Weight Watching

Well I'm sad to report that my amazing weight loss has all but vanished under the cruel deliciousness of spaghetti carbonara and countless glasses of mommy juice. In an effort to return myself to the halcyon days when my pants fit and I no longer struggled to catch my breath while walking I've started weight watchers. I'm not going to meetings I'm just mapping my progress using their online plan. So far so good. Just yesterday I received my first ribbon for losing 5 pounds. I guess compared to boot camp this is pretty easy. I already know how to make delicious food with less calories and with weight watchers you can pretty much eat whatever as long as you stay within your point limit. I will admit that my point limit seems extravagant and I've only maxed it out once. I have to stay away from my beloved McDonalds because the thing that kills this diet is fast food. Every time I try to see how high a point value is for something I use to love it makes me rethink my choice.

The other key to losing weight is getting moving. I haven't really tackled that yet, I have a great zumba dvd and a treadmill. All I need is motivation. As I filter through pictures of myself with the girls for this blog I'm constantly reminded of how fat I've gotten.

My first goal: Buy a new dress in a smaller side for the wedding we're going to in November. It gives me about 40 days, to see what I can accomplish.

So Happy Together

It's amazing how well the girls get along. Gabriella has had an attraction to the twins since she first saw them in the ultrasound picture. She named them in utero and was one of the first people to kiss them when they were born. A born big sister, Gabriella can make them laugh like no one else. Julia and Genevieve love playing with her stuff. Her room is a treasure trove of playthings.

Today after a serious reorganization of the twins playpen I brought in Gabriella's kitchen. Cleaned and restocked I expected the twins to dive right in. When they woke from their nap I revealed their new toy. They hesitantly walked over to it and then casually touched the faucet before moving away. I was shocked, I'd been so certain they would love it. Gabriella came home from school and immediately recognized that her toy was back in the house. She dove right in after she did her homework and the girls immediately followed suit. The copied everything Gabriella did. If she picked up a pot they did too. If she pretended to drink out of a cup, so did they. It was really cute. Gabriella showed them how to use this new toy and they followed her lead. I'm sure tomorrow they will be cooking up a storm.

So Different

I think these little babies look the most similar in sleep. During the day when they are wide awake and really only visible as small blurs running around, they are markedly different. The different hair and eyes are hard for people to get past when I tell them they are twins. The surprised looks on the asker's face are usually there for an extended period of time before they resignedly give up trying to figure it out. If Gabriella happens to be with us someone will often comment how lucky she is to be a big sister. She is such a proud big sister and loves to play with her littles. I do think some of the novelty of having twins sisters is starting to wear off. The littles are drawn to her room like bees to honey. The sound of her door opening is like a sirens song to their tiny ears. Once inside they go straight for whatever is most precious to her at the moment or what will make the biggest mess. They love the doll house, which is fine, she grudgingly allow them to play with the furniture. What is less fine is all the art supplies and scissors that seem to be within arms reach on every surface. While we do our best to keep Gabriella's room as off limits sometimes they are too fast, too quiet and by the time we realize they've been in there the damage is done.

There other favorite toys are the DVD's. They constantly take them down and tote them around the house. The newest development is that they now have the fine motor skills to open the DVD boxes. So now instead of just finding random DVD boxes spread around the house I'm actually finding CD's shoved into the pantry or under the couch cushions. It makes cleaning up a bit more like a treasure hunt. One of the worst tricks they've learned is turning off the TV. Picture this: Greg watching the final moments of an important tennis match, his fingers crossed that the DVR player has recorded enough for him to see the end of the match, when a tiny mini version of him saunters over to the box and presses the button turning off the whole shebang. There is usually some sort of muttering and then politely but firmly moving of the offensive child. Where as the child comes back and does it again, possibly another fifteen times, before a snack is given to distract them. This is fine if you've actually recorded the program it's much more upsetting when you've just paused a regular show.

On the up side the girls are also starting to work together and play with each other. They have been snatching toys away from each other for the past few months, but now they are playing peek a boo with each other or running after each other playing their version of tag. It's very cute, but my concern for their safety prevents me from taking a video of them.

Kickin It

This last weekend Gabriella had her very first soccer game. The weeks of practicing and the excitement of the day was apparent as eight little girls chatted about their outfits and new hair bows. As team mom I had the important job of providing the snacks and drinks for the game. While we searched through what seemed like a thousand fields searching for ours, lugging a cooler full of drinks and ice, I noticed how many kids play soccer. This was just one field in what are probably millions across the country holding games just like the one we participated in. I'm not much of a sports person myself, but I can appreciate the skills organized sports teach a child. There are many, personal discipline, team work, good sportsmanship and the idea that you can have fun even if you lose. In Gabriella's division they don't keep score but every parent knows the score as we cheer for every shot and goal. At first I wondered why not keep score because surely the kids would know, but the reality is they don't. Hours after the game Gabriella casually asked us who won and what the score was. I was shocked and happy. It proved that the AYSO knows what they are doing, win or lose the kids love to play the game and I guess that's the point.

Year One

You've come a long way babies. You've survived a whole year of life on earth. You were born into a beautiful paradise and survived a move halfway around the world. You've already been to more Theme Parks than most do in a lifetime in your first tender year. Julia can already recognize and say Donald Duck. Genevieve has shown a preference for the princesses. When I look back at their baby pictures I can't believe they've changed so much in just 12 short months. There are times when I still can't believe I have twins. The mornings when just one wakes up and I'm cuddling them alone on the couch I wonder how easy it would be with just one. But then I look at the twin in my arms and realize my life would be missing what the other twin brings to our family life. They are so different, their personalities could not be more opposite. They are a study in duality. There are times when people don't believe that they are twins. Their physical differences are striking.

Genevieve is taller and has a full head of hair and beautiful brown eyes. She loves to smile with her bottom teeth sticking out and likes to study a situation before she is willing to jump into the fray.

Julia likes to run, she often walks with her hands behind her back like she's addressing a jury. She likes to snuggle and enjoys chasing her big sister Gabriella around the house. Both girls love their daddy, especially if he happens to be sitting on the floor. They crawl over him like he's some sort of jungle gym. Their giggles and "discussions" when they wake up in the morning make all the hard stuff worth while. I suppose I could list how hard it is to be a mommy of multiples but I don't think it's that hard. Overwhelming? Yes, and at times I feel like I've been ground into the dirt with the heel of a combat boot. But through it all, through all the difficulties and tears the twinkle in their eyes as they call me mommy makes it all worthwhile.

