Our Kids

Yesterday in the mail Landis got a package. In it was a little pink bear blanket with her name embroidered on it. Landis, I just wanted you to know that we are not the only ones that think you are very special. Your Aunt Shirley is probably going through the most difficult time in her life, her health is not very good and she is fighting very hard. But during all that she thought enough of you to order you your very own bear blanket just like she did for your sisters. When you look back on this post many, many years from now I hope you realize how special you are to everyone.

Last night I told the girls we were going to climb tall mountain today and they were very excited. I had planned on meeting my parenting group out at Usery Park to hike at 9AM. So I got up at 5:30 to workout, started working out at about 5:45 after feeding Landis and then was able to climb back into bed for about 45 min just cuddling with Landis and Jace after my workout. So that sounds like a great start to a day right? Well it all went downhill after that. We had about a 30 minute drive to get to the State Park (something I miss about Bozeman, the hiking was really close by) but it took me a full 45 minutes to get everyone fed, lunches made, and into the car. So I leave at 8:45 and am supposed to be there at 9. I am resigned to the fact that I am going to miss the meetup but its okay because I have Erin with me anyway.

We get there and get all unpacked and start the hike, the trail said it was 2.9 miles and flat. First of all, 2.9 miles with toddlers, what was I smokin’. Secondly, if that trail was flat I hate to see the ones with a steep ascent! Off we go and Erin notices something dripping on her foot. Well her eco-friendly plastic water bottle from Ozarka has sprung a leak. I mean who makes a water bottle with plastic as thin as paper, sure it is better for the environment but that little thing ruined my cell phone and digital camera (yes, again I have ruined the camera) which creates more toxic waste than a recyclable plastic bottle. URGH!!!

So we do the hike and it is steep and rocky. The girls opt out of walking and have to be pushed in the stroller, thank goodness Erin was there. It took us about 1.5 hours to complete the hike, the girls fell asleep by the end, my phone and camera were ruined and Landis had her hand up by her nose the entire hike (without me noticing) so she gave herself a little tiny bloody nose.

Oh my does that sound like fun? Someone take me out back and shoot me now. Thankfully the girls were real troopers, holding hands in the stroller and screaming with glee as we flew down ravines and yelling PUSH PUSH PUSH as Erin struggled to push them up the other side. I really can’t complain too much but I am totally bummed about my electronics. We got home and I took a shower, it was uber dusty out there, and the girls played in the backyard rescuing animals. They still napped, thank goodness and all seems better this afternoon. A nice hot soy chai would be so welcome, maybe I can figure out how to get one:) Who am I kidding, I would probably just spill it right down my only white shirt that fits! Are ya’ feeling sorry for me yet?

This morning I was doing something in the kitchen, I had Landis in my Moby wrap and the girls were just chattering away. Finally I stopped to look and see what they were doing and listen to what they were saying. Lela was in the rocking recliner and Piper was laying on her lap like a baby. Lela was shushing her and rocking her and saying my baby, my baby and Piper was sucking a pacifier. It was funny, cute and all that.

I am really, really glad that we decided to have another baby after the twins. Having twins has been such a wonderful experience I would not trade a second of it, even the precious seconds spent at the side of their isolettes in the NICU. Now that the girls are almost three and spending more time playing one on one with each other, I have been given a tremendous gift of time to spend with Landis. I have also realized a lot of things about the girls and how they have interacted with each other from day one. People were always amazed that we could just put them down in their cribs when they were very little and they would drift off to sleep. I now believe they could do that because they had each other. The girls are attached to each other, they draw comfort from each other and need to be near each other (even when the other needs some space). They are very lucky to have that bond and to have a built in best friend always at their side.

Landis on the other hand is attached to me. I did not really understand that attachment because the girls came already attached to each other. Landis needs me to sleep, to eat, to wake to do about everything. She is most contented in my arms or bundled up in my Moby wrap snuggled on my chest. I am her attachment. I am happy to be her attachment, it has opened up a whole new door to this parenting thing. I read somewhere that the gestational period of a baby is actually 18 months, 9 months inside and 9 months outside. I think Landis will hold true to that theory. She still prefers to be swaddled and in the fetal position.

