What a beautiful day! It was in the 70's here and everyone was getting outside to enjoy it!
We started the day with Abigail's 9 month check up at her pediatrician's office! That little stinker weighs 20 lbs! She is the height of a 13 mth old baby (on the Down's curve) and the weight of a 21 mth old. Oops! I have been cutting her back but I guess she just hasn't grown in length a lot so it takes a while to get the weight in proportion. The doctor said it was fine and just keep trying to watch it. She was thrilled to see her sitting and doing so much! They weren't expecting that! Abigail has the Anderson/Paulk drive! That's for sure! She has things to do and twins to keep up with! I really think that baby thinks she's a triplet as she sits right along with them in the bath tub and splashes as much as they do, she sits in her high chair and eats with them, she plays on the floor with them..etc! So I guess she wants to get moving with them now! LOL! The doctor got tickled at Annabelle. As she was examining Abigail and listening to her heart, Dr. McGee had to scoot over because there was this 2 yr old standing on the stool and holding on to the table to see what that lady was doing to her baby! I finally sat her up on the table next to Abigail! They had to lay the baby on her back to give her shots in her thigh and Annabelle knew what was coming. She rubbed Abigail's hair and loved on her during it! After the shot, she told me "Ah gail crying"! It was so sweet to see how concerned she is! Cade was just happy it wasn't about him today! ;)
We were so blessed while we were at the doctor's office. Cade's blood work was back from Wednesday and with the formal blood draw, his hemoglobin was fine and there were no signs of anemia! Thank goodness! We are all not sure why the toe prick sample came back bad, but are just relieved that this one came back good!
Afterwards, I took the twins over to the Avenues to return a couple of things and grab birthday presents for some twin friends. Of course, they love to stop at the huge fountains and watch the water fall. Annabelle went to my purse and got out my wallet. She wanted pennies! She had seen me give her one just once before! So funny! She doesn't forget anything! They had the best time throwing pennies in and "making wishes". Little Stella across the street asked me later when I told her about it, " do they really know how to make wishes"? She's precious!
This afternoon, they got out and enjoyed sidewalk chalk with the neighborhood kids! We got a surprise visit from Jared, Darby s boyfriend! He had come home for the weekend to get his yellow fever shot and pick up some things for Darby as he will be flying to Argentina to see her in early March! He played outside sliding down the hill with the twins and Stella as well as drawing on the sidewalk. Annabelle was so excited to play with him! They chatted, although my suspicion is that it was mostly one sided. I told him if he wanted to know what Darby was like as a toddler, she was a lot like Annabelle...always having a lot to say and things to do, and her way of doing them! LOL! They were precious playing! Cade got tickled at the kids rolling down the hill and blessed us with his great belly laugh! The twins really didn't want to see Jared go! Annabelle gave him a huge hug (which she doesn't do often) and wrapped her arms around him until they were clasped together behind his neck! Cade man blew him kisses and gave him a big hug too! Shane and Jamie got home just as he was leaving and got to say hello! Somehow, I felt like I was a bit closer to Darby just getting to see him! funny!
We wound up being outside for over 2 hours! Stephanie from across the street held Abigail the whole time. It was so nice to be back outside again! How we've missed it! We blew off cooking for a while and just relaxed! As Annabelle says, "How nice"!
Shane headed off to his dad's for the weekend! We'll miss him but are sure he'll have fun! We have a playdate/ belated birthday celebration with Joanna and Ismini tomorrow downtown as neither of us could make the other's parties. The two twin sets were born within 4 days of eachother, so bring on the 2's for all of us! We do wish we could see all our family in Florida this weekend! Lots of people coming in for special events! I know the week has been long and exhausting for Jamie, so we'll just have to get down there as soon as we can!
Wishing everyone a wonderful, beautiful weekend!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Construction
I'm so enjoying all the wonderful tidbits that being 2 brings! I have always told Jamie, this was my favorite "age of discovery" for Darby and Shane! The last few days have really brought out such a boyish side of Cade!
