Two Coughing Babies and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Fa la la. Not so much. The last few months have been really tough. It seems like the colds and ear infections never end. We had a few good weeks and then I totally jinxed myself by mentioning out loud that I had gotten some sleep, consistently.

Before we left for Florida, my husband had the flu. The night before we left Florida, I came down with the flu. It may have been the most sick I have ever been in my life. Completely awful. After the flu I got bronchitis.

Then the girls got a cold, as did my husband. The colds turned to ear infections. All four of their molars began to come in at once, complete with blood blisters. Then I got the cold from everyone. The girls got antibiotics for their ear infections, which led to diaper rash for one of my daughters that turned into a yeast infection.

Does it end? My New Year's Resolution is for everyone to be healthier this year. The goal is not to miss any kindergarten when the time comes!

Life Lesson 296783465: Flying With Toddlers is No Fun

I am late writing about this -- and most everything else -- because life just seems to get in the way. In any case, went to Florida for Thanksgiving. I learned a few things along the way and felt necessary to give everyone a glimpse into the absolute HELL that was our plane ride to Ft. Myers.

I should mention that just prior, my husband had the flu really bad. He said he has never felt so terrible. Luckily he was on the mend by turkey week. Our in-laws were kind enough to book us an entire row on Jet Blue to Florida so we would have the space we needed. We thought we were totally prepared but that is just never possible.

We got to the airport way too early and all the girls wanted to do was run around. They were going up to people and trying to take their snacks and water bottles. It was a workout trying to keep up with them. Plus we had some carry on bags, despite our attempts to ship everything, as well as the two car seats bungee corded to a pull cart (that I forgot to get until the night before and went to four places before finding it!). I was so happy my friend told me to get the cart because without it we would have been more screwed then we already were.

We got on the plane late because my husband decided last minute he wanted food, so all the old people jumped the line and for some reason having twins and being visibly disorganized didn't get us any sympathy. We boarded the plane with the kids and the two Britax car seats bungeed to our little dolly cart. The stupid cart got stuck in the aisle and I was yanking it to get it down to row 18. The babies began to whine and we began to sweat. Finally the air marshall jumped out of his seat to help. Bless him, for real. He was awesome. He helped us get the seats in and get out of the way of all the grandmas and grandpas going down to Florida.

We got situated and I longed for the days of kicking back, taking a nap and waking up in the sunshine. But the girls wanted nothing to do with their car seats, the plane, or any of the books and toys we bought specifically for the trip. Before we even taxied down the runway, I was looking for some sort of child-friendly sedative.

The drink cart couldn't have come sooner. I was ready to explode. I was walking up and down the aisles holding one of my daughters who was having a full blown temper tantrum and was way overdue for a nap. Everyone was staring at us and some nice mothers offered toys and other distractions to try and make her happy. I went to the back of the plane near the bathrooms to try and get the screaming child away from all the other passengers, but it was no use.

I was standing there with the two flight attendants and guy looked at me and said, "You totally should have waited another year or two to fly." I wanted to punch him in the face. That's the worst thing to say considering we are already thousands of miles up in the air over the Atlantic Ocean. I looked at the other man and begged him to tell me we were at least halfway there, but he just shook his head.

I then went back to our seats and my daughter was still hysterical. The biggest mistake I made was taking her out of her seat (lesson learned). My husband then looks over at me (the twin he is watching is happily watching TV with her pacifier) and suggests I take screaming twin and go sit in the bathroom.

Seriously, he had to be joking? No, he wasn't. The person in front of us told him he was just "asking for a divorce" with that suggestion. At that moment, my beer must have kicked in and I had forced my daughter back into her chair. I looked at the Live Map channel on Jet Blue and saw that the little plane was finally positioned over Florida.

"We're in Florida!," I yelled to my husband.

"We're still married?" he replied with a smile.

I knew we were going to make it. I was sweating, but there was hope and the palm trees and sunshine were in reach. I looked over and my daughter had finally closed her eyes and fallen asleep with about 30 minutes to go in the trip. I began to wonder if we should drive back?

New York, New York

We finally made it to Manhattan with the girls. We went in early and met up with Grandma A and Auntie M. First trip was their hotel as they were in town for their annual "Sisters Week" extravaganza -- a week full of shopping, good food, sporting events and relaxing.

One of my little pumpkins is terrified of elevators, so it wasn't such a fun trip up to their room for a diaper change. I wasn't about to walk up five flights of stairs with a 25 lb baby despite how much I want to fit into my jeans. So we gutted it out. Into the hotel room we went and the girls promptly began to destroy everything in their path. They were loving the room.

After a change, we walked over to Build-A-Bear. One of the girls picked a teddy bear, she really has a thing for bears, and the other picked a puppy. One always seems to get a bear and one a puppy, but I can't tell if she even really likes the puppies.