Birthdays All Around

My birthday was last week. I've hit 35 and I'm pleased to say that Clue is still my favorite movie and that I enjoy dancing to pop music. Right now my favorite song is Pumped up Kicks by Foster for the People. I think I'm still pretty hip with the kids. That being said I think my 34th year on this earth was pretty crazy. I had a couple of babies and I fed them my milk for 10.5 months all through the help of a pump that I would like to take out to a field and hit it with a baseball bat, think Office Space. I can't say this has been the hardest year of my life but I think that perhaps it has been the most dynamic. The highest highs and the lowest lows. We moved from Okinawa to San Diego. I got lost in the craziness of readjusting to life in a huge city. But what kept me grounded was my family. My girls needed me to get up every morning, feed them, change them, dress them and make sure they were nurtured. That motivation made me snap out of my uneasiness of living life away from my island. A support system was built up, dear friends stepped in and helped me so much that I can't even begin to thank them. My parents came down once or twice a week for the whole year, they allowed me time away to be alone. Shopping by myself, eating by myself and of course listening to music really loud in the car. I needed that time and I thank my parents so much for affording me the opportunity.

The person I can thank most for this year and it's success is Greg. He helped me from the very beginning. He held my hand in that cold operating room and made sure I was ok. He looked into my eyes each day and told me I was beautiful even though I didn't think I was. He held our daughters when my arms were too tired and my soul was spent. He picked me up when I was too exhausted to move from wherever I had fallen. He loved me even though I made mistakes and praised my accomplishments no matter how small. He never complained about how the house looked or if the kids were still wearing their pajamas when he got home from work. He took a job far from home to ensure I could stay home. He sacrificed his personal time to give me mine. For all of these things and more I say thank you.

To my dearest Gabriella, I love you. You showed me your big sister qualities right from the start. You held those sisters close to your heart and you haven't let go. I'm sorry I haven't given you all the attention I should have. But you overcome the lack of attention by branching out creatively, your stories and drawing entertain me at every turn. Julia and Genevieve loved you from the moment you stared into their bassinet at the hospital. And when they hear your voice they run to you and occasionally from you. You named them, you labeled them in the womb and you gave them more love than any of us, sight unseen. I think you've had favorites at times but you still love them just the same. Thank you for your patience when they've pulled your hair or stolen your toys or spilled your paints. I love you Gabriella and I thank you for being such an amazing daughter, I hope you can teach your sisters to be the same.

A year has gone and I suppose the next will be easier but it will probably be just as hard but different. Hopefully it will go just as well.

Motivation

There is a song in Rent that asks how a year is measured. Is it measured in minutes, inches, midnights, cups of coffee...you get the point. This year has been so full it's hard to measure it in anything but blurry events. It's been full of babies, first steps, moves, school, tantrums, attitude and tears. But looking ahead I see my 35th birthday, a storm taking shape on the horizon, just in view and seemingly stationary even though it's not. Today in the sort of exuberance that only comes from a looming birthday I dusted off my Zumba DVD and did a workout. As I'm typing this almost 30 minutes later my heart is still beating like I'm sprinting. The muscle memory of all those Zumba classes quickly returned but the lumberous body I now posses made it seem like I was lugging an elephant around my living room. Before the first song was over I was debating whether I should remind Gabriella how to dial 911. Yet I persevered, I made it through the grueling 20 minute express work out, slowing only once to crank the air conditioner down to arctic. I suppose the most motivating voice was not in my head but on the couch, casually studying my every move. Gabriella had a comment about every single thing I did. It reminded me why I use to do this workout when she was at school. The first thing she noticed was how young the people on the video were and how small their tummy's were. After my comment about how I was doing the workout to decrease my own tummy she studied her own pensively for a few moments before returning to her commentary. She noted that I didn't lift my feet as much as the dancers, that I wasn't jumping and that I wasn't showing my tummy while I danced. When it was all over I announced that I was going to take a shower, her response was "why?. But once I turned around to face her, sweaty and gasping for breath, she responded "oh, I see". I can't say I'll be working out in front of the peanut gallery very often. I use to do this video in front of the little girls they were much less vocal. However, that was months ago and who knows what kind of squeals and giggles I would get from them now, plus they don't know how to dial 911...yet.

Summer Time

And the living is easy. Well I can hope it will be easier. With the two little kiddos walking the chances of ease are pretty slim in this household. However, no more school for Gabriella means at least the potential for sleeping in exists, even if it isn't too likely. We are looking forward to a few trips to Disneyland and a vacation in early August. There are a few things I'm really looking forward to. First, sleeping in, even if it's just past 7...once. Second, going to parks or kid friendly places like Java mama and not having to stress about getting back in time to pick up Gabriella from school. Third, not making lunches 5 days a week. I'm considering letting the kids go free range and forage in the pantry for food on their own. Just kidding, they can't open packaging yet, although Gabriella could help them with a few things. I'm happy summer break is here, I think I'm probably more excited than Gabriella is. Hopefully the next few weeks will be full of fun and relatively stress free, but if their not at least I don't have to explain to a teacher why my children are in pajamas at 3 in the afternoon.

Swimming Days

Now that the weather is hot the easiest way to stay cool is to crank the air conditioner to arctic and shut the windows. However, since we don't want to blow our food budget on keeping cool we occasionally get out to our community pool. The water is a bit on the chilly side and we tend to try to go first thing in the morning before it gets too crowded. The little girls love splashing in the water and being toted around in either our arms or in their princess floaty. Gabriella is mastering her strokes and breathing. She's like a fish in the water and given the chance she would swim for hours. Of course getting to the pool requires a few bags of stuff and enough sunscreen to keep us from getting too toasty. Lucky for me Greg is there to help. On this particular day Gabriella even rode her bike to the pool. We hope to make it to the pool a lot more now that Gabriella is almost on summer break. I haven't been brave enough to take the girls by myself, I think it's a little too much for me. But who knows maybe a day will come when I just need to cool off in the pool.