Shane typically drives the Buick to school in the mornings and back home. We've all been juggling taking him and picking him up as the car has been in the shop all week. There is some serious road construction going on all along our route to school! Lots of bulldozers, dump trucks, even a huge crane where they're building a new bridge. (County Line Rd). Needless to say, little Cade has been in heaven! The first morning I started pointing them out to him as we passed. After dropping Shane off, we came to a place where morning rush hour traffic backs up badly and it takes a bit to get through. I rolled Cade's tinted window down in the Sienna and told him to look. There was a huge bulldozer/ skid steer thingy right next to us using its large bucket to pick up dirt, swing it around, and dump it in a waiting dump truck. When Cade saw it, he started saying, "oh oh oh" and shaking his arms and legs. He was about to come out of his skin! The best part was when the operator spotted him, he smiled and kept going about his job! (with great pride) I'm sure he realized he had made a little guy's day! I bet he felt really important! That was early in the week, so every day it has been the same thing..in the afternoon, football holds Shane late, so I don't hit trafiic and Cade feels robbed, ha ha! He says, "more more" Annabelle has gotte into it too now! I'm sure the road crew looks for that little boy each day! ha ha! He really plays with his bulldozer and trucks when he gets home. It's the cutest thing!
Speaking of football, I had a conference for Shane this week and a baseball coach was sitting in on it and voiced that he had hoped Shane would come out for baseball, but heard how the football coaches were fighting over him. I had no idea, but several of them were trying to grab him for different positions. This fellow explained to me he's one of the strongest kids in the school and runs like a deer. He only played football in 7th grade and hasn't since. They are all excited that he's come out. Before it just seemed like there were so many kids on the team that he figured he might not get to play a lot, but I guess that was before he was 6'2" and 225. Should be a fun ride! He's such a great guy! Such wonderful things were said by all the teachers. It was really great to see him doing so well and being so in charge of his own future! I'm so proud of him. He's juggling alot with his schedule and yet his grades are better than ever! Think that young man has been maturing and growing up before my eyes! So glad he has never lost his amazing heart! He'll be a strong man with a soft heart! He's beyond wonderful with the babies, even little Abigail!
Miss Annabelle is definitely keeping us all straight! I was loading up all the babies in the van to run errands and made sure they had their sippy cups of water ( they like to take them in the car). I even packed a tumbler of ice water myself and sat it on a nearby surface in the garage so I could lift Abigail's carrier up. I started to back out of the garage and headed down the drive. Annabelle started frantically saying, "wa wa, wa wa"! I told her she had wa wa and not to fuss. She was tenacious! By the time I got to the end of our street, it hit me! She was telling me I had left my water in the garage! really? She's 24mths old! I didn't say anything, but drove back and raised the garage door and got my water. As soon as I brought it into the car, she smiled and happily said, "wa wa"! The world was right! Oh my!!! Too bad she wasn't around when I left my coffee in there on my way to Shane's 7:30am conference! pooh, I really needed it! She is reminding me so much of Darby lately. She is constantly talking and asking things. She practices repeating everything I say! I heard her say "outside mommy" several times yesterday, and i expected to look and see a little brown haired, green eyed toddler because it sounded just like Darby! oh wow! Pulled hard at my heart strings..missing those days with Darby and so glad I get them again with Annabelle!
Cade has been blossoming too! He received this really great car puzzle that has a small magnetic circle in the center of each piece (car piece). Then there is a ltow truck piece attached to a long string with a magnet tied to the end. The idea is to place it on top of each piece and lift the piece out of the puzzle. (or "tow" the car) It's quite hard and he struggled when we first brought it out. Think its a 3 and up age. My dad showed him how to start up high and come down on top of the piece. It is hard for him as he has to hold the string up high above his head and straighten his arm out completely to do it. But he persistently tries and lets it stop swinging and eventually it goes where he wants it, but it requires focus and a lot of patience! He does it over and over! He's so proud when he finishes! He finds it humorous that Annabelle can't do it! I have to smirk a bit too as she can do anything or figures it out!!! They do have their own different strengths!
I am praying over Cade even more as we have just learned yesterday at his 2 yr check up that he is anemic. We had to go to the lab immediately and have bloodwork done. Hopefully it will be something that can be corrected easily. I hate for him to have to go through things. He is so loving and strong!
