Lillyisms and "Making up" scientific discoveries

Monday:
Lilly: We gotta get dressed so we can go to the gym!
Mama: We are going to stay home today to get rid of our coughs, we don't want to get anyone at the gym sick, do we?
Lilly: But, but, my Monday friends were expecting me!

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Tuesday:
8 p.m. Mama tucks Lilly into bed and explains that Daddy is working late, but will come and tuck her in when he gets home.
9:15 p.m. Daddy sneaks into her room to find her sitting up, arms crossed. "It is pitch black outside and you are very very late."

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Wednesday:
8 p.m. Mama tucks Lilly into bed
8:30 p.m:
Mama: "Honey, you need to close your eyes for sleep now, no more songs."
Lilly: "But it's not dark out. I'm not sleeping until it's dark out."
Mama: "Remember mommy told you in the summer time it stays lighter later, but we still need to go to bed."
Lilly: "Why does it stay lighter later?"
Mama: "It has to do with the moon and sun and earth--the days are longer in the summer time so the sun shines longer."
Lilly: "I think that is stuff moms make up and tell their kids so they go to bed sooner."

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Friday:
A fight between mama & Lilly persists as Lilly refuses to use manners and thank her friend for inviting us over to play. After her punishment for not using manners, she says. "Don't tell me what to do in front of my friends."

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My mom may have said it best when she said, "That child has walked this earth before." Not sure I totally believe in that stuff, but seriously, she sounds like she's 12 this week. Where the hell did my baby go?

Now, back to meeting with other moms and making up stuff...like the planets orbiting in the solar system.

Interview with Lilly

My 3-Year Old Lilly

Lilly continues to be a little firecracker. She is a happy, curious, intelligent 3-year old. I'm probably underestimating when I say she asks at least 100 questions everyday ranging from "Where do we live?" on any map we see (globe while shopping, map on the back of a semi-truck or our atlas at home that she 'plays' with) to "Why don't people have camels instead of dogs?" She's a daddy's girl and a lot of the 100 questions she asks in a day are something similar to "When is daddy coming home". I'm thankful to report that MOST of her separation anxiety has lifted and the odd breakdown she has at my departure or daddy's are mostly for attention and don't last long. Unfortunately, she takes after her parents and most of the foods she loves are bad for you, totally illustrating the nature vs. nurture debate, because Addy is the opposite and they've always been fed the same things! Ask her what she wants for a meal and it typically involves french fries, pancakes, syrup (she calls dip), cookies, chips or anything with peanut butter or nutella. The only vegetable she eats without too many complaints is carrots which is ironic because I used to eat BAGS of them when pregnant. Her temper has calmed slightly over the last 3 months or so, but when she's mad, she still gets red-faced and shakes a bit. We are working on using words and not getting violent, but when it comes to Addy, she usually hits or pushes first. A quick time out leads to a remorseful little girl and she's quick with apologies and hugs.

During our parent-teacher conference, her teacher gave us glowing comments about Lilly. No major concerns, she's very social and frequently dominates 'circle time' but no one who knows Jeremy and I are surprised by this. She LOVES to learn--colors, shapes, numbers, letters. Last week a conversation with Grandma was teaching her the difference between an octagon and a hexagon. She loves to read and could sit for hours to listen to books. Her teacher expressed some concern about her writing and we think this may be some confusion between left-handedness and right-handedness. She shows preference with her left, but all her role-models are right-handed (and all the other kids in the class are), so most of her real attempts at writing are done with her right hand. We've been trying to work on this, but she gets frustrated easily and ends up drawing abstractly and not holding the writing instrument in any correct way. She'll figure this out and I'm sure when she does, there won't be any stopping her.

Speaking of stopping her, she has A LOT to say and never stops. She talks to herself when no one else is listening. I'll be in a separate room and hear her laugh at herself, then say "Oh, Lilly, you are sooooooooooo silly!" She's a girly-girl and loves wearing skirts and dresses, she's usually my ego boost in the morning, frequently telling me that I look beautiful when dressed for work. She loves playing with her friends at the gym, talking on the phone to anyone who will talk to her or singing Christmas carols at the top of her lungs (will tape for a later post). She's a riot and we are so thankful that she's ALL ours!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

He may forget to take out the trash and consistently come home later than he says. His rolled up socks never get washed right in the laundry and his dishes don't usually make it past the sink. Our grass grows a bit too long between mows and the honey-do list is never completed but then he goes and makes Lilly smile like this and all is right in the world!

