It should be. I’m pretty sure I’ve been through 5 days already this week.

Eric was gone from Monday morning until last night. He got back about 9:20 pm. It was a long couple of days for sure. But the babies and I survived. And I’m looking forward to Eric’s arrival this evening even more than I usually do.

Monday we just hung out at home. I did get a lot of photo gifts finished and ordered, so that was fun to do.

Yesterday, I went to C-ville to visit my parents. The babies refused to nap. Good times. I finally took them home in the afternoon (instead of staying for supper), mostly so they would get some sleep. And I was five minutes from my house when I realized I’d left my cell phone at my parents’ house…45 minutes the other direction. Grr!

So they very graciously met us for supper in London so I could have my phone back. Alex seems to be teething (finally getting top teeth, I hope), so he was really cranky in the restaurant. That is very unusual for my two, so it was strange to be “that mother” in the place…the one with the screaming kid. Oh well.

I’m pretty brain-dead today, so that’s about all I’ve got. Maybe I’ll do better tomorrow. Happy Wednesday!

My husband is great. He totally cleaned the kitchen for me last night while I was out.

Getting out was great. I went to an ornament exchange, met some new people, chatted with old friends, and came home with a lovely nativity ornament.

Yesterday was great.
– Eric went with me to the babies’ one-year checkup. He wrangled Alex for me, which was great because Alex had decided pretty early on that he had no desire to be at the doctor’s office. And Alex is really strong and hard to hold still when he’s being contrary.

– Despite the babies’ crankiness, the appointment went well. Great results (Erin is 20 lbs., 1 oz.; Alex is 21, 5.).

– We took our little car in for service yesterday, too. So now it has new tires and new brakes. Yay!

– Eric suggested getting take out for dinner. Fantastic!

So great is a good word for recent times.

Today, I’m working on cakes and cleaning for tomorrow’s party.

And in odd news, I now officially own a “beater” car. We picked it up without hub caps (they were broken, so we told them not to put them back on), and it just looks sad now. I think I may have to put hub caps on my Christmas list!

Eric: Knock Knock

Me: Who’s there?

Eric: Impatient Cow.

Me: (trying to figure it out before I say it) Impatient C-

Eric: (interrupting) Moo

Dear Babies,

Today you are now one year old. How fast time flies!

At first you were just a hope and a dream.

And then finally, it was time! At this time last year, I was getting to the room where you would be born. In less than an hour, you would be in your Daddy’s arms, after all those months of waiting.

The first few days and months were full. And long. And hard (at times). And wonderful. You were here and healthy. We recovered. We learned to nurse. We learned to be a family. Your grandmothers both came to help us. And then it was just us. And we kept learning. How to get you both fed. How to get you both bathed. How to deal with the crazy little moments that you handed us.

And you were lovely.

Then, suddenly, you were starting to sit up and roll over.

And we were getting pretty good at this whole “family” thing. Except that Alex still wasn’t sleeping well. But you wouldn’t know it from the pictures!

You started growing and developing really fast. And your Daddy and I adored you. (Still do!)

And the last few months have been so fun to watch. You’ve learned to crawl. And stand. And reach for things. Your personalities are shining through. And in all of it, your Daddy and I are praying for you, watching you, loving you, wanting the best for you.

So, now, on your first birthday, I’m just amazed at how far we’ve come.

My Erin,

You are sweet and tenderhearted. You have started to look at us, when Alex gets extremely upset, with great concern in your eyes and get upset yourself. You are so much like me that it’s amazing. In fact, you were getting frustrated the other day, trying to put a CD case back in a cupboard, and I heard your Daddy say, “Erin, your momma is showing.” But you are joyful and happy. You wave, clap, shake your head yes and no on cue, and you pat your mouth as if you’re making “Indian calls.” You like to play peek-a-boo everywhere and with everyone. You love to stand on rocking chairs, backwards, and rock. Much to Mommy’s chagrin. And you still love to snuggle. You are my snuggle baby, my lady baby, our Sweet Erin. I love you.