Little Miss Abigail continues to surprise her therapist and us! Melissa came today and thought there was a good chance again we could be facing a battle to get Abigail into the correct position on hands and knees to get ready to learn to crawl! Apparently this usually brings a lot of resistance! Our goal is to get her to tolerate this postion, on her own, for 30 seconds. We were braced that it could take quite some time to work up to this! We put her on her tummy and Abigail was already pulling her knees up under her and rocking to make something happen. Melissa stimulated her stomach muscles to help support her body and then she let her go. She stayed there, not being supported, for 14 seconds!!! Whoo hoo! We were so excited and shocked. No extending or trying to straighten out! yay! So happy for her! Melissa will be gone on vacation next week so we get 2 weeks to practice. Then we'll try to get her to try to lift a hand to get a toy without toppling over. (since that will be required for crawling) God is so good! This baby has a strong drive! She will teach us all in many ways! Go Abigail!
I did get to skype with Darby briefly this afternoon!! It's wonderful, but hard to not be able to hug her! The sunset from her window is just gorgeous! I'm so jealous of the 90+ degree weather she's having in Argentina. (At least we're going to have a warm weekend here so we won't be looking a gray icky skies)! Her smile just warms my heart! I'm so happy she is able to have this experience! She has midterms tomorrow! I know she's going to do well! It's hard to believe she was just toddling around behind me the other day! Her world is so big now! She and I love old fashioned snail mail, so I sent her with a bundle of letters (one for every week she's gone) and a Valentine's Card, Birthday card, and an Easter card, all tied with ribbon! She left a long message for me in a journal we have shared through her college experience. We have taken turns possessing it and writing letters to eachother as a memoir of the changes and emotions of this season in her life. It started with the first one I wrote and left on her college dorm bed! I hope we have enough room left in it to conclude over graduation. Oh, how I love that little girl.
Ah, well! It is late ( 11:25) and I must sleep! ha ha! Love to all!
Rebecca
Shane typically drives the Buick to school in the mornings and back home. We've all been juggling taking him and picking him up as the car has been in the shop all week. There is some serious road construction going on all along our route to school! Lots of bulldozers, dump trucks, even a huge crane where they're building a new bridge. (County Line Rd). Needless to say, little Cade has been in heaven! The first morning I started pointing them out to him as we passed. After dropping Shane off, we came to a place where morning rush hour traffic backs up badly and it takes a bit to get through. I rolled Cade's tinted window down in the Sienna and told him to look. There was a huge bulldozer/ skid steer thingy right next to us using its large bucket to pick up dirt, swing it around, and dump it in a waiting dump truck. When Cade saw it, he started saying, "oh oh oh" and shaking his arms and legs. He was about to come out of his skin! The best part was when the operator spotted him, he smiled and kept going about his job! (with great pride) I'm sure he realized he had made a little guy's day! I bet he felt really important! That was early in the week, so every day it has been the same thing..in the afternoon, football holds Shane late, so I don't hit trafiic and Cade feels robbed, ha ha! He says, "more more" Annabelle has gotte into it too now! I'm sure the road crew looks for that little boy each day! ha ha! He really plays with his bulldozer and trucks when he gets home. It's the cutest thing!
Speaking of football, I had a conference for Shane this week and a baseball coach was sitting in on it and voiced that he had hoped Shane would come out for baseball, but heard how the football coaches were fighting over him. I had no idea, but several of them were trying to grab him for different positions. This fellow explained to me he's one of the strongest kids in the school and runs like a deer. He only played football in 7th grade and hasn't since. They are all excited that he's come out. Before it just seemed like there were so many kids on the team that he figured he might not get to play a lot, but I guess that was before he was 6'2" and 225. Should be a fun ride! He's such a great guy! Such wonderful things were said by all the teachers. It was really great to see him doing so well and being so in charge of his own future! I'm so proud of him. He's juggling alot with his schedule and yet his grades are better than ever! Think that young man has been maturing and growing up before my eyes! So glad he has never lost his amazing heart! He'll be a strong man with a soft heart! He's beyond wonderful with the babies, even little Abigail!
