Tuesday Play Group

As I have mentioned before we have a great neighborhood. There are lots of Americans that live here, mostly Embassy-State Department folks, but some military too. A great family moved in two doors down from us about a month ago. They have two children, the youngest of which is 2 months older than M&M. She, Erin, decided to start a play group for all the Embassy families. Very brave in my opinion. First because it could potentially be a lot of kiddos and second because it's a lot of extra work and mess for her.

When Erin first told me about the play group, I must admit it caught me off guard for several reasons. I guess with M&M, I haven't given much thought to friends or playmates. They have such fun together, I never worry about things like, "well we haven't been out of the house in 5 days, I wonder if they need to be exposed to other humans besides Andrew and me", or "I wonder how they will be with other children." The twins-thing does have it's benefits in that regard. But play group is a good reason for ME to get out of the house and mix up M&M's routine a bit. They are pretty regimented little babies. My fault totally, but a survival necessity in the beginning. Those that know Andrew and I well wouldn't be shocked that we run a tight ship!

The top picture is them at play group. Yes, I know it looks similar to the pictures we take at home, thanks to our similar floor plans and the Embassy furniture that we are both using. I think the familiarity was good for M&M. Not sure they really knew we weren't at home. Our houses look that much alike. If it wasn't for the different toys and all the kids running around, they probably thought we just took a walk and came right back home.

This is Erin's oldest, Boston, sporting his "Flash" costume. He was so sweet with M&M. You could tell he has a baby sister. Of course as you'll see, M&M were loving all the new and wonderful toys they could chew on.

This is sweet Sadie, Erin's 12 month old, sharing her purse with Mary Ellen. It made sounds and Sadie knew just how it worked. Mary Ellen loved watching her push all the buttons and make the different sounds.

Most of the kiddos in the play group are older, 4 and up, and Erin had wonderful crafts and snacks for everyone. There are 3 others that are 12 months old. But M&M are the only ones not walking. So they just play and the others would drift over to talk to them or give them a toy. Very sweet.

As you can see Michael's favorite Modus Operandi; taking whatever Mary Ellen is playing with. It usually gets dumped the second she lets loose of it and goes for something else. She doesn't seem to mind for now.

All-in-all, M&M did very well with the other children. Really they're used to having someone else to share toys with, so it wasn't a big transition. But I was still very proud of them. We get so many comments on how well behaved they are in public. Like we have much to do with a 10 month old's behavior in public, but we still say "thank you" and take the credit anyway. We truly have been blessed with sweet, loving babies. Truly a joy!

Rockets and Tool Time

We love when Daddy is home. OK I'll admit I love the help as much as M&M love having him to play with all day. So weekends are great! Especially Friday, which seems to be our day to take outings. Remember, work week here is Sunday through Thursday.

Last weekend we went to Johnny Rockets with our friends MAC and Jen. They don't have kids so M&M are always the center of attention when we're together. Well OK, M&M are always the center of attention. God love 'em if we have another child. Of course each outing is a chance for me to put a cute new outfit on them. These cute summer frocks are complements of my Mother, who is only slightly less baby-clothes-crazy than I am.

Mary Ellen just got her first tooth poking through...Hallelujah! And it is one of her bottom front incisors, which is driving her crazy. She keeps doing strange things with her tongue, I think trying to feel it. I'm just relieved that at least one of my babies will have a tooth before they turn one. So, she isn't actually sticking her tongue out at the camera, it's just always like that and her smile interrupted her perpetual tongue movement.

See...tongue again! But she was being so funny this day. She loves to do things that irritate her brother, like stick her stinky feet all over him. Yeah I said STINKY, does anyone know what to do about baby athletes foot? Anyway, the secret is that Michael loves ANY attention he gets from her...and he'll just laugh and laugh. I'm sure it won't always be this way.

When we got home from eating lunch, Andrew out of necessity, did a little home improvement project. As you can see Michael's job was to find and chew on the tape measure. Better, I guess, than the electrical cords.


You can see in the background the finished home improvement project! M&M are both crawling like crazy everywhere. The first place they decided they liked to go was under the printer table where all the computer cords are plugged in. I mean as soon as their little hands and knees hit the floor that's where they head. So Andrew came up with a practical, however unsightly, solution.

