Dear Santa,

Might you be able to drop by and help assemble some toddler toys, say around 12ish? And maybe bring me a gift certificate for some classes in mechanics with a focus on Big Wheel assembly?

Many thanks,
S

How Now Green Cow

Baby Z loves cows. This week we talked with Papa on speakerphone. She was amazed when I told her he had cows we could go visit. Even more exciting was the brilliant array of colors in which she must have pictured them.

Me: Do you like cows?

Baby Z: I like cows!

Me: Did you know Papa has cows at his house we could go visit? Would you like to go see the cows where Papa lives?

Baby Z: (stunned)

Papa: I have a black and white cow.

Baby Z: Black and white COW!

Papa: And I have a red cow.

Baby Z: Red COW!

Papa: And I have a cow that's white all over.

Baby Z: White cow!

Papa: And I have a yellow cow.

Baby Z: YELLOW COW!

Me: Wow, a black and white cow, a red cow, a white cow and a yellow cow. What other color cows do you think Papa might have?

Baby Z: GREEN COW!

Well, yes, why not a green cow? They do seem to come in every color of the rainbow after all.

When Good Naps Go Bad

Goodbye mid-day oasis of serenity. Goodbye folding clothes without the helpful hands of a two-year-old, goodbye my private bathroom break, and goodbye to eating a meal uninterrupted.

At only 27-months, it seems the younger of my twin daughters has given up the nap for good. I've tried bed time stories, mid-day baths, and letting her "rest" instead of napping.

Rest is for sissies it seems.

"Done, done, done," she repeats after less than five minutes in her crib. And so it seems she is right. For us, nap time is done.

Two, The Age of Reason

"Are you putting pizza in your pants for later?"

"Yep."

All Aboard the Potty Train -- Hope Springs Eternal

Just when you think you will still be changing their diapers at their prom, they surprise you.

This week, Baby K stood up from play, turned with a startled look, and exclaimed those precious words, "Mama, poo-poo!" Away we dashed to the potty. Who knew a mommy and toddler could run so fast holding hands.

Then the golden moment, or should I say brown. "Hooray! You did it!" reinforced with much cheering, clapping, and dancing.

To which Baby K responded with a slight smile and tilt of her head, as if to say, "Yep, I did it. I knew I could all along. But you, Mommy, make quite a silly dancing monkey. I think I'll do this again sometime . . . when I'm ready."

Toddler Files Tuesday -- Whatever It Is You Think You See Becomes a Pair of Shoes to Me

It seems like yesterday she pulled up and began walking. Then I bent over to put the dishes in the washer and turned around and found Baby K had put on her girlie pink moon boots all on her own.

Twenty months old and the girl loves shoes. Shoes. Shoes. Oh, the glories of shoes!

All pretty things were meant to be shoes. Baby K will and does put any pretty thing on her feet. It's like a Tootsie Roll commercial. Whatever it is you think you see becomes a pair of shoes to her. Green stacking ring? No silly! It's a sporty wedge. Empty Tupperware container? No my dear, it's a classic loafer. Colorful butterfly teething ring? Obviously, it's a strappy sandal. Even the coloring book? Clearly a casual flat.

But this time, she got it right. She put on her own shoes, all by herself. I can't help but feel we're embarking on a venturesome journey.

It's My Potty, I'll Sing If I Want To

People frequently ask how I manage with twins. Sometimes it's challenging. Sometimes it makes things easier. Today it was both.

Not long ago, I mentioned that we recently began potty training. Today was a banner day, three pee-pees in the potty and one almost poop.

The best part though was the girls' antics.

"Okay, let's go potty," brought instant smiles and a race to the bathroom door.

While Baby K sat on the potty "meditating," Baby Z would dance and sing the potty song for her. I have no idea what inspired her, but her sister loved it, and it seemed to work.

"Pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee," she sang, smiling and spinning like a whirling dervish. And then her sister peed. And we all cheered and clapped.

Baby K was so pleased with the whole experience she wanted to give the toilet a big hug. When it flushed, she kept trying to lay her head on the lid and wrap her arms around the commode as the water swished beneath. Maybe it looked just a bit too much like a big kitty with that fuzzy toilet lid cover.

Isn't It Wonderful?

Isn't it wonderful when they learn how to feed themselves? Though I know I'll miss the cuddly bottle times.

This Week We . . .

This week we said our first complete sentences. They were blurted out with the urgency of a fire alarm, lest Mommy and Daddy forget to give us our bedtime bottles. Kaia: Mama, I need baba! Zoe: Dada, baba, I need!

This week we went swimming for the very first time. Mommy and her friend Francie took us swimming in a warm saltwater pool with a walk-behind waterfall and tall palm trees all around. It was so much fun. At first we were a bit hesitant, but when we sat on the steps and splashed the water with our feet and hands, we decided it was just dandy.

Kaia seemed ready to jump right in off the steps and Zoe was ready and willing to give her that little extra push with her foot in the middle of Kaia's back. I decided they weren't quite ready for jumping or pushing in the pool and held back their efforts at advanced horseplay, at least for now. But they loved splashing the warm water and watching the other children. Zoe, in particular, squealed with delight each time she saw one little girl run by with her colorful float.

This week we noticed our shadows. Mommy couldn't understand why we kept kissing the wall in late afternoon. Finally, she realized we were giving our pretty shadows kisses.

This week I learned . . .

Kaia:
I can open my bedroom door.
I can undo my stroller seatbelt and escape under the front bar.
I can unscrew the lid on my sippy cup and pour it on myself.
I don't like pouring milk on myself.
I like to share with sister.

