a baby giraffe

Another email from Africa came today.
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Hello, sweet ones.

Here is a picture of a baby giraffe we saw when we were in the bush last week.


The mama was on one side of the road and the baby on the other. When the mama realized this, she became upset and came running to be with her baby and protect it. The other picture is of the mama running across the road to get to her baby.


Giraffe are my favorite animal to watch.

See you all soon.

Mammaw

Bugs, Biscuits & Bedtime

Bugs:
Only one more chance to get decent picture of Em and Roo in their costumes. They're butterflies. Except Em only likes the idea in theory. The whole putting-on-the-outfit part is a bust. Roo is more easygoing about it. But, I haven't been quick enough with the camera.

She's rocking the leotard and tutu part here.

And the wings, headpiece and tutu here. Put it all together and you got yourself a cute little fufferfly.

Biscuits:

Tonight the girls helped make biscuits. It was messy work that required a lot of clean up.
Roo washed up while Em ate everything left in the bowl.

Somewhere in the midst of snapping pictures, I looked down to see a toddler-sized hand print on my chest. All outlined in biscuit dough.

Bedtime:

Em insisted on wearing a hat to bed tonight. She preened in her crib mirror and cheesed for the camera happily.
So, Roo had to have a hat, too. Of course.
Note to the grandparents... this Christmas, whatever you're planning on... go ahead and buy 2.

Five Stars

The list of things we could not live without, since becoming parents, is fairly short.

Food, diapers, car seats and double stroller.

There is a slightly longer, more embellished list of things that made life simpler. Immensely more sane and simple. These are the things I would not want to live without as a mommy to baby/toddler twins.
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*Homemade baby wipes
Talk about a money saver! And they are so gentle on rashy bottoms... don't sting like commercial wipes.

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*3 in 1 Crib Soother
Ok, at first we were skeptical about this. Would we really use it? How long?
Uh, how about every day for 2 1/2 years?!

First it provided soothing white noise for Em and Roo as they were learning how to sleep in their own room. Then, it turned the entire crib into a bouncy/oscillating seat with the under-the-mattress vibration system. Gently shook 'em right to sleep. When the girls moved to separate cribs, we still used it. Just pushed the cribs together and it buzzed both mattresses. Finally, it has been a crib rail night light for Roo. Who, at times, has a tough time settling herself down. And just needs a nice book to read by the quiet blue light. That she can turn on herself when needed. Genius!
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*Bumbo Chair
This sweet little seat allows any baby who can hold up their head to sit. It's not used very long. Maybe 4 months at the most. Whatever that window from head holding to sitting independantly is. But, those can be a l-o-n-g 4 months. We used the Bumbo in lieu of a high chair for solid food feedings.

To put a new lease on play time. As bath seats (not recommended, but we found a way to do it safely). Which allowed for double bathing... a big help when J was traveling and I was single parenting.


And for posing Em and Roo in ridiculous costumes for pictures.






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*Clean Shopper Cart Cover ... for twins


This contraption saved me hours of hassle. As soon as the girls could sit up, I slapped this puppy in the double carts at the grocery and warehouse stores. No more hefting the double stroller out of the car and shopping for things that I could carry and cram in the under-basket of the stroller. Big boxes of diapers do.not.fit. The Clean Shopper provided total coverage of the germy shopping carts, seat belts and pockets for snacks.

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*PeaPods
Do you know how much space 2 pack-n-play beds take up in the car? So much that you have to weigh the options of leaving either the dog or your husband behind. Because one of them isn't going to fit. These brilliant travel beds pack down flat and thin.
And allow us to have sleep consistency when we're on the go. The girls know they'll either sleep in their crib or the PeaPod. And they're cool with either one. They love the idea of a tent and feel safe and cozy inside. The bonuses are the window shades that act as light blockers. I should totally be getting kickbacks from Kidco since I've recommended this product to absolutely everyone one I know.
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*Signing Time
Absolutely the best show for kids ever. Em and Roo adore every episode they've ever seen. It's boosted their language; is teaching them ASL as a 2nd language; supplied communication skills before the speech kicked in; and sooths the savage beast on bad toddler PMS days.