M&M just winding down from a fun day! I am still trying to figure the ins and outs of my new Sony HandyCam that Andrew gave me for my birthday. So yes, video will be coming up soon. Stay tuned!

LuLu's

We had another adventure last week. A shopping trip to LuLu's Hypermarket. It is their version of a Walmart Superstore. Big "everything store" with cheap (I mean inexpensive) items and a full grocery store. LuLu's is in one of the many malls...the Dana Mall. I think there are 5 malls within a 5 mile radius of each other. Of course everything is different. Even the stuff made in China (yes, they get that crap too) is just different. Well the grocery store is like heaven really. Much more like America. Big selections and lots of items...however different. Have I mentioned that things are just different here! OK, I'll stop saying it. Anyway the grocery store part is great. Fun place to just people watch too, if I didn't get bombarded by people wanting to touch M&M to death. Mostly small women who just can't seem to touch them enough or ask enough personal questions. Is it ever appropriate to ask a Mom if she had a C-section or not?! I thought this particular group was going to want to see the scar next. But upstairs there is quite a bit of baby items; clothes, toys, strollers, etc. So it was great fun to look through all that and yes, buy a few things. There was also adult clothes (strange...I didn't say different), jewelry, house hold items, etc. Everything here is, of course, very expensive, but LuLu's does offer some bargains. So my poor children are the guinea pigs. As many of you know or have guessed...I love baby clothes. So I found the cutest little shortalls I could find. They are just for play. Don't know if they'll actually go out of the house in them. I'm not a snob...see the picture below. The funny thing is, that they were both labeled "boys". I guess they don't follow the "westernized" rule that boys don't wear pink. OK, maybe that's just an American rule. But they were a great bargain at 1.6 Dinars each...about $4.50!

Happy Birthday To Me, Happy Birthday To Me...

Well, today is my birthday. I'm 37 years old. Which is good news. A few weeks ago I had been thinking I was turning 38. Then I counted it up one day and, surprise, I was a year younger than I thought! It's not everyday you get an extra year. I used to hate birthdays as Andrew will attest to. Looking back on it now it was a very selfish attitude.

This week I was in contact with a friend from high school. Our 20 year reunion is coming up and we've already started planning. I haven't talked to her in many years and was saddened to learn her husband of almost 10 years died suddenly. At the time, they had 2 small children and she was pregnant. Which made me think of our friends Troy and Ginger. Troy was killed in an F16 flying over Iraq within days of the sudden death of my high school friend's husband. Troy was killed November 26, 2006. Troy and Ginger have 5 children, the youngest 2 of which are twin girls who were about M&M's age when Troy was killed. I think of Ginger and the kids often and have prayed for them so much. It is one of those things that every pilot's wife is in a way prepared for, until it actually happens. It is like we are holding our breath waiting, hoping for the best, but knowing the reality exists where those men in class A's are standing at the door to change your life forever. Seeing, even from a distance, Ginger go through her grief, was sometimes overwhelming for me. Because you see...I am her. But thankfully by God's grace I am not. That used to make me feel guilty. But today on my birthday I am overwhelmed in a different way. I am thankful. Thankful for a husband who loves me, provides so ably for us, and is committed and faithful no matter what. Thankful for Michael and Mary Ellen who were prayed for endlessly for over 5 years, but which God had set aside for us long before that. Thankful for my very breath and the energy I have to care for my family. And thankful for family and friends who were with us on the long infertility journey and rejoiced with us when God revealed his plan. I am hoping to find some way to share M&M's journey into life one day. It is a testimony to God's magnificent timing and faithfulness. Many of you know pieces of the journey, but few outside Andrew and I know the full story. It is intensely personal and I am waiting for God to reveal and make me courageous enough to share it in some way. It is my testimony. Very few times in life do you see something come so beautifully full circle. And I am certain that we travelled the journey to bear witness to God's glory.

So many times we are asked, "what do you want for your birthday?" As I sit here, I know that there is nothing more I could ask for.

My cup runneth over. Psalms 23:5

Birthdays and Playtime

It's hard to believe my babies are already 9 months old! Actually, as I'm writing this they are almost 9 1/2 months old. I've compiled some funny playtime pictures and stories to celebrate the occasion. It's the funny everyday stuff with twins that is the best. And I know it's those everyday things that the grandparents (and other family and friends too) miss the most with us being out of the country.

