Multiples and More Blog - Two great posts!

I have to link to two really good posts on the Multiples and More Blog from this week.

First, this blog post about the super-mom interaction from one Mother of Multiples (MoM) and another MoM at the gym.  If you are a MoM and have ever had one of those days, this is a great read. It is hilarious and I know I have said one or two of these things more than once;)

 My favorite lines were these.

• MoM - Yeah, but as long as we make it through the day, right?

• Super MoM - Oh, yes...and if you can make it without hitting up the Jack Daniels, you're especially lucky!

The second post is about twins and not calling them twins.  I rarely call the boys "twins," instead I call them the boys, or by their names.  I really cringe when people refer to them as twins, but I understand it, they are twins, it is pretty freaking cool and amazing, but they are so different, that I want people to know them as Augustus, and Raleigh, not augustusandraleigh, or "the twins."  This is especially true as we foray into the world of preschool very soon!  It is hard enough for adults to understand they are two, seperate human beings, let alone three year olds trying to comprehend this.  Thanks to Kristen of Intrepid Murmurings for sharing your perspective.

Lastly, we entered the boys into the monthly Photo of the Month contest on the Multiples and More blog.  It is not for fabulous prizes, but rather to show off their cuteness, and you know I am all about that!  They did not get the boys in the poll right away, so I think the results are skewed;)  However, we are now on the poll, so if you have time and want to vote, click 

here.

Why I Love These Boys!

I know, if you read this enough, you are probably sick of me telling you how much I love these kids, but seriously, they are awesome. I love this age!  Not every second of every day, but they are amazing!!!

 

Just today, I heard them tell each other they loved each other, both of them asked each other for kisses at random times of the day, they constantly tell us they love us…and no, not only when they want to wrap us around their fingers even more!  Here are a few of my favorite loving moments shots of the boys, including Valentine’s Day photos, which was ridiculously special this year with how the boys can understand the holiday and the sentiments, and also communicate with us. 

 

 

Spidey and Batman kissing…yes, it is February

And no, not every picture is great, sometimes they are over my incessant picture taking…case in point, here, neither of them would look at me! I still love their little smirks and looks, though!

Unfortunately, right after Valentine’s Day, Augustus started with a bad cough that was just impacting his sleep too much, so I took him to the doctor only to find out he has an ear infection.  Only his second one in almost three years, so I cannot complain.  I know I had an ear surgery by that point and was on amoxicillin more times than my parents could count.  Last night was rough for sleep again, but hopefully he will make the turn quickly.  We have a birthday party on Saturday that we would love to go to.  The shirts in the picture of the boys with the amazing roses Matthew sent me are hand made by the boys.  They should be a heart, but I put their hands the wrong way.  They look more heart like if you use the palm s for the top of the heart and connect their fingers downward for the point of the heart, but heck, this way we can see their handprints better. We made them at a play date for our moms’ group and had a great play date with all the kids just getting along brilliantly.  If this is what 3 is going to be like, bring it on!!!

In case you missed this video, it is one of my fave’s ever!!! Just click on the hyperlink below.

Riding Bikes

 

In other updates, we have been to the zoo with our besties, and other friends who  shall remain nameless, but are so crushing on tour “older” boys.  We hit up our neighborhood school’s local ho down for their fundraiser, and the boys had a blast.  They were most fond of the fishing game and not the bounce house which surprised us.  I just finished ordering the boys birthday invitations yesterday.  This will be our first real hard copy invites as the last few years we had big parties and used evites, but I am so happy with the invitations…I cannot wait to get them and send them out.  If anyone needs a code for Tiny Prints I have two – TPFriend will give you 10% off any order, and WELCOME for 15% off orders of $49 (free shipping right now for orders over $45, too). 

 

Gus looking for a  “needle” in the hay stack with his pants on the grounds

This one is for Mr. Jim and Ms. Kim…look out, Gus has his eye on Miss J.  He literally held her hand for 15 minutes straight! all over Busch Gardens!

