Intrepid Murmurings

There is something about twins...and I have been seeing it more and more lately!  They just have such a connection, an acceptance of each other, a familiarity... 

I have read about the "twin mystique" -- the romanticizing of twins that occurs in our society, which affects how people treat them and creates so much pressure for them to be close, to be similar, to deny their individuality for the sake of "the twinship" -- and it is very possible I am reading into it, buying into the glamourous "mystery" of twins.  I think thats so easy to do, especially as a non-twin (and an only child!).  

I do think different-aged siblings can also have a similarly close connection -- when you are around someone so much, share a room, share activities, share clothes, share a childhood, this just happens, I am sure.  I do see similarly touching moments between Emma and Elsie or Emma and Delia, just not as often, and there is something different --  they are not on a level playing field, there is a power or knowledge or maturity imbalance that just changes things, however slightly.  With Elsie and Delia, they are the same age, have most of the same abilities, very similar interests, and a closeness that comes from doing so much together, in step with each other, due to constant proximity, if nothing else.  

Lately, they have been mentioning the other when they are apart, and it is obvious they are thinking of each other.  They are not like some twins I have heard of, who cry or mope when separated -- not at all!  They do certainly notice, though, and are sometimes pretty excited to be doing something by themselves!  I believe strongly in spending time with them individually, taking them out for one-on-one time, and it hasn't been happening as often as I'd like.  As they get older, I hope they will insist on this, and I will try to as well.  But we will also cherish the together times, and I look forward to seeing what happens as they grow.   

Playing in the fort at Emma's school

On our hike, Elsie called Delia back to point out and discuss these tree roots coming out of the ground. They examined and talked about them together for a long time.

 If you have twins (or are a twin!), what do you think about the "twin mystique"?  Are your twins close, and do they seem to share a special connection?

This post is part of the Mom's 30-Minute Blog Challenge over at Steady Mom.  A concept I wish I could stick to more often!  

One thing about having more than one child, is that it gives you a perspective on how truly different kids can be.  When you just have one, its really really hard sometimes to truely understand that all kids do not act and respond to things the way that yours does.  At least I had trouble with that at times!  Even though intellectually (and experientially as a teacher!) I knew it was true.  

Take my girls.  Emma (the oldest) has always been super cautious.  She was a mama's girl for a loooong time, hesitant about strangers and new situations. Very slow to warm up.  A very picky (cautious) eater.  And physically, always always careful, nervous, and slow to take on a challenge. A lot of times, this worked great for me, especially her being a fairly careful toddler when I had two newborns to lug around as well.  Thank goodness!  

Elsie and Delia, not so much!  They are so different than Emma (though similar to each other), especially with regards to the physical stuff.  Even though they took longer to actually crawl and walk than Emma did, from the start they have been climbers, leapers, adventurers, and daredevils -- both of them!  Delia perhaps a bit moreso (hence the two chipped teeth on one occasion, and fat lip and stiches on another...) but really both of them are pretty equal with this.  Last spring, a few months before they turned one (and many before they started walking!),  Delia --and later Elsie-- started walking up our little slide.  I can't believe that video is only from a year ago!  Since then they've mastered all sorts of way bigger slides, and are now working on climbing much larger things, ladders, hanging on bars, swinging, dangling and jumping...

The thing is, even though they are very physical and adventurous, I don't worry (too much) about them falling or getting hurt, at least in places and with equipment they know well (like our backyard).  I feel like they've figured out what gravity does, and are careful enough to not do something stupid.  Perhaps naive of me, but its worth it to me to give them space and not follow them around.  So lately, we've been letting all three girls out to play in the backyard by themselves.   Revolutionary!

A few days ago they were out there in a brief sunny moment, in between all the rain we've been having.  When I first looked out they were playing around on the swings (pushing each other sometimes, oh so cute!).  In a few minutes I looked out again and saw BOTH Elsie and Delia almost to the top of the high climbing wall, one right behind the other.  The one that Emma only mastered in the last few months!  By the time I was out there they were both up, so here's a few shots of Elsie trying it again by herself... 

Yep, thats Delia again, going up the big slide this time!  What a difference (or maybe not) a year makes!  

Ahhhh....I love long weekends and the after-party "clean house" phenomenon.  After the past two weeks of birthdays and parties, it is so nice to be done!!!  We have been chillin' all day, the kids playing well together (um, for the most part) and enjoying their new toys, while I've even been able to get to some organizing projects that have been desperately weighing down on me (redoing closets, especially Elsie and Delias, which was almost to the point of unusability do to a number of factors).  Oh, the joys of purging, moving, and creating new storage space! Its already so much better!  (Yes, I am that old, that I am working on stuff like this on the weekend AND actually enjoying it.  Ha!). 

Its Folklife weekend here in Seattle, and if we were not desperately needing downtime after the birthday stuff I'd totally be there, though.  Next year!  I think the kids will be old enough to enjoy it (in a short, child-sized doses, anyway).   

