Twins being twins

The girls wanted to snuggle last night. I think they were just trying together out of going to sleep.









Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Highlighting their Individuality

While one was inside sleeping...



The other was outside coloring herself pink with chalk. The picture isn't great but her forehead, arms, hands, legs and feet were all bright pink.



Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

An Afternoon with Sisters

Ruby and Eliza Claire filled two bags with books.  They got comfy on a nice sunny fall afternoon and enjoyed reading together.  How lovely to have a sister the exact same age as you.  They sure are blessed to have each other.















Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

First Day of School Work

This was what Ruby and Eliza Claire were working on when we left them Monday morning. Their very first school assignment.





Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

My Babies Started Kindergarten

Eliza Claire came in my room at 6:00 am because she had "a bad dream."  She went back to sleep in my bed until 6:45.  When I came to wake her up, she scrubbed around for about ten seconds.  Then her eyes popped open and she exclaimed, "School!!!!" She hopped right up and ran to get dressed.

I went to wake Ruby up.  She was still snoring.  I gently woke her up, afraid she was going to yell at me.  I leaned over her, with an arm on each side of her and asked her if she was going to get up.  She said, "I would if you would ever move your arms!" I laughed and moved and she popped out of the bed.

Ruby and Eliza Claire with their wonderful teacher Mrs. Johnson

When asked about the best part of their day Eliza Claire immediately said, "Recess!"  and Ruby said, "my chicken nuggets, I guess."

They read the Kissing Hand.  They had art today.  They went to the playground twice!  I think that is all I've learned so far.  

I would say it was a successful first day of school. 

What Do You Mean "There Are Two?"

In writing my last post, I realized that I wasn't blogging when I got pregnant with the twins.  In fact I didn't start blogging until they were six months old.  I realized, I've never talked about what it was like to find out we were going from a family of four to a family of six.  So I thought I would remedy that.

In the Summer of 2005, Michael took a new job that required him to travel four days a week, every week.  At the time, Michael was making a career change and the travel was necessary to make the change.  We as a family were OK with it.  I had wanted another baby for a while and finally convinced Michael that a "third" child made sense.

Of course, I got to call  him in Chicago to tell him I was pregnant because he was traveling.  Then my first appointment arrived.  This not being our first baby and with Michael traveling so much, I didn't even try to schedule it for a time he could go. The appointment was going along just typically.  My OB was giving me the run down of the next nine months and then he did an ultrasound to check my dates.  At that point, he said, "Forget everything I just told you, there are two babies!"  I  started laughing.  My OB was more shocked that I was.  It was extremely funny and makes me laugh just remembering it.

Of course, I now had to tell my dear husband that not only had I talked him into having a baby, but oops, we are having two.  I was a bit nervous to make that phone call.  I wasn't 100% sure how he was going to react.  Knowing my husband and know his "well, there's nothing we can do about it now, so we are just as well to embrace it" attitude I wasn't overly concerned.  But having another baby had been completely my idea and while he agreed I was a bit afraid of him feeling like this was "all my fault."

After the exam, I called Michael, in Chicago and told him our news.  He was at lunch, luckily.  He said, "You're joking!"  I assured him I was not.  He started laughing and laughed uncontrollably for several minutes.  I think he was a bit overwhelmed.  I can't say that I blame him.  I was, too.

I came home, scanned the ultrasound picture and sent it to him so that he would have proof.  Then I scheduled an appointment for that Friday so he could see them with his own eyes. 

When we told the grandparents, they all started laughing.  Yes, at our house, twins mean laughter.  Five years later we are all still laughing.

Does that mean it has all been easy?  Absolutely, NOT!  Having four children in a span of five years with two being the same age has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  The twin pregnancy took a serious toll on my body for a couple of years after they were born.  It also took a huge toll on me emotionally, as I was determined to do-it-all, and I couldn't. Financially having one more than we planned on makes a big difference as well.

Has it been the best experience, ever? Yes, it has.  I wouldn't change it for a minute.  I am so blessed to have these special girls in my life. 

