End of September

That's right, another month has gone by. Holy doodle! I feel like today's a special date, Avery's officially eighteen months. Sort of another goodbye to a piece of her babyhood. And Rowan is five months today. As if! She'll begin solids soon. Wow... I still pretend she's newborn, and wish she had the smell. Where and why does it go? I'm not sure I want another baby, and I'm sad how much faster round two is going. I guess I'm learning the true value of these moments, as I'm getting older.

Steve hung a swing for Avery. Finally! We had our yard majorly cleaned up this spring, and there was no limbs left on any tree that we could hang a baby swing from. For now we're hanging it from the frame of the green house, and Steve plans to build a nice swing/ slide set for them next spring. The monster loves it, and has now become part of the fun on our trip outside, after nap time. I wear Rowan, and push Avery.

Avery loves her swing!

Rowan peeking up at Mommy, from her beco carrier.

I made applesauce a couple of days ago. Yay, canned baby food! It was a huge job. I used a big Pampers box full of apples. Luckily, my friend lent me her apple peeler. That thing rocks! It peeled, cored, and sliced them for me. I then cooked them into applesauce, and canned it all. Lesson learned: DO NOT wear a baby during any part of canning that requires boiling liquids. No, I did not burn her, or wear her then. I'm not totally dumb, but I did burn my right arm tons, from all the splatters. I made ten jars of applesauce, and have a new appreciation for the stuff.

Yesterday I made jam with a big batch of plums. I didn't have enough, and thought I'd wing it by adding the rest of a box of strawberries, from the fridge. Oops, I didn't know you have to follow jam recipes to a T; otherwise, they don't set. I went ahead and made the jam, and it seems thick and gooey, but runny in the jar, but when put in the fridge, it is now just about jam. It's hard to say where I went wrong, I couldn't find a recipe for the pair anywhere, and according to the canning hot line, their acidity might not be compatible. Yes, a canning hot line. The leaflet, in the pectin box, says, "In a jam? Call any time for canning recipes or help." I feel like I'm becoming the hugest mom nerd ever, and am totally comfortable with it. If you told me I'd be a wife with babies five years ago, I might have believed it, but enjoying canning and gardening, I'm not too sure I'd believe that!

We have been taking the girls to the pool on Sundays. Steve has even spoiled us with brunch after. I love going out as a family, and Avery loves the pool. I also think it's good to introduce Rowan to the water early, so she's not afraid of it. Unfortunately I didn't get any pics from inside the pool. since we're both carrying a baby.

Avery and Rowan before we go into the pool

Steve and the girls

Avery busy with crayons

That's about it, really. I'm loving the wood stove now that it's crisp and definitely autumn out there. Took Avery for a new bunch of library books this morning. Until next time....

Tongue Shakes

I don't want to forget this, and am sad to say I already had forgotten Avery doing it. When the girls flash their first gummy smiles, their tongues shaked. Rowan still does it, but with the sad reality of fast moving time, this special little thing could be another lost memory. (Good thing I've started this blog!)

Avery's gummy smile/ tongue shake (3 months)

Rowan's gummy smile/ tongue shake (2 months)

Toddler Love

Just a little note about my monster. I love her so much. She's the sweetest girl ever, the best helper, fussiest eater, comedian, and drama queen.

Her personality has been changing lately, and she's more Momma sucky than usual. I think it's just part of growing up, but she now needs me to hold her when we go somewhere new for a while. I don't know much about this, but I do know it's very common. I think one day I'll be sad when she doesn't need me anymore. We push our children to be independent, but the truth is, I'm so touched by this new need. She's such a non-snuggly firey toddler at home, and I especially value any cuddle I can get!

We've been doing weekly library trips. Avery's absolutely in love with books. I read the same ones daily about ten times each. No exaggeration, and I don't mind the slightest bit.


My thoughts and love are with that little monster today.

Love, Momma.

Mucous Monsters

One week later, and we definitely did not go to kindergym today. Both girls are sick. Like the worst cold Avery has ever had EVER. And so, you can only imagine how Rowan's doing with it. And sleep deprived me...

I threw a birthday bbq for Steve, last Saturday. It was a cozy event with family, and a couple of friends. Well, someone brought their sick kid, and I didn't realise because I'd gone to town to pick up Chelsea and Liam. So someone was infecting all of the other kids toys. Can you tell I'm mad? It's one thing to take care of a sick toddler, but an ultra sick four month old and the toddler?! Who even brings their sick kids out?!

This is the black forest cake I made for Steve's birthday, all by myself!

Exactly one week later, both girls wake up, after a very restless night, sniffling. "Great, I think, "they're getting sick." So Pant's twins and my girls, yes all four of our babies are so sick that they've been coughing so hard they throw up, can't breathe, non stop crying, food striking, I mean really.... Ever try nursing a baby who can't breathe? Like I said, it has taken all of the will power in the world... I've even fantasized, at three a.m., me carrying each screaming snot faced baby of mine, one on each hip, and pounding on their door, and saying look what you've done!

