Date Pickin'

I am constantly reminded how different the culture is here. Like this morning. Andrew comes in before he leaves for work to tell me workers were going to be in the back yard cutting down the dates in our big beautiful palm trees. Which is good news because they are making a mess everywhere. So, I make a mental note not to let the dog out and go about feeding M&M breakfast. M&M are eating their Cheerios when I look out and see an Indian man, I mean with the bubble pants, long tunic, head wrap and all shimmying up the Palm tree. M&M have noticed him too and are staring, mouths wide open at him. He sees us through our big picture window in the kitchen and waves at the babies. It was fun to watch him. Amazing really. I mean they still do it the old-fashioned way...barefoot with a rope around his waste and the tree. Reminds me of the dichotomy of this place. So modern, with sky scrapers, big fancy malls, and Ferrari everywhere. Then on the other hand, men climbing barefoot up my tree and spending the winter in tents out in the desert 20 minutes away. In some ways it is like America. Many different nationalities are here...a melting pot of sorts. But unlike America, most of them are here only to work. Living very poorly here so they can send all their money back to their families. Wait...America is starting to look that way too, isn't it?! OK, OK, I won't go on a political rant here. But the class division is the most extreme of any I've experienced. The men were great fun to watch, however and very kind. They loved the babies...as most do. They kept saying what a blessing from God they are, to have two. I agree!

M&M watching the "Date Pickin'" in their little flight suit onesies!

M&M love seeing other people. So they thought it was great to watch the men outside the window. Now that they can sit up in their side-by-side stroller and see people when we're out, I never hear a peep from them. They look around and smile and talk to people. Which is part of the problem too. Yesterday we were at Lulu's Hypermarket and at least 20 people (I know you think I'm exaggerating, but I swear I'm not) came up to us and either talked to them (which is fine), touched or pinched their cheeks (borderline), or flat out kissed their face! You should have seen the look of horror on my face when this woman just walked right up like they were hers and smooched them on the face! I try to remind myself that it's just the culture. European really. One kiss on each cheek for a greeting and an extra kiss if it's a friend. But these people don't use toilet paper OK! Anyway I know I have a germ phobia when it comes to M&M so I try not to stress to much. I've learned subtle avoidance techniques when we're out. Angling the stroller away or into a shelf or rack and basically just keep moving and not stop. I just smile and keep truckin'! OK enough of my ranting. It's been only 6 months and I'm frustrated...my poor husband has been here almost 2 years! Have I said lately that America is the greatest place on Earth! If this adventure here has been for nothing but to remind us of that, it will be worth it.

My Big Boy

Michael has been pulling up on things for a while now. But it just amazes me how it all progresses and how fast it does. It seems one day he's pulling up on his knees, then pulling up on his feet, then taking small steps along the coffee table. It goes so fast it's hard to keep family, through this blog or just phone calls, updated. But here's a quick journey along my "big boy's" road to walkin'.

OK, this was one of the first times we found Michael standing up in his crib. Back then, he found out how to get up there, but was then very distressed when he learned that he couldn't get down. So many naps we would have to go in 10 to 15 minutes after we laid him down and lay him down again, because he pulled himself up and couldn't get down. As you can see he isn't a happy camper!

As you can see he got much better at it. And he's so thrilled with himself! Now it's a fun game that he can entertain his sister with. They will spend hours talking back and forth...when they're supposed to be napping...and having a ball. Michael now can walk along the length of his crib and toss his pacifier anywhere in his room he wants. Man, I thought the infant days were hard! It really is just getting harder...but more fun too. Mobility just adds more work to Mama's day!

The video below is of him with their Giraffe...his favorite thing to pull himself up on. There's nothing like video to make you realize how you ACTUALLY sound talking to your kids. So, don't mind the noise coming from the big dork with the camera!

Mary Ellen loves being anywhere with Michael. And as it seems to be with physical development, she's a couple of weeks behind him. So we had to stand her up for the picture below. She started to gradually sink after several pictures. But isn't she a doll?! She is pulling up on her knees now...just where Michael was 3 or 4 weeks ago. She'll catch up!

The last video is of Andrew doing some walkin' training with Michael. He's better at it since this video was shot and can take better steps...I guess I need to get some video of that before he's doing it on his own.

That's my big boy!

Mary Ellen's First Teeth

Oh, my sweet baby girl is growing up! Her first tooth popped out a few weeks ago and since then another has also. It is her bottom two front incisors. So cute! I prayed for months that M&M would get their teeth, because they've been chewing and drooling on everything. As always, Mary Ellen surprises us and gets the first tooth. Even though she's so big and healthy, sometimes I still see her as my little 2 lb. baby in her isolette at the NICU. And Michael, my big boy, nothing. I mean there isn't even the slightest hint of a tooth. I guess he'll get them eventually. Doesn't seem to stop him from eating everything he can get his little hands on. Anyway, the down-side to the teeth is that she is STILL chewing on everything...only now she has two little sharp chisels to make her mark. The pictures are evidence!