Zoe:
Sister sometimes gives me things if I ask. If she doesn't, I can take her and the toy with me.
I can write on paper with an ink pen.
I love hats. The more I can wear at one time, the better. Stack'em on!
I like ice cream.
I like to make big splashes in the bath.

Both:
We like fresh peaches and nectarines. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
If Mommy is eating it, it must be good.
Afternoon naps aren't so bad.
Seals clap like this.
Playing ball with Mommy and sister is fun.

This Week I Learned . . .

All the sippy cups are mine.



I can take off my diaper.




Folding sister up in the couch is fun.

The First Year in Pictures - Zoe and Kai's Greatest Hits

In honor of Kaia and Zoe's first birthday on the 9th, here is a photo montage of their best looks, accomplishments and discoveries. This is the first online appearance for many of the photos included.

Kaia is Walking!!

With great joy, Kaia has begun walking. Two steps at a time, it's like a party on the march. She stands, waives her arms in the air over her head, smiles and launches forward. She's thrilled. She's so happy with her new discovery.

Zoe is Walking!

Zoe walked for the first time today. Standing at one side of the play yard, she struck out on her own and walked two or three steps toward her musical fish hanging on the other side before she plopped down onto Mommy.

The 10 Month Update - Ta Da!

Crawl, walk, run! We're almost there. Both girls are crawling, standing and walking while holding the play yard wall, even with one hand.

Zoe stands on her own without holding on and has even taken a step toward Mommy.

Kaia began crawling the day of her nine-month checkup. I told the doctor I was concerned she wasn't crawling yet. She crawled that afternoon, as if to say, "See Mommy, no problem." Even though she hasn't been crawling as long as Zoe. She has almost completely caught up to her.

Mama, Daddeee, Papa, baba, DUCK!, daier (translates to "diaper"), mmmmmmm, hi and DO have all become part of the regular vocabulary.

Kaia sometimes seems to be so deep in thought and then surpises us with some complex word like "button." Last week she sat contently in the play yard, completely wrapped in her own thoughts, turning and feeling the pink heart-shaped button on her little yellow dress, and softly and perfectly pronounced "Button." She said it just once and hasn't said it since. It's as if she satisfied herself she knows the word and hasn't had call to use it again. Nevermind that Mommy and Daddy both now point goofily at random buttons and yammer away, "Button, button, button, button." Even more amazing to me than the fact that they are learning words, is the fact that they are learning how to apply them appropriately. Kaia has learned the power of the word "Mama." It is becoming her hallmark cry. But there's nothing quite like when she looks at me, smiles and says Mama. I just can't describe it.

Zoe loves to say DUCK! It's just like that. Always in capital letters and always with an exclamation mark. Sometimes she will burst out with DO, when she's particularly excited and wants you to do something. The current favorite word, though, is quite possibly diaer (translated = diaper). She was completely thrilled this week when she realized she was actually communicating with Mommy, telling her what this thing was. Smiling and holding her diaper, she must have walked around for 10 minutes straight saying diaer and looking back at me to confirm. She was elated. When it's wet or dirty, she will sometimes even grab it as if she's trying to pull it off and say diaer. Potty training will be coming soon.

They are growing up so quickly. They have their own ideas, their own likes and dislikes. They love to help Mommy pick out their outfits in the morning. They hate to put on bed clothes at night. They both love and hate the bedtime story. It seems wonderful and terrible all at the same time. "Mommy, I love it when you read to me, but doesn't bedtime come after this? That stinks."

Tantrums have reared their ugly heads, and let me tell you, they can throw 'em. Take away a toy, or something they think is a toy, that they really really want and you're likely to get a show. Kaia might even lie down and kick and scream and cry. Zoe may scream at you, shake her arms, cry, and turn red in the face. I couldn't help but smile at the reckless abandon with which Kaia threw a tantrum a couple of days ago over a singing sea star toy. Kaia was so surprised at my reaction, she actually stopped the fit.

Bedtime is really getting interesting. They've never really slept through the night, but we had at least developed a routine that seemed effective to help them go to sleep initially. It seems to be losing it's power. The hard part is that they don't sleep at the same time. And they're both getting up three and four times a night again. We've taken suggestions. We've read books. We've immitated Super Nanny. We've tried it all, but nothing seems especially effective. Alas, it seems we're doomed to a life of sleeplessness. I'm sure it will get better. Right?

Well, I'm sure there's more to tell, but I need to go help Kaia back to sleep.

Signing off until next time . . .

Seven Months Old

Our babies turned seven months old Thursday. How they are changing!

Zoe started sitting up this week and has made great advances in crawling. She crawls and falls, but can easily work her way from one side of a quilt to another in only moments.

Kaia is pushing up on both hands and straightening her elbows. She'll be pushing up on hands and knees soon. She loves to laugh and spent much of our trip to the mall yesterday laughing at random passers-by.

Peek-a-boo is a big hit with both girls as they love to entertain one another. Kaia will lay on her back and waive her big Whinnie the Pooh in front of her, then whisk him away to see Zoe and laugh, laugh, laugh. Zoe sits up, holds a blanket with both hands, waggles it over her head and then flops it down with a mischievous look of anticipation waiting for Kaia to laugh.

Late at night they giggle, coo and scream in delight at each other, carrying on as if having their own little baby slumber party.

It seems they are changing every day. It amazes me how quickly they learn. They will be big girls all too soon. Kaia just had a bottle and fell asleep on my lap as I finished writing this. What could be better than a cuddly baby asleep in your arms?