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Other brilliant got-to-haves are:
*Baby Legs
*bungee cords (to secure shopping carts and strollers to the car while unloading in hilly areas)
*stroller hooks
*On-the-go booster seat

Toddler Slang

We've anxiously awaited the emergence of toddler slang at the RG home.
Cousin Jonah blazed a hilarious path and I don't know if Em and Roo, put together, can ever come close to the Jonah-isms.

But, a few special words and phrases are starting to show up.

"happysicle"
translation: popsicle (or frozen yogurt tube)

"A.B.sue"
translation: alphabet soup

"fufferfly"
translation: butterfly or firefly

"Sigh Tie"
translation: we want to watch Signing Time with Alex and Leah

"nannie-slee"
translation: Nannie blanket that I sleep with

"mambos"
translation: rainbows from our prism that dance on the walls

"ishy-bee-spire"
translation: itsy bitsy spider

"bye'day'lu-you"
translation: Goodbye. Have a nice day. We love you.

Rooanne Rooward

Roo might have another twin. Aunt Joy thinks she's a ringer for Joanne Woodward in The Long Hot Summer. She might be right.

Fufferflies & Dinosaurs

After a week of disruptive allergies for the entire family, we're finally stepping back out into normal life. Which includes mother's day out (praise Jesus!) and our playgroup.

Eight mommies and 18 kids under the age of 4 hit the prehistoric trails at Dinoland today. The weather was gorgeous and a happy good day was had.

Daddy took an early lunch break to walk back in time with us.


Pint-sized dinos, decorated by the area schools, were more exciting to Em and Roo than the actual exhibit.

Aunt Kaki was actually the biggest hit of the day. The girls didn't know she would be there. And they swarmed her like bees and begged to be held.

When the dino-tour was over, the 2 year old set partied in the butterfly garden. Lots of running and jumping and screeching and climbing. Oh, and not-so-stealthy snacking in the no food allowed area. Whoops (again). But, worth it to see my girls sharing sweetly together.

Go

Go read this.

It was the perfect thing to read at the end of a long day of snotty noses, barking coughs and clingy whining short people. Clinging short people who just want to be cuddled and loved on. Who smile over their shoulders at me as I wipe their noses. And offer "eee-ugy huggies" freely and kisses without reserve.
It won't always be like this.

Found

1 half gnawed fuzzy red apple under Roo's crib
1 CO2 cartridge between the lips of a toddler (!!!)
1 empty milk jug in the dryer
4 man-sized baseball caps...
forgotten on the back of a sofa, between the recliner cushions and under a coffee table
1 moldy sippy cup under the loveseat
1 toddler without any underpants or diaper on the sofa
1 diaper in the garage (???)

Tales of a Toddler Drama Queen

Almost every day, Em tries to invite something new into her crib. Sometimes it is sanctioned as an appropriate sleeping buddy (glittery pom poms, alphabet block, toy teacup) and sometimes not.

Today's not-so-much item was the label maker/printer. She played with it it all through the morning with our blessing. But, when nap time approached, the label maker had to go.

Oh. The. Tantrum.

After I told her it wasn't going to happen, Em threw it on the floor. Then she ran for the guest room. I found her parked in front of the full length mirror crying dramatically. And watching the show she was putting on.

She found something on the bookshelf after the show was over. And I let her take it to bed as consolation prize. It was a paperback book with a purple cover.

I'm questioning my wisdom now after looking at the title.
A Woman's Guide to Spirit Filled Living.

Any predictions about her teenage years?

Sa-Wing Time

Another first has come and gone. Em and Roo have learned how to swing in a big kid swing. No more hoping for an available bucket swing. We're good to go with the regular sling-type swings. Both girls need help getting in and out of the swing safely. So, the parentals are not completely obsolete.

Em finished up her swing time a little before Roo. Which gave me a free hand to snap a picture. Poor Em, no photo-chronicle of her major playground milestone.



I did snap a picture of her "borrowing" some other kids shovel. There was gravel to move, people!

All that running and climbing and swinging and chasing and shovelling worked up an appetite.