 

The biggest news may be that we decided upon a preschool for the boys and they were just formally accepted.  They are only going to start part-time, to ease us all in, and heck, they are only just going to be three.  They had a trial day, or really an evaluation by the school on the boys, and let’s just say they passed with flying colors.  The director wanted the boys to start immediately, even though their program does not start until 3 years of age. We are holding off until fall though to give them some time to enjoy being free to do all the fun stuff we are doing all the time, and prepare us parents little more. It is a Montessori school, so if anyone has any experiences with them, feel free to leave me a comment!

Here is a shot of the boys before they went to school.  They were excited to say the least!  When we got back that is all they talked about and are so sad that they have to wait.  The funny thing is that their uniform colors will be green and red too!  We know it will be Raleigh in Red and Gus in green, just like always!

Funny things out of their mouths lately include -

Today, while holding his stethoscope, Gus asked where his heart was, and I pointed to his chest.  He said “under here” while lifting his shirt and I said, “yes, underneath your skin.”  He then looked at me confused and proceeded to put his fingers…all of them into my mouth.  When I asked what he was doing, he said matter of factly, “getting to your heart.”

 

Raleigh saw my new pink bra hanging on the door and said “I love your pink boobies.”  Hopefully soon he will figure out that a bra is not really boobies…a few weeks earlier they were in a department store, and in the little girls section when they spotted the training bras they both started yelling “little boobies!”

Gus now says “maybe no” anytime he does not want to do something.  “Gus, do you want to go potty?” or “Time to get out of the shower.” Is met with the sweetest, “Maybe no.”

Developmentally, they are both singing their ABC’s finally!  Memorization is not their strongest suit right now, so that is huge for them.  It is adorable to hear them sing it together, they usually pause and let one sing some of it, then pause again and let the other one sing for a while. They are both singing more songs in general too.  Raleigh keeps asking “what is it” when he sees something he does not understand.  We are trying to work on more descriptors, because “it” can be hard to determine.  They are still obsessed with their penises, not touching, or any more than most 2 year olds touch them I suppose, but talking about them…I hope they stop before school. I don’t want a write up about how they told some kid how their penis is really big.  Oy!

I Have an Idea and Other Musings

The boys kill me with what they say most days, and my favorite thing out of their mouths lately has to be when they say “I have an idea.” (Actually it is usually “me have an idea,” or “here’s an idea,” since they still only use the pronoun ‘I’ sparingly).  They will say it in the correct context, too.  You never know what the idea will be.  It can be, an idea to have a “muff” cake, or build a fort, you name it.  It is adorable!!!!  Today they were playing outside, yes, we are thoroughly enjoying the seventies again, and Gus was on his “motorcycle” or big wheel, and Raleigh was sitting on the porch watching him. Rals asked if this was a parade, and then yelled “beads!!!”  Love it.  They are so Tampa! Gasparilla veterans since they were nine months old will do that, I suppose.  Speaking of Gasparilla, here are a few shots of the big Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza from last weekend.  We did the preschooler’s stroll for the first time. It fell during nap time, but we survived.  They were extremely tired afterward, but still, we had a ball with our Mothers of Multiples friends who helped walk with us.

 

The boys giving their friends E & S a kiss during the parade, needless to say, the crowd loved them!!!

We had gotten into the spirit the night before by reading a new Mem Fox book sent to us courtesy of the boys’ great-Aunt Julianne, and great-Uncle Tony.  Boris the Pirate is a bit scary, but it certainly set the mood for us!

Here is a look back at the two previous Gasparillas.  Of course, you can click on the tag “Gasparilla” and see much more from year’s past.  Enjoy!!!

