Thursday, December 16, 2010

They're Smart, No Really Smart



Last night the girls were really resisting bed time. I mean this isn't anything new, but Izzy has terrible separation anxiety so I told them the next day (today) that I would take them to Stepping Stones and for ice cream. I kind of figured they would forget about the whole ice cream promise; I'd already planned to take them to the Children's Museum.

The girls wake up around 7am. Don't you know the first thing they asked for when they woke up was ice cream. They didn't stop asking until they had a kiddie cone with rainbow sprinkles in their little hands around 11:45am. It served as lunch. Not too shabby.

A lot times I fall for the girls little tricks. It's because I love them and they have me tied around their little fingers. They are quickly mastering the art of stall tactics. It all started a few months ago when they started hiding their lovies before bed time. Zoe has a little "lambie" and Izzy has "monkey."

While I would tidy up after baths, the girls would hide their stuffed animals. It would take me forever to find them and by this time I was so tired and had very little patience. It's like they knew just what button to push. They would sit in their cribs and say, "Lambie, where are you???? I can't find it!" After a while I would learn the basic hiding spots, down the stairs, under the sofa, in mommy's room, etc. You would think I would learn to put them somewhere safe while we did the night time routine but mommy brain takes over and you just plain forget.

Then last night, the girls tried to hide the two books we read at night: Goodnight Moon and Llama Llama Red Pajama. As if hiding those books meant that they would get to stay up all night. Seriously I have no idea where they get their energy. They wake up at 7am and are full steam ahead until 7pm. They have stopped taking naps and don't even want to listen to my pleas for quiet time. I try to tell them how much I miss nap time but it doesn't make a difference. I did get some nice cuddle time today before they went to school. It was all worth it.


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Days Fly By, Almost New Year's

The old saying time flies by used to annoy me, but now I have realized how much truth it holds. I wish I had more time to write here and document incredible moments with the girls.

Like last Saturday when the girls were playing "night, night" with my husband's father and Zoe put a blanket over him and then proceeded to sing him "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." She had the hand gestures memorized. I teared up.

Today the girls helped feed their younger cousin lunch and were proud as can be. It made me remember how small they used to be, and that they aren't really babies anymore, even though I still refer to them as such.

Or when Izzy hung up with my father on the phone the other day and then went to the window to look for him. They had a game when the weather was warmer in the Fall, where Poppy would go outside and give Izzy kisses though the window. Izzy said, "Where's Poppy," and pushed her little nose up to the glass.

Now the girls recognize places along the roadside, I have to be more strategic about my routes. I can't drive by the Sherwood Diner in Westport without being asked about 100 times to go eat there, even if we've just exited the parking lot. Their favorite ice cream place has a life size cow fake cow outside that they sat on for a photo this summer and whenever they pass it they say "mooooooooooo, ice cream?????" no matter what time of day.

Yesterday, the girls helped me make cookies for their class snack. I didn't realize how much I could allow them to help. I let them help mix and pour ingredients into the bowls once I had measured them out. It was such a joy to see them become excited with the process of baking a cookie from start to finish and then enjoy it together.

I used to sing to the girls when we had to drive in the car and now they sing to me. It's a good thing they learned because I am no American Idol. I just did it to get a laugh or a smile.

One new little habit that is amusing, yet often annoying, is the girls direct me when I am driving. They say "this way," or "that way" and get very upset if I don't follow their command.

Anyway, I guess I am saying that I regret not documenting more of these moments so I am going to make a better effort in 2011.