What a sweet little girl! And she looks even younger without any hair yet. I know, that will eventually come to. I still think she's going to be a red head, Andrew thinks light brown. Ya know part of the fun is waiting to see who they will turn out to be. Like a little gift we get to open everyday. I love being a Mama :-)

The last is a little video of M&M playing in their play-pen and Mary Ellen showing off her teeth.

"This is how we roll in South Carolina!"

OK, if you are squeamish about poop don't bother to read on. Needless to say poop is a big topic of conversation around here. I never would have thought before kids, that two adults could spend so much time on this subject. But when you encounter the amount of poop Mary Ellen woke up with Friday morning, it's news. It was not only a big poop but managed to migrate all over, up her back, and inside her sleeper. We'd planned to go to the pool after breakfast so Daddy made the call that we are going to do breakfast "South Carolina style" that morning. As I was thinking to myself, "You mean, redneck style", Andrew proudly claimed "This is how we roll in South Carolina", to the babies. What can I say, my husband's a redneck. Although he claims he's just country. Same thing.
So just diapers it is. Anything to keep from changing the clothes multiple times! They were pretty darn cute and we snapped a shot and took some video of them eating their Cheerios...their favorite part of breakfast.

Fun With MAC & Jen

We love spending time with our new friends MAC & Jen. It has been so nice to have another couple we like to spend time with here. And they don't mind us dragging M&M wherever we go. We have spent many weekends sharing great dinners and great wine with them. A couple of months ago they went on an annual Canadian fishing trip with old friends. They were very successful this year and brought back bunches of salmon and halibut. So they have been kind enough to share their bounty with us. This past weekend we shared another yummy meal of grilled salmon and we were able to snap a few shots of them with M&M. As you can tell from the pictures MAC and Michael make quite the duo! Both goofy...one big, one little :-) Jen is just as sweet as MAC is silly. MAC and Jen were actually M&M's first babysitters (outside grandparents, that is)! They are sadly leaving in September and are off to Aviano, Italy...lucky, huh?! We will miss spending time with them but know we have made life-long friends.

Arrivederci amici!

Trip To The Mall

This is one of the better malls here. We really went to visit the Geant, which is another Hypermarket similar to Super Walmart or Target. I have been scrapbooking M&M's baby books. OK, Aly don't get too excited I'm not going to become an addict like you and Ginger. Just the baby books and I'm done! Anyway, I needed some watercolors and chalks, so the Geant was the best option. This mall also has a Mothercare store, which is the British version of Babies R Us, and they have secretly the REAL reason for the trip....a Starbucks!

Andrew will be embarrassed when he reads this entry and realizes that I included this picture from our trip. He HATES the bow on Mary Ellen. I often put it on her when we go out to see what he'll say when he notices. Simply to irritate him :-) But he was at work this day and I had dressed them in their red old Navy flag shirts (not only good for 4th of July...I got these for $2 after the 4th...any day to wear an American Flag here is appropriate) and they look so much alike, I just wanted her to look like a girl! To be quite honest I don't really like the bow either but she has NO hair yet and this is the only bow I can use. So I'm pining away for just enough hair to put a no-slippy-hair-clippy in!

Another fun adventure, even though exhausting in this heat. We did get approached by people in every store, but not to the point of annoying. Except the man who when I stopped to take this picture, wanted to also take one of his own with his phone camera. Apparently "no, no, no" is universally understood. They aren't a sideshow buddy!

Pool Fun In The Sun

What a fun morning! We like to take M&M to the pool on weekend mornings early around 8:00 before it gets too hot. We've become partial to the outside pool, now that it's completed. It's a beautiful area with a large pool and separate jacuzzi area. Half of the pool is very shallow...like a kids wading depth with a low wall that separates it from the deep side. M&M love to crawl along the wall and splash in the inch deep water that flows over it. Perfect pool design for families.


The above pictures are from 2 weeks ago when we spent Friday morning at our pool. M&M had a ball splashing and just being outside looking at the palm trees and bougainvillea. Sad to say we don't spend too much time outside because of the extreme heat and humidity, which is at it's peak right now. Imagine the hottest Phoenix day and the worst humid day in Florida and combine them...Voila', every day here!

I promised video...and here it is. Our pool adventure from this morning. They were actually doing some water treatments in the pool so we went over to the jacuzzi area, which is just like a small pool. Great water jets but not heated. Please be kind at my poor video skills. I'm learning! A few pictures first and then the video. As you can see M&M have graduated into their new bathing suits....so cute. They really are the cutest babies on Earth! I'm not partial or anything :-)

This boy is going to be walking any day now. And he looks like such a big boy in his new swim shorts!

What a little beauty! I couldn't have posed her any better.

Like I said earlier...be kind about the video. I'm definitely not a pro and it may not be that interesting to watch unless you gave birth to the kiddos. It will get better...I promise!