First Gasparilla 2009 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

Second Gasparilla 2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

The boys are still doing really well with their alphabet recognition.  Raleigh has caught up to Augustus and although, he doesn’t want to play with the magnet letters like Gus, he will point out letters when we are reading books. And they are still really into reading. Their favorite book right now is The Polar Express. Not sure if they are just missing Christmas, or just love the story.  If we read a a book right before bedtime, they wake up and immediately ask for the same book again.  Their memories still freak us out.  They seriously never forget.  However, if you ask them what they did today, sometimes they just start making up these elaborate stories…hmm, reminds me of a certain Uncle the boys have named Tommy!  If you ask them what they want to do today, Augustus will nine times out of 10 say he wants to go to Sea World.  I guess we need to start planning a return trip soon.  They have really enjoyed watching some football games with me this year.  The Packers are really the only team I will watch, being from Green Bay and all, so we don’t get all their games televised, but of course, with them going to the SUPER BOWL this year, we’ve watched the play-off games together, and the love it.  Yay!  Since Matty rarely watches it with me, it is nice to have some company.

 

In other news, the boys Nonnie turned 60 this last week. It killed us with the planning, but we were able to keep her party a secret!!! I really don’t think she had a clue.  We had a “Sweet 60” party complete with her favorite Hello Kitty decorations and all pink. Everyone wore pink to the party (well, two guys wore more maroon, but other than that, all pink).  My mom had to do a change into pink half way through the party, but we got everyone into pink.  The boys were so excited and never spilled the beans.  They did go to bed at 7 with some tears, but they did fall asleep soundly despite the ruckus downstairs! They were kind enough to let us sleep in until 7:30 as well.  After going to the Green Iguana after the party, I was grateful!  Happy Birthday to my amazing Mom!  60 is just a number because you surely don’t act your age, and I mean that in the best possible way!  Thank you for teaching me to stay young at heart and having so much fun with the boys all the time!!!!  Love you!!!

 

This is the CAKE!  Can you believe it???!!??  I did not get a great picture of it before we cut it…but believe me, it was amazing!  Thanks Eli for taking care of the cake, I could never have picked a better cake!!!

Lastly, Eli also had personalized M&Ms made for the event, they say “Sweet 60th” on them and have champagne glasses.  Cute.  It was sad that so many of my mom’s best friends and family live so far away and could not make it to the party, but it was great to see her so loved by all her friends in Florida.  She is truly a special woman!

Where Does the Time Go?

Boys making their Grandies and Auntie special shirts! Peta was gracious enough to model it before leaving…and help me basically scrape off the puffy paint after we were done.  Two words, rubber – gloves – for the next time I get creative with non-washable paint!!!  We were excited to see Poppy in his special shirt tonight when we Skyped!

Wow, looking back on the past few months I have been lax on blogging. Time flies when you are having fun, I guess.  We’ve certainly have been busy. Auntie Peta finally made it home after a long flight turned into an even longer flight when her initial flight from TIA was delayed and thus caused her to miss her flight in Guam back home.  Ugh.  She really got back luck on the way back, but finally got back to Oz, and her luggage made it a few days later…and she spent New Year’s Eve on the plane! 

The boys have been busy, and sick, and trying to get back into the swing of things not having Auntie Peta around to play with 24/7.   Instead of the mundane musings about the day-to-day stuff, I need to do a write up of our “favorite things” or at least some of the funny stuff coming out of these boys’ mouths lately.  Time really is flying, the boys are growing up so quickly.  In a few months they will be turning three, heading to preschool and I am sure making us laugh and cry with the new things they will come up, this dynamic duo they are.

 

Raleigh is continuing to be a real comedian.  He really does enjoy a good poo joke, and still loves to talk about his penis, but poo poo is the newest funny maker for him, yes, him, I tend not to laugh about poo.  However, yesterday when he informed me that his poopy looked like a pineapple, complete with the “pokeys” on time, I had to laugh.  Gus is a poopy inspector as well, he impressed me when he said his dootie looked like a “U.” Sure enough, I had to check it out as well, and it looked like a GIANT U!  Today, he said his looked like a manatee, so, yes, poop jokes are alive and well in the Hamilton household.

