030 pm of course) and said "my pee is coming out". Fabulous, something else to clean. Why is potty training so impossible? It kills me. Just when uou think youre getting ahead and secretly feeling proud that youve beat out all the other struggling mothers, there you are back at square 1 with a stinky smelly leaky 3 year old telling you that they love their pull ups and dont want to ever go to school. Awesome. Thats what you get for patting yourself on the back too early. So anyway- Friday. They were their usual wild selves, I gave them grilled cheese and next thing i know, Liam is crouched down with his mouth half stuffed of soggy bread and goopy American cheese with a sippy cup in his right hand - upside down. So after coaxing the sandwich out of his mouth to avoid a performance of the heimlich maneuver everyone got a bath in the sink (don't ask-4 months and counting of renovations of upstairs bathroom, arghh), a couple rounds of Nick Jr- wonder pets and backyardigans are current favorites- and did you know Liam loves TV? He is, after all, a 3 yr old trapped in a 9 month old body, so of course he is embarrassingly addicted to the screen as his brothers. So after tv, teeth brushing- should I remember that night- the upstairs Olympics begin. We have the 30 yard dash up the stairs with me in tow pretending that if i read them a story, tuck them in, turn on their music, they'll go to sleep. The best part is the twins play into this too. They say goodnight, let me turn off the lights, give hugs and kisses and lay quietly until I'm on my descent downstairs. Next starts the high jump- who can get more air jumping on their twin bed, as well as the long jump- who can clear the rocking chair in one jump off the bed. Friday night was an exception to their usual creativity. One of them decided- and I'm not sure which one it was- that jumping on one of our mirrors would be a fantastic idea. Next came the bloodshed. Rowan had nicks all over his poor feet and Keagan came along for the bloody trip downstairs and managed to secure s spot cuddled on the couch next me milking Rowan's poor wounds for him as best he could. Is it any surprise why I try to keep them as busy as possible all weekend and deny them any sort of nap? Even a 10 minute nap is my worst nightmare. The slightest catnap gives the twins superhuman energy and they - without fail- will be up once again until at least 11pm. I found this out yesterday when i took them in the morning to the playground at the mall for 3 hours- baby Liam even had a blast. They rode the slides, chased the other 50 or so children, jumped off tall blocks and ran around like wild beasts. Its hellacious and i have to keep an eagles eye watch but free and worth the madness. I then took them all to lunch and came home. Thinking they might chill out for a bit and let Liam have a nap (this is where Liam morphs back into a 9 mo old) and allow me to rest, they weren't having it. Well i wasnt giving in darnit- i packed them all back in the minivan and took them to a local bounce house to expend the rest of their energy for another hour. But just my luck, they slept for the 10 min drive. How cruel the world is! Subsequently, they were up until 1130pm and I was dying for sleep by 8:30pm. Serves me right for thinking I could trick the system.
1130pm now and it's time to sneak in a few hrs sleep before my day job begins.