Miss Annabelle is definitely keeping us all straight! I was loading up all the babies in the van to run errands and made sure they had their sippy cups of water ( they like to take them in the car). I even packed a tumbler of ice water myself and sat it on a nearby surface in the garage so I could lift Abigail's carrier up. I started to back out of the garage and headed down the drive. Annabelle started frantically saying, "wa wa, wa wa"! I told her she had wa wa and not to fuss. She was tenacious! By the time I got to the end of our street, it hit me! She was telling me I had left my water in the garage! really? She's 24mths old! I didn't say anything, but drove back and raised the garage door and got my water. As soon as I brought it into the car, she smiled and happily said, "wa wa"! The world was right! Oh my!!! Too bad she wasn't around when I left my coffee in there on my way to Shane's 7:30am conference! pooh, I really needed it! She is reminding me so much of Darby lately. She is constantly talking and asking things. She practices repeating everything I say! I heard her say "outside mommy" several times yesterday, and i expected to look and see a little brown haired, green eyed toddler because it sounded just like Darby! oh wow! Pulled hard at my heart strings..missing those days with Darby and so glad I get them again with Annabelle!
Cade has been blossoming too! He received this really great car puzzle that has a small magnetic circle in the center of each piece (car piece). Then there is a ltow truck piece attached to a long string with a magnet tied to the end. The idea is to place it on top of each piece and lift the piece out of the puzzle. (or "tow" the car) It's quite hard and he struggled when we first brought it out. Think its a 3 and up age. My dad showed him how to start up high and come down on top of the piece. It is hard for him as he has to hold the string up high above his head and straighten his arm out completely to do it. But he persistently tries and lets it stop swinging and eventually it goes where he wants it, but it requires focus and a lot of patience! He does it over and over! He's so proud when he finishes! He finds it humorous that Annabelle can't do it! I have to smirk a bit too as she can do anything or figures it out!!! They do have their own different strengths!
I am praying over Cade even more as we have just learned yesterday at his 2 yr check up that he is anemic. We had to go to the lab immediately and have bloodwork done. Hopefully it will be something that can be corrected easily. I hate for him to have to go through things. He is so loving and strong!
Little Miss Abigail continues to surprise her therapist and us! Melissa came today and thought there was a good chance again we could be facing a battle to get Abigail into the correct position on hands and knees to get ready to learn to crawl! Apparently this usually brings a lot of resistance! Our goal is to get her to tolerate this postion, on her own, for 30 seconds. We were braced that it could take quite some time to work up to this! We put her on her tummy and Abigail was already pulling her knees up under her and rocking to make something happen. Melissa stimulated her stomach muscles to help support her body and then she let her go. She stayed there, not being supported, for 14 seconds!!! Whoo hoo! We were so excited and shocked. No extending or trying to straighten out! yay! So happy for her! Melissa will be gone on vacation next week so we get 2 weeks to practice. Then we'll try to get her to try to lift a hand to get a toy without toppling over. (since that will be required for crawling) God is so good! This baby has a strong drive! She will teach us all in many ways! Go Abigail!
I did get to skype with Darby briefly this afternoon!! It's wonderful, but hard to not be able to hug her! The sunset from her window is just gorgeous! I'm so jealous of the 90+ degree weather she's having in Argentina. (At least we're going to have a warm weekend here so we won't be looking a gray icky skies)! Her smile just warms my heart! I'm so happy she is able to have this experience! She has midterms tomorrow! I know she's going to do well! It's hard to believe she was just toddling around behind me the other day! Her world is so big now! She and I love old fashioned snail mail, so I sent her with a bundle of letters (one for every week she's gone) and a Valentine's Card, Birthday card, and an Easter card, all tied with ribbon! She left a long message for me in a journal we have shared through her college experience. We have taken turns possessing it and writing letters to eachother as a memoir of the changes and emotions of this season in her life. It started with the first one I wrote and left on her college dorm bed! I hope we have enough room left in it to conclude over graduation. Oh, how I love that little girl.
Ah, well! It is late ( 11:25) and I must sleep! ha ha! Love to all!
Rebecca
Monday, February 14, 2011
Clarity
We had a wonderful time with family and friends at the twins birthday party yesterday! Just wish we could've moved Monticello and Tallahasse, Florida to about where Marietta is so that all our family could've been with us! Ha ha! The little ones had a great time playing at Little Bears, an indoor playground! I can't believe they're two already. These days are so busy that they are gone in a blink! Seems like they're going even faster than when Darby and Shane were little! Wish I could just bottle all the laughter and little squeals we heard! Cade and Annabelle both were still trying to figure out why everyone was singing to them and how to blow out the candles! The sweet innocence of childhood! I do think they enjoyed it! Abigial napped during a good bit of it! That sweet baby will sleep anywhere!
