Easter

Pick your battles

Yesterday we went to Como Zoo with the Kirsch kids and their parents. It was a glorious day, so we decided to just put spring jackets on the twins. Well....Jackson had a FIT because he couldn't wear Addison's pink jacket. He threw the same fit on Saturday, but somehow, Eric got him into his own, brown coat. Well, yesterday, Jackson was NOT having it and he needed to wear the pink jacket....so, we let him and he was the happiest Zoo goer there! People were confused about his gender before the pink coat, because of his "cool hair." But with the pink coat, and the crazy legs walk, it was pretty funny watching people watch him. But, like Auntie Lena said, "Real men wear pink." He is SO his dad!

Mona

This is from a party at the Yakesh home. Jackson is clearly in a trance. ..he's eating unlimited chips...his nickname is going to be "tank" soon. He hasn't met a chip he doesn't like...some less than others, but he'll settle for the plain ones if that's all that's available.

I miss my mom today....more than usual. Addison and Jackson saw PapaBear and then said, "Mona, where go?" It just broke my heart. It's so hard to honor my mom's request to not have our children grow up in sad houses. But, mom, I'm trying! I just don't know how to answer that. But PapaBear is so good for them. Jackson and my dad are such good buddies. I think it's good for both of them.
They are growing up so fast. I miss them so much during the day and it seems like they learn new things everyday. Jackson has got to be the happiest child ever. And Addison learned to scowl today....to funny. Just like Mama. I better learn quickly that she'll copy everything I do. They are still so wonderful.

Moral Compass

Ahh....today was tough. Each of us have someone in our lives that we know as our "moral compass." We probably don't ever give that person that title, but you bounce ideas and thoughts off them and their answers give you a gauge....
For me, that person was my mom. I'm feeling quite direction-less without her. I have dialed her number several times, and today I called my dad's home number and the answering machine came on with her voice. That was hard. I just miss her.
I don't intend to replace my moral compass. I just think I'll have to grow up and use my own sense of direction, that she helped me develop.

Pitty Princess

Addison is such a little princess. I walked in the door last night and she had a beautiful princess dress on! She kept saying "Pitty!" This means pretty and she would walk up to Eric and say "Pitty Daddy!" It was so adorable...until she wouldn't take the dress off for her jammies...and she screamed and screamed. I came home tonight and she has a different, beautiful dress on. She's such a little girl. Eric said, "How did you and me get such a little girly-girl?" Guess I could learn some things from her!

New Normal

For some reason, I've been compelled to start the blog again....not sure why, but I'm sure it will come to me. Writing has always been therapeutic (sp?) and I need some therapy right now.

Gramma Mona died last Monday and it's been tough, to say the least.

The twins had almost two years with her and I hope they remember something wonderful about her. They still see photos of her and shout "MONA."

18 months old!!!

Dear Addison and Jackson,
You made it through 18 months and you are amazing your dad and me everyday. I am still surprised by how much you occupy my thoughts - most of the time!
Addison, you are talking so well! Your favorite word right now is ribbit! You have a little frog washcloth. You go get it from the bathroom, carry it around and say, "ribbit!" You climb into your high chair all by yourself and you let us know it's time to eat. You call your brother Jack-see, which is so cute. And you love to share with him. When he's crying, you try to give him things to make him stop. Most of the time that works. But if you'd tried a few times and nothing works, you bite him. I guess you have your limits. You give the best good-night kisses and I look forward to them each day!
Jackson, my prince, you are such a daddy's boy. As long as he is in your sights, you are just fine. At night, you just sit on his belly, rest your chin on his knees and everyhing is wonderful. You aren't without your quirks. You won't eat lunch or dinner unless you have Goldfish on your tray. You don't necessarily eat the Goldfish, but as long as they are there, you are fine. Bizarre!
You and your sister love to blow kisses, but you actually keep them all to yourself. You keep your hand on your mouth the whole time. But I pretend that you are really giving them to me.
You use your words softly, almost as if you want to make sure you are perfect before you say them out loud and proud. It's very cute. You have really long hair; much longer than Addison's and your daddy doesn't want to cut it. You've only been mistaken for a girl a few times. When someone says, "Oh your the dad with twin girls," he says, "No, I have a daughter and a son with really good hair."
You play a winking game with me that I love! Even when you were sick a few weeks ago, you played the game and I knew you'd be OK. You aren't the cuddle kid I wished you'd be, but sometimes Addison snuggles with me and it makes my heart melt. You both love getting hugs from Raggedy Andy and he loves giving you guys hugs.
So, my loves, it's an incredible journey. Totally unpredictably amazing. Your dad and I hope you'll always love us and think we're the coolest. We'll be so crushed when you realize you are too cool for us.
We continue to pray that you'll be healthy and happy and always know that you are loved and God will always be there for you.
We love you to pieces and all together!

