Fond Farewell

It's always sad to say goodbye to something you've grown attached to. Even when you understand intellectually that it represents not just a parting, but growth. It means you've made a stride toward something new -- a new phase, a new journey, a new life.

After a very slow process of decreasing -- and finally eliminating -- breastfeedings, Lola and Locke are completely weaned. It was much harder on me than it was on them. I already miss those times of closeness and warmth. It was a union I'm very happy to have experienced with my babies. And I'm very proud to have been able to breastfeed twins for so long. It was not an easy thing to do -- especially those first few months. I remember how easy it became when I was able to feed them both simultaneously. But then, after they'd grown out of that phase, it was a challenge keeping one occupied while feeding the other. But all the work and the challenges were all so worth the joy and the benefits it brought all of us.

So after finally letting go of that phase of our growth, I'm having to say goodbye once again. I thought it would take a while for my boobs to go back to their modest pre-delivery size -- months, hopefully even years. But Mother Nature's quick on her feet and she doesn't give any free rides. Once I weaned the twins, it wasn't two weeks before they were almost back to normal. Not that I ever wanted big boobs before, or in any way feel they added to me as a person. But it sure was fun having them around. Goodbye, dear friends. It wasn't long but it sure was suh-weet!

Closing Ceremonies

This weekend ends the thrills and chills of the Winter Olympics. I didn't watch a whole lot of the Games this year. Maybe it was due to the delayed broadcast -- I don't know how many times I accidentally saw a headline during the day that gave away the outcome of a race I had been looking forward to watching that night. Or maybe it was because of the way they sandwiched the best events between the less watchable ones, without offering any kind of advanced schedule. Or maybe it's just that I have twin babies now and can't pay as much attention as I used to to the Oympics. But, for some reason, I missed a lot of the action. On TV, anyway.

Locke, Lola and I had plenty of fun with our own version of the Games. Here's the 2-baby bobsled (or "bobsleigh") on their way to a gold.











And now, it's time to pass the torch on the Canadians (the role of the Vancouver mayor is being performed here by Locke, as he snatches the torch from Lola, the Italian representative).

Next stop: Beijing 2008!

Lurking for Baby Gear

It's easy to see what gear works best for babies when you browse a few blogs. For instance, to keep Lola and (especially) Locke separated from certain and constant danger, we use the Superyard XT fence/gate. With extensions, of course. Their play area is larger than some Manhattan apartments I've seen.

I never thought I'd use a gate. Oh, I knew once they started crawling it would be hard to keep them corraled, but I thought it was possible. When Kelly's mom ("Mimi") offered to buy one after visiting when Locke was learning to crawl, I scoffed. I may have even been a little indignant (if you can be "a little" indignant). But it didn't take long after she left, when I was alone with two curious 6-month-olds -- and one of them newly MOBILE -- that I made the plunge. I don't know what I would have done without it.

Months later, after browsing (OK, lurking mostly) around a few other twin blogs, my fence purchase was more than validated. It seems that, not only do all other twins spend at least some time in a "corral", they often do it in a Superyard XT. Like over at The Twin Invasion. And at Archer & Phoebe. At Here They Come! , they not only have the Superyard XT, they also have one of Lola and Locke's favorite toys (see pics below). I'm not sure what it's called but has 3 "doorways" for them to crawl through and they can pull themselves up and stand next to it. Locke likes to peek through the curtains and make Lola giggle. Auntie Paula and cousin Connor gave it to them for Christmas. I've seen it in several pictures on the Here They Come! blog. I guess Conrad and Nolan like theirs a lot too.

So now I just need to pay attention to the blogs with older kids to see what else we'll need. From the looks of Sarah's blog, we're going to need some chalk, and some more nonfiction.

Lola proudly standing.











Locke plays peekaboo.

Baby Olympics

The cold and snow has kept us indoors a lot lately. But, rather than playing with the same old toys and reading the same old books, we decided to go with a timely theme -- the Olympics. I can't say we've been completely swept up in the Olympic spirit, but my husband Kelly and I have been keeping an eye on things over in Turin and I find myself more and more glued to the TV to watch things that I'd never ordinarily be interested in (pairs figure skating long program, for instance -- too much nude pantyhose, sparkle and flowing sheer fabric strips. And that's just the men!). But this is no ordinary time. It's the Winter Olympics. So we're enjoying the games.

So, in that same spirit, Lola, Locke and I have developed our own Baby Olympics. Locke has started his own version of the giant slalom. This morning he put one hand in a tupperware bowl, the other on a small book, and crawled across the room, weaving in and out of toys, chairs and other obstacles. It was quite impressive. Lola has been practicing standing by herself, a balancing feat I'd compare to the big air tricks of the women snowboarders. But our best event was the two-person luge.