Raising an Adventurous Eater

Feeding children is a challenging and often thankless job. They complain about what is on the table or constantly ask for something that is not on the menu. I love to cook and when my food is complimented it makes me glow with pride. The little girls are starting to appreciate new and different foods. As we move away from purred beets and applesauce, I'm saddened as they make another move towards growing up. They've enjoyed steak, guacamole and turkey meatloaf. I'm sure overtime they will become just as adventurous as Gabriella.

Gabriella is shaping up to be quite a foodie. From the video above you can see her eat her very first crawfish. She's had more high grade sushi than most children twice her age. She loves natto, fermented soy beans and enjoys crab legs. She happily eats fish when ever it's offered and even has her favorite ways to prepare it. Because I like to cook and eat, she's been exposed to many different types of food. Living abroad also brought opportunities to try different foods that are they norm there. Another example is miso soup, full of tofu and seaweed, is delicious to her. I hope this love of the different and adventurous continues throughout her life. I hope she's always willing to try something new. I've given her the building blocks, I hope she continues to build on her foodie foundation.

All's Fair

The San Diego County fair is in town and has been for the past month. We've been lucky enough to go quite a few times. We've taken Gabriella to the fair in the past but this time she was tall enough to go on a lot of the rides and had a great time going on them over and over again. The little girls enjoyed the sights and sounds of the fair and were incredibly patient riding in their stroller. They did get out a few times but didn't go on any rides. Of course the best part of the fair is the food. This year we branched out to try a few fried food treats. Greg had a deep fried Klondike bar and I sampled the deep fried bacon. Julia and Genevieve had their first sips of lemonade and licks of ice cream. Gabriella did her best to cause a cavity with cotton candy and candied apples.

The pillow pet pictured above was won by Gabriella all by herself. I'm not really sure how it happened, I'd just handed over my $5 and the next thing I know I hear "winner" and the guy handing over the pillow pet prize. It was pretty impressive. She's quite good at the dart game and has quite a few prizes to prove it.

We walked slowly through the shopping tents and I was able to keep myself from buying all the as seen on TV items. Although I really wanted the counter top popsicle maker, maybe next year. We went two times with our good friend Kathleen who graciously agreed to ride a few rides with Gabriella. I had a great time watching her daughter while she twirled away on the rides with mine. A great time was had by everyone and we look forward to the fair next year.

How to Fill a Mini Van in 3 Easy Steps

First have a child, then add twins and add a dog for good measure. With those three things you can easily fill a van full of annoyingly necessary stuff. There are a few things that are permanent residents in the van, the 2 car seats and the booster seat. We keep a couple of blankets in there in case it's chilly or someone needs an impromptu pillow. Now if we are going to the grocery store we add in a diaper bag and a lot of reusable grocery bags. If it's the park we add a stroller, maybe a large blanket to sit on and possibly some sand toys. Now if we are going anywhere for a night or a week the list of things gets much much longer. A pack and play, a couple of bags of clothes, a bag of baby toys, diapers (10/day times the number of days we'll be gone), wipes, bottles, pump, baby food, dog food, bowls, and if it's for a birthday party then add in the gift. It's a lot of stuff and getting it in and out of the car feels like I'm moving out each time we go somewhere. The funniest (read most frustrating) part is when I get somewhere and realize I forgot something important.

It's a wonder that I get out of the house at all, each trip requires an extensive list and a lot of forethought but it's worth it. We've gone on a lot of adventures and trips which are good for all of us.

Why is it so loud in here?

I find myself cringing a lot these days. The little girls are finding their voices with the help of their big sister. It amazes me the sheer volume in this house. It's not big, there is no echo and yet the noise seems to be magnified. The laughing of three little angels is one thing, the screaming is quite another. Here is an example, Gabriella and the girls were playing in their playpen, *baby containment unit, the yard, the pen, etc.*, when suddenly there was this earsplitting shriek. I immediately jump away from cooking dinner and rush over expecting a bleeding head wound. Instead I see three girls echoing each other screams and then laughing hysterically. There are good things about the loudness, I always know where they are because I just follow the screams. Greg has a theory, if it's too quiet someone is into something or is eating something they shouldn't be. Like when Julia is quiet and still she's probably eating some paper or pulling all the kleenex out of the container and stuffing them in her mouth. If Genevieve is quiet she's probably spilling the dog water and eating the kibble. If Gabriella is quiet then she's painting something or making a mess of her room. If the house is quiet then we are obviously away for the weekend. So my ears are always in use, either trying to mentally lessen the loudness or straining to here what's going on. I must admit often when I'm in the car I turn off the radio and just enjoy the silence. That silence seems few and far between for this only child, but when it goes on too long I really miss the noise.

I Miss My Island Life

I feel at times I would give anything to go back to Okinawa. The complications of adjusting from the simplicity of island life to the hectic style of life in California is overwhelming. I won't deny I feel incredibly happy to be so close to my family and to have their help with the girls. But I miss the friends I made in Okinawa. I feel slightly separated from my friends here, they've had shared experiences for the years I've been gone. Things have changed in their lives and I haven't experienced them. It's not the same, I can't seem to re-establish those relationships, because I'm busy with my kids. We are different and that is just a fact. Another difficulty are the choices, there are far too many of them. The featured picture is of the ridiculous number of goldfish choices. Every time I find myself in a grocery store aisle starring at 5 choices of rice or chicken stock I feel overwhelmed. I miss the two choices in Okinawa and the chances that one of those choices are out so there is no choice. Little things become hard, making friends, trusting people, understanding people's agendas. It was easier when we all lived on an island and that made for built in bonding.

The separation from family was difficult and now being close to them I feel like I need to learn their likes and dislikes all over again. I've always touted myself as an excellent gift giver but now I don't even know my recipients. I suppose today I'm tired and suffering from a severe case of ennui. I miss the simplicity of my past life, the fact that we never drove more than an hour to get anywhere and we never had too many choices about what to do. Adventures abounded and now they don't seem like they exist even though we have so many more miles to explore.

I suppose it will all change, adjustments will be made and I will get use to these things, but for now it will remain a challenge.