Reunion

Last weekend, we had a family reunion of sorts with Eric's family...all the cousins and grandchildren were there. It was so much fun. The twins had a great time!

It's been a long time....Jackson loves to play the piano....it's the only thing he has the patience to do. He climbs up onto the piano bench and stands there tinkering away...staring at the picture from the twins baptism...slightly odd, but cool.

Addison is an adventurer...she climbs EVERYTHING! I swear I turned my head for 10 seconds and she had climbed the couch to the ledge to the window....they are such busy kids!

Kyla's party

This weekend we went to Kyla's third birthday party and Addison was all about the ice in the cooler. She would hold an ice cube in her hand for a long time. Eric and I kept thinking, Does she know it's cold?

Jackson was enamored of the wheels on everything...Kyla's new bike...the scooter...the stroller...interesting.

Good night Kisses!

Last night, when we put the twins to bed, we prayed with them as usual, and typically, Eric and I both make failed attempts for good night kisses. So, last night, I didn't even try. I just said good night to each of them and gave them kisses on the top of their heads.
I walked out of the nursery and then Eric said, "There giving out kisses. Hurry back!"
So I did! When I got back in there, I got good night kisses from both of them! I actually got two from Addison and got one from Jackson and then pushed my luck for a second and was denied....
But what a fabulous happy feeling when your babies give you kisses!!!! I love it!

An Angel

This morning, Eric and I took Addison to her 8th dermatologist about her leg. Dr. Bloom is a pediatric dermatologist and I wish we would have been able to go to him first. He examined her and told us the best news: It's not serious. Don't waste any more time worrying about it.
After that, I floated to the top of the examining room because I felt like a HUGE weight had been lifted. He did give us a diagnosis, and there is no treatment for it, but it's not serious. She'll always have the "birthmark," and that was just fine with Eric and me. He gave us a very thorough explanation and we have to have a follow up in six months, but, did you hear me: It's NOT serious!
It's so amazing. When the twins are in good health, the world seems light a wonderful place!

4th of July

We had a picnic at Wirth Lake with all of the Harris families. It took Jackson a LONG time to warm up to the idea of the water....so strange, but Addison jumped in immediately. Jackson finally warmed up and they had a great time in the water!

Parade

Last week, we went to a parade with Grandma Lois and the Kirsch family. Addison danced to all the bands and Jackson wanted to be in every float! They were a handful, but so much fun. Addison LOVES watermelon and strawberries. Jackson loves airplanes and marshmellow mateys.

Life Is Good!