Augustus is really into his letters.  Or “word building” in the spirit of Word World.  He is able to recognize and point out many letters, A, R, U, X, M, B, O and C.  They are not into repeating the A, B, C, D song, so I’ll take it.  Better to know them rather than repeat a song, right?  Raleigh is not really into it yet, so I am not pushing it.  He does know the “R” for Raleigh and “X” for x marks the spot, like a pirate! Raleigh is like Daddy and about the numbers and has been able to count to 10 for almost a year now.  Gus, well, he always starts with two, then one, then five, and has the 7, 8, 9 down.   He is great to listen to when playing hide-and-go-seek!  Which, by the way, they love to play, and always hide in the same place during each and every “game.”  Usually under the blanket on the couch.  Hilarious, and they just giggle each and every time they “find” each other!

Here is a shot of the boys after completing their alphabet train puzzle from “Auntie” Kristy!  The LOVE it!!!

After a little over two months of really, really, really pushing limits at bedtime and nap time, we seemed to have gotten back into a routine that is less stressful on the parents, for now.  I know, each phase is short lived and can be fleeting.  We have started to lay off the time-outs and are focusing on consequences they understand and can articulate back to us.  The most helpful of consequences is to take away one toy at a time after giving them choices to do the right thing, or make a “good choice” instead of a “bad choice.”  It is great to hear them tell us what happens if they make a good choice, and vice versa.  The time-outs are usually used now when we need an immediate break in action; i.e. they are getting on each others nerves and pestering the heck out of each others as brothers tend to do, or not listening in a more dangerous situation (i.e. running away and not listening to stop).  Keeping your cool when they are testing you is hard stuff.  How do you moms do it all the time? We have some great friends with the calmest moms ever, and I just look at them in awe!  My goal this year is to enjoy every moment with these little guys and raise my voice less.  Pretty soon they will be in school part-time, then full-time and not so willing to give me a kiss all the time and call me “princess” and tell me they love me or answer that they love me, too, or love me more…heart breaking stuff.  I am trying not to sweat the small stuff, while still help instill the things they need to be the awesome little men that they are. 

Bikes.  We now have big boys bikes.  They are only 12 inches high, but they are real big boy bikes with helmets and all.  The boys love them, but are not too sturdy on them yet, so we are trying to keep them to the tricycles and big wheels for now.  However, Raleigh is almost a pro at his three wheeled scooter that was handed down to them.  Seriously, the kid’s got skills! 

Yes, Gus’ helmet is on backwards.  don’t ask.

In other funnies, today, words out of their mouth -

- “Mom, I am going to screw you” as Rals took a screwdriver to my leg.  Thanks, bud, that is so inappropriate on so many levels

- “I’m gonna be easy, Mommy.” as Raleigh took a hammer to his bench. Meaning, I am going to take it easy, not pound the living crap out of this thing.

- “Get out of my kitchen.” Raleigh to me as we were playing chef and I tried to enjoy my chocolate cake and “muff” cakes the boys made me.  Huh, do you think they know they cannot be in the kitchen when I am cooking?  Bite me in the bum that tone did!

- So not out of the mouth, but a great impersonation of me as Gus put the pretend cell phone to his ear and held it in his shoulder, and put his finger to his mouth when Raleigh tried to talk.  Just a silent shush and a great “mom” look. 

- “What, what, what, what, what, you doing?” From Augustus’ mouth any time he clearly wants to know what you are doing.  It is the funniest thing.  And the only time his adorable little stutter comes out.

- Me – “that’s mommy juice” when the boys asked what was in my wine cup. Gus “No, that’s “Peta juice.”  Ha, brilliant, yup, that’s right Gus, that is Peta (auntie) juice!

 

I know that I am missing a million other of the little things, but I hope the boys can read this stuff one day and laugh as much as I do on a daily basis.  Yes, even when I feel like I am talking to two brick walls who would rather ignore me than look me in the eye and answer a question – the joys of almost three year olds, right?  All in all, they are just awesome, crazy kids.  The crazy I will take.  I soooooooooooooo know where they get it from…

 

A glimpse into our future…