Mexican Vacation

Finally getting around to posting about our trip to Mexico. Jeremy & I had a blast. We did a lot of the following:

Eating REALLY good food

Drinking REALLY good drinks (Mango Margarita pictured)

Jeremy played some golf and even got me to drive the cart...
Got in some lifeguard training....
Did I mention the good drinks? (Mojito pictured)

The best part--WE DID THIS FOR 7 DAYS! Jeremy will probably tell you I slept more than he thought was humanly possible, but it was worth it! I also recently got an e-mail about my unusually high international data usage on my iphone, so I'm not sure what costly bill is in my future, but we did manage to check in with the girls frequently and got pictures via e-mail. Everywhere we went, we thought about things they would have liked or eaten or done and we missed them terribly, but a grown-up vacation for just the 2 of us was just what we both needed.

Pittsburgh may never be the same....

Okay, for those of you who don't know Jeremy or I very well, we have the tendency to be a bit tight when it comes to certain things (working too much, trying to please EVERYONE, running in too many different directions) so we knew it was time for some much needed R & R. We headed to Mexico (which Lilly can now say with great pride when you ask here where her Mommy & Daddy went on their trip). I felt only a little guilt leaving my munchkins, because I knew they would have a BLAST at Grandma & Grandpa Sadler's place in the burgh. I know I am the envy of most moms, especially my twin mom friends, because the grandparents were up to this challenge! Anyway, they rose to the occasion and treated the girls to a week of fun. I've put the highlights into my own top ten list, but the pictures may say it best. I know, I wasn't there to witness, but the proof is in the over 200 pictures I've seen and stories I've heard.

Top 10 Reasons I'd Rather Be in Pittsburgh

than running errands with my mom on a rainy Monday...

10. Pool time....1-2-3 jump into Grandpa's arms is the best (and both girls can go underwater now with no tears!)

9. They took us to this wacked out amusement park called Storybook Forest. Somehow this place finds people to hire and dress up as things like Humpty Dumpty and the old lady who lives in the shoe, anyway, we'd never seen anything like it...

8. Storytime at the library and Grandma didn't drag us out like mom did last month when we yelled at the top of our lungs. (Inside voices isn't a concept they've mastered yet)

7. We ate a lot that mom doesn't let us have---lollipops, funnel cakes, strawberry shortcake--oh my!

6. We got to hang out with our mom's former neighbor friend who has a pretty cool daughter...did you follow that one?

5. The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh had water, bob the builder, choo choo's, trolleys, diggers, boats, cars...they have explained all this to me when I show them the pictures!

4. We got to interrupt Grandpa Ian's board meeting and none of the guys in suits were mad.

3. Grandma took us out to a garage sale and bought us our first African American doll (we are starting diversity training early) and a dollhouse (Addy hasn't let the doll out of her sight since--it ran our errands with us and she told the bank teller about her)

2. We met Grandma at the golf course after her league game and worked on our short game.

1. We got to stay up past our bedtime for "one-more" book, "one-more" song, "one-more", "one-more" kiss....

Father's Day 2009

I could blog for days about the guy I married, the strength of his character and the father he has become, but I won't, here are some favorite pics to illustrate. Jeremy, thank you....

During the scariest moment of my life, you looked at me, loved me and told me whatever was going to happen I could handle it...I don't think I ever had time to thank you for this.

Those first months at home, you got up for EVERY feeding as we battled the girls' reflux and then went to work early the next morning to get home early. I don't remember you ever complaining. Not many dads can say they did this...thank you.
For soothing the cries during what we called the "witching hour" and changing more than your fair share of diapers...thank you.

For sparking their curiousity about the world, the grass, the lake, and all else... thank you.

For being the best napping buddy....thanks.

And the best guy to watch a game with....thanks.

For helping calm our fears day and night...thank you....

For giving some of the best hugs....thanks.

For doing all the things mom won't...thank you....
For making us laugh more than anyone else in the world....thank you.

For being our best playdate...thank you....

And our best storyteller...thanks....we love you.

To my dad, Jeremy's dad and Wild Bill, we know that we are only the parents we are because of those that modeled the way for us. It is our good fortune to get to watch you with our daughters! We love you!