Birthdays have always been a big deal in my house growing up, thanks to my Mother. So I guess I've caught the bug and taken it to new ridiculous heights. I have tried to celebrate the big monthly birthday milestones with M&M...because I love to take pictures of them, love to dress them in cute clothes, and simply am a glutton-for-punishment.

This is the 4 month celebration. As you can see by their faces, they're loving every minute of it! Cupcakes and candles...not a big deal...they didn't even have to get out of their papasan-bouncy chairs. Andrew and I have always secretly wished we had adult-sized versions of these. But on this day, simply smiling for the camera was not on their agenda.

OK, we've advanced to 6 months now. I stepped it up a little with the cake and the "6" candles. They are wearing special outfits given to them by our best friends CAS and Christy and despite Mary Ellen still being on medicine for thrush (see "Gentian Violet" purple mouth), cooperating much better.

I got the cakes and candles at Wal-mart on one of my trips out by myself, thanks to my Mother. The checkout lady commented "Oh, you have twins." And thinking that she was psychic or that I now had twins somehow written on my forehead replied, "How did you know?". She mentions the TWO cakes and TWO number 6 candles, and my sleep-deprived brain finally catches up. Then I have to admit to her that, yes I'm a nerd and in fact, am celebrating my twins 6 MONTH birthday. She stares blankly back at me and I silently thank the Lord that I have a college degree and a husband that provides so aptly for us and I never have to work at Wal-mart! It's not crazy to celebrate 6 month birthdays...she's the crazy one. Again all the extra effort merely for a photo op, but we have the pictures forever. And no they did not eat the cake.

Finally, now we're at 9 Months. No big hoopla. Just a photo op (pictures, very important) in their cute rubber boots! My good friend Anne gave them these cute boots and I just had to put them on before M&M get too big. And considering we live in the desert now and get maybe one rain day per year, there wasn't going to be a foreseeable day to wear them to celebrate the rainy day. Ya know, this is another reason for my picture obsession. We have SO many dear friends and family that have given to these babies and a thank you note just doesn't seem like enough to let them know how much we appreciate their generosity. I want them to SEE how their gifts have been enjoyed and loved. Michael is displaying in this shot what Andrew and I affectionately call his "Grandpa". His smile is so sweet, unfortunately a lot of the time we get the "grandpa" instead.

And as I stated in another post...it eventually always goes in the mouth. Really praying for those teeth. I guess these rubber boots are too tempting. Notice it's Mary Ellen's he goes for.

I added this shot because Michael was in rare form this day. He just finished his favorite playtime activity, the Johnny-Jump-Up, which you'll see below. I also wanted to share the cute onesies that our friends Divot and Sharee gave them. Michael's looks like a little flight suit, complete with wings and a name patch that says THORNE and an actual ACC patch. Mary Ellen's has a picture of a pilot and says, "My Daddy My Hero" on it. So cute! Don't know where in the world they had them made, but it's just another example of our friends incredible generosity.
This was the first day we got the Johnny-Jump-Up in the mail. It took them each about 5 minutes to get the hang of it and start jumping like there's no tomorrow. They also loved watching each other jump.

Sheer bliss!

Mary Ellen loves to jump, but most of all, she loves to run. In circles that is. She is definitely going to be our runner. She will run in giant circles in the Johnny-Jump-Up until it makes us sick to watch her. Every once in a while she'll stop and look at us and laugh. She's probably seeing 6 of us because she's so dizzy. And now they both have learned that if they run and pull their legs up, it becomes a swing. Good thing we have this large opening to hang it in.

Now, the next favorite playtime activity is the giraffe that CAS and Christy gave them for Christmas. Michael is pulling up on things now and the giraffe is perfect for that. He can hold on and push the buttons on it's head which light up and make music.

Mary Ellen also loves the giraffe. I have to put her up on her knees because she can't get there on her own. But when the music plays she bounces up and down dancing. So funny to watch. Neither one has the dexterity yet to put the ball in the giraffe's mouth so it can go down the spiral. But they love to see me do it.