DIsneyland

The day after Gabriella's birthday we continued the celebration by heading to Disneyland and California Adventures. We did everything Gabriella wanted. The first stop was the princess fun fair where we waited to meet Ariel, Pocahantas and Jasmine. She got a few gift cards for her birthday and spent a lot of time considering her purchases. Greg really took one for the team when he waited in line for over two hours so Gabriella could meet Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. After Gabriella got to meet them we headed across to California Adventure. There we went to the Animation Building to relax and watch the movies on the big screens. The little girls liked crawling around on the carpet and we found out Gabriella was most like the Malificent in the Beast's Library. Later we went through Bug's Land, rode Jumping Jellyfish, the swings and the ferris wheel. It started getting a little chilly so we headed back to Disneyland to get our jackets. We saw the fireworks, Captain EO and a few other things. Finally Gabriella lost her steam and we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house to spend the night. Everyone had a wonderful time, Gabriella's favorite part was meeting Rapunzel. We loved celebrating the special birthday with our very special Gabriella.

Six Years Old

I can't believe that Gabriella is six years old. Her birthday was a wonderful affair. We celebrated it at one of our favorite places, Disneyland. Because it was the first birthday after the twins were born we wanted to make it extra special. We booked a room at the Paradise Pier Hotel and someone special decorated it for us. Our day started early in the morning as we picked up Greg from work. We drove up to Downtown Disney and quickly fed the babies before going to brunch at Goofy's Kitchen. Characters came up to the table and sat down to wish Gabriella a very happy birthday. Chip and Dale spent extra time playing with the twins and complimenting Gabriella on being such a helpful big sister. The best part of the meal was when Sleeping Beauty asked Gabriella to dance with her. After lunch we checked into the hotel and because it was still early the room wasn't ready, so we headed to the pool. Gabriella had a great time going down the water slide and the little girls loved splashing in the wading pool. We got a text that our room was ready and as we headed up. While I knew the room would be decorated I didn't know what it would include. The banner on the door was the first hint to Gabriella that something special was awaiting her inside. Once we opened the door we saw Mickey Mouse's footprints on the floor and a bunch of balloons. Gabriella squealed with delight as she saw the big box on the bed. There was a singing balloon and a personalized note from Mickey wishing Gabriella a happy birthday.

Later that afternoon we met our friends and family for dinner at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney. The food was delicious and we had a wonderful cupcake cake for dessert. Gabriella opened her gifts from her family and gushed over their beauty. We managed to get back to the room just in time to see the World of Color show from the window. Eventually we all managed to fall asleep, resting for the big day ahead of us.

Little Lady Update

Well Julia and Genevieve are now 8 months old. It's amazing how much they change every day. They are starting to get opinions about what foods they like and which toys they prefer. They are starting to act more as playmates then just two random strangers. They like to take toys away from each other. They love to climb on daddy and pull their big sisters hair. They both get concerned if the other one is crying. But on the whole their personalities are very different.

Julia is more apt to smile at strangers however she is very attached and sometimes has a hard time going to unfamiliar people. She's crawling, cruising and standing unsupported. She's going to walk very soon. She loves to get into everything, her newest interest is taking the DVD's off the shelf. She says mama and up. Her favorite toys are whatever her sister is playing with and toppling any block tower Gabriella makes. She's not a big fan of eating and doesn't really have any favorite foods. She likes to give her snacks to the dog rather than eat them herself. She's doing well at sleeping through the night. Her tooth count is at 7.

Genevieve is more reserved, she likes to study a situation before entering into the fray. She's happy to let Julia go in first and once she sees it's something she's interested in she will follow. She loves to play with toys or explore small areas of the house. She's content to play with one toy for long stretches of time. She's crawling and starting to pull to a stand. She doesn't like to use her knees to crawl, preferring to use her feet. She likes the bouncy seat and the swing will always put her to sleep. She loves to watch my mouth when I talk or sing to her. Her favorite toy is Sophie the rubber giraffe and she's been known to sit on it in order to keep it away from her sister's grabby hands. She's an amazing eater, enjoying all types of food. She loves puffs and will shovel handfuls into her mouth at one time. Her favorite food is mashed banana with oatmeal. She sleeps well at night as long as her teeth aren't hurting but she does not like taking naps. Her tooth count is 4.

Julia and Genevieve are growing up so fast. Looking back at their baby pictures makes me long for those sleepless nights and endless feedings...NOT! They are moving forward and I'm more than happy to help them along with their milestones.

Sea World Adventure

We've gone to a lot of theme parks in the past few months. We went to Sea World on one of Greg's weekend days off. The park was crowded as it was a beautiful San Diego day. Gabriella and I went a lot when she was 3, we had a friend we met up with once every few weeks. We loved seeing the animals and playing in the kids area. This time some of the animal areas were under constructions but the play area was still a big hit. Gabriella scaled the rope bridges with ease, a big difference from her abilities at 3. We went to only one show, the Dolphin show. We were surprised and disappointed to see that it was more of a cirque de sole show than a dolphin show. Even Gabriella wondered where the animals were and I thought Greg's eyes were going to roll out of his head as each new performer appeared. Gabriella and Greg went on the ship wreck rapids ride and the Journey to Atlantis together while the twins and I watched. The little girls had the most fun in the wild arctic area, where they could watch the belugas slowly swimming by the window. It was a fun day, but I think we will put off buying any passes until the girls are older.

Life at the Beach

After our few days at Disney World our vacation took a slower turn. Our friends invited us to the family timeshare in Vero Beach. A small island on the coast of Florida it was a truly relaxing place to visit. We had a wonderful room and after figuring out the sleeping arrangements we settled in for a relaxing week visiting with old friends and making new ones. The beach was beautiful and the girls went to the pool every single day. Greg and Gabriella made the trek to see a Cardinal's preseason baseball game and while they were gone Miss Julia learned to pull herself up on the couch. Gabriella loved playing with her friends and spent a lot of time with them in the pool and on the playground. The adults spent time catching up and playing games. We had quite a few shared dinners which were all delicious. It was a wonderfully relaxing week but like all vacations it went to quickly. As we hugged our friends goodbye all I could think of was planning next years vacation. Maybe a cruise??