I mean she loves real dogs, but I think she is holding out for American Girl. She will be a dollie girl and the other will hoard stuffed animals in her crib, which she will probably learn to use to spring out of the crib someday. We met up with my friend D and her little J for a 20 minute Build-A-Bear session. Little J got a pink bear and was very happy. Unfortunately she had to go home for nap, but the rest of us walked up to Daddy's office to show off the girls.

We ran around the office and then stole daddy to go for lunch at Landmarc. I completely underestimated how far it was to walk from daddy's office to the Time Warner Center but it was a beautiful day so no complaints. The restaurant is supposedly child-friendly, but we didn't quite get that vibe. Aside from a very kid-friendly menu, I don't think folks were so friendly. But maybe it's more kid-friendly rather than baby-friendly. And, I totally understand.

When we arrived they said we had to wait since we needed two high chairs. I couldn't imagine they only had two on hand for the entire restaurant. Once they freed up we were seated. The girls began to test their opera voices and throw goldfish around. I will say that the food came quickly, it was delicious, we had a wonderful view and they offer a roomy, handicap bathroom with a changing table -- all very clean.

We had to abandon the FAO Swartz adventure planned for post-lunch and instead just headed to the car. The girls were fading and we didn't want to push our luck. Next time. They fell asleep in the car and daddy let us do a Pinkberry drive-by since I hadn't had it in so long. Love that place. It's all about the regular with chocolate chips, mochi balls and mango. Yummy!

We drove down to the FDR Drive to find it was bumper-to-bumper. The girls promptly woke up from their nap and screamed the whole way home in horrible traffic for three hours. So much fun. Moral of the story, don't go into the city on a Friday or on a holiday weekend with children.

Welcome, Baby R

My brother-in-law welcomed his first child this week, Baby R. He was almost twice as big as my girls when they were born, but still seemed so tiny when I met him yesterday. Mom and Dad are doing well and love their little prince. I am really excited for my girls to have a cousin so close in age to grow up with, because basically it will be like another sibling to them.

Preschool - Too Early at Two? Too Late at Three?

The girls just turned one and now I have to start thinking about pre-school. They can't even say mama or use a toilet and I am looking at programs for them. It's overwhelming. Oh, and did I mention? It's really expensive!

We are talking in the thousands of dollars range, depending on how many days. I looked at one tuition for the preschool that was recommended down the street and there is a waiting list already for next year.

I asked around, including polling two preschool teachers on my street, whether it's better to begin preschool at age two or three and the majority said three. Part of the problem is that my girls have a summer birthday so they would be a young two by the start of the school year. Who knows how potty training will go and they are hanging on my legs 24/7 as it is, so how will mommy leave for an hour to gulp down a Starbucks and return for pick-up?

In the meantime, we will continue at Little Gym and the Y for swimming and also look into Stepping Stones and New Canaan Nature Center, as well as more playgroups and activities at local libraries.

Twin Comments

I know this is a popular topic for me, but I can't help get annoyed. Maybe someday I will learn to ignore. I am getting better though.

I went to my beloved Stop & Shop in Westport yesterday, which I hear is getting a Starbucks, and heard all my favorite (hint: sarcasm) comments!

In less than 30 minutes I heard the following:

* Are they twins? (4x)

* Are they identical? (2x)

* Boy and girl? (1x)

* Double trouble! (1x)

+ two unsolicited toe touches

I know people are just trying to be nice, but it's so annoying. It's not like we are a freak show I mean it's just two children. Lots of people have more than two children. Twins are pretty common anyway these days. If I had six or eight babies in toe at Stop & Shop then yes, I would totally expect crazy stares and questions.

I guess it's not that I actually mind the questions, it's just that they are such stupid questions. I mean the identical question actually doesn't bother me. But they are usually dressed in pink and I have a hot pink stroller so the one of each question is just stupid. I get asked if they are boys a lot too. Let's not discuss.

Double trouble is just so annoying because it doesn't do anything for anybody. I am not going to throw a smile your way for that one! But it was an old guy and usually I get that from older people, so we will give him a break.

And please, don't touch my babies. Unless you want to come over when they get sick and rock them back to sleep every hour while they are snotting on your shoulder, just keep your fingers to yourselves.

Ready for Fall

I am so ready for Fall. The cooler weather, the leaves, apples, soup and Halloween -- what's not to love? I also love Fall clothing.

Patagonia in Westport is having a huge sale right now. I went today to get a credit back on a rain jacket I bought last week and was able to get a zip-up sweater with the refund, so basically it was two for the price of one. It's way too hot to wear now, but the pumpkin color really gets me in the mood for cool days.

The girls have tons of clothes but I was in Janie & Jack the other day on Greenwich Avenue and there are some really cute things out right now. Of course I wait until it goes on sale -- don't think I have ever bought full-price J&J outfits -- and hope the right sizes remain. The Paris line

is so cute, but I love the quilted jacket from the Carousel Line. They are just so comfortable and vintage looking. I also adore the quilted jacket from the Orchard Line. I would probably get one and one so that it wasn't matching.