Interview with Lilly--34 months

Lilly continues to be our social butterfly, striking up conversations with everyone she meets and is rarely not talking. In fact, just a few minutes after this conversation took place, she befriended the Comcast repair man and began to ask him about his favorites. She has strong opinions about most things (color of the sippy cup she's given, cartoon figure on her diaper, the weather outside, the food on her plate, etc.) She currently sleeps in "her fort" that daddy assembled over her bed and most enjoys when he puts her to bed and sings Beatles tunes and other songs that "Mommy doesn't do right." She's a fish in the water right now and will quickly be swimming on her own. You can compare these answers to what she said in November here.

Lilly, how old are you? "Two"

When's your birthday? "August"

What's your favorite color? "Purrrrrrrrrple"

What's your favorite song? "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ now I know my ABC's next time won't you sing with me is my favorite"

What's your favorite thing to do inside? "Play games"

What's your favorite game? "Duck Duck Goose"

What's your favorite thing to do outside? "Ummmmmmmm, go to the pool"

What's your favorite food? "Everything" (not true)

What's your favorite thing to have for breakfast? "French Fries"

What's your favorite thing to have for lunch? "French Fries"

What's your favorite thing to have for dinner? "French Fries"

What's your favorite book to read? "Itsy Bitsy Spider"

What's your favorite store? "Target"

What do you like to buy there? "Ummmmm, strawberries, ice cream and polka dots"

Pool time!

A few freshly sprouted freckles across her beautiful nose...

Ready for the pool!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Everywhere we go, I continually hear "That's so cool, one twin looks like you and one like her daddy?" I think they are a good mix of each of us, but my mom recently dug this shot out of me about the same age that Lilly is now (and a picture of Lilly taken this morning), and I'll let you guys decide....Challenge to Jeremy's mom, see if you can find a 2 1/2 year shot of Jeremy and we'll compare!

It continues to be rough times around here as we've battled stomach bugs and colds for a couple weeks now. All I can say, is thank God for grandparents! All four grandparents have helped us tremendously over the last couple weeks and I'm not sure we would have survived without them (and Jeremy certainly wouldn't have made it to that Colts game). Thank you!

Interview with Lilly (27 months)

"Hey Lilly, what's your favorite color?" "Purple"

"What's your favorite song?" "Tickle-song" (I'm not sure if this is a song she sings at school or a song she sings in her head, this is not a song either of her parents sing to her!)

"What's your favorite book?" "Corduroy book"

"What's your favorite food?" "Cookies"

"What do you like to do at school" "Paint with colors"

"What else?" "Read books"

"What do you want for dinner?" "Mac n' cheese"

"What else?" "Chicken nuggets"

"Wanna sit on the potty?" "Nope"

"What do you want to do?" "Play with Addy"

"Well, Addy is still napping, what else do you want to do?" "Walk the dog"

"Well, we don't have a dog, so what else do you want to do?" "Wake up Addy"

"Sounds like a plan..."

Another interview, done completely separate of her sister and it's fun to compare their answers! They are so funny. Lilly has an amazing way of going from a spoiled brat to a total charmer in no time flat, a trait that has her spending her fair share of time in the time-out chair recently, but when that charm comes out, there's nothing stopping her!

7 Blogs in 7 Days...Day 4

I would have titled this post Perception vs. Reality if I wasn't using the title above. I have fears that this blog (in its entirety, not this post) doesn't quite do my life, the girls lives, our lives together total justice. I use the blog to keep friends updated and share pictures that I obsessively take, but most months come and go, sharing the highlights and neglecting to tell the full story.

I think of it like a sports highlight reel, without showing the losers in the locker room after the game. The real truth is that this is hard work. Yes, the newborn stage was hard and is all a bit blurry in my mind, but this new age has presented new challenges. They are absorbing EVERYTHING. I try and watch every word I say, I try to discipline with patience, I try to teach sharing instead of shoving, I try and teach numbers and colors and the letters, I try to explore new places, I try to teach manners, I try to teach them to eat with silverware, I try to teach them to tell me when they are wet or poopy, I try not to laugh when one falls and the other one laughs, I try to run/play/explore/get dirty with them. I am trying to raise GOOD people, contributing members of society, that's what all parents want, right?

It's the toughest job ever, don't ever doubt that.