Sweet Alex,

You are such a doll, my buddy. Your laugh can light up a room. You love to point out ceiling fans and lights, especially when they aren’t on. That concerns you a lot. You love to climb stairs, and people, and chairs, and over things and well, you are my climber. You love the Christmas tree. Love it. The gate we set up to protect it has barely been able to keep you away from the glittering lights and ornaments. You wave and point and give high-fives. Your faux-hawk is finally starting to go away. And you are my adventurous, social, happy guy. You love people. You want people to love you. And we do, Buddy. We totally do.

So on this, your first birthday, my babies. I just wanted you to know: it’s been a wonderful, hard, really great year. I can’t wait to have many, many more with you!

Seriously, I have tons to say, but if I try to write it all out, I will get discouraged and you won’t be able to slog through.  So we’ll do the quick version today…

• We had a good/busy weekend.
• We had two parties on Saturday.
• In the morning, a pancake breakfast with Santa for my Twin Mommies’ Club
• In the evening, a gathering at the home of one of Eric’s co-workers.
• The babies were fantastic at both events.
• Except that Erin did NOT like Santa.
• Between parties, I cleaned and did more Christmas decorating and ignored my grading.
• Sunday was church.  After the weekend, Erin was not happy about me leaving her there.  But she got over it.
• Sunday evening, I had to work the nursery.  Eric stayed home with the babies.
• Between those times, I cleaned, played with babies, and graded.
• I was very tired on both evenings.  We went to bed early.

In other news…

• My clogged duct loosened up on Friday morning, and Alex helped move things along at lunch.  Shwew!
• I think I bruised my boob trying to get it out.  (sorry if that was TMI…)
• Today we are dropping the lunch nursing.  It’s a little sad, and I’ll probably pump a bit.  Hopefully, we’ll avoid another clogged duct.
• My parents bought us a Little People nativity set.  The babies LOVE it. 
• Eric called this morning to let me know he got a promotion this year at work.  It’s effective January 1. YAY for my wonderful, fantastic husband!  WooHoo!!!

Okay, I have to go feed my babies lunch.  It’s kinda weird not to nurse them first.  But I’m sure I’ll adjust in no time!

Happy Monday!

Three days into weaning (one dropped feeding) and I think I might be getting a clogged duct.  Maybe more than one.

It really hurts.

Some book reviews…just before Christmas!

This was an easy read, but a good book.  The chapters are very short, so I read this book, a chapter or two at a time, right before bed.  It made for great end-of-the-day reading.  McLeroy goes back to familiar bible stories, but looks at them from the angle of a specific item in the story (a fig leaf, a head of barley, Rahab’s scarlet thread) and why God would keep those items in remembrance of those events.  And then, why we should, too.  To be honest, not every chapter was meaningful to me, but then, some of the chapters spoke clearly to me.  And she ends the book with her own “collection” of spiritual markers.  And challenges her readers to do the same.  There is also a discussion guide at the end of the book, and I do think the material would make for good small group interaction.  So, overall, I did like this book.  I will probably keep it and read it again sometime and see if different things jump out to me at a different time.  

These two books are part of a series (there are two other books), obviously for children.  The material is filled with truth about how God has filled our lives with himself, and in Christmas, Bergren does a very good job reminding us that Christmas is about God, not Santa.  Also, the artwork is lovely (though, personally, I liked Christmas a little better of the two).  But I have to be honest.  I didn’t love these books.  And perhaps I am looking at them with a too-adult perspective.  But the conversations between Little Bear and her Mother (Christmas) and Little Bear and her Grandpa (Love) seemed a little too contrived to me.  Of course, a small child might not find these characters and conversations contrived at all.  But my little ones are too little for me to test my theory on.  So, if your little ones are a little older, these might be worth a read.  And, in a couple of  year, I may be surprised how much my kids like the books.  I hope so!

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Links to the website:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074815

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074471

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071753

Yesterday, I did not nurse the babies after their afternoon nap.  It is the beginning of weaning. 

Alex did fine: he loved the sippy cup of milk and banana.
Erin…well…she didn’t drink the milk so well, nor did she want a banana.  She did eat other things, but was fussy until dinner.  I’m guessing she was a bit hungry.  But even with that, she didn’t seem to mind not nursing.

Of course, at this point, they are easily distracted from nursing and rarely go longer than 5 minutes at a time (except first thing in the morning, I guess).  So we should be able to gradually cut out each feeding (I’m planning on one a week all this month).

So, by the new year…we’ll be done breastfeeding!  Yippeeee!!!