Stu Stu Studio

The last stop on our whirlwind resort tour was Disney Studios. It has changed a bit since we went on our honeymoon, it's more kid friendly and there were plenty of characters to visit. Julia and Genevieve couldn't get enough of Woody and Buzz. The kids loved playing on the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area where they could relive the adventures of a movie they've never seen. The highlight of the day was probably the Toy Story Mania ride, we all had a great time trying to beat each other's score. My favorite moment of the day was riding the Rock and Roll Roller coaster with Rachel. I don't know if her bangs will ever be the same, just kidding they looked great. The end of the day came too quickly and as we left the Disney property I couldn't help but give our family a huge star for an amazing vacation. Going to theme parks are hard, going with infants and a 5 year old is challenging, but we met those challenges with grace and an amazing sense of flexibility. The first half of our trip was a great success and we were looking forward to Vero Beach.

Hats Off

There is nothing better on a vacation than meeting missed friends. Our dear friends from Okinawa met us in Orlando for a couple of days at Disney World before heading together to Vero Beach. We anxiously awaited their arrival as we toured through the Magic Kingdom. We had a great time on our own but we were anxiously to see our friends. Gabriella saw her friends and her eyes lit up and she broke out into a run. The months of separation and distance evaporated with each step. I think she, Mallory and Zach talked nonstop the rest of the day. We played until everyone was asleep on their feet and the park had been closed for an hour. As we rode the bus back to the hotel Gabriella sleepily asked if we would see them again or if she should have given them more hugs. When I told her we'd meet them again in the morning she dutifully went to bed without another word.

Around the World in a Day

Epcot center is really an amazing park. It has a little of everything, E-ticket rides, educational exhibits and a bunch of cool countries to explore. Again we got there early, in time to get a few fast passes before the park got too crowded. First stop was test track, a high speed car ride. Next was a trip into space where Greg and Gabriella got to help command a shuttle mission. I sat out with the babies and when Greg got off the ride he advised me not to go because even his steel coated stomach was feeling a bit queasy. We rode the Finding Nemo ride and looked at all the cool fish and even went to see Turtle Talk with Crush. Then we started on the countries. Epcot has changed a bit since we visited for our honeymoon or maybe it just seemed different going with little kids. Each country had characters from movies set there. Alice and Mary Poppins in England, Marie, Belle and the Beast in Paris and Mulan in China. It was really wonderful for Gabriella to see some of the rarer characters and learn where they were from. For example, I didn't know Snow White was set in Germany. The day ended with a firework and water show and a slow march through the park. If there is one thing to say about Epcot it's that you feel like you've walked around the world when you go there.

It's a Jungle in There

Our first theme park stop was Animal Kingdom. It was a crisp morning and we bundled up in light sweaters and pants and headed out to the early entry bus, along with everyone else at our hotel. Each day a different theme park opens an hour early or stays open an hour later for park guests. We struggled to get all five of us and a stroller on the bus and then unloaded at the theme park, but we managed. Once the tickets were purchased and everyone was settled in their respective spots we headed into the park. Our first ride of the day was the Safari, it's a tour through the animal enclosures in the guise of taking a real safari in Africa. We saw a lot of cool animals and since it was still cool they were actually moving around. The hippos were huge and the herd of elephants even featured a few babies.

Next stop was the Himalayan train ride. I would say it was a cross between Thunder Mountain railroad and the Matterhorn. The Yeti is chasing us and the train goes forward and backwards. Greg took Gabriella on first and we gave her the option to go with me again or wait with the babies. She came off the ride looking windblown and a little apprehensive, but she agreed to take me on it. I asked her what happened and she insisted it should be a surprise. We had a great time and there is nothing more fun than riding a rollercoaster with a happily screaming 5 year old. She and Greg braved the rapids ride and they both required an outfit change afterwards. One of the best parts of the Animal Kingdom were the amount of unique and not often seen characters around the park giving autographs. Balou and King Louie were on hand to say hello to the girls as well as Pocahontas, Lilo and Stitch and Terk from Tarzan. Gabriella had almost filled up her autograph book by the time we were ready to go back to the hotel. The park was beautiful and the animals were fun to look at. There were plenty of shady spots to sit and some fairly tasty food to eat. Greg also sat through the Finding Nemo musical which he counts as his arts event for the year.

Vacation

The Woo says it all. We just got back from our amazing vacation to Florida. There is something so magical about Disney, at least to me. It's been a part of my life since I was young. I remember going with my Aunt Sylvia, I remember working there, I remember the look on Gabriella's face when she first saw Sleeping Beauty's castle and just a few weeks ago I saw her see Cinderella's. I can't say enough about the magic of Disney World. There are so many theme parks and so much to see. In the coming days I'll attempt to summarize our trip. This was my third trip to Disney World, Greg's second and our children's first.

Our flight to Florida was great, the little girls did as well as could be expected. Genevieve is certainly not a huge fan of flying, she cried a bit but eventually just settled down and slept. Gabriella fell asleep from the start of the flight until we landed, I think Julia and Greg did too. Everyone was well rested when we arrived in Orlando. Disney of course had a great bus to get us to our resort. We got in early and had to wait a few hours for our room to be ready, but we were entertained by the Disney Channel. More to follow.

Sticking to it

As a child when things get hard we are always told to stick with it and it will get better, like sports or math. It can also be true for illnesses, stick with these antibiotics and you will get better. But like antibiotics if you fail to take the whole dose what you could get is a nasty drug resistant strain of disease. The same can be true for parenting, if you don't stick with your rules then you are prone to raise a child that doesn't respect them. Yesterday a rule was broken in our house which has a pretty strict penalty. I could go through it blow by blow but in respect to the rule breaker who could read this later in life I will decline. I will relate the important bits. The rule in our house is that if you throw something in anger it gets thrown out. Yesterday a very special pair of light up shoes was thrown and because of that action the shoes were thrown in the trash. I would definitely rank this as one of my most difficult parenting moments. There are times in life when you almost think the battle isn't worth the war. Yesterday I found myself snapping in response to the breaking of the rule, however the fallout was intense. I find sometimes that parenting is difficult but by sticking to rules it will make both my children and myself stronger. The realization that actions cause reactions is not only handy for physics but also for real life. I think I impressed a friend yesterday by sicking to our consequence but I impressed myself by believing this is an effective way to parent. This morning I received an unsolicited apology, I also got one last night, and a request to buy new shoes with a gift card on vacation. In that moment I felt I made the right decision. It is our job as parents to raise the best kids we can, yesterday I suppose was the hard part of doing just that.