PS...Vacation pics and the girls' week with Grandma & Grandpa Sadler will be posted soon :-)

22 months

As this summer continues and we explore, splash, play and finish every day more filthy than the night before, I can't help but remember 2 summers ago. I was nervious, anxious, uncomfortable and HUGE. Now, my days go by quickly as I chase after my almost 2 year olds! It's crazy to me that they are 22 months today.

I continue to be surprised at how different they are in all aspects: physical appearance, developmentally, socially, in play and in affection.

Addy's hair has lightened in the sun and we get comments all the time of, "Are they twins, but one has brown hair and one has red."...My canned response is that one looks like mommy and one looks like daddy, but that isn't entirely true. Addy has my facial features and looks a lot like my sister and I did growing up with her dad's coloring. Addy is all my coloring and daddy's facial structure. Addy is hyperactive a lot of the time. She's good at independent play, but also tries to keep up with the big kids in the neighborhood. She tends to 'play like a boy' throwing toys, loving balls, jumping off couches and RUNNING everywhere. However, when the moment strikes her, she comes to find me, pulls at my leg and says 'ug' when she needs a hug from mom...it melts my heart every time. She's very verbal now, but continues to be outshined by her sister in this department. Usually because Lilly "shows off" a bit more than she does.

Lilly is our chatter box right now, never stops talking and loves to illustrate her skills to anyone that will listen. I picked them up out of childcare at the YMCA this week and one of the male workers that plays with them a lot asked where their grandparents had a lake house...surprised since I didn't remember telling him this, he told me that Lilly had told him when he asked what she did this past weekend. "Ga Ga....Lake...Boat...Ga Ga." You were absolutely right Lilly, we went to Grandma's lakehouse and took a ride on Grandpa's boat. How did you get to be so smart? She continues to love books, taking them to bed with her now. She tests my patience because she's stubborn and wants to do things her way. I'm still wondering where she gets that from...She is affectionate and gives the best bear hugs and sloppy wet kisses.

Ashley (a sorority sister, former neighbor, fellow multiple mom and friend) and I finally got our kids together for a walk. After getting through 2 years with twins, the idea of triplets is crazy. You can tell Addy & Lilly weren't sure of it either. The neighbors must have thought we were running some kind of in-home daycare. You can check out Ashley's crew at: http://threelilcallahans.blogspot.com/

Grandma Jody has stored this dollhouse, made by Grandpa Dave's mother when they were expecting Jeremy, for 30 years. She's cleaned it up, got some new furniture for it and it is every girls DREAM. They are lucky (I never had stuff like this growing up :-)! I say frequently that it all kids in the world were LOVED the way these girls are by our extended family and friends, we would have a lot less social problems--thanks for all who continue to help us raise bright & beautiful girls!

Berry Pickin'

We joined a lot of other twins and twin mommies from the local group last week for berry picking at a local farm. The girls had fun! They really do enjoy taking direction now and "helping". They frequently climb up on the stools in the kitchen to "help" me cook and Lilly insists on "helping" daddy make coffee every morning. She says "I elp, I elp". So this was great fun for them.

We are trying to learn colors right now, but each time I told them to bring me red ones only, they'd pick whatever was closest, bring it in and say "Pink"

Addy, always checking things out, she is so aware of her surroundings right now, she can spot "dogs", "geese", "duck", "bird", "airplane" from a mile away.

Lilly was hilarious, eating more than she picked, I think she had a belly ache the rest of the afternoon!

"Mom, get picking, we need to fill this thing!"--Addy

The countdown to our vacation and Addy & Lilly's trip to Pittsburgh with Grandma & Grandpa Sadler--5 days! I'll post pics from the weekend later in the week!

Gotta Have Friends...

We've had some fun recently with both old and new friends! Here are some highlights...

Exploring a video arcade for the first time with Mallory at a local restaurant (note: this is not recommended)

Playing "house" with boyfriend, JD--Mamalouise, posted a pretty cute post about their mutual love of each other here: http://mlphjmd.blogspot.com/2009/05/we-are-big-kids-now-how-did-this-happen.html

Fingerpainting with some friends from my twins group....George and Teddy were born just a day away from Addy & Lilly, the four are a riot to watch together. Addy was the most artistic this particular day!

Bottom line--we love summer playdates! Lilly is waking around 6:30 a.m. and before she's out of her crib, she's saying "otside....otside...otside..." Addy quickly follows and is always up for a new adventure! We are learning everyday...