This past weekend was quite the whirlwind. I knew the husband had plans to see a show Saturday night with a friend in Hampton and to watch the football game on Sunday so i had a lot of time to fill with all 3 children. Friday night started off as usual. 6pm I get home with twins Keagan and Rowan, and baby Liam. The twins run around the living room, the dining room- usually pulling everything off the dining room table, up and down the stairs while baby Liam toddles to the kitchen and plays in the dog water-again. Seriously, he makes me feel like I have triplets. Liam does not listen when I tell him no- and he knows when i say it because he stops, turns around, and smiles at me- and then keeps walking. And did I mention he's 9 months? 9 months and walking like he's 19 months! Friday night i made the twins grilled cheese and gave them OJ to drink in their sippy cups. I know, children at 3 probably don't use sippy cups but im so sick of cleaning up spilled milk and juice I could die. They spill EVERYTHiNG. At this very moment Keagan has just come down the stairs (it's 1030 pm of course) and said "my pee is coming out". Fabulous, something else to clean. Why is potty training so impossible? It kills me. Just when uou think youre getting ahead and secretly feeling proud that youve beat out all the other struggling mothers, there you are back at square 1 with a stinky smelly leaky 3 year old telling you that they love their pull ups and dont want to ever go to school. Awesome. Thats what you get for patting yourself on the back too early. So anyway- Friday. They were their usual wild selves, I gave them grilled cheese and next thing i know, Liam is crouched down with his mouth half stuffed of soggy bread and goopy American cheese with a sippy cup in his right hand - upside down. So after coaxing the sandwich out of his mouth to avoid a performance of the heimlich maneuver everyone got a bath in the sink (don't ask-4 months and counting of renovations of upstairs bathroom, arghh), a couple rounds of Nick Jr- wonder pets and backyardigans are current favorites- and did you know Liam loves TV? He is, after all, a 3 yr old trapped in a 9 month old body, so of course he is embarrassingly addicted to the screen as his brothers. So after tv, teeth brushing- should I remember that night- the upstairs Olympics begin. We have the 30 yard dash up the stairs with me in tow pretending that if i read them a story, tuck them in, turn on their music, they'll go to sleep. The best part is the twins play into this too. They say goodnight, let me turn off the lights, give hugs and kisses and lay quietly until I'm on my descent downstairs. Next starts the high jump- who can get more air jumping on their twin bed, as well as the long jump- who can clear the rocking chair in one jump off the bed. Friday night was an exception to their usual creativity. One of them decided- and I'm not sure which one it was- that jumping on one of our mirrors would be a fantastic idea. Next came the bloodshed. Rowan had nicks all over his poor feet and Keagan came along for the bloody trip downstairs and managed to secure s spot cuddled on the couch next me milking Rowan's poor wounds for him as best he could. Is it any surprise why I try to keep them as busy as possible all weekend and deny them any sort of nap? Even a 10 minute nap is my worst nightmare. The slightest catnap gives the twins superhuman energy and they - without fail- will be up once again until at least 11pm. I found this out yesterday when i took them in the morning to the playground at the mall for 3 hours- baby Liam even had a blast. They rode the slides, chased the other 50 or so children, jumped off tall blocks and ran around like wild beasts. Its hellacious and i have to keep an eagles eye watch but free and worth the madness. I then took them all to lunch and came home. Thinking they might chill out for a bit and let Liam have a nap (this is where Liam morphs back into a 9 mo old) and allow me to rest, they weren't having it. Well i wasnt giving in darnit- i packed them all back in the minivan and took them to a local bounce house to expend the rest of their energy for another hour. But just my luck, they slept for the 10 min drive. How cruel the world is! Subsequently, they were up until 1130pm and I was dying for sleep by 8:30pm. Serves me right for thinking I could trick the system.
1130pm now and it's time to sneak in a few hrs sleep before my day job begins.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Just another night
11pm and this is my first moment of piece and quiet. The twins finally passed out a short while ago after 5 rounds of restarting Rowan's Barney CD and reminding them not to jump on the bed, fight, whine, or scream. They finally fell asleep after i threatened time-outs, spankings, daddy, etc., after yelling "get in bed" and "that's enough" about 16 times, and running up the stairs only a handful of times about a few loud bangs. One such bang was Rowan dropping the DVD player off the top of the TV that was on top of the dresser. I'm not sure why those things are even in there, they dont even work- maybe he knows that too. The next bang, bang, bang was Keagan standing on the rocking chair and rocking it into the radiator over and over and over. All the while, they have the shades on their windows drawn- with the lights on, in all their half naked glory- all the better for our neighbors to view right from their 2nd story porch- and let me tell you, they are always out there. i can only imagine what they think of us. So the boys finally fell asleep after i crawled into their bed- they like to share a bed and sleep at opposite ends- and laid next to each of them for a count of 20 seconds and a round of ABC's. Rowan prefers the counting, Keagan prefers the song. They then each get a "big hug, big kiss" and i get a "goodnight stinky poopy diaper". I've decided to starting taking that as their term of endearment. And i know they love me because this morning Keagan offered to "go to work for me, get money, and buy food" while i stayed at home. What a provider! Rowan, on the other hand, just threw teeny tiny sticky pieces of Rice Krispie treat he got from the sitter's house all over the minivan. Oh the minivan! An embarassment to drive but i have to say that i'm willing to live with my uncoolness for the sheer fact that i can fit everything in there. i can also stand up in it. And when i locked myself out of the house with all 3 kids a few weeks ago and waited in the driveway for the locksmith to come, we were all pretty comfy cozy. We had the DVD player going, the twins had their headsets on and seatbelts unstrapped, Liam was sitting on my lap as i lounged in the 3rd row watching Alice in Wonderland. The Honda Odyssey is awesome- you know you want one.
