Snow Day

Fresh snow and Daddy's day off finally came together. We had a fun morning in the snow. These pictures give you a taste of our park (this is only the edge near us). The last picture was taken outside of our apartment window.

Spring in New York

The weather report as we left the house was 38 degrees/feels like 32. Cool! A perfect day for the zoo! It worked its way up to the mid-forties for a high. It truly felt like Spring after the freezing weather we've been having. The only problem was the slushy ice/snow that has not melted. My friend and I had quite a time getting our twins and our double strollers through the slushy park. But we made it to the zoo and the kids all had a great time.

Yesterday was a "Spring" day also. We went to the park for the first time in weeks. I wish I would have taken pictures of the kids pushing their little strollers up the hills of snow. It was actually their first time to play in it. Although, it is really ice that just looks similar to snow. They were so happy to be outside that they didn't mind it when they slipped and fell.


This was the result of "play" with Daddy. You've already seen the tackle videos that were inspired and filmed in my absence. Well, this is the latest casualty from Mom getting some time alone. Just kidding, it was an accident, but it makes you wonder...

Please don't grow. Please don't go.

My friend from home not only changed my hair color, but also my kid-feeding tactics. She used a little playful reverse psychology on my children, and it works brilliantly. We plead with our kids not to eat something healthy because it will make them grow. We tell them that we want them to stay little babies and not to grow big or run fast or jump high. They gladly accept the challenge and beg for more when they are finished. Adaline says, "Here comes the grow..." and takes a bite. It even passed the broccoli test with Arthur (although he vomited it after he ate it). Instead of spending all of my time telling them that they must eat X more bites, I simply ask them to stop eating so many bites. I highly recommend the please-don't-grow method to all frustrated feeders out there.

I had my first medical "emergency" since living in the city. I have been curious about how it would look in a place where we have no car and the hospital is a 20 minute walk away. (My friend came only 1 cm from delivering her baby on the sidewalk during her walk to the hospital!) My situation wasn't nearly as dramatic, but stilled proved the difficulties of emergencies here. I had/have an obvious bladder infection...I'll spare you the details...the most pertinent thing to know is that you urinate FREQUENTLY. The walk home from the doctor was one of the most miserable times in my life. It would be a 30 minute walk without all of the snow and ice. All I could think the whole time was, "please don't go, please don't go." I barely made it to the playground bathrooms half the way home. I wondered what someone would do in that situation who didn't know all of the playground bathrooms in the neighborhood. Thank God for those growing kids!

Milestones: Reflections at 2:30 am

#1 Arthur's longest sentence: "I need to sit up in my bed and read some books." This was declared at 2:30am this morning after I told him that he needed to lay down and go to sleep. He also wanted me to know that "rabbits eat carrots." He woke up because he "spilled" (Arthur code for vomited) in his bed. He's had a fever since yesterday morning. At the moment, the kids are taking turns congratulating each other for singing the ABC song. It's 3 am.

#2 First potty training session lasted 1.5 hours. Yesterday we went cold turkey with the underwear, drinking special juice, sitting on potty every 15 minutes, M&M potential rewards...After 2 accidents each, Adaline was weeping and begging for her diaper. Arthur agreed. After a friend consult, the diapers were back on. I was very discouraged because I had full intentions of potty success this week. This training possibly induced Arthur's fever.

#3 First outnumbered plane ride: Mommy 1, Kids 2. We went to Mississippi last week while Jamison was out of town. The first flight was 4 hours and delayed, but thankfully the full sprint to the second flight paid off as we were the last to board. The whole ordeal wasn't nearly as dramatic as I had imagined. Although getting them to sit in their own seats with seatbelts fastened was nearly impossible. All I have to say is travel DVD player with two headphones--don't leave home without it.

#4 First change in hair color. My friend dyed my hair while we were in MS. Stylists have tried to lighten my hair ever since it started the turn from blonde to brown, but I have resisted for root reasons. (Meaning I can't handle the discipline of keeping away dark roots) So instead we went for a darker color that's been described as auburn red. It's fun to feel like a different person. I'm hooked.


Well, the songs and readings and congratulations have ceased. I'm off to bed.