Hands
Forest and Brad were watching tv together one Saturday and I saw how sweetly Forest was holding Brad’s hands. Melt, melt
And how can you resist?
Toddler Transition - The Bed Part 2
Yesterday after his nap, Forest climbed out of his crib while wearing his sleep sac. This scared me so I completely dismantled their cribs and put the mattresses on the floor surrounded by pillows, stuffed animals and blankets. I had hoped that we’d have a temporary solution until at least the weekend when while I would be out of town, Brad would have time to head up to Ikea.
It took about two hours for the crazy kids to go to sleep. They were just too excited to have the new giant bed space, otherwise known as a bedroom. Forest fell asleep in front of the door and Logan on the giant stuffed bunny next to his bed (it’s bigger then he is). I went to sleep hard after a day of not feeling well and Brad dealt with Forest crying out a couple times during the night. Once because Logan had crawled into his bed and on top of Forest, while mostly asleep.
This morning at about 5 AM when Forest started his usual morning whimpering I went in to check on them. Forest was laying in the middle of the room and Logan was perpendicular to his bed along the wall. I brought Forest to our bed to help him sleep better in the early morning hours. And when Logan started having early morning issues, I went in and laid down beside him. It was cramped but I got a bit more sleep.
This morning Brad and I both agreed that bed containment was more important then risk of falling. Because they really are good at climbing in and out and probably will only do it when awake. So we put the cribs back together again but are leaving the side down and going to stop using the sleep sacs. We fully expect to still have to deal with the crazy running around but at least once they calm down from that, they will be contained and comfortable in the cribs. The mattress on the floor thing might work but it’ll need to be a much bigger mattress then the crib size.
Toddler Transitions
Last year it seemed like every time we thought we had things down, a new transition would occur and we’d have to figure it all out again. Swaddling to sleep sacks, cosleeping to cribs, pacifiers to only when in bed, breastfeeding to bottles to sippy cups, it seemed endless. So this year has been a welcome break. It’s been a chance to breath and enjoy a bit more. But we are quickly approaching the need for new transitions and I’m being led kicking and screaming into them.
Forest tells us when he poops and is always taking off his diaper. I’m positive the kid is ready to potty train. But I have to figure out a method to use, buy all the necessary “gear”, communicate it with Dusty so that both households follow the same process, and then do it. Logan is not showing any signs of ready but I figure he’ll get interested because his brother is and as long as we don’t hold them to some lofty expectations all will be well. But with Grandma Warren coming to take care of them next weekend, then to Earthsprings for the kids retreat, then to Grandma Trammell’s for Thanksgiving, I figure it’s best to try and wait it out until December when they’ll be home and settled for a bit.
We’ve had the boys sleeping in sleep sacks since 5 months when we gave up the swaddlers. They have loved the sleep sacks & associate them with sleep. And they keep them from being able to crawl out of their cribs. We haven’t had any sleep disturbed by crib gymnastics thanks to the sleep sacks. But the current ones are starting to get small and we need to move them into big beds soon, so I figured it’s time to loose the sleep sacks too. This afternoon I didn’t put them in them for nap and sat down to chat with Brad on the computer. Suddenly, I heard a child trying to open the bedroom door! I fully expected Forest (our monkey) to be standing there but it was Logan! He wasn’t happy when I put him back into bed and into the sack. I guess I’ll start with bedtime instead, which really does make the most sense.
And then there is the crib to big bed change which I’m also shooting for around Christmas. But can you do the big bed change and potty training at the same time? Is that too much? Or usually how it ends up anyway?
If I learned anything last year it was to just pick a process and try it, completely prepared to let it go and try something totally different if necessary. I’ve enjoyed not having to do a lot of “transition” work this past year but the boys are letting us know pretty firmly that they are ready to be big boys now. I have to just go with the flow!
Update: After a great 2.5 hour nap I’m sitting at the computer and hear rustling from the boys’ door. I get up unsure of what to expect and there stands Forest, in his sleep sack, happy and awake. So yeah, we are totally into “that” phase and it’s time to figure out what to do.
Update to the update: I just took apart both boys’ cribs and left the mattresses on the floor. Good bye sweet sleep this week.
The Big Bed
The boys are really into the “big bed” as Logan likes to call it. Or sometimes it’s the “red bed”. It’s the newest “in” thing to do. Beg to get past the baby gate, and then crawl up into mommy’s bed. Then they crawl under the covers and play peek a boo (Forest) or want to be tucked in (Logan).
Reading in Bed
The boys often like to play in their cribs. Today Forest did the sweetest thing. After crawling up into his crib by himself, he asked for a book, a particular book. I handed it to him. Then he layed down, put his blanket across his knees and started to look at the book. I had to grab the camera because it was such the kind of thing that I would do.
Always Going Forward
The other day I had a funny memory from the first few months of motherhood and nursing twins. Yes, it was just last year although it seems like a lifetime ago. While in the hospital after the boys were born, I asked for the lactation consultant to come by and make sure that we were doing things right. One came by and mentioned that one of the other L.C’s on staff had twins herself and might have some tips. So the next day I put in a call for a visit by her.