15 months

The twins are 15 months old now....and they are getting to be so much fun! They both LOVE the water. Eric and I just sit and laugh at them most of the time. They have such different personalities.
Addison is our confident little walker and she is very cautious. She uses the handrail when going up and down the steps and she usually likes a hand to hold the first time she goes down the slide, just until she gets the hang of it. She'll let us put a hat on her head (unlike her brother). She loves to sit and "read" books all by herself and Eric loves it when she reaches up to grab his hand. She says Ba-Bye! All Done, Uh-Oh, Hi and Hi Gibby (Hi Guinness) to every dog she sees. She's still a champion sleeper.
Jackson is impatient! He walks like he's already had a few too many and Eric calls him our "island boy" because he likes to walk around with no shoes! He throws his sippy cup when he's done with it...or not. At the park, he's leap before he looks and he skins his knees, gets up and keeps going. He is definitely a daddy's boy...when Eric leaves the room, he cries big crocodile tears. He loves to play with his bouncing ball and his laugh is so infectious. He hates to go to sleep and fights it to the end!
The last few months have been really fun. I'm enjoying motherhood much more. I think it's because the diabetes isn't running my life right now. I'm in a good place with it, so I can focus on other things. Each day, I'm so amazed by these two little humans.....when they are happy, I'm happy and the world is a magical place!

Grandma's

Eric finished Grandma's marathon under 4 hours, which was his goal! We are so proud of him. While the two of us were in Duluth, the Grandmas and PapaBear were with the twins for the weekend. They all enjoyed it SO much!

Oops!

So, the twins are 14 months old....you think we'd be able to tell them apart by now, right? Wrong. A couple weeks ago, Grandma Lois was babysitting during "date night," and when we got home, the twins were in bed, but Addison didn't have her blankie. So I asked Eric to go slide it into her crib. He did and when he came out, he was laughing. He said his mom put the twins in the wrong crib, but not to worry, he put the blankie right under AddiLo's cheek.
During the night, AddiLo started screaming....and we ignored her and she eventually went back to bed.
Well, in the morning, I went in to greet them and, to my surprise, they were in the right cribs, but Grandma Lois put the blue sleeper on Addison and the pink sleeper on Jackson! So Addison was without her blankie all night! No wonder she was mad!

Barack Obama

Dear Addison and Jackson.
There's no way to make you understand the significant event that happened this week. Your daddy and I have both explained it to you in different ways, but you;re too little to understand now.
On Tuesday night, a man named Barack Obama became the first Black person to become the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States. Someday you'll understand the significance of this.
It gives me so much hope. Hope that your futures will be bright. I'm hopeful that you two will be growing up in a time when you look at the President of the United States and notice that he looks like you and you see real possibility that you could one day be the President, if that's what you want to do. I'm hopeful because this means that all of the people that came before you and before me and before PapaBear, who fought so hard and so long for justice did not do their work in vain.
On Tuesday night, I couldn't even say his name more than twice without tears filling my eyes.
For me, it's not just about Obama
It's about Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King Jr, the 4 little girls, John Lewis, the freedom riders, Rosa Parks, Julia Harris and all the unnamed people who have STOOD UP for what was right after being beaten down time and again, but had the resolve to keep fighting.
This shows me, in my soul, that change IS possible, it just takes time. I can just see all of these people dancing in Heaven as they chant O-BAM-A!!!!!
Addison and Jackson, your daddy and I are hopeful that this is a good time to be raising children.
We love you GREAT BIG!

Mommy and Daddy

Daycare

So, Eric left for L.A. this morning and I took the twins to Shelly's house for the first of three days at daycare. I fully expected them to cry when I left and...heck...at least pretend that they were going to miss me. But they didn't! Shelly and I carried them into the house and they saw new toys and instantly forgot about me!
I don't usually get to wake them up on weekday mornings, because they get up after I leave for work, and boy, my day has been so bright because I got a chance to see them before work. I may have to sneak a peek at them each morning, because they remind me about my priorities!

Mother's Day

So, my favorite picture from Mother's Day does not include any women.....usually Addison takes wonderful photos, but she was being a Diva and kept her little hood on all day. Jackson was all smiles, which was really fun. He loves the backyard and he was flailing about.

It was a wee-bit cold, but we did spend time outside. Jackson looks so stable in the picture. He almost looks like he's about to start running!