Independence

AddiLo has changed SO much. She's walking all along the furniture and she is enjoying exploring new things. She especially enjoys exploring her voice and finding out all the sounds it makes and all the different pitches and volumes. She's gone from a daddy's little girl at class, to an outgoing little toddler who giggles at everything!!
And Jackson is just the opposite now. He climbs onto daddy's lap and just wants to be near him...he's not a cuddler, so he doesn't stay on daddy's lap...he just wants to be near him. And that breaks mommy's heart because of course, I want them to want me....Eric tries to reassure me that this is a phase...but he's with them so many more hours each day, so, of course they like him best right now.
It's all a learning experience. PapaBear always says we should enjoy the journey.....that's what we're trying to do.
We are giving them people food now and it's truly a hit and miss endeavor. Some days they get dramatic and vomit the food. Some days, they like it. Eric is grinding up adult food...I shouldn't call it "people" food, cuz, they are people.....
I'm going to Idaho for work next week and Eric is going to break their recent habit of getting up in the middle of the night for bottles. He's much more patient than I am....let's hope it works!

Mice from Japan...and swearing.

So, Grammona, who shall now be renamed Mamo, went on a trip last week to San Fransico and the twins got their first-ever postcards! It was really fun to get them in the mail. And Mamo brought over gifts for the twins - little mice-shaped cars that were painted red and blue. She said she got them at a store in Japan Town in Los Angeles. It was really sweet. The next morning, I got this email from Eric:

I was thinking it last night but did not want to rain on the parade....But, Jackson just opened his mouth and what did I find but the red mouse tail in there just chilling on his tongue. That means he is a cat right?
Not going to play with the fun, lead paint, rusty wheel (tetinus), cute real Japan made, with no regulation mice........ we love you grandma mona.

But, Jackson is OK and then, later that day, we found out that the book she gave to Selena had swear words in it.....Mamo did say she was drinking hot sake at a sushi house with Bob and Mike...maybe that's where she went wrong (smile!)

Things I want Jackson and Addison to know

Every once in awhile, usually when I'm holding a sleeping baby, I think the world just stops and there's no other place I'd rather be. I just wish I could hold the twins in my arms forever and they would never be hurt or hurt anyone else. There are so many things I want them to remember so their lives are pain free. But then, on the other hand, obstacles make people stronger. I'm torn. I don't want them to ever feel pain, but I want them to have their hearts broken so they know they can get through it and find love again.
I want them to strike out a few times so the homeruns are that much sweeter.
I want them to set goals and really work for them, so when they reach them, they are that much more proud of themselves.....BUT I also want to cuddle them in my arms until they are all grown up so nothing hurts them - ever.....I guess, the bottom line is that they are growing and there will be bumps in the road. The best Eric and I can do is to make sure they know that we are always here for them...no matter what.

Shingles

So, I found on Tuesday that I have Shingles....great! What else can this stupid Diabetes help me get!? I was so frustrated...to put it mildly. I was mostly frustrated because Annemarie and Megs were coming this weekend and we were giving Annemarie a surprise baby shower. And Annemarie's sister was flying in from D.C. to surprise her. We had everything planned out and people from all over the country sent gifts to our house for Baby Roberts.
Needless to say, she had to cancel her trip....and we told her about the surprise.
The twins will most likely get chicken pox now...we're on the look out for little red bumps. So far, we don't think we've seen any.
I'm amazed at how painful shingles are. I'm supposed to rest, and I just smile, like, "For real?" Eric has been wonderful about it...as usual. But I feel so guilty if I'm taking a nap and resting when the twins are here and ready to play.
I was so bummed on Wednesday night, which was Eric's birthday, that I took my eyes off Jackson for a few seconds and he leaped off the changing table and got lodged horizontally between the changing table and AddiLo's crib. I screamed for Eric and then just started sobbing. It wasn't my best "mommy" moment at all.
But things are slowly getting better. Jackson stands up on his own...WAY COOL! And Addison walks behind a little truck thing like she's been doing it for months. I think they'll both be walking by their birthday and Addison will have at least one top tooth by then too.
Time is truly flying by!

PapaBear and Jackson...Mommy and AddiLo

JDRF

Last month, Team Zajkowski, a group of more than 20 people, joined Eric, the twins and me at the Mall of America for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk for a Cure. A cure for Type I, or Jevenile, diabetes. It was AMAZING! There were more than 18,000 people there, all walking to find a cure for this stupid, frustrating disease. I was truly overwhelmed.
It's my hope that a viable cure will be found soon so that Jackson and Addison won't even remember that their mommy was ever sick. It's going to happen!

Swimming Lessons

So, the twins are taking swimming lessons with Eric and Lois. Yesterday was their second lesson and they LOVE it!!! Eric said he's never seen them SO happy! They just giggle uncontrollably. I think it's so neat! Jackson is so tired after the lessons, that he falls asleep in the locker room when Eric is changing him. Next week, I'm taking Friday off, so I'll get to go. I can't wait! Addison has a little bikini and she looks like a sumo wrestler. It's SO cute!!!!

Caucus

So, Jackson and Addison went to their first caucus last night...and it was a doozy! Eric and I thought we would just zip in and zip out. Boy were we wrong! When we got to the line, it wasn't even a line anymore...it was just a huge gaggle of people. We were jam packed in a hallway, waiting to vote. We never did get into the caucus. We signed up on blank pieces of paper and cast our ballot in the hallway. Luckily the twins were great! Addison just stared at everyone, like "O.K...I get it. You people are crazy, but you're crazy for a good reason." Jackson just charmed the ladies....along with Bear, who was there with his parents. It was amazing to see so many people.
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On Monday, Eric took Jackson to the doctor because we thought for sure he had an ear infection. He was SCREAMING all night long...for several nights. But, when Eric took him in, there was nothing wrong. Our pediatrician, who, for those of you who watch Project Runway, is a spitting image of Tim Gunn, gave Jackson a lecture. He said sternly, "Jackson, I demand that you sleep through the night tonight. You are driving your parents crazy and they need sleep."
It worked! Maybe I should have taped his voice and replayed it for Jackson.
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I got an email from Eric today that said Jacskon bumped his chin and his top teeth went into his bottom lip and there was lots of blood. But not to worry, says Eric, this is the first of thousands.
.....breathe Nicole....just breathe....