She took up the whole room with her very beingness. Not in a bad way, she just had a big personality. I liked her. She also assured me that things appeared to be going well and asked if I had a twin nursing pillow. I told her yes and described it and she laughed as she told me a funny story from her own experiences. She said that the song “Star Trecking” was popular when she had her girls and she used to feel like the Starship Enterprise, cruising through her house with this big pillow belted to her waist as she would nurse her twin girls and do various things.
A few months later I knew what she meant. I’d have one baby nursing and would find myself going to get the other one waking from a nap - while still nursing. As I would cruise up the mirrored hallway I’d see myself with this huge green pillow, baby on board, and I’d remember that image of being the Enterprise and I would start singing the song:
star trecking across the universe
on the starship enterprise
under captain kirk
star trecking across the universe
slowly going forward
coz we cant find reverse
It’s a fun memory. Especially because yesterday I gave away my nursing pillow. And you know what? It kinda hurts. I’m sad just typing it. I gave it to a first time mom who’s been taking fertility drugs in hopes of having a baby. She just found out she’s pregnant and when I asked in email if she was having twins she said “I can only hope.” In that one sentance she reminded me to be so very grateful instead of pissy about things. I often hear younger women say very romantically, “I always wanted twins” and I want to scream at them, “No you don’t!”. But yesterday I was reminded not only of that fun time with the song but also of the gratitude that I have for these two healthy, beautiful boys. And to continue praying for all the couples out there that want children of their own.
Concepts
Logan and Forest are starting to get into what I would call communication concepts. Although I’m sure there is specific word for it, I just have no clue what it’s called so I’m saying “concepts.” Such as up and down. Logan is all about showing that he understands this as he pushes a toy under the water and saying “down” and then back up out of the water and saying “up”. Or as he runs his fingers up and down his sippy cup. Logan is using two words together more and more. Like “big track” or “big truck”. ‘Cus you know it’s all about modes of transportation around our house with two boys!
Forest has started becoming especially interested in nursery rhymes and songs. Although they still tend to tell me “no” when I start singing, Forest is suddenly starting to try and imitate me doing “Itsy Bitsy Spider”. He’ll ask me to do it again and again as he watches my hands and trys to move his fingers together. It makes my heart ache with joy. And tonight before bed Logan even joined in the spider finger fun!
A Stitch In Time
As the summer came to an end and excitement began for my friends’ wedding as well as various women’s retreats and trips out of town I came to a realization. I realized that this summer I was hurting for a sense of accomplishment.
The boys are amazing and fabulous but I don’t feel much ego when it comes to their learning. And the house keeping, well that’s just not very interesting now is it? And it has to be done again…and again…and again. It’s a downer in the biggest way. I’ve been cooking a bit more but even that doesn’t seem to give much a great deal of satisfaction since it’s not very often that I’m able to “show off” a new recipe.
As this realization came upon me I decided that a good way to “fix” it would be to get a hobby. Lately all I’ve been doing is reading. Not that reading isn’t wonderful and all but again, no sense of accomplishment like I have been programmed to crave from working as a career woman in the past. When I thought about what hobby I would enjoy, one immediately came to mind, sewing.
My early childhood is filled with memories of my Mother sewing my clothes and teaching me how to sew my doll clothes. As a senior in high school I took Home Ec and relearned the basics to make a dress on my own. My Mom made dresses for me all through high school for dances including my senior prom dress and the matching cummerbund and bow tie for my boyfriend. I tried sewing again a few years ago but ran into the problem I’ve always had, trying to understand the directions on the patterns! So I figure a couple of classes would be a big help and give me something to do with my free time. Even if it is only during their naps because I have issues with doing crafty projects at night under false light. I always want sunlight.
My desire to sew has also been fueled by my deep appreciation for mamieknits and her blog. The internet has allowed us all to connect with and make new friends and this lady is one who I particularly admire and seem to have a lot in common with aside from both having twins. So in January (have to wait until all the retreats and such come to a slow down) I’m going to take sewing classes and I can’t wait!
Good News
My sister in law Nohelia passed her citizenship test with flying colors and will be attending her swearing-in ceremony on Friday. We are all very proud of her and excited for my brother’s family.
My mother just called to tell me that she heard from Willow’s mother and the surgery was successful! She’ll be recovering in the hospital for the next few days but all is looking well for her brain’s growth.
Many thanks and prayers of gratitude!
Communication Advances
The boys have begun the transfer of learning. Forest is starting to pick up colors and Logan is starting to get some letters. But it’s irregular and still in the very early stages. On the other hand, Forest knows almost the entire alphabet now and Logan has added “purple” to his color knowledge so I think we are ready to work on shades of colors.
Logan seems to be going through a communication stretch as his words are becoming more and more well pronounced. Some are so clear that even a stranger would probably be able to decipher them at a first listen.
Forest has started saying “no” and no longer just shakes his head. He’s starting to speak a lot more then before and they both are picking up new words daily. Words like “dump” as they dump the entire bin of legos onto the floor (my favorite sound from across the house).
At almost 22 months old their communications skills are starting to make a big jump that is really exciting. They can tell me what they want more and more. At the same time, we are experiencing more and more of the forewarned tantrums because they have times when they can’t explain what they want. I read some good advice lately to give them choices and not just demand that they find the word. That’s helping. But honestly, they aren’t that bad. Usually a few moments of hugs and some time spent walking around the house pointing at things and asking if it’s what they want and we usually have a calm boy again.