Hi...My Name is Julia

My full name is Julia Grace. I just turned 6 months old. I weigh 16 pounds 9 ounces and I am 26 inches long. My newest skill is crawling and I'm exploring my house at every opportunity. My favorite activity is bouncing in my bouncer and crawling on top of my sister Genevieve. My least favorite thing is getting my teeth. So far I have 4 and they've made me a little cranky. I'm a cat napper and I like to wake up at night for a midnight snack. Although mommy makes some delicious food for me I don't like eating it. I'm looking forward to pulling up on things and starting to cruise.

Hi..My Name is Genevieve

My full name is Genevieve Catherine Montoya. I just turned 6 months old. I weigh 15 pounds 14 ounces and I am 26 inches tall. I can roll over and like to play with my toys.

I love watching my big sister Gabriella dance for me

especially while I'm in my bouncer. I'm almost ready

to learn to crawl, I'm up on all fours and rocking. My

favorite food is rice cereal with bananas. Mommy

makes it fresh for me at every meal. I'm a good eater.

I'm a really good sleeper at night but am not a big fan

of taking naps. I'm looking forward to learning to

crawl and discovering new foods.

A Mother's Love

The job of a mother is never done and her love grows as her children do. Raising my three children is full of it's own set of challenges and rewards. I can't speak for anyone else only my own experiences, but sometimes motherhood is really hard. The constant sharing of attention between those who want it and those who need it. Choosing who to go to first when all three are crying or which twin to feed first when I know they are both hungry. But for each scheduling or physical challenge placed in front of me a greater reward will be waiting for me when I finish. Sometimes those rewards are small like a smile or a giggle other times they are bigger, like being told what a great cook I am after dinner. The best thing that my children have done and I pray will continue to do is light up when they here my voice or see me enter a room. I imagine that is what movie stars feel when they step on stage at an awards show. The elation in their eyes when they see me first thing in the morning or when I give them their goodnight kisses, it takes my breath away. In those moments I feel like I'm on top of the world, they make all the difficulties worth while. I would take a million hard days just so I could get those looks again and again.

Partied Out

The super bowl is a huge deal for Greg and his family. They've hosted a raging super bowl party for 26 years. It is epic and for the past two years we've been forced to watch it on the computer via skype. This year we were so pleased to be there in person. The prep work started days earlier with cleaning, yard work and shopping. The event approached and the backyard began to take shape. Friends from all over descended on the household to help set up tables, run cables and put up canopies. The day of the big game everyone arrived carrying their delicious food to share and libations to enjoy. Hugs were given and received and long missed friends were given 2 years worth of hugs. The babies got to meet a lot of new friends and Gabriella was able to reconnect with a few old ones. It was amazing to see how big the kids have gotten and how wonderfully unchanged everyone else was. Two years seemed so long to be away from this party and yet the party was the same as always. The only difference was us, we had two more kids to keep an eye on.

Getting Out

I've finally decided that getting out of the house is a must for my personal sanity and the running of my household. We need food and other errands need to be run and sometimes I can't put it off until someone is around to babysit. I'm learning that a lot of places aren't very twin friendly. Shopping carts only seat one child, the aisles are small and there just isn't a simple way to get in and out of the store. My favorite stores are changing, I love Trader Joe's but I'm like a bull in a China shop when I'm in there with both girls. I can avoid that when I have Gabriella go with me and push one of the kiddie carts, but those are pretty small and fill up very fast. Then of course who's going to carry the bags out to the car? Certainly not the 5 year old. I've mastered having one girl in the seat of the cart and me wearing one. It works well unless I'm digging for milk in the freezer section or busy looking at ice cream with the door open. And I always make the wrong choice of who wants to ride in the snuggly and who would rather be pushed around in the cart.

The one store that can accommodate all the kids is Costco. Their carts can hold the twin girls in the seats and Gabriella can hold onto the end while I push what I estimate to be a combined body weight of 75 pounds. Then of course add in all the groceries, which is usually quite a list, and it makes for a pretty heavy cart. Another great thing is that Costco is a warehouse so if someone is fussy or loud no one really notices and they have tasty snacks. These little outings are made more complicated by feeding schedules, diaper changes and school pick ups but they need to be done and it will be.

5 by 5

It's a bit of a zoo at our house these days. All three girls have been sick off and on for the past few weeks. Runny noses and grumpy dispositions have been the challenges of the day. For the most part each girl handles there illness pretty well. Gabriella uses quite a few tissues, close to a box a week, when she's sick. She's finally remembering to throw away the used tissues without us having to remind her. Which is good for me because I'm pretty sure that I'm holding off this illness by sheer will. Genevieve seems to have had a lingering cold for most of her life however she handles it with grace and patience. She does seriously dislike the nasal aspirator and when she sees it she actually starts to cry hysterically. Even with the bottle in her mouth she still gets upset. Julia doesn't seem to mind as much, but she's still not a fan.

As I was thinking about the girls I realized that this is the only time in their life that they will share an age number. The girls are 5 months old and Gabriella is 5 years old. It's an interesting coincidence. Gabriella will be turning 6 in just a few months. Julia and Genevieve will be 6 months in less than 2 weeks. Time is passing quickly and I honestly feel that these girls are growing up too fast. Julia will be crawling before she turns 6 months and I think Genevieve will be following soon after. Gabriella is doing great in school and is already discussing her birthday party. Each day while full of challenges brings its own great rewards.

Do Kangaroos Have Twins??

I wonder if they do because I find it hard to carry around my two little girls. I bet if I had a pouch that I could put things in maybe I could carry them around a little easier. The little girls are getting big and are on the move. Julia is probably a few days away from crawling and Genevieve is not far behind. Every school day the girls get up early and eat, then watch Gabriella get ready for school and then the suiting up begins. Thankfully we live in San Diego where the weather is mild, even in winter. But there is still a nip in the air in the morning so we need to make a point to bundle everyone up for the walk to school. We walk to school because the traffic jam in the parking lot and surrounding streets is horrendous and the little girls like the fresh air. Once back home the hats come off and the girls retire to the cribs for a quick 10-30 minute nap.