Elsie and Delia's party yesterday went great!  A few kids over, but not too many, and lots of adults, which comes in handy!  It was supposed to be outside but the weather here is LAME, so we stayed in and still managed to do some fun activities --  it was billed as a "Messy Party" so we did some sensory projects like homemade flubber (recipe coming soon in a future post!) and shaving cream fingerpainting, which the kids enjoyed.  Elsie played with the flubber FOR EVER!  

I don't have any pictures of the early part of the party since I was so busy, but here are some from the cake on.  I made two Oreo ice cream cakes, one dairy-free (for Lonnie) and one not.  They were both awesome and pretty easy!  Didn't take any pretty closeups of them, but here it is on the table and going down... 

Elsie's method works great too, though less civilized...

Delia very intent on her new Magna Doodle

Delia & Auntie Em writing 

All in all the girls had tons of fun.  Elsie and Delia loved the attention and were so pleased that it was "MY birthday" instead of Emma's (or Bunny Bun Buns, or Suzie's the doll's -- there's been a lot of birthday play going on here, very directed by the big sister).  

 
Elsie (purple) & Delia (yellow), 4 days old (sorry for the lack of pictures taken on your actual birthday, and the following days. We were SOOOOO busy!) Here's a link to their birth story.  

Delia is ONE!  Hooray!

 
Elsie is ONE, yahoo!

Happy SECOND birthday, Delia Grace!  We love you!  

 
You are TWO Elsie Olivia!  We love you! 

These big colorful chairs are part of a permanent art display outside of one of our local community centers where we go for toddler open gym.  Who can deny the fun of climbing, sitting, and playing in giant metal chairs?  Not I!  

Up until recently, my girls haven't been too into dress-up.  Well, Emma hasn't -- Elsie and Delia have always enjoyed hats and scarves and putting on all sorts of shoes...

But now, they are getting into it!  These fancy dresses from my mom's old preschool are definitely popular.  Up until now the dress-up stuff has been in Emma's bedroom, but I think I am going to bring it out somewhere more communal so that all three can see and use it more often.  And add to it with a bit more stuff -- boas? sparkly shoes? I'm so not a dress-up gal myself!  Anybody have good recommendations of what to get (and where)?

They were pretty cute today!  

One thing I am loving right now is Elsie's and Delia's love of trains, cars, trucks and all things transportation.  Don't get me wrong, I think dolls, stuffed animals, people, and kitchen play is totally great and fun and obviously a very natural draw for many girls (mine included!) but MAN was I tired of the constant baby doll diapering and feeding and carrying around right about this age, with Emma.  Now, I am learning all sorts of great things, like the difference between a skid-steer loader versus a backhoe versus a regular old dump truck (the current favorite, I think).   We just watched our first episode ever of Thomas the other day (Emma has always been totally uninterested), and I am afraid to say it was a hit! 

The trains that Santa brought for Christmas have been really fun, too!  Elsie and Delia still need a lot of help with the tracks (I have been known to spend way too much time after they have gone to bed making up cool new tracks, heh), and both mostly want to play with the one motorized engine (that yellow one) that we currently have.  They tend to leave it on so it wears out FAST and 90% of the time the batteries are dead!  The other day I set them up in the kitchen, which gave us a bit more space than the usual train/coffee table they usually play on, and they had a lot of fun...  

Elsie in blue stripes, Delia in the red train shirt!  

Yesterday we were outside walking around my parents yard to ward off the late afternoon whinies.  Emma was off with my mom riding the tractor, Elsie and Delia had gotten out and were walking around the house on the lawn.  Elsie, who was holding a piece of apple, tripped in the thick grass and dropped her apple.  I helped her up and then kept walking, eventually sitting down on the steps.  Delia was wandering around with me, then sat down on the steps too.  Elsie was frozen in place back across the yard.  

I called out for her several times for her to come over to us, but she just stood there.  She has done this before -- she gets worried about something (this time, falling in the grass and maybe not having a hand to balance/catch herself?) and just stands there, forEVER, until someone rescues her.  I didn't feel like getting up so I let her stand there for a bit (heh) and told her to come over to us once more.  

At this point Delia got up and walked right over to her.  "Got it!" she hollered to me, as she grabbed Elsie's coat and started pulling.  Elsie obliged and finally started walking, ha ha!  I told Delia to hold her hand instead, so she did, and they held hands and walked over to me and the steps. Elsie was totally fine (and I think a bit relieved) with Delia coming to help her out.   It was a really sweet moment.  They are such good buddies sometimes!

This post is part of the Mom's 30 Minute Blog Challenge, over on SteadyMom.  A great idea, go check it out! 

I am generally not a big Valentines Day person, and while I like doing something, I am not very organized (Lonnie's present this year is coming in a few weeks, still, ha).  On Sun I remembered just at the right moment (whinytime) that I had a few extra things tucked away from Christmas shopping time. They went over well.  Hooray!