Jenn

Twins, it's not a choice, it is a blessing

I read this article today and was left horrified.  You see, I have twins.  Twins I never expected to have.  Twins, when I had a five year old and a not quite three year old.  Twins, when my husband was traveling four days a week, every week.  Twins, when I had to do some convincing of my dear husband to have a "third" child.  Twins, when I'd had plenty of complications with singleton pregnancies, including a child who died at birth, a miscarriage and two children who had varying length NICU stays. Twins!
 
It never occurred to me not to have one of them. It never occurred to my husband.  Even when they weren't expected.  Even when it wasn't convenient.  Even when it wasn't easy.  Even when it scared me to death to think of the additional pregnancy complications that come with twins.  Even when I couldn't imagine how we would possibly pay for college times four, or weddings times four.  It. Was. Never. A. Choice.

How could it be?  How can it be for some people*?  I don't understand. 

One of these precious girls would not be here.

I can not imagine.
Jenn

*I understand that there are unexpected medical situations that arise that could make a choice like this necessary.  Trust me, I know plenty about pregnancy complications and pregnancy loss.  But, this article was not dealing with medical necessity, just choice.

Funny Twin Milestone

For the first time ever Ruby and Eliza Claire are pretending to be each other. Given how different they look and act it is quite comical. They even went as far as to wear each other's clothes. 

Jenn
Sent from my iPhone

Happy Birthday Ruby and Eliza Claire

I can not believe Ruby and Eliza Claire are four!  Wow! 

Ruby loves life.  She is an all or nothing girl.  She is funny, opinionated, loud, silly, a bundle of energy, and sweet.  She is an act and ask questions later kind of girl.  If she is unhappy the whole world is going to know.  She will eat anything.  She is a light sleeper. Her favorite color is pink.  She likes dolls, dress-up, pretend play, princesses, and anything crafty.  She is Ruby!
 

Eliza Claire loves routine.  She is a cautious child.  If she had her way she would be an only child.  She needs her space and her time to herself.  She is a think of every outcome and then maybe act kind of girl.  She is sweet, loving, stubborn, demanding, silly, and funny.  She is a sound sleeper.  She will eat most things but not quite anything.  Her favorite color is blue.  She likes cars, legos, balls, and electronics. She is Eliza Claire!

It is funny, they are so different.  One is natured like Rehm, only more extreme and the other like Charlotte, only more extreme.  I can not imagine life without these two amazing girls.  They are the best!  I am so luck I get to be their Mom.

Happy Birthday girls!
Jenn

PS Pictures from their actual birthday will be up next week.  I'm too tired tonight to upload them.

That is not my brand!

One morning this week Ruby could not find any big girl pants (underwear) to wear. I was busy doing something, I don't know what. I told her that she had to have BGPS and suggested a couple of places to look for them. Each time she came back and told me she could not find any. I do not know if she was truly out or not. I didn't go look as I was doing something else. And it is completely plausible that she was out as laundry is always a work in progress in our house.

Somehow the idea of borrowing a pair of BGPs from Eliza Claire came up as a solution. At this point I don't remember if I offered this solution or if Eliza Claire did. For all of you that are thinking "yuck!" I'm sorry. I have four kids. I have laundry coming out of my ears. It is more important to me that they leave the house with underwear on, and hopefully clean to boot, than ownership of said underwear. It has only been in the last three months that they had separate rooms and dressers. Before that sharing BGPs was a common occurrence.

Ruby likes Elmo BGPs and Eliza Claire is partial to Dora and Mickey Mouse. They have some generic ones that are usually the community pairs. Here is the gist of the conversation that followed

Me: Maybe you could wear a pair of Eliza Claire's BGPs

Eliza Claire: Ruby, You wear Elmos. I don't got no Elmos. I only got Doras and Mickeys

Ruby: I never weared any Doras!

Eliza Claire: You want to try dem?

Ruby: YEEEAAAHHHH!