Today I finally ventured out to go shopping with the twins by myself. They were fed, burped, dressed appropriately for the weather and in clean diapers. Everything was done around their nap and eating schedule and I had a plan. We pull up to Target and I get a spot conveniently located next to the shopping cart return. I have my list and it's short. The plan was simple, Julia would ride in the shopping cart with the little fluffy cart cover and Genevieve would be in the baby bjorn. I felt Julia was a stronger sitter and I thought she would enjoy the new view of life. It went well for about 10 minutes then in the card aisle Julia started to break down. I managed to keep her entertained until I had just a few things left on my list. She was tired, falling asleep in the cart and when the she slumped over causing her head to bump on the cart and wake her up. Deciding that it would be better if I just held her I picked her up. So let me paint a picture. Genevieve is in the bjorn she's comfy and happy. Julia is in one arm and I'm using the other to push the cart. I grab the last few items on my list and head to the cashiers. By the time I get there Julia is fast asleep her head bobbing back and forth each time I turn. I head towards a fairly short line and a man with a loaf of bread starts to head to the same line. I immediately agree to let him go ahead. He says thank you and says the little girls are beautiful. I start unloading the cart, doing my best to keep from whacking anyones head into anything. A mom and her young son pull up behind us in line and she offers to help, I decline since I was doing fine. She asked all the typical questions, how old, girls or boys, is it hard, any other children and how it must be annoying to have everyone stop you when you are out. I don't mind any of those questions and I honestly expect them when ever I take the girls out. They are in matching outfits today, because they were at the top of the drawer. I'm proud of my beautiful daughters, all three of them, and I love telling people how amazing they are.

Too Much

I must say that sometimes the difference between having twins and one baby is very apparent. To me the difference is all about amounts. More diapers, more feedings, more milk, more bottles, more of everything. Sometimes more equals too much. Too much crying, too many sleepless nights and sometimes stretched too thin. But you get more smiles, laughs, hugs and joyful moments then maybe people get with just one child. Genevieve and Julia fill my days with their smiles and laughs. They also on occasion fill them with lots of dirty diapers and serious crying jags. On the whole days are busy, the girls are starting to move around either by rolling or inching. Sooner than later they will be crawling and then my days will get even busier. They are starting to like being in on the action, meaning when I'm doing laundry they want to be right there watching me. I do the same things I did with Gabriella to keep them feeling involved. When I cook breakfast or lunch I place them on the floor where they can see me and give them my own cooking show. Sometimes to spice it up I do the show in different accents. I try to keep them as happy as possible, but sometimes that doesn't happen.

Today has been a little bit trying. Neither girl is really interested in doing anything but sitting with mommy. Even the cooking show fell flat today, on the other hand the laundry folding show was still a big hit. I think they are both feeling frustrated they can't get where they want to go or maybe their teeth are hurting. I'd just gotten Genevieve settled for her nap when I came out to find Julia with an exploded diaper. I picked her up and checked out the damage she was poopy from her toe to her elbow. Yes the elbow, I don't even know how poop can travel through a sleeper like that but it did. Julia got an impromptu bath in the sink and I got covered in poop on the walk over. I deemed the sleeper and my shirt a total loss and chucked them both in the trash can. I wonder what the neighbors thought as I went streaking from the kitchen to the babies' room with a naked baby in just my pants and a bra. But now everyone is clean, fed and napping in their cribs, I'll enjoy the next few minutes of calm before the next storm hits, hopefully it won't be poop related.

A Tooth-full Situation

Our children's mouths are going through some serious changes these days. Gabriella has lost her second top tooth, bringing her total tooth loss to 4. It happened this evening while we were brushing teeth. The poor tooth, which has been loose for a few weeks, started to bleed and Gabriella requested to have it pulled. I was happy to oblige. There were no tears this time so clearly she's getting use to loosing her teeth.

On the other side of the coin Julia and Genevieve are getting their teeth. Julia started last Thursday with her first tooth followed by her second on Saturday. Not to be outdone Genevieve decided to cut not one but two teeth on Monday. Needless to say the little girls haven't been in the best of moods but it's understandable considering the pain they are probably. They've required a lot of extra cuddles and a few doses of tylenol.

For me both these events are just another reminder of how fast children grow up. It seems like just yesterday Gabriella was cutting her first tooth and now she's loosing those same first teeth. Julia and Genevieve change every day even Gabriella comments about how different they look or act when she comes home from school each day. Since time can't be stopped I suppose all one can do is hold on and enjoy the ride.

All Old Toys are New Again

The girls are so much more mobile these days that keeping them entertained is getting to be a bit of a problem. Lucky for us all of our boxes have been emptied and Gabriella's old toys have been found. We also received this amazing floor mat for Christmas which gives everyone a little extra padding while playing on the floor. Julia and Genevieve love studying the pictures, Gabriella likes have her Barbies play in the town scenes and I appreciate the comfy padding while sitting on it and that I can wipe whatever fluids spill on it with ease. In the unpacking we've found tubs full of toys and books which are already being put in heavy rotation. Gabriella has rediscovered all her old toys and has repeatedly demonstrated her amazing memory by reminding us where she got them or who gave them to her. She's also been an amazingly generous big sister by surrendering them to the drooling mouths of her little sisters. We still have a big playhouse to set up but we haven't figured out where to put it. Almost all the boxes are out of the house and our next big plan is to have a garage sale. Living in Okinawa definitely makes us yearn for a simpler lifestyle. Whether that is possible with a family of five and a mom who likes to shop remains to be seen.

5 months

Well this post is a little late, Julia and Genevieve turned 5 months on the 18th. They are sporting summery outfits because it's been hot here in San Diego. This last month has been a month of milestones. Being married to a pediatrician allows me to know a lot of the secret milestones that most parents don't even realize are considered important. For example both Julia and Genevieve are transferring toys and raking. For those interested in more general milestones they are also rolling over and starting to scoot. More importantly they are starting to sleep better at night. Sometimes they even sleep through the night. They still don't nap at the same time during the day but we don't complain. Everyday they get a little more personality and a little more baby-attitude. Julia is a little more social and Genevieve a little more cautious about new situations. They are both very snuggly and love riding in their stroller every morning when we walk Gabriella to school. Gabriella is by far their favorite person, they light up when she walks into the room. Julia has started saying "mama" but she has yet to say it to me. She does yells it when she's upset so obviously she knows who she's calling. Saffy our dog has started dropping off her toys for the twins hoping they will soon be able to play with her. Lots of growing and changing happening here and we couldn't be happier about it.