Well, my little monkeys have been up to their usual tricks. I have to say that double trouble is definitely at play when weekend recovery includes repainting walls and steam cleaning carpets! Somehow, they came to possess an ink pen..my guess is that it was at Shane's computer desk upstairs. I was on the phone with my parents quickly and then Jamie for a minute. I could hear them playing and giggling on the landing/ open room upstairs. They have toys there and are allowed to be there. I did not realize that I had 2 little Picasso wanna be's on the midstair landing drawing their best circle scribbles all around on the walls! This was a time when I regretted how well they share! Clearly they were trying to top eachother's efforts! I kept thinking there had to be more than one pen..but no, only one. They were passing it back and forth!
Another evening last week...Cade was getting into trouble for some mess he had made on the floor in the den. I watched from the kitchen as Jamie stood, bent over, pointing to the carpet, saying, "Cade , this is no! no no no! His face was turned more in my direction. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't realize that Annabelle was on the other side of him, bent over, incessantly pointing at the carpet, saying "this is no, no no"! Jamie finally loudly stated, "unacceptable" ( because of course any 2 year old understands that word ,lol) Without missing a beat, we heard an echoing 2 yr old version of "unacceptable' from the little female Jamie! It is very hard to remain composed when you see such a mirrored reflection. Expressions and all! We cracked up and reminded her that Daddy needed no back up! ;)
That girl has a mind of her own for sure. One afternoon, Shane was just getting home from football conditioning and came into the kitchen to say "hi" while I was cooking. He asked where the twins were. I told him they had gone into my bedroom and that we needed to retrieve them as I had been waiting until I wasn't handling meat. He went to fetch them for me and came back with only one. Indicating that he would help me find Annabelle as soon as he got a restroom break, he opened the door to the guest bathroom off the foyer. (we have to keep the door shut so that the toilet doesn't call to the twins ). He jumped back, startled, and called me. I came to find a small little blond sitting on her potty seat holding a magazine and looking at us like we had barged in and stolen her privacy. Shane and I laughed so hard at her seriousness and at the fact that she was fully dressed, diaper and all. She didn't bother to move, but simply wanted the door shut again! oh my! I wonder how she got in there in the first place!
Shane and I get in more trouble trying not to laugh at her than for anything else! ha ha! Love that teenage fella! So proud of him! Can't believe he's almost 17. I still can't stop calling Cade, "Shane" on a daily basis! It was just yesterday that he was that size! I still get a goodnight kiss from him everyday too! Love those boys hearts for their mamas !
Annabelle also keeps me in line, no doubt! I had to unload all the babies and some groceries from one of the big race car buggies at Publix this week. I was in a hurry to get her strapped in her car seat as those buggies roll terribly and Cade was still in it and it was starting to move. I clipped the top part of the 5 point harness together and told her I would finish strapping her in in a minute. I ran after Cade and caught him only to see a smile emerging! I tickled him, plopped him in his seat, and made silly faces while I strapped him in. I chatted with an employee for a quick second as he came by and took my buggy back to the store. I got in the front seat, hit all the side door close buttons, and began to back up. Annabelle started frantically yelling "strap in , strap in, strap in". I started shushing her and then put together what she was saying. Wow! I told her sorry and once again remembered how she inherited her father's memory and logic! What will she be like at 5, or 16. Oh, I need a nap!
Just this morning, Jamie was planning on taking Shane to school and only commented to me that my son was still upstairs. Annabelle started saying, Sha Sha..which is what she calls Shane. Lots of reasoning/processing going on in that 2 yr old little head.
Cade has been so much fun to watch. He has learned a bit how to push Annabelle's buttons. It doesn't happen often, but he gets this evil grin when it does. Thank goodness they still get along so well, but this terrible 2 thing may be blowing in from the North to aggravate that a bit!
He has really started trying to sing along with a few songs in lyrics other than his typical "lawrl, lawrl". It is so cute. He sways back and forth and grins along! I love it!