Andrew loves to double them up in their toys to see what they'll do. Most of the time they do something funny and it's always a great photo op. Mary Ellen loved to be in the Johnny-Jump-Up with Michael in front because he was doing all the work. Michael was getting squashed and eventually started yelling and Mary Ellen laughed.

OK, these next ones are purely for the Grandparents. They are so darn cute! We had to get CPR cards for M&M. They are similar to green-cards or visas. We all have them. It's something that is required for Americans who are living and working in country. They let us take the pictures and they turned out so cute.

Enough for now. Until next time....

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to everyone! This day of celebrating our independence and our wonderful country never has meant so much. I think every American should have to live for a time outside the USA. It will make you appreciate our great country and the amazing foresight our founding Fathers had to construct the United States government as they did. Of course Andrew and I know it's because it was God inspired. But for 232 years those same documents have continued to stand firm and lead the world's only super power and the greatest country on Earth!

Of course we couldn't celebrate in the usual way this 4th of July. For many years past it seems I am always in Florida for 4th of July. My sister and her kids always come "home" for the summer, so I usually take some time, no matter where we're living, to go "home" too so I can spend time with my niece and nephew. So that means time at the beach or the water park or taking a dolphin cruise through the harbour. It also means fireworks, which usually manage to scare either my niece or nephew or both to death. But it is family and time outside...two of my favorite things. Last year we did all those usual things, but I was pregnant and exhausted and really missing my husband. He was overseas for all of my pregnancy with M&M. But I had just come "home" from a trip to visit him (which explained most of my exhaustion). It was a 22 hour trip back to Florida that turned into a 44 hour trip due to delayed and canceled flights....long story for another time...some of you know it. Anyway, this was M&M's first 4th of July, outside of the womb :-)

The Diplomat Hotel here puts on an extravagant 4th of July spread for the American Embassy every year. Andrew attended last year and raved about the great food. We had been looking forward to the celebration that was actually on the night of the 3rd (Thursday night here is like Friday night in the States...last day of the work week). Well we found out at the last minute that it was not "kid friendly" so we were unable to go. Very disappointing. But I'm sure not the last time we'll be unable to attend or do something because of the kiddos. So, knowing I was disappointed...mainly because I was looking forward to getting out of the house for the first time this week...Andrew took us all to our favorite Turkish restaurant for dinner.

M&M dressed in their 4th of July finest. This is what they were going to wear to The Diplomat, but it was just as good for our dinner out. We go out very little, so I think they really get excited when there is a new place and new people to see.

Michael is so excited to be out of his car seat and chewing on the spoon he grabbed. We took it out of his mouth right before this picture. I know those teeth have to be popping out soon. They both chew on EVERYTHING!

Daddy with his little girl. The yellow-orange nose (it really seems most noticeable in pictures) we just figured out is probably Carotenemia. Apparently very common when babies start to eat solids and apparently caused by the exact foods her diet is full of. I was surprised to learn it's not just the orange fruits and veggies, like sweet potatoes, carrots, and peaches but spinach and beans too. Anyway, hard to avoid but we're going to try to steer clear of some of those for a while and see if it gets better. Jaundice also causes yellow skin, but it seems to be just her nose for now. We'll see...I'm trying not to be the neurotic Mom.

The day of the 4th we spent with our good friends MAC and Jen, who also live in our neighborhood. We grilled out halibut, thanks to their successful Canadian fishing trip a few weeks ago, and BBQ chicken. No fireworks, but still a fun day with friends.

My "Born in the USA" babies. Thanks for the cute T-shirts Pam! Dressed alike you can really tell how much they favor each other. Especially now that their weight difference isn't so noticeable.

In their high chairs ready to eat. This is their favorite thing about meal time...Prissy. They love her and will watch every move she makes and squeal with delight. To the point that Prissy has to go outside when they're eating or they wouldn't eat for trying to watch her.

This is a nice shot of Prissy with M&M. As you can see in the picture they are engaged in their second favorite meal time activity...finding and chewing on the straps to their booster seats!

Every day is a fun adventure with these two but the first year is just priceless. So another first down...just a few more months left of "firsts" and then it's over. But I'm sure that's when the fun really starts....walking, running, talking, fighting over toys, etc, etc......