Some days I want to call in sick. Some days I want to give myself a time-out. Some days, they show me signs that I'm not doing such a great job....Lilly still SCREAMS every night when she goes to bed (and believe me we've tried everything short of sticking a muzzle on her) and Addy throws total tantrums when she doesn't get her way. Some afternoons look more like this than that highlight reel.....

and sometimes we become snotty, booger covered messes like this....


I'll spare you the videos I have labeled as "meltdown" just in case my girls want to run for political office or something one day. But honestly, sometimes the end of the day comes and I'm left speechless, exhausted from the day and "spent" in every sense of the word. But then the funniest thing happens, the next morning I get the first hug, the first kiss, the first "I love you mama" and there is no where else I'd rather be.

(This post seems trivial to be posting on 9/11, knowing our world has much bigger issues than my toddler tantrums, I pray my daughters will never have a day in their lives like we, as a country, had 8 years ago. I support our troops, not the war, and specifically EVERY military family, mother, father, grandparent that is acting as a sole caregiver while a family member is deployed....may YOUR day be tantrum free and your family reunited soon.)

My 2 year-old Lilly

Lilly's post from last year can be read here and to be honest, a lot of her personality characteristics have remained the same. She is most certainly my talker and only occasionally lets her sister get a word in between her outbursts. Riding in the car, she'll sing songs to herself or point and narrate out the window to me. She keeps us honest, like yesterday, I went upstairs and told her mommy was taking a shower, stay and play with daddy. I came down a little later, not still in my pajamas..."Mommy, shower?" was her response. As in, "Get upstairs and do what you said you were going to do Mommy." She's a sponge, wanting to know what to call everything and everyone. A few times each day, we talk about where everyone in the family is...

"daddy?", "Daddy is at work Lilly"

"GaGa Jody?", Grandma is at school teaching the big kids

"GaGa Linda?", Grandma Linda is in Pittsburgh

"Grandpa Dave?", Grandpa Dave is at work

"GaGa Ian?", Grandpa Ian is in Pittsburgh

"Aunt Cat DC?", Yep, honey, Aunt Cat is in DC

"Hide n Seek Joe?", Your uncle Joe is at home

"Uncle Jon?".....seriously, Lilly, there is nothing wrong with your memory, girlfriend....

It's a viscous cycle that happens throughout the day and EVERY night before bed, when we have to go through everybody and say good night. I was NOT prepared to do this at the age of 2. With this, she's also become quite manipulative, quickly figuring out when I say no to snack time or something similar, she can seek out dad and get a different response.

She's still a giggler, loving to laugh and dance. She LOVES to read books, her favorite right now being the Itsy Bitsy Spider which we read at least ten times each day. She loves watching the big kids play outside and yells to them when they get on the school bus each morning. She also loves to talk on the phone (see picture). She isn't the best sleeper, waking first almost every morning and each afternoon nap. She's figured out this is the best way to get alone time with Mom & Dad, so she's working the system for sure. Lilly has happily taken on the role of "big sister" and looks out for Addy much more than Addy looks out for her. If you give her a snack or drink, she'll look for one for her sister and deliver it to her proudly. She also gets very sad when Addy is sad, this is very cute and I wonder if this character trait will stick around.

Lilly eats pretty well, but prefers the toddler diet and will ask for Chicken Nuggets each time we drive by the golden arches. She takes after her daddy and loves a good breakfast-blueberry pancakes are her absolute favorite.

Here's a video of them when they tried on their new pair of "wee-squeak" shoes. They are fun and they love them! When one runs one way and the other another, then I can hear them both! Don't worry, the squeakers can be removed for 'quiet' wear.

Finally, I'll end the post, with her favorite tagline..."Bye-bye, love eww, miss ewww, peace-out"

Naming these babies

Jeremy and I don't have the same taste in a lot of things...he loves foreign foods, cut-off t-shirts, beaters for cars, carnations in boquets, etc. Now don't get me wrong, he manages to do pretty darn well when picking out presents for me, but in theory we differ dramatically when making some decisions. So, needless to say, I was prepared for a long process of picking out names for our little bundles of joy. It has now been over a month since we found out it was little girls and one name has stayed pretty constant--Addison Grace Ash and we'll call her Addy. Baby B has been Baby B for most of the month, she has also been Molly, Maggie, Lucy, Jillian, Kennedy and others, but over the weekend we decided we'd call her Lillian Sydney Ash and call her Lilly for short. So, as my friend Jenny said, "Let the monogramming begin!" I've already ordered wooden letters that spell the names out in the nursery and they are non-returnable, so we've committed.

Addy & Lilly-we can't wait to meet you!