Avery's freshly wiped booger face

Rowan's just sneezed mucous face

So I've missed my first yoga class, fought two baby fevers, and basically life has been holding one while the other cries, then switch, and the opposite baby cries while I hold the first crier. And yes, I'm complaining about it. Although, I don't think the parents even thought about her being sick, before they came over. It wasn't spiteful.

And through this, I think I'm getting the mucous monster attack, I woke up thinking tomorrow I'll be sick too. You know the scratchy throat, dizzy day before thing.

Sick sisterly love

Ok, so on a positive note, yes I'm always the optimistic Sagittarius here, I've harvested our carrots and beans, washed and scrub brushed them, chopped them to size, blanched, iced, and frozen them. I've frozen thirteen bags of cut carrots, and seven bags of cut beans. I still have peas left, and apples and plums to make freezer jam with. I'm just really happy that I live somewhere I can grow and make my own baby food. I do use the frozen veggies for winter stews and soups, too. See, I am not always grouchy, and on another positive note, I found it almost therapeutic ranting about the babies sickness on here, and not complaining to the husband.

Morning Walk

I decided to skip kindergym this morning. Yes it was the first class, but we were short on time, and I didn't feel like driving for forty + minutes to get there. Instead I took the girls to a trail, in the woods, that branches off to the ocean.

Avery looking up at falling leaves

I wore Rowan, and had Avery walk in her froggy harness. She wanted to pick up every pine cone she saw, so it wasn't a high speed exercising walk, but quiet and autumn enough to let go of some stresses. There's something about being outside that cures me, especially with the grey, rainy coastal fall season. It's like forcing my butt out, and doing something gets me out of the seasonal rut.

Avery looking down for the pine cone she dropped

All buckled in, and ready to drive home

Awesome Morning.

I am feeling proud of my Momma-self today. I took my monster to the library this morning, and for an Atlas brunch, where she totally behaved. I wore Rowan in the beco, and put Avery in her new froggy backpack/ harness. It totally allows her to walk freely, but keeps her close enough, in case I have to grab her quickly. I can't exactly run after her wearing a wee one, and she is thrilled to not be confined in a stroller, or a shopping cart.

After a quick trip inside the library, where we took out about ten awesome cardboard books, I ran into my friend's older sister, with her two toddlers. She was meeting another Momma friend, and I invited myself along. Ha, ha. So I had both out by myself, in a restaurant, during the pre-busy time. Avery and I shared a pesto benny, fruit, roasted potatoes, scrambled egg, and a peanut butter english muffin. Rowan slept the entire time, and Avery was unusually quiet. I think because she was so engrossed watching the two three year old girls there.

The car ride home was totally smooth, both girls sleeping. I love that....

Other news:
We've switched the cow to goat for Avery. I should've a long time ago, really. I mean, I have a hard time digesting dairy, but I didn't think she'd drink the goat milk --- Bleck!

Another Duo Memory

I noticed Rowan's first freckle this week. Hers is on her right leg, off to the side of her shin. I noticed Avery's first freckle, a couple days later. It's on her left wrist, under the thumb side. At first I thought it was a dirt speck, and couldn't be, but I licked my finger and wiped a few times, and sure enough, Avery and Rowan both have their first freckles within days of each other.
Soooo cute...

Behaviour

I'm so glad now that I had my girls close together. Avery's personality is changing so rapidly these days, and it seems like my sweet, gentle girl is turning into an aggressive, loud monster. I can remember having my new baby brother, and can relate to her. The good thing is she's used to Rowan, and they will not remember life without each other. Another good thing is I'm used to being with both, and can handle the new emotions.

At first, Avery used to only copy Rowan's cry and snort. It was quite funny. Then she would try to climb on or around me while nursing. Now she tries to smack Rowan on the head, and sit right in my lap. I've been sitting on the floor with her as much as possible, and I swear it really helps. I also read books so much to Avery, they're her absolute obsession. Besides our Sesame Street cd, in the car.

I gave Avery her first time out yesterday. She used to pet the cat, Capone, very gently, and now reefs his tail, bites and hits him. Now he does let her, but she has to learn that animals are not rag dolls, and not to act like Elmyra from Tiny Toons. "I'll love him and squeeze him to idy bidy pieces!" So, after I said firmly to not pull him a few times, and her laughing at that, I put her in her crib, closed the door, and left her for about a minute. I then went in, got her out, gave her a big hug, and told her calmly that she has to be nice and gentle to Capone. We went through the same procedure once more, and she's been a bit better since.


I've heard time outs aren't effective until they're three years old. Now I don't know what's true, but being her parent, I'm not going to let her be a wild child until then because I imagine it would be hard to become alpha mom later. Plus, I think my monster understands alot more than we think, and definitely can understand tone of voice.

I guess we can only do our best to guide the girls in the right direction, and help them become good little individuals, but I am really sad that they can't stay babies for just a while longer...