Poor baby Liam, i always leave him for last. Tonight sweet baby Liam fell off the couch. He tricked me into thinking he figured out gravity and ledges and how falling works- he even crawled to the ends of couch, peered over and then turned around and came crawling back to me. he did this twice so i thought we were good and i thought he understood. That's how he tricked me. And then he fell backwards on his little head. Poor baby Liam- that's the last time i let him loose like a toddler.
Ughh almost midnight and time for sleep myself, although i'm quite sure someone will wake up within the next hour or two- i'd be nervous if i wasnt. A full night's rest just doesnt happen. Gotta love it! :)
Poor baby Liam, i always leave him for last. Tonight sweet baby Liam fell off the couch. He tricked me into thinking he figured out gravity and ledges and how falling works- he even crawled to the ends of couch, peered over and then turned around and came crawling back to me. he did this twice so i thought we were good and i thought he understood. That's how he tricked me. And then he fell backwards on his little head. Poor baby Liam- that's the last time i let him loose like a toddler.
Ughh almost midnight and time for sleep myself, although i'm quite sure someone will wake up within the next hour or two- i'd be nervous if i wasnt. A full night's rest just doesnt happen. Gotta love it! :)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
It's always something!
So I've finally decided to start a blog. Not so much because i think it would be a great thing for my boys to see when they get older but more because i think my boys do something ridiculously funny and/or awful each day that i think it may be worth sharing with everyone than with just my sympathetic co-workers.
To give you background, I have twin 3 year old fraternal boys Keagan and Rowan. Keagan is typically the leader. He is bossy and demanding and very tricky but terribly cuddly and loving. He is the first to jump on and lick my face... Yes, he's into licking me like a dog right now.
Keagan's Favorite Things:
1) calling me stinky diaper, penis, butt, pretty much anything potty related and the occasional farm animal
2) pointing in my face, screaming, kicking, biting, all the gestures only a mother could love
3) coming downstairs every night to tell me Rowan has taken his diaper off
4) then telling me that Rowan has either wiped his poop on the walls, on the bed, in the Shop Vac, a whole plethora of options here
5) Lying to me - Rowan never actually comes up with the idea to take his diaper off- Keagan tells him to do it so he can come downstairs
Rowan, on the other hand is my little day dreamer. He is often heard randomly singing Barney songs, his abc's, or repeating lines from his favorite movies...a personal favorite "Fuzzy Navels for all my friends!". Rowan is my "younger" twin", stuck on stealing his baby brother's pacifier any chance he gets and whining to no end. Currently he is not one for licking my face but grabbing my chest and saying "squishy boobies, squishy boobies". Is this how I know I'm totally a mom? I have mom boobs?
Rowan's Favorite Things:
1) all pacifiers
2) Baby Liam- particularly his pacifier
3) whining- incessantly
4) taking off his pull up every night
5) strategically pooping and/or peeing in new places
My other child is Baby Liam as we all seem to have become in the habit of calling him. He is just about 9 months and i fear the devil in disguise. He slept through the night at 3 weeks, gained weight like a champ, rarely cried, and now has started taking steps. He is adorable and lovely but has a naughty streak. He pulls hair, plays with the fan and goes for any electrical outlet, puts everything in his mouth, and climbs the stairs. I thought we were lucky getting an easy baby after the twins- now I'm not so sure.
Baby Liam's Favorite Things:
1) eating dog food
2) playing in the dog water
3) eating
4) smiling and laughing devilishly
5) his brothers
There truly is never a dull moment; right now the twins should be asleep and they are on the stairs throwing winter jackets down while pretending to go fishing using the arm of Liam's mobile Rowan pulled out of Liam's bed the other night and broke into pieces. They've also sailed down a few pieces of rubber flooring from their room which i know is their makeshift boat they send my kitchen sponges down on. They started this boat/sponge thing on Sunday so I'm very familiar with their nightly activities.