He still expects his toy remotes to work on the tv, and is a bit frustrated when they don't. If you let him see the function of anything mechanical even one time, he's hooked and will tenaciously attempt to repeat it.
He still loves his books and puzzles on trucks, cars, firetrucks, etc. He will still go sit and look at his books alone by the window and ponder those amazing bulldozers and excavators! He crosses his little ankles and you can just tell he's thinking and enjoying it. The other day, he was in Shane's room and was drooling over the small ferraris and specialty cars in the closet that Shane had saved from his own childhood. While I wasn't looking, he swiped them all. Later that day when I went to tuck him in for a nap, I saw 6 or 7 little cars mixed in his crib sheets. He had stashed them there through the slats in the crib for safe keeping to play with at nap time. He can delay gratification for sure as that was several hours after the fact. He isn't as revealing about his planning as Annabelle, but oh the wheels are turning fast in that little mind. Ha ha! (there was no way he could've carried all the cars into his room from Shane's room in one trip..hmm)
He is still so affectionate. Annabelle tolerates my frequent kisses and hugs, but little Cade comes looking for them! That little guy knows how to give "good love squeezing" too while he's holding onto you! haha! Good thing I'll be the only woman in his life! LOL
Little Abigail is making so much progress! Therapy is going great! She's been sitting up so well for about 6 wks and is now working on trying to learn to crawl. Learning to crawl is harder for babies with Down's syndrome than learning to walk, per her therapist. But it's extremely connected to cognitive development and must be learned. The goal was originally to help her accomplish crawling by her 1st birthday in May. Her therapist told me last week it will most likely be before then. God is so good! I was just smiling, and then......I realized... that I will have 3 that will not stay where you put them. Wow!
She has started giggling more and it just melts me! She never seems to mind how ridiculously much I snuggle on her little neck and hold her tight to me! Really, one might think its just over the top, but she just feels so good! As her Aunt Sylvia once exclaimed, (with teeth clenched as I do)" How do you keep from just eating her"? I'm sure Abigail feels the same way about her Aunt! ;)
Some days are quite hectic and challenging although I would never trade it. I have fought so hard to keep the gift of clarity and wisdom from what I call "the other side"..the place where we were. With no toys in the house and no little feet pattering around, and no little giggles. We had tried for over 2 yrs to have the babies and it was so saddening to think it might not ever happen. Today was one of those days that the Lord brought someone across my path to shapen that clarity again. A manager at Toys R us walked me out with the twins and Abigail ( I think to really just play with them as I only had one puzzle to carry from an exchange). We chatted about how close in age they all were and about Abigail's Down Syndrome. (everyone says I never meet a stranger). After a few minutes, she blurted out that she had never been able to have children. She and her husband had tried for quite a while with no success. He then died. By the time she had remarried, she stated the time had passed and just shrugged her shoulders. She said that was why she worked there, to see children. We continued to have light conversation, but my mind had gotten stuck there. Big tears rolled down my cheeks as I pulled out. What a different hand life had dealt her. She seemed at peace with it, and I'm hoping she was blessed in other ways, but it pulled deeply at my heart. I drove by the office and then on to the park for a quick playtime in the sunshine with the rest of the world. I usually strap Abigail to me and can corral the other two into a general area. The playground is large and fenced but with so many people there today, my comfort level was out of whack. After 15 minutes I had decided the twins were wanting to play too far apart and it was becoming stressful. I had given them the 5 minute notice, but I knew they would kick in the turbo to run from me and want to stay. I try to give them at least 45 minutes to play, so this was going to be way too short. My plan was flawlessly executed. I grabbed Annabelle off the swing, threw her on my right hip, walked by an unexpecting Cade, swooped him up on my left hip (like in an old western where someone is pulled up on a horse ;), and kept walking. Whew, nobody was upset or crying. So there I was, (in a state normal to me) with Abigail strapped on my chest, a 2yr old twin on each hip and (as I put in on FB), a million eyes on my back, as I left. One fellow jumped up to get the gate for me as I headed to the van and I wasn't sure if I saw admiration of my skills or just a freakish pitying panic in his expression. Who cares, after my afternoon visit with that manager, I could've walked home with them hanging on me!
Love to all!