Delia in green, Elsie in pink!   

Also, give me a click on the button below, and maybe I can break page 2 (top 50)!   

I couldn't help myself in taking these pictures, at various points this morning.  It was  a great sunny day, the girls were in a pretty good mood (Emma was at school) and the outfits were just too cute!  Delia is in blue, Elsie in pink.  They are L.L. Bean raincoats, kate quinn organics kimono dresses (gotten for a steal on a Mini Social sale -- if you need an invite, let me know!), and BabyLegs.  Love them all!  

Not too good in the blogging department this week -- life is getting in the way!  

Everyone still in various stages of recovery from this nasty cold.  Emma was gloriously happy to go back to school after a missed week, but I had to keep the babies home from a twins playdate because they slept like CRAP last night and needed an AM nap.  As did I, but organized and cleaned up the spice cabinet (aka random stale spices in a sticky ocean of honey) and did online price comparisons for overnight diapers (so worth it!) instead.  FUN!  And they slept for almost 2 hours!  Ran out to pick up Emma from school, and then around lunchtime Elsie became a sad, screaming mess thanks to an ear infection*. Luckily I was able to grab a 5:30 Dr. appointment, fed everyone first then got to the appointment, got the required meds (thank you modern medicine, especially numbing ear drops because ibuprofin wasn't touching it!), and then literally was home for 15 min before heading out again (leaving Lonnie with three screaming kids at bedtime, yeeps!) to arrive half an hour late to a parenting class.  Halfway through the class I realized I left my phone in the car, and called home to check in and they were all asleep.  Whew.  

For two hours every Tuesday night I am taking a class on Positive Discipline at Emma's preschool.  LOVING IT!  Its really great (except for the part where I have to ROLE PLAY, OMG) and I will post more about it soon.  

I've also been tackling various housecleaning and organizing projects (in small chunks, since thats all I can handle) and thats been good.  So much more to do, but it feels like progress.  

Right now I am eating ice cream and listening to silence.  Heaven.  

*as for the ear infection, its actually great that we've made it this far through the winter without more problems, since last year both Elsie and Delia were getting them with every cold that came through.  This is the first since early last spring!  No more talk of tubes, at least for now.   Of course now I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, since in the past if one had it the other always got it too.  So far Delia seems fine (though she was up a lot in the night, too), so we'll see.  I'm guessing its about 75% likely I will be back to the Dr's office within the week for her... 

Yesterday Delia fell and hit her face on a little table.  She wanted to nurse, so I let her.  Elsie immediately wanted to as well, but I declined.  My general rule these days is if we nursing for a hurt, I only nurse the injured party.    

So then, Elsie went over to the table, and very gently touched her head to the table a couple times.  Then uttered a big fake cry, and hurried over to me saying "Mokie!  Mokie!".   Points for creativity, and acting skills taboot!  I succumbed.   

-------  

Lonnie (after smelling something's amiss):  "Who's poopy"?

In unison...

Elsie: "Dee Dee"

Delia "Eee-sie"  

Conclusion, after facts checked: both

-------

The following scene I happened upon a few days ago.  E & D were playing very quietly together over in the corner, with some of the dollhouse stuff.  They had the oven and stove part from the kitchen set, and a teeny tiny little pot, which lately has been forbidden for them since they always put it in their mouths (and have bitten the handles off several of them!).  It was out though, and they were having a great time opening and closing the oven door and putting the pot in and out.  They were totally doing it together and so pleased with it.  When I "caught" them, Delia totally gave me this look of guilty glee (because they aren't supposed to be playing with those tiny pieces) and I had to take some pics.  

Before they knew I was watching them.

Busted! Delia knows they're getting away with something.

Who me?  I'm innocent!  

Elsie checking me out.

Elsie showing me the pot.

Mmmm....drinking from the tiny pot. 

What do your kids eat for breakfast?  I am feeling bored with our routine.  I've borrowed an awesome breakfast cookbook, which I really like, but I find 1) I am tired, lazy and uninspired in the morning and 2) a lot of the foods in there are a kind of a hard sell --  my kids are very stuck in a breakfast rut (at least the preschooler is)!

Usually they have cold cereal or toast/english muffin/bagels with cream cheese and some kind of fruit (pears, bananas, apple slices, canned peaches, applesauce).  Sometimes I add in yogurt or eggs (Emma rarely will touch either, the babies LOVE the yogurt and sometimes the eggs).  Waffles and pancakes go over well fresh, but are not as popular frozen and reheated (RATS!).  Oatmeal used to be a favorite of the little ones, but no longer...   

I've found my kids start out with a light breakfast (babies nurse before that) and then have one or two substantial snacks in the AM.  I'd much rather they eat a big breakfast and skip one of those snacks!  

Here are my breakfasters today.  Delia (in red) was in an awesome mood and was just so goofy and happy and  grown up I just had to get the camera...