Em patronized me with a "cheese".

And then Roo told me to put down the camera and help her get her snack bag open already!

A Sweet Ride

Milestone Marker

Em used the little potty last night. Appropriately. This is a big fat first at the RG house!

Jumpy House

Em & Roo played in our jumpy house this weekend. It cracks them up to roll into each other. And Roo just giggles when Em pounces her. Of course, Em is belly laughing the whole time in anticipation of tackling her twin.

Emmy Lou Boogy Boo

Aunt Kak put together this little dance remix for us.
Courtesy of Em and the webcam that helped entertain her on my sick day.
She's got moves.

Beachy Keen

We had a quick little trip to the beach this weekend. J cycled in the MS-150 bike to the beach ride and the RGs and I met him at the finish line.
This was a first for the girls. They loved the sand and the water!

Before traveling home, we stopped by the local aquarium. Both Em and Roo were entranced by all the different fish. Especially the multi-colored tropical fish. They sang their "colors of the rainbow" song while viewing the display. We did have a minor accident at the dolphin area. Em fell off a riser and got a carpet burn right below her eye. She recovered quickly, but it sure does look pitiful. Roo surprised me and spent quite a long time at the interactive stingray pool trying to pet one with her tiny hand.

Roo had a little trouble getting to sleep and ended up in bed with us. At midnight she popped awake and started spelling milk and boots. And then she kicked J in the head. And that's when Roo was put her back in her own bed.

Em slept through it all. She woke up bright and shiny asking to run on the beach. Consequently, most of her pictures are actions shots. Not unusual.

It was a precious time to spend with our girls. Good memories were made and we're already plotting the next trip.

Inspired

2 guesses

I found this display while the girls were taking a bath. Look familiar?

Melty

Last night I did the bedtime shift alone. So, I took more liberties with the bedtime prayers than I might have with J around. More singing type liberties.

As I closed the nursery door, I heard Em singing back, "Aaaaa-ah-men. A-ahhhhh-men. A-a-men. Amen. Amen."
And then Roo sang, "lovvvvve you, too, boo-boo-pee-doo. mmmmwwwaaaa!"

They really melt my heart on a regular basis.

Sick Day

Last Friday was a toughy. J was out of town and I woke up in the wee hours of the morning with all the classic signs of food poisoning. Fortunately, the fabulous Aunt Kaki was able to reschedule her work day and came to my rescue.

While I was sequestered in my room (read: bathroom), the RGs had themselves a pant-less dance party. Because I felt too bad to actually put all their clothes on them that morning.

Kak took a ton of pictures. She also treated the girls to a little movie making session. She turned on her webcam and let them go wild. It was hysterical to view after I started feeling better. Em is a H-A-M.
Also cracking me up is this video I discovered on my camera amidst all these photos.

Happy Good Days

It's been a month since Roo began occupational therapy for a sensory integration disorder. Her particular issues have affected her ability to be comfortable in groups of people, among other things. Our wonderful therapist immediately recommended the Wilbarger Protocal for Roo. It's a deep massage with a surgical-type brush that delivers deep-pressure input to her nervous system. The purpose is to reduce her sensory defensiveness. Roo's brain seems to read light wispy touches as painful. She instintively avoids contact that might result in a touch like that. She will flinch away or even manufacture a fall rather than encounter a light touch that she is unprepared for.

Over the last month of therapy, a wonderful new Roo has emerged. She is calm and settled in her world. She voluntarily offers a hug now. She relaxes into you and allows you to stroke her hair. She initiates contact with Maggie the dog and no longer flinches away from her wagging tail.
And that's not all.
Her vocabulary has rocketed into orbit over the last few weeks. She went from a few 2 word sentences to complicated sentences. Like, "Sesame Street was brought to you today by the letter H and [the number] 2."

My take on the recent changes is now that her brain is relieved of the constant fight or flight danger signals her sensory issues sparked, it's able to spit out all those words she's learned and been storing up.

Today, her teacher, Jackie, remarked that Roo has become so social over the past month. She loves school and her friends. As we left, she said, "Bye Jackie." and then turned to me and prounounced that it was a "happy good day".