Guest Blogger-Aunt Cat Visits

Mommy Dearest--Growing up I always felt that, between my sister and me, I was the melodramatic one. My thinking changed during this visit when my sister stopped the car on the side of the road, got out and proceeded to unleash the mommy dearest fury on Addy for taking her seat belt off. This was a Mommy Dearest moment. It wasn't the first or the last I witnessed, a few more occurred during this visit. I adore my nieces, but they do know how to bring out the crazy in people. It's because of the crazy that I started to understand having the Mommy Dearest moments, because, I admit, I had one too.

A & L were fighting non-stop over this awfully loud karaoke-type-toy, accusing each other of taking their turn on the machine. I took the karaoke machine and yelled that I was going to throw it in the trash if they couldn't share. Not my finest "fun aunt" moment, for a minute, I turned into Mommy Dearest. Later in the week, Aimee's friend Jenny visited from North Carolina and shared in the Mommy Dearest moments, threatening to take the car through the car-wash (something the girls hate) if they couldn't behave in the car. Perhaps we all have a little Mommy Dearest inside? Living with 2-year-olds can't be all parks and playgrounds.

All-in-all Aimee & Jeremy have the patience of saints, I'm so impressed for their tolerance for how LOUD this house can get. I love visiting my nieces, but there were certain points during this last visit, I felt like I was on SURVIVOR--more accurately, I felt like I was losing SURVIVOR.

I am a really proud Aunt...the girls are completely potty-trained (accident free during my visit). They are smart, inquisitive, so bright, and, of course, loud. They are amazing swimmers, showing no fear in the water. Lilly is a force to be reckoned with and is so stubborn. I am not sure I'll be visiting during the teenage years--it terrifies me to think about! There is no way Lilly is ever not going to do exactly what she wants when she wants to do it. Anyone who gets in her way--good luck.

Addy is fiercely independent and adventurous. I envy her zest for life! She is the girl who will follow her own path. I'm certain the path will involve a lot of running, dancing and loud music. I "Looooooovvvvveeeee" you both Addy & Lilly and I hope for the sake of your parents' sanity, your terrible twos come to an end soon!

Friends....

I'm fortunate to have a few really, good girlfriends. I hope this for Addy & Lilly, because it's one of the best relationships in the world. Some of my girlfriends live local, others live at a distance. The ones I appreciate the most are those who may visit sporadically, but each time you get together, it is like no time has passed at all. They're the kind of friends who you can sit around and talk for hours or not talk at all and we know what the other is thinking. Jenny--you are that friend to me and I thank you! And thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Ash for letting us escape for a weekend and catch up with a few of these friends of ours!

All in a day's work...

We hit the children's musuem this week with my friend, Jenny, and the girls had a blast! Addy kept telling me she was "working". Here's a bit of their workday...

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Busy Days and the Road to the Superbowl

We've been busy around here as we continue to try and fill our winter days and stay healthy at the same time.

We went to a Silly Safari's event a while back, but I never posted a picture. The girls were skeptical at first, but when Safari Dan asked for volunteers to pet a monkey, Addy didn't wait for her name to be called, she just walked up and joined the 2 kids he did call on. Her face when he told her that his monkey ate gummy bears was priceless. Jeremy and I were convinced she'd eat the gummy before ever feeding the monkey, but she held onto it and fed on cue. Lilly rearranged all the chairs in the back of the gym before announcing loud enough for everyone to hear that it was time to go. We went swimming the same weekend at an indoor pool and Lilly loved every minute while Addy sat outside the pool, teeth chattering, playing with the plastic toys. At 2 1/2, they are already opinionated about how to spend their social time.

Jenny came to visit from NC and the girls like having visitors as much as I do!
We spend a lot of time reading as our bedtime routine sometimes lasts an hour. This particular night they wanted nothing to do with their beds and built themselves a nest on the floor. We are learning to pick our battles as far as bedtime/naptime is concerned.
We are proud Indy residents as our Colts head to the Superbowl. We watched last weekends game with some of our favorite people. I got my 'baby fix" hanging out with this guy:

As I was holding him, I was also thinking about our friends, the McKenzie's, who welcomed Lilly to the world last week. Can't wait to meet her! Meanwhile, the girls were getting rowdy, eating these:

Yes, Aunt Cat, 2 more weeks of jersey-wearing! Let's go Colts!

Good times with old friends..

Addy & Lilly continue to be some of the most socialized 2 year-olds around, we have constant visitors and LOVE every minute of it! Here are some pictures with some old friends who we've gotten to hang out with over the last few weeks....