And off they run to Eliza Claire's room to find Ruby some BGPs. Ruby actually tried a pair of Mickeys, so she still doesn't know if she likes Doras or not.

I thought this was the funniest exchange ever. I think the funniest part is it reminded me of being a kid and hearing the adults around me discuss why they smoked the brand cigarettes they smoked. Each person had a very specific reason and for the most part never varied from their brand. My kids are just as loyal to the character on their BGPs as I remember the adults being with their smokes.

Jenn

Cooking, Twin Style

Ruby and Eliza Claire are playing in the bath. I heard them start cooking. They added sugar and butter. Then one said the needed to get other "ingredients.". I decided to ask what they were cooking. Their answer, "coupons!" apparently coupons is a dessert that you eat cold and it has butter, sugar, ketchup, and syrup in it.

Now they are making banana coupons with strawberries on top. Eliza Claire informed me that banana coupons does not have ketkup in it.

Ruby just declared that it is "cooking day!" I wonder what they'll cook next.

Three Year Old Photo Shoot

Here is a sample of the pictures I took of Ruby and Eliza Claire on their birthday. The rest of their pictures are below or can be found here larger.



So which picture was your favorite of each girl individually and together?

Don't you just love their dresses? Cici made them.

Well Check

Ruby and Eliza Claire had their well check. They were such great patients! They knew they might get shots but were completely OK with that idea.

Ruby weighed 32.5 lbs. (75th percentile) and was 38.5 inches (75th percentile). Eliza Claire was 35 lbs. (85th percentile) and was 39 inches (90th percentile).

Unfortunately while waiting for the doctor, Eliza Claire fell and busted her lip, again. Poor kid. She is so prone to re-injuring her poor lip. This made her sad enough that she did not enjoy getting to see her doctor. She loves going to see him and fakes illness anytime one of her siblings has to go see him in an attempt to see him herself. And she finally gets to see him and she is too sad to enjoy it.

They had to have a finger stick and a shot. Neither one cried. The most I heard was Eliza Claire say "ouchy!"

Three Already!

Ruby and Eliza Claire are three! I can't believe it! No more babies, no more cribs, no more toddler beds, no more diapers (at least not during the day), no more pacis, no more sharing a room. I have two big girls!

Ruby is rambunctious, precocious, dramatic, and sweet, sweet, sweet! Her favorite color is pink. She can not walk, she runs, skips or jumps. She stutters because she gets so excited to tell you something she can't get it all out. She talks all the time. She is my Ruby Roo, my Roo Roo, but not my Bee. She is Daddy's girl.

Eliza Claire is stubborn, cautious, sweet and snuggly! Her favorite color is blue and she is constantly reminding everyone of this fact. She likes to fly under the radar and quietly get her way. She loves cars, and balls and watching how things interact. She is my Eliza Piza, my Eliza Claire Bear, my Eliza Piza Claire Bear, my Stinker, my Lie Lie.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, smart, wonderful girls!

Gus and Simon

Eliza Claire's Pacis

Ruby's Pacis

Ruby and Eliza Claire went to the mall yesterday and threw away all of their pacis. Then we went to Build A Bear and made new friends for them to sleep with.


When we were throwing away the pacis there was a gentleman sitting nearby that saw us and just started cracking up. He thought the whole process was hilarious. You can judge for yourself. I videoed it so you could all share in this momentous occasion.



I had a talk with the big kids. I explained that this was not about them. I told them they were not to try to lobby for certain animals or otherwise involve themselves in this process. This was solely about their little sisters. Overall, they did a good job following those directions. I was pleasantly surprised.

Ruby picked a kitty cat with "jammas" on and Eliza Claire picked a bear with regular clothes. Both insisted on buying their new friend "big girl panties." Our new kitty is Gus Gus and our new bear is Simon.