Rebecca
Soon I will blog about Miss Darby in Argentina. My heart has been too full of missing her to "go there" recently! ;)
We missed Darby terribly as she is in Argentina for her study abroad semester!
Well, my little monkeys have been up to their usual tricks. I have to say that double trouble is definitely at play when weekend recovery includes repainting walls and steam cleaning carpets! Somehow, they came to possess an ink pen..my guess is that it was at Shane's computer desk upstairs. I was on the phone with my parents quickly and then Jamie for a minute. I could hear them playing and giggling on the landing/ open room upstairs. They have toys there and are allowed to be there. I did not realize that I had 2 little Picasso wanna be's on the midstair landing drawing their best circle scribbles all around on the walls! This was a time when I regretted how well they share! Clearly they were trying to top eachother's efforts! I kept thinking there had to be more than one pen..but no, only one. They were passing it back and forth!
Another evening last week...Cade was getting into trouble for some mess he had made on the floor in the den. I watched from the kitchen as Jamie stood, bent over, pointing to the carpet, saying, "Cade , this is no! no no no! His face was turned more in my direction. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't realize that Annabelle was on the other side of him, bent over, incessantly pointing at the carpet, saying "this is no, no no"! Jamie finally loudly stated, "unacceptable" ( because of course any 2 year old understands that word ,lol) Without missing a beat, we heard an echoing 2 yr old version of "unacceptable' from the little female Jamie! It is very hard to remain composed when you see such a mirrored reflection. Expressions and all! We cracked up and reminded her that Daddy needed no back up! ;)
That girl has a mind of her own for sure. One afternoon, Shane was just getting home from football conditioning and came into the kitchen to say "hi" while I was cooking. He asked where the twins were. I told him they had gone into my bedroom and that we needed to retrieve them as I had been waiting until I wasn't handling meat. He went to fetch them for me and came back with only one. Indicating that he would help me find Annabelle as soon as he got a restroom break, he opened the door to the guest bathroom off the foyer. (we have to keep the door shut so that the toilet doesn't call to the twins ). He jumped back, startled, and called me. I came to find a small little blond sitting on her potty seat holding a magazine and looking at us like we had barged in and stolen her privacy. Shane and I laughed so hard at her seriousness and at the fact that she was fully dressed, diaper and all. She didn't bother to move, but simply wanted the door shut again! oh my! I wonder how she got in there in the first place!
Shane and I get in more trouble trying not to laugh at her than for anything else! ha ha! Love that teenage fella! So proud of him! Can't believe he's almost 17. I still can't stop calling Cade, "Shane" on a daily basis! It was just yesterday that he was that size! I still get a goodnight kiss from him everyday too! Love those boys hearts for their mamas !
Annabelle also keeps me in line, no doubt! I had to unload all the babies and some groceries from one of the big race car buggies at Publix this week. I was in a hurry to get her strapped in her car seat as those buggies roll terribly and Cade was still in it and it was starting to move. I clipped the top part of the 5 point harness together and told her I would finish strapping her in in a minute. I ran after Cade and caught him only to see a smile emerging! I tickled him, plopped him in his seat, and made silly faces while I strapped him in. I chatted with an employee for a quick second as he came by and took my buggy back to the store. I got in the front seat, hit all the side door close buttons, and began to back up. Annabelle started frantically yelling "strap in , strap in, strap in". I started shushing her and then put together what she was saying. Wow! I told her sorry and once again remembered how she inherited her father's memory and logic! What will she be like at 5, or 16. Oh, I need a nap!
Just this morning, Jamie was planning on taking Shane to school and only commented to me that my son was still upstairs. Annabelle started saying, Sha Sha..which is what she calls Shane. Lots of reasoning/processing going on in that 2 yr old little head.
Cade has been so much fun to watch. He has learned a bit how to push Annabelle's buttons. It doesn't happen often, but he gets this evil grin when it does. Thank goodness they still get along so well, but this terrible 2 thing may be blowing in from the North to aggravate that a bit!
He has really started trying to sing along with a few songs in lyrics other than his typical "lawrl, lawrl". It is so cute. He sways back and forth and grins along! I love it!
He still expects his toy remotes to work on the tv, and is a bit frustrated when they don't. If you let him see the function of anything mechanical even one time, he's hooked and will tenaciously attempt to repeat it.
