We didn't stay all day

*I so wouldn't watch all of this video clip. Unless it is your most favorite song. Evah. Just wanted you to have the chorus repeating in your head, too, too, too.

This was Em's and Roo's second trip to a zoo. The first trip was almost a year ago and was not photo worthy. The girls stayed in their stroller the entire time and we just ran from one place to the next chasing Aunt Becky and their cousin.

We added our double stroller to the fray at my mothers of multiples club's annual zoo trip. They might as well have added TWINS and TRIPLETS to the exhibit flier. The stares that we got (and that I noticed the other families with multiples receiving) were hilarious.
I guess you don't normally see double that many times in a single outing.

Em and Roo took off at every opportunity. The few pictures we have of them together are from the back. As we chased them.


They enjoyed the monkeys the most, I think. It's the animal of the moment. They both do a pretty fair "ooo ooo ooo ahh ahh ooo" monkey sound. Fitting.

The lemurs were also cool and easy to spot with their bushy ringed tails waving about.

The Bengal tigers were annoying each other (we totally understand that) and giving off some mighty menacing growls.


Roo told the macaw "bye bye" and he responded back in kind. Unexpected!



Em snorted at the pig. Not oinked. Snorted.




And they both got some up close and personal time with different species of deer and antelope.


I'd like to say that we snapped all these great close ups of the zoo critters. But I can't. We were chasing our own critters. Any photo without an Em or Roo in it is compliments of our local zoo.


Next time we go, I fully expect to see a Capuchin monkey wearing this hat. Because it did not come home with us.

Blanket with a side of thumb

This is all Em would have for lunch today. Not very filling.

Milk Coma

Em is around 4 months old in this picture. I like to call it "look, Ma! no hands!"

Way Back Wednesday

Roo saying "Hi Baby" about a year ago.

The Rockin' Green Chair

The green chair was my big must-have for the nursery. It is a PB swivel rocker that I thought we'd absolutely live in during the infant stage. I would feed the girls there, soothe them to sleep, read stories and sing songs all in that chair.
I yearned after this chair. However, I was unwilling to fork over the actual retail amount, with our financial future in limbo. (hello... 2 babies at the same time and quitting my job).

But, it was meant to be. While shopping at the PB outlet store with my BFF, there it was.
Slightly marred on the removable slip cover and marked down to 1/4 of the retail price.
(After I haggled with the manager. Because I do that.)
That was 15 weeks before the girls were born.

A week later I sat in that chair, in my unfinished nursery, and sobbed.
I'd been to my OB and we discovered that Roo was having difficulties.
I had a referral to a specialist.

Weeks went by and I sat in that chair often, watching the nursery progress take place.
That chair supported a lot of prayers.
I rocked and sang to the babies and cried out to God for grace for my children.

My precious nephew and Marmee made use of the chair while the girls were still in the hospital.



A week later, Em was able to come home from the NICU.
(She proceeded Roo by 3 days)
We went directly to the green chair.
I was so happy to have her home but so sad that Roo was not.



When the girls were 13 months old, we posed for a picture in the chair.


It was Mother's Day. Our 2nd.


Gradually the green chair saw more and more use.


For a while, it held us as I lulled Roo to sleep for her nap during a difficult transition time.

In the evenings, it saw a quick snuggle while wriggly twins were readied for bed.

The afternoons often involved Em climbing up, rocking and reading a story to herself.
Or Roo using it to balance her handfuls of treasures.

But lately, we're using it as I had originally envisioned.
At night, Roo and Em climb into my lap. Content to share the space.
They clutch their Nannie Blankets.
And together, we all rock back and forth. And I sing. And we cuddle.

It is wonderful.

Thinking she likes the water table

Cult of Personality

If you feed them after midnight...





...they multiply.




*Yes, I know what these cloaks look like! They are supposed to be super cute bunny poncho/towel/robes from IKEA.
Bunnies must look different in Sweden.

**Yes, I know that in Gremlins they multiply when they get wet and transform when they eat after midnight. It suited my story line to distort the phraseology. Go with it.