Lastly Liam is creeping around the living room alternately going after the bucket of wipes, the fan and the dogs.
Oh yes, we also have 2 dogs, Boston and Fenway- for life wouldn't be hecticly complete without the requisite dogs. Boston is a 210 lb English Mastiff and Fen is a 100 lb fat yellow Lab. They are the sweetest puppies in the world but unfortunately since the monsters have come along, They play second fiddle. However they know how to get attention- a favorite pastime is tracking down the dirty diapers and pull ups and ripping them into shreds all over the dirty laundry. Nothing spells suicide like coming home to that.
For all the craziness I experience just about every day , i love my family to pieces and would rarely trade them for well behaved understanding agreeable children :) I hope you enjoy all my very true stories!
To give you background, I have twin 3 year old fraternal boys Keagan and Rowan. Keagan is typically the leader. He is bossy and demanding and very tricky but terribly cuddly and loving. He is the first to jump on and lick my face... Yes, he's into licking me like a dog right now.
Keagan's Favorite Things:
1) calling me stinky diaper, penis, butt, pretty much anything potty related and the occasional farm animal
2) pointing in my face, screaming, kicking, biting, all the gestures only a mother could love
3) coming downstairs every night to tell me Rowan has taken his diaper off
4) then telling me that Rowan has either wiped his poop on the walls, on the bed, in the Shop Vac, a whole plethora of options here
5) Lying to me - Rowan never actually comes up with the idea to take his diaper off- Keagan tells him to do it so he can come downstairs
Rowan, on the other hand is my little day dreamer. He is often heard randomly singing Barney songs, his abc's, or repeating lines from his favorite movies...a personal favorite "Fuzzy Navels for all my friends!". Rowan is my "younger" twin", stuck on stealing his baby brother's pacifier any chance he gets and whining to no end. Currently he is not one for licking my face but grabbing my chest and saying "squishy boobies, squishy boobies". Is this how I know I'm totally a mom? I have mom boobs?
Rowan's Favorite Things:
1) all pacifiers
2) Baby Liam- particularly his pacifier
3) whining- incessantly
4) taking off his pull up every night
5) strategically pooping and/or peeing in new places
My other child is Baby Liam as we all seem to have become in the habit of calling him. He is just about 9 months and i fear the devil in disguise. He slept through the night at 3 weeks, gained weight like a champ, rarely cried, and now has started taking steps. He is adorable and lovely but has a naughty streak. He pulls hair, plays with the fan and goes for any electrical outlet, puts everything in his mouth, and climbs the stairs. I thought we were lucky getting an easy baby after the twins- now I'm not so sure.
Baby Liam's Favorite Things:
1) eating dog food
2) playing in the dog water
3) eating
4) smiling and laughing devilishly
5) his brothers
There truly is never a dull moment; right now the twins should be asleep and they are on the stairs throwing winter jackets down while pretending to go fishing using the arm of Liam's mobile Rowan pulled out of Liam's bed the other night and broke into pieces. They've also sailed down a few pieces of rubber flooring from their room which i know is their makeshift boat they send my kitchen sponges down on. They started this boat/sponge thing on Sunday so I'm very familiar with their nightly activities.
Lastly Liam is creeping around the living room alternately going after the bucket of wipes, the fan and the dogs.
Oh yes, we also have 2 dogs, Boston and Fenway- for life wouldn't be hecticly complete without the requisite dogs. Boston is a 210 lb English Mastiff and Fen is a 100 lb fat yellow Lab. They are the sweetest puppies in the world but unfortunately since the monsters have come along, They play second fiddle. However they know how to get attention- a favorite pastime is tracking down the dirty diapers and pull ups and ripping them into shreds all over the dirty laundry. Nothing spells suicide like coming home to that.
For all the craziness I experience just about every day , i love my family to pieces and would rarely trade them for well behaved understanding agreeable children :) I hope you enjoy all my very true stories!
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