He still loves his books and puzzles on trucks, cars, firetrucks, etc. He will still go sit and look at his books alone by the window and ponder those amazing bulldozers and excavators! He crosses his little ankles and you can just tell he's thinking and enjoying it. The other day, he was in Shane's room and was drooling over the small ferraris and specialty cars in the closet that Shane had saved from his own childhood. While I wasn't looking, he swiped them all. Later that day when I went to tuck him in for a nap, I saw 6 or 7 little cars mixed in his crib sheets. He had stashed them there through the slats in the crib for safe keeping to play with at nap time. He can delay gratification for sure as that was several hours after the fact. He isn't as revealing about his planning as Annabelle, but oh the wheels are turning fast in that little mind. Ha ha! (there was no way he could've carried all the cars into his room from Shane's room in one trip..hmm)
He is still so affectionate. Annabelle tolerates my frequent kisses and hugs, but little Cade comes looking for them! That little guy knows how to give "good love squeezing" too while he's holding onto you! haha! Good thing I'll be the only woman in his life! LOL
Little Abigail is making so much progress! Therapy is going great! She's been sitting up so well for about 6 wks and is now working on trying to learn to crawl. Learning to crawl is harder for babies with Down's syndrome than learning to walk, per her therapist. But it's extremely connected to cognitive development and must be learned. The goal was originally to help her accomplish crawling by her 1st birthday in May. Her therapist told me last week it will most likely be before then. God is so good! I was just smiling, and then......I realized... that I will have 3 that will not stay where you put them. Wow!
She has started giggling more and it just melts me! She never seems to mind how ridiculously much I snuggle on her little neck and hold her tight to me! Really, one might think its just over the top, but she just feels so good! As her Aunt Sylvia once exclaimed, (with teeth clenched as I do)" How do you keep from just eating her"? I'm sure Abigail feels the same way about her Aunt! ;)
Some days are quite hectic and challenging although I would never trade it. I have fought so hard to keep the gift of clarity and wisdom from what I call "the other side"..the place where we were. With no toys in the house and no little feet pattering around, and no little giggles. We had tried for over 2 yrs to have the babies and it was so saddening to think it might not ever happen. Today was one of those days that the Lord brought someone across my path to shapen that clarity again. A manager at Toys R us walked me out with the twins and Abigail ( I think to really just play with them as I only had one puzzle to carry from an exchange). We chatted about how close in age they all were and about Abigail's Down Syndrome. (everyone says I never meet a stranger). After a few minutes, she blurted out that she had never been able to have children. She and her husband had tried for quite a while with no success. He then died. By the time she had remarried, she stated the time had passed and just shrugged her shoulders. She said that was why she worked there, to see children. We continued to have light conversation, but my mind had gotten stuck there. Big tears rolled down my cheeks as I pulled out. What a different hand life had dealt her. She seemed at peace with it, and I'm hoping she was blessed in other ways, but it pulled deeply at my heart. I drove by the office and then on to the park for a quick playtime in the sunshine with the rest of the world. I usually strap Abigail to me and can corral the other two into a general area. The playground is large and fenced but with so many people there today, my comfort level was out of whack. After 15 minutes I had decided the twins were wanting to play too far apart and it was becoming stressful. I had given them the 5 minute notice, but I knew they would kick in the turbo to run from me and want to stay. I try to give them at least 45 minutes to play, so this was going to be way too short. My plan was flawlessly executed. I grabbed Annabelle off the swing, threw her on my right hip, walked by an unexpecting Cade, swooped him up on my left hip (like in an old western where someone is pulled up on a horse ;), and kept walking. Whew, nobody was upset or crying. So there I was, (in a state normal to me) with Abigail strapped on my chest, a 2yr old twin on each hip and (as I put in on FB), a million eyes on my back, as I left. One fellow jumped up to get the gate for me as I headed to the van and I wasn't sure if I saw admiration of my skills or just a freakish pitying panic in his expression. Who cares, after my afternoon visit with that manager, I could've walked home with them hanging on me!
Love to all!
Rebecca
Soon I will blog about Miss Darby in Argentina. My heart has been too full of missing her to "go there" recently! ;)
We missed Darby terribly as she is in Argentina for her study abroad semester!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)