I picked up the end of a blanket they were both sitting on, and began slowly pulling them around the room. They started laughing and tumbling around. Lola fell off the back, mostly from giggling too hard. Locke slowly slid off the side but kept trying to crawl back on, laughing the entire time. I piled them back on and went for another round, picking up the speed as they got more and more steady. When the both slid off I just pulled the blanket around and Locke chased after it trying to hop on face down. Lola just giggled at his attempts. It was the most fun they had all day. Tomorrow we're going to try some carpet hockey. Although I forecast a low-scoring game.

Caught on Film

"I didn't do it."

















"Nap" time

Mobility Month

Lola evidently designated this month as Mobility Month. She's on a mission. And that mission is ... to MOVE. She started warming up last month, graduating from rolling to writhing around (she'd find herself in some very interesting positions trying to go from lying to sitting). She was also testing her standing (without support) capabilities. She would pull herself up to a stand on something -- shelves, a chair, her crib, whatever -- and she'd wait for me to look. Then she'd let go and stand on her own. Sometimes for 15 or 20 seconds. She probably could have gone longer a few times but my "yea!!!!! Lola!!!!!" startled her. But I guess she got the reaction she was looking for because she's now advanced to other moves.

For months now, as Locke learned to stand and crawl and climb, Lola has been content to sit and watch and laugh. But no more. Maybe she'd had enough of Locke taking her toys away and then abandoning them just out of her reach. Or maybe she wanted to me to chase after HER for a change, yelling, "No, Locke, we don't climb the stairs without Mommy." I'm not sure what motivated her, but already this month she's learned some of her most impressive new skills.

This weekend she decided to crawl. REALLY crawl. Oh, she'd dabbled in the crawl thing weeks earlier, when she'd sort of lean forward from a seated position, raising momentarily up on her knees, and then taking one crawl step before pushing up into her downward dog yoga pose. But this weekend, she decided she really wanted the plastic rattling hippo she'd been playing with earlier and was now several yards from her. Now she's all over the place. Oh, it's not pretty. She looks sort of like she just hatched out of an egg and is awkwardly making her way to the sea, but she definitely manages to get around.

And now, when she's not crawling, she's insisting on walking -- with my help, of course. She'll grab my hands, pull up to standing, and start marching, fully expecting me to walk with her back and forth and around the room (which, of course, I do). And if I'm not available to walk with her, she'll pull up on a chair and walk from chair to shelf to swing to chair. And her favorite thing to do while standing or walking is to bend down and pick up a toy and return to her upright position. This gives her much pleasure.

Locke, in the meantime, has noticed this increased activity. Until now, he hasn't shown much interest in walking -- probably because he crawls faster than many people can walk. But now that his sister is getting a leg up (so to speak), his interest is peaking. A few times, when Lola has been walking, leading me around the living room, Locke has come up and demonstrated his standing ability. Hmm, looks like the race is on.

Post-holiday pics

Lola in her fashionable new coat.



















Lola and Locke in the awesomely cute
bibs Peter sent.















And Locke takes a break from playing to say hi.

Changing the game

Just when you think you have something figured out, they go and change it on you. Naps, for instance. The afternoon nap was always iffy. The time, duration, and actual existence of the nap were always in question. But my one sure thing was the morning nap. For at least an hour and a half -- usually two -- I knew I had time to get some things done (like shower, pay bills, etc.).

Now, all of the sudden, all bets are off. Lola is no longer ready for her nap at 9. So she plays, practices standing and walking, talks, sits, and fusses. But she won't lie down and sleep. And she's been falling asleep sitting (and in one case, standing) up. I have to go in a lay her down. Lately, by the time she gets to sleep, Locke is ready to get up. Can't they stay in one phase (especially a nicely synchronized one) for more than a month or two?

Of course I keep changing the rules on them, too. Adding solid food, slowly eliminating breastfeedings, blockading more and more places as they get more and more mobile (and curious).

So, this is retribution? More like growing, I guess.

And it would appear that I dread the time that they get up from napping. The truth is, I might dread it a little -- until it happens. Then, when I hear their first little squeaks, I can't wait to run in and pick them up from their cribs, snuggling and kissing them until they giggle. I'm so happy to see them, I forget ever wanting them to sleep.

I guess I should savor the few increasingly rare simultaneous napping minutes while we still have a morning and afternoon nap. Pretty soon they'll be napping once a day. And, when that happens, I'll bet just when I get used to it, they'll start school and it will all change again.