A New Motto

Before I had children my motto was have fun and worry later. While that served me well in my pursuit of happiness as a single lady it doesn't really transfer well to a lifestyle that includes children or saving money for that matter. There are so many variables when it comes to doing anything with kids, sometimes even staying home is a challenge. Keeping three children, two of which don't talk, entertained is a huge challenge. I'm looking forward to the day when the twins begin to entertain each other. Gabriella is very self sufficient but sometimes she needs help or direction. Lets say she comes into the room and asks for some scissors, as a responsible parent you want to ask what she plans to use them for and then follow her to verify her story. If you don't then you end up with trimmed hair or cut up clothes. As for Julia and Genevieve they really are just in a rotation through a variety of toys. They start in a swing, then move to the bouncer, then some tummy time followed by mobile watching in their cribs and then repeat. Now if only all three could be entertained at the same time so I could get some stuff done that would be great. Because I'm always tending to someone I've been forced to let things slide, like laundry or vacuuming or tooth brushing. Basic things need to be cleaned, bottles washed, counters wiped down, etc. Whether they get done in a timely manner is another thing. The new motto is "it could be worse", I could have triplets and a five year old. This motto allows be to step back from what could be a mommy meltdown moment and realize that even in the depths of difficulty it could always be worse. Sometimes when I have a hard time thinking of what could be worse I throw in a natural disaster, for example at least we aren't being hit by meteors. The relaxed attitude which I've always been commended on is still in full effect, it has to be or I'd have gone bald from stress. Please enjoy the photo of the reversion of my oldest daughter back into a baby.

Bouncing Around

Since the unpacking of the garage has been slow going I decided to buy the babies a bouncy. I must say I was very proud of being able to put together this toy all by myself. However, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Firstly, the instructions had no written words, just pictures. Second, they didn't tell you which side was right or left so it was a bit of guessing then second guessing, doing it once then trying again. Thirdly it was just a huge pain to put it together while trying to entertain two babies and a 5 year old. Lucky for me my parents happened to be here that day and were able to provide some much needed distraction. Once the whole thing was put together Genevieve was the first to try it out, she was a little hesitant so Julia got in. As you can see from the picture she loved the new toy right off the bat. Now both girls can't get enough of it and I look forward to finding the exersaucer so they can both have some stand up play at the same time.

The girls are begining to notice each other and reach for each other when they both play on the floor at the same time. Julia is starting to scoot around and so is Genevieve. Julia likes to move backwards and roll around. Genevieve likes to spin in circles and assumes the skydiving pose when ever she's on her tummy time. They grow and change more everyday.

We're Going to Need a Bigger Bed

Last night Julia and Genevieve actually slept through the night at roughly the same time. Gabriella however fell asleep during dinner and put herself to bed before 8. Because she was feeling a little under the weather she woke up at 3 and decided to come in for a snuggle. Normally that would be fine but our dog Saffy was also in bed with us. Saffy has reverted back to her old routine, going to bed with me and snuggling into Greg's spot until he comes to bed then shifting to the foot of the bed or in between us. Therefore when Gabriella scooted into bed I was squished in between Gabriella and the dog. Eventually I got out of bed and curled up in Gabriella's twin bed. I slipped back in to my own bed after Greg got up for work. It's going to be a tight fit once all three girls start climbing into bed with us.

This morning when I got up to feed the babies I expected Saffy to come padding after me like she normally does but instead she stayed sleeping next to Gabriella. I think it's a small victory for Gabriella who's been trying to curry Saffy's favor since she arrived home. She's been slowly winning her over through walking her around the front yard and being heavy handed with the treats. Yesterday I even found Gabriella sharing her french fries with Saffy. It won't be long before Gabriella is Saffy's new favorite.

A New Year and A Look Back

We rung in the new year all together with just our little family. Only Greg and I managed to stay up until midnight. Gabriella put herself to sleep on the couch with Saffy sleeping at her feet at just after 10. The little girls were put to bed at their standard bed time. As Greg and I sat on our own sipping our beverages we reminissed on how life changing this year has been for us. Last year at this time I had just found out I was pregnant and we were thrilled to be adding another member to our family. Little did we know we'd be blessed with not one but two children. Here's a quick look back at 2010. I took my twin pregnancy to term, watched Gabriella complete preschool and enter kindergarten, gave birth to twin girls who've already blossomed out of infants into babies. We got even closer to our Okinawa friends and were sad when we had to leave them to move back to the states. My dear friends were the reason my pregnancy was so easy, why I was able to spend so much time with Gabriella, making her feel like she had the best summer ever before life changed forever. They were shoulders to cry on, people to lean on and most important friends to celebrate with. My wonderful friends even brought over delicious dinners for a month after the twins came home. My parents, Greg, Gabriella and I were in heaven. Perhaps our biggest triumph was taking the whole family on vacation with 6 week old twins. I don't recommend it, but feel like it was an amazing accomplishment and a true adventure, while hard at the time, a once in a lifetime experience.

We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families for the first time in two years. Gabriella started a new school and has already gotten the attention of an admirer. In the last two months we've gone through some major changes and yet if we look back at the year it's really par for the course. The Montoya's really don't do anything small. An example of that philosophy was Laura and Genji's wedding. We were so please that she was willing to change her wedding date so that we could participate, the original date was August 13th, which was one of the c-section dates I was offered. All 5 of us had a part in the celebration of Laura and Genji's nuptials and we loved every moment of it. Not only did we feel honored to be asked to be a part of it but we had the time of our lives partying it up with our family.

This year has been one for the record books. I hope this next year is a little less exciting, but with two new family members who knows what it will bring. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. I want to find or start a book club and lose the last of my baby weight. I can't wait to meet our Okinawa friends in Florida for an amazing vacation. I can't wait to hear about all the healthy babies my friends are having this year. I wish all that read this blog a happy and healthy new year full of prosperity and triumph.