9.23.2007

Love Letter: Month Nineteen

Dear Jackson and Tradd,

Jackson, did you just notice that I put your name first? I always say "Tradd and Jackson" and I wonder sometimes if you wish I would say your name first. Maybe I say it that way because they pulled Tradd out of my belly first? Or maybe because his name is shorter? I don't know...maybe you don't care right now, but I bet you will one day...and by then I will be so good at saying it both ways you won't even notice.

Today you are nineteen months old and I just can't believe it. This morning before Sunday School, when Daddy and I were telling you "Happy Nineteen Month Birthday", we counted up and you will be TWO in 5 short months! We just shake our heads because there are no words that we have found to slow all of this down.

We have been taking you to Sunday School (when you are not sick and when we are home!) and you love it. You play very nicely with the other children and that makes me happy. Blake and Carlin are in our class for the singing at the beginning and they help me keep you in your seat! Carlin is soooo funny because she really wants you to do the hand motions so she helps you every time. And every once and a while she just leans over and plants a big kiss on you! These two love you both very much (everytime I see them they immediately ask where you are) and we don't get you together near enough. Aunt Hope and I will promise to do better!

You are also loving your Mother's Morning out class. You have not cried one single time when I have dropped you off and only once when I picked you up, but I think that was because you didn't want to leave! When I come back to get you and you see my face, you smile so big and put your hands out to me. That makes me think that you finally know what love feels like too. You love your teachers, Ms. Melissa and Ms. Lisa, and when we are leaving you hug their necks tight. I feel safe leaving you with them because I know that they already love you. How could they help it?

This month you have started to "count" things...of course, Daddy and I have been counting around you for a while, but this month you gave "your" numbers voice. We first noticed it when you would stand on the ottoman in the kitchen and wait to leap into someone's arms. We've heard you both, "One, two, Threeeeeee!!" although it doesn't sound quite like that! And now when we are reading books you try to count things on every page...you will take your pointer finger and randomly point to things and after three it sounds like "duhh, duhh, duhh"...I'm pretty sure you've gotten all the way to 16.

While all of this makes us sound like the Cleavers, let me assure you that you two are not exempt from the occasional "flair up" as I like to call it. You are learning to share, learning how to wait, and learning that hitting is not how you show anger. I think that one of the biggest misconceptions about twins is that they are born knowing how to share. This is not the case, and although I do think that you have had to learn these things earlier perhaps, than others, you are still learning too. We have been trying "Time Out" with you and it seems to be working. You have already learned by the tones in our voices that you need to sit and NOT get up. I do have to laugh though, because usually the one not having to sit will find the one who is having to sit and join him on the floor. (In this picture, Jackson was in "time out") I guess you like to be together...even if it means being in trouble together. Trust me...this does scare me immensely for the future. Maybe going to different colleges wouldn't been so bad after all....



One of the clearest memories that I have of pregnacy was a conversation that I had with your Gigi. We had just found out that you were "two" not "one", and I just could not wrap my brain around how I was going to have enough love for both of you. How was I going to have enough energy to hold each of you when you needed me, to read with you alone sometimes, to make each of you feel like you were the best kid on the planet? She assured me that I would, although I sighed and shook my head. Now that I have you, I know she was right because that's just how it is with God's love too. He has enough energy to hold each of us all the time, not just when we need him; and He sits with me when I find time to read a devotion and somehow the words are perfect for just that moment; and He makes me feel like I am the best mama in the world...and I know that I will always be enough for you because of Him.

love,
Mama

9.11.2007

"Down and Out" at 30

I woke up 30 years old Saturday morning. I have never struggled with turning another year older. I've gladly helped some of my closest and dearest friends celebrate their 30th's this year. In fact, I've been to SIX 30th birthday parties in the last 6 months and let me just tell ya...it's all fun and games until it happens to you. It's strange because I don't feel a lot older, I just sound a lot older.

