Black and White Wednesday

August 15, 2009

I was 37 weeks and 1 day pregnant when this photo was taken.  Just 15 hours later, two little lives were born who would change mine forever. 

See other wonderful photos here:

Great Customer Service!

After my last experience with an online retailer, I was hesitant to purchase anything of importance via the web. Ultimately, online shopping is far more convenient for me than packing up the babies and heading out, so I took another chance with a different Canadian retailer. I was most pleased.
I attempted to order an Ergo last week, but I did something wrong and the order didn't seem to go through. It was near to 4:00pm when I called customer service and knew I wouldn't reach anyone that day.  In fact, I had resigned myself to the fact that I may not hear back from anyone for a few days.  Bright and early the very next morning, I received a call back from a lovely woman assuring me that the order was fine and would be shipped out on Monday.  I received the order today and included with the purchase was a very cute pair of Baby Legs as an "Easter Gift".  Sweet!  So, not only was customer service rapid, efficient and friendly, but they went above and beyond with quick (and free) shipping and a bonus gift.  This is how ALL retailers should treat customers. 
So, if anyone is in the market for anything baby related I highly recommend this retailer.

Finally, an online retailer I can recommend with complete confidence.

Sunday Bullets

• Pea has another tooth (this makes three).  It's his first canine and I discovered it yesterday while feeding him.  A few nights ago, he was up quite often through the night and was so sad.  I wonder if it broke through then.

•  Chick has NO teeth.

•  We are at a standstill with regard to strollers.  We "test drove" two yesterday that we loved.  One is the Valco Tri Mode and the other is the Baby Jogger City Elite.  Can't decide. 

•  We need a bigger SUV.  We currently have a Jeep Liberty and, although we LOVE it, it is not big enough to handle the car seats (without pushing the front seats too far forward) and the double stroller.  I know it's not politically correct to own an SUV any longer, but we need the space. 

•  I bought seven spring outfits for the babies at a consignment shop yesterday.  The total cost was $45.  Can't beat that!

• My friend Almamay recommended we try baby led weaning and we are having a great time with it.  So far the babies have had toast with hummus, steamed broccoli, banana biscuits, asparagus, bits of veggie sushi (mostly rice, avocado and seaweed), baked apples, plums, and whole wheat pasta, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, cucumber, whole milk yogurt, bananas and potatoes. I love it and they love it too. They especially love holding the food and bringing it to their mouths on their own.

• The babies haven't required a bottle in the middle of the night for a while now.  We still bring two bottles with us when we go to bed, but tonight we are giving it up altogether.  They have proven to us that they no longer need the MOTN feed, so we will follow their lead.  

• Speaking of bottles, we put away all of our Dr. Brown's glass bottles and bought 6 plastic bottles last week (they are MUCH easier to clean).  However, after giving it a week, we decided that the babies drink much better out of the Dr. B. bottles, so we are back to cleaning all the parts.  Oh well.  I'd rather have them drink all their milk than leave it because they are frustrated with the effort it takes to drink out of the plastic.  

• Ask yourself this question:  When was the last time you walked up to a complete stranger and put your fingers on their lips/mouth?  Why do people think it is appropriate to do this to BABIES?  It frustrates me to no end when people do this to the twins.  What makes you think it is OKAY to do?  I don't care if you just washed your hands...DON'T DO IT!  Ack!

• We are teaching the babies sign language and it is helping their language development.  So far, they know many words including "milk", "cookie", and "cat".  They are not yet making the signs, but when we do it, they know what it means.  We don't refer to the kitty as Bear anymore because we know it will confuse them, so any time Bear walks near the babies, we make the sign for cat and say "CAT".  Pea LOVES Bear...sometimes a little TOO much and rips out clumps of fur.  Chick could take Bear or leave him. 

• The babies have been asleep for almost two hours.  I love naps!

• Some things I need to remember:

Click to enlarge

My Funny Girl

Chick has developed this very horselike funny laugh. If I encourage her, she will do it on command. This is not my real laugh. My real laugh is much less creepy...I think.

Funny Laugh from Two Kayaks on Vimeo.

K2 and I - A Work In Progress

We signed the babies up for swimming lessons and yesterday was lesson number one. If you are a regular reader of the blog, you'll remember our first foray into aquatics with the young ones. It wasn't a stellar performance on our parts.

We thought we were well prepared.  We had packed a bag the night before and stuffed it full with diapers, towels, swimwear, flip flops, and sleepers for afterward.  See?  Totally on the ball.  I told K2 I wanted to be on the road by 4:00 for the 5:00 lesson.  We arrived at the venue at 4:20 and decided to sit in the Jeep until 4:30 when we would make the trek to the change rooms (the babies had fallen asleep on the way and we thought we should allow them to sleep a little longer before taking them inside). At 4:30, we grabbed the babies and headed into the aquatics center.  As we walked, I looked back at K2 and asked him to make sure he grabbed the bag 'o swim stuff.  He stopped dead in his tracks.  I knew...at that moment, I knew.  We had forgotten THE BAG!  Ugh.  We did not have enough time to travel all the way back home to get the bag, so we put our problem solving caps on and made some alternate plans.  I would take the babies into the center while K2 would go to a nearby Wa*lMar*t to buy two towels and two sleepers for the babies.  As he drove away, I realized that neither of us had our swimsuits and wondered if K2 would realize that as well (we don't each have a cell phone).  Nope.  He returned with the towels and sleepers, but without a swimsuit for himself or for me.  So, back to Wa*lMar*t he went to get himself some trunks.  I told him that he could take Pea swimming and Chick and I would sit out this week (she had a bit of a fever before we left anyway, so it was best that she not swim). 

When all was said and done, Pea and K2 entered the water at 5:08pm.  A little late, but at least they experienced the lesson.  Chick and I watched from the sidelines and it was fun to see Pea and K2 splashing in the water.
The best thing about the whole experience was that we were able to laugh at ourselves for forgetting.  I think a lot of couples would have snapped at each other, blamed each other or would have given up and gone home.  We are a work in progress, but that's okay. 

In The Night

You woke in the night - screams that seemed to make framed prints dance on the walls. My half sleeping legs couldn't take me to you quickly enough and when my arms reached you, your body was rigid with fear. Back arching, head turning from side to side and arms thrashing, my whispers of love weren't enough.  My whole body enveloped you in safety, but it wasn't enough. 
I brought you, still screaming, to my bed.  I on my side, you on yours facing me.  Skin to skin, hearts beating together.  Feeling the rise and fall of your chest, your sweet breath began to slow and you quieted almost instantly.  I held you so close that you could have disappeared into me.
For over an hour you slept peacefully, while I breathed in your innocence, your purity and your reliance.  When your eyes finally fluttered open and connected with mine, recognition swept across your face in a wide grin. The nightmare was over.  Our day could begin.

Black and White Wednesday

Two summers ago, we took a trip to Barbados with Tanya and Craig. It was SO much fun and we couldn't get enough vacation into our veins. On this one particular day, we went sailing on a catamaran and did some snorkeling. At one point, it began to rain. All of the other tourists ran for cover inside the catamaran, but not the three crazy Canadians on board. Tanya, K2 and I decided not to move and to simply stay planted outside with our drinks in hand to enjoy the rain. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of "I'm NOT moving!!" statements shouted. Memories to last a lifetime.