Brooke, from thejonessquad.blogspot.com/, came a few weeks ago with her little ones. She's a friend from high school and since she joined the world of multiple mommies, recently, our friendship has only strengthened. I bragged in an earlier post about her babies, but they are only beautiful because she is! Inside and out--and she loves some Ash love!
Jamie & Stephanie were my college roommates, sorority sisters and more! We see Jamie periodically, but a visit from Stephanie last weekend was a treat and them together was twice the fun. The last time I saw Steph was at my baby shower! Anyway, I wouldn't want to be sipping Sangrias on a Sunday afternoon with anyone else...thanks for the visit!
Auntie Yen (aka Jenny) was a graduate school roommate of mine, bridesmaid in my wedding, co-cross-country road tripper...the list goes on. She always manages to squeeze in a visit despite a crazy schedule and spoils the girls with outfits, lollipops and a lot of love!
Abbe helps me survive the summer up at Lake Tippecanoe, typically surrounded by the boys! She's the girlfriend of Jeremy's parents best friends' son (did you follow?) Her boyfriend is 1 of 3 boys, as is Jeremy, so here we are contributing to the girliness factor.

Snow Days, Play Dates the Museum (again) and More!

Keeping 2 very busy toddlers entertained has become the hardest job I've ever had to do! We are officially down to just 1 nap a day. Somedays those naps range from none (Lilly yesterday) to 3 hours, so we are working on consistency. We are doing our best to avoid cabin fever, because the days we stay couped up in the house, usually end in dramatics for the last hour before bedtime. With a couple inches of snow expected in Indiana today, I thought I'd bundle and take a walk with them in the snow. They were funny and true to every story you've ever heard about snow and kids, after bundled in fleece/footed pajamas , under fleece lined, waterproof pants with fleece sweatshirts, coats, hats gloves, socks and shoes, Lilly dirtied her diaper! We got outside nonetheless and had some fun. I even got a neighbor to take a picture of the three of us.

Here are some pictures of our busy week...

Saturday was a fun day with Grandma and Grandpa Ash at the Children's Museum

Monday, we tried a playgroup with the local twins group. Here's Lilly riding with her friend Olivia.

Tuesday, Mallory hosted a big playgroup, so we got to see lots of friends! Seriously, how many kids can take over 1 toy?

Today, we've played in the snow, torn the house apart, had a dance party, unfolded laundry mom just folded, stuck toys in the kitchen trashcan and more--is it naptime yet?

Keep in mind, during the craziness of trying to exhaust them every morning, I'm also trying to keep up with my "real part-time job". Somedays it is easier than others, but whoever said working from home with little ones was easy--lied to you! I typically end up doing quite a bit of work after they go down at the end of the day. Not that I'd change it--we love everyday! A little more sleep out of them might be nice.

PS. My roommate from grad school and good friend Jenny also visited over the weekend, but apparently I was off my photo-shooting game. Despite having no good pics--Thanks for the visit Jenny--WE LOVE YOU!

Go Tarheels!

The girls sported their t-shirts from Aunty Yen (AKA Jenny Levering) today to support UNC as they battle in the Final 4. We also sported hats from Aunt Cat, because it might actually be Spring in Indiana! We spent the afternoon at an event at Ball State, making new friends and hamming for the camera.

"I'm ready for my close-up, mom"--Addy
"This toe isn't bad compared to some of the other stuff they have me eating."--Lilly

Lastly, I continue to be impressed with Mom-invented products I come across...here's one that was tagged, in a store in Boston, with "Made in Maine by a Mom who knows."

Still Puking...

January has brought us some firsts....our first bug, which happened to also be alligned with our first below 0 degree temperatures in Indiana. This led to our first January visit to the doctor and that meant our first opportunity to wear our snow suits....

Needless to say, they both had temperatures when we got to the doctor, but I don't think it was from the flu, just being slightly over-layered. On a more serious note, they hadn't been keeping food down for days and they wanted to check them for dehydration and if they had maintained their weight. We weren't dehydrated, but both were down a few ounces in weight, but after pissing them off by digging in their ears to rule out an ear infection that could have been prolonging the virus, they sent us home with little advice other than to keep doing what we were doing. So, we've bought stock in Pedialyte and we are trucking through.

During this fiasco, we had a visit from Aunty Yen...also known as Jenny, who was my graduate school roommate and a dear friend. She's single but I've always known she'll make a great mom when she finds the right guy. I'm just pretty sure that her visit to Indiana delayed her having children anytime in the next decade. Here's a picture with her (I know they look happy and overall they were the happiest sick babies you've seen, but we cleaned a lot of carpet).

Here are other pictures I hadn't had the opportunity to post earlier in the month...

Uncle Jon is holding Lilly and his girlfriend Jen is holding Addy. They are wearing outfits sent from Joyce and Norman in England--her son Michael is an avid blog reader, so please print this picture out for your mom!

Becky and the girls...Cat, they lost, the jerseys have officially been put away.
I couldn't resist posting this for anyone that thinks because she has red hair, she looks like me. This is Lilly with Dad--they even look alike in their sleep.