Saturday morning, as I limped into the kitchen to take my vitamins (limping because of the heels I wore Friday night that made my feet ache...another sign of "agedness"- and vitamins because old people need supplements...) I flipped on the Today Show for a little Saturday morning useless information. I heard Natalie Morales introducing the next segment which was on finding the right fitting bra AT ANY AGE. Turns out the first model was in her twenties wearing a teeny tiny tank top...she didn't need support as much as she did nipple control so they hooked her up with the perfect bra. The next model was in her thirties. AND THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME...I had moved up to the next "category" overnight. This girl sounded just like me. She was suffering from, as I like to call it "down and out syndrome". If you have never breastfed you have no idea what this means, but you will...oh you will. She had just finished breastfeeding and needed help. They found her some $200 bra that fixed her problem. At this point, I am shaking my head and giving her my own advice through the tv.

Buy a bigger shirt and slap on a little lipstick. It draws the eye up.

I changed the channel after that so I have no idea what you are suppose to do when you turn 40. Guess I can only hope they will run that clip again in 10 years.

9.07.2007

It's 11:50 and I should be in bed nursing this head cold, but instead I am feeling "blogger guilt" that I haven't told you a thing about the boys going to school! First of all, I know I'm their mama and all, but can I just tell you how cute they looked?! I'd forgotten about these shirts in the closet, actually I'd forgotten how to iron but that's a whole different post. Anyhoo, they were adorable...when I dropped them off they walked right into the classroom, took a seat at one of the tables, and waited patiently as the teacher's aide gave them a few goldfish crackers (you can get these two to do just about anything you want for food). I nonchalantly walked out of the room and left. I got in my car and for once I didn't know what to do with myself. Three hours later as I rushed back to pick them up (I figured out what to do with the time), I was greeted by a smiling teacher and two happy babies! She said that they were awesome...just what a first-timer wants to hear...


We also cut their hair for the first time the night before school started. You know we had been going back and forth on it and we just decided to do it. I held as Lee cut. I don't think I will ever forget sitting in our kitchen holding each boy while their Daddy gave them their first haircut. Little baby hair all over me and even in my mouth...Lee and I laughing nervously about what one wrong snip would look like...trying to tape ourselves with the video camera "handsfree"...and suddenly two little boys walking around our house.



AND finally, Elmo. We went tonight with the Shealys and Sturkies. Of course, Tradd and Jackson were more interested in going up and down the steps and helping everyone else eat their snacks, but they did enjoy seeing "Melmo".


Well, it's 12:10....today's my birthday. I'm thirty. I'm old...I should have been in bed hours ago....

9.04.2007

Busy Weekend...Busy Week

We have had a busy few weeks! Lee and I went out of town two weekends ago with our great friends, Micky and Stephanie Sturkie. We stayed at Pawley's Plantation on Pawley's Island which was beautiful...it was such a relaxing weekend. We ate great food, the boys golfed, we went to the beach, and slept late!! We all came back rested and happy. After we came home, Steph and Micky found out that this new baby is a GIRL! We are so happy for them and can't wait to meet Chloe's sister!

This past weekend was, of course, Lee's favorite weekend of the year...Carolina football! He can barely contain himself. I wasn't going to go to the game, but my dad and stepmom called Friday to say that their plans had changed and they kept them for us. We are so thankful to have people close by to keep the boys for us!

The other part of our weekend/holiday was spent doing a few home improvements...something I love to do, but something that always takes way longer than I think! Lee got me a flat screen tv for my birthday (I'm not talking about that until later in the week...) so Micky and Steph came over to help mount it to the wall. It looks great and I love having a tv in our room (we've never had one). The other thing we worked on was our front porch. We painted the railing, front door and around the front door. We just spruced it up a bit and if I do say so myself it looks pretty darn good.

Now for the "busy week" part. The boys start Mother's Morning Out on Wednesday. I am really looking forward to seeing them go to "school" for the first time! I'll update later in the week to let you all know how that goes. AND we are so excited because we are going to see Elmo at the Colonial Center on Thursday. These two love Elmo so I'm anxious to see what they will think of a life-size version!

Well, check back with us this week for updated and pictures from school!