Ruby helping stuff her kitty cat

Ruby putting kitty cat's heart in

Testing out kitty cat to make sure she is soft enough

Eliza Claire stuffing bear

Eliza Claire jumped in with both feet

Putting bear's heart in

Eliza Claire testing bear out to make sure he is soft enough

Gus Gus all decked out in her new "jammas"

Eliza Claire and Simon complete with sparkly pants and a rainbow shirt

Ruby and Eliza Claire washing Simon

Eliza Claire making sure Simon is extra clean

I realized today that they both bought the same type of animals as the luvies the already have. For some reason I find that interesting. Then I realized that Charlotte did the same thing when she gave up her paci. She had a bunny luvie and got a Bunny BAB.

Nap time is non-existent since giving up pacis. Last night they both went to sleep around 8pm, much earlier than the night before. Eliza Claire was only up twice (1:22 and 1:45). So definitely much better than the first night. I'm hoping tonight is even better.

I'm sad to say that Ruby and Eliza Claire seem to be jumping on a new, maybe not so new, naming trend I'm not really a fan of . They both made girl animals and both gave them boy names. I decided to not point this out to them as they are only two and I really didn't want to start the clothes selection process all over...

What Have I Agreed To?

Oh my, I think I might be in trouble. We told Ruby and Eliza Claire several months ago that when they were ready to give up their pacis we would take them to Build-A-Bear and they could make any animal they wanted.

Tonight at bed time, I mentioned that Charlotte gave up her paci before she turned three. I pointed out that they were almost three and it might be time to give up their pacis and be really big girls. Ruby's initial reaction was a resounding "I don't want to be three, I two! I gonna keep my pacis!" Eliza Claire quickly decided she would give me her pacis and started singing an "I'm gonna go to Build A Bear" song. Ruby of course had to follow suit.

Before leaving the room, we had to talk about what kind of animals they wanted. Eliza Claire wants a bear that is already dressed. Ruby wants a Hello Kitty with a Hello Kitty chair and clothes on. They also want to ride the merry-go-round at BAB - it is actually outside the store. I told them they could have an animal and clothes for the animal. I did not agree to a chair for the silly things or the merry-go-round ride. I think that is already more than Charlotte got when she gave up her pacis. I think she just got the animal, a bunny named Lisa, with no clothes or other accessories.

Ruby said she was going to miss her paci like she misses her kitty cat Zachary who died. She went on to talk about when her pacis died she was going to miss them. So cute.

As I write, they are both running around their room and I think I just heard a, "Mommy I want my paci." So I might not have to worry about a trip to BAB for a few more days, weeks, months - who knows.

I'm back from the paci run. As I got upstairs I heard Ruby say, "I don't want a bear! I want a paci." I gave her a paci. Eliza said she wanted an animal so I assured her that she could still go to BAB tomorrow as long as she didn't have a paci tonight. By the time I left the room, Ruby had given her paci back to me and was back on board with an animal from BAB.

I hear crying again and something about wanting a paci. I think it is Ruby, again. I'm afraid it is going to be a long night. I really think Eliza Claire is ready to give up her paci. I think Ruby is just caving to peer pressure. I don't want to think about what the means for the future...

Guess I should go see who wants a paci now.
Jenn

Edited to add: Ruby was the first to fall asleep (around 9:45). Eliza Claire was still laying in the floor chanting to herself that she was a big girl and didn't need a paci. As of about 10pm both girls are quiet and neither has a paci - assuming neither found one I missed when I collected them...

Who's Who Controversy

Michael always argues with me about which girl is which in this series of photos. The first one was used for their announcements when they were born. Some people, I won't name names :), thought we shouldn't have used this picture because one girl was upset. I personally though it added nicely to the yin yang affect of the picture. And it ends up that knowing their personalities now, it is very fitting.

So here are several shots from that day. They were all taken by a friend, colleague and great photographer, Beth Bishop. She does awesome work. She snapped these for us while we were at a church retreat at Mo Ranch in just an impromptu five minute photo session. Yes we were a bit crazy - going on a retreat with 8 week old twins plus the other two children.

So what do you think? Who is who?