It is amazing to me that Landis has spent so much time in my Moby sleeping for two months. I have hardly noticed it, it is just so natural. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the future. I am not concerned about her being so attached, I actually think it is a very natural thing for babies and kids to be attached to their parents and not a blanket or a doll. I guess my whole point is how new this parenting experience is compared to the one with the girls, both have been wonderful, exciting and mind expanding and for that I am truly grateful.

We went to the fire station with my parenting group today. It was a lot of fun. From the getgo Lela wanted to get in the fire truck, I am not sure she realized that she would have to get in with other kids and be handled by the fireman! LOL! She did make it in the truck but was hard pressed to not make eye contact with the fireman at the other side to help her get out. I had to move him out of the way to get her but she did not cry. We went around the station and saw the kitchen, eating area, grill area, workout room and the main lobby. Then we went to check out all the trucks and the ambulance. Piper was a bit more adventurous and had fun but still stayed pretty close. Lela was right by my side most of the time. I did snap a couple picks of them hamming it up on a fire truck so check those out. Piper cried when he did the siren even though I warned her, she doesn’t like loud noises. All in all some good fun. It is chilly out today so I want to curl up with a soy chai in front of a fire but instead I think I will finger paint:)

After their nap, the girls usually watch an episode of Dora or Diego.  That is definitely a bad time to ask a question:

Mystique: “Does anyone want to go to the store with me?”

Piper: “You’ll have to go alone.”

HAH!  She said it so matter-of-factly that I couldn’t help but laugh.  Sorry, mom, it’s Diego time.

In other news… just had a great four-day weekend with the girls.  I had some quality Landis time and also got to do some shopping and lunch with Piper, Lela, and Uncle JJ.  Of course, while we were at cool-Uncle JJ’s house, we had to play a little more rock band… the girls get such a kick out of that.

I took the girls to the new play area of the school just down the street from us.  It’s a pretty nice setup and Lela was happy when she saw that no other kids were there.  We played for almost an hour… taking turns sliding, swinging, and even kicking the soccer ball around a bit.  At one point another family showed up to check out the new play area, at which point Lela made a beeline for the swings and started talking about people being in *her* park.  I’m not sure she knew that the other folks could hear her talking so she didn’t hold back in talking about how she didn’t like to share

That’s it for the weekend… back to work.  I hear the girls might be going to a fire station tomorrow — can’t wait to hear those stories!

Overheard at dinner where Piper ordered Lentil Soup and it arrived with some sort of creamy stuff swirled on top.

Jason: Piper, what is on your soup?
Piper: Something very yucky

Overheard at home when Lela is/was called anything other than Lela (terms of endearment NOT allowed)

Mystique: Sweetie can you come and help me with the laundry?
Lela: My name is Lela, not sweetie.

Overheard while I was trying to quiet Landis.

Mystique: It’s okay, it’s okay peanut.
Lela: That is not a peanut it is Landis

Overheard this morning after I had just handled a tantrum from Lela because Piper is wearing the pink cowboy boots and she wanted to wear them.

Piper: Get my flashlight (asking loudly and not so politely)
Mystique: You are going to have to get it yourself (responding loudly and not so politely – and then feeling guilty about it)
Piper: OKAY (a bit put out, sort of like a grown up FINE)
Piper exits stage left and closes the door behind her, Mystique laughs

Overheard between Mystique, Piper and Lela. Lela is reading in the living room and Piper is with me.

Lela: Come and read to me.
Mystique: Just a minute peanut
Piper: Just a minute pea in a nut.

The girls can dribble a basketball pretty good.  I was quite surprised when we were at the park and Piper started to dribble the basketball like a Harlem Globetrotter.  Turns out that Lela can do it too.  I think they honed this skill while playing ball with Nana Peggy and Papa Norman.  Like I said before I am amazed at how quickly they can pick up things, even things they only do every so often.