Remiss

Over the past several weeks, quite a bit has gone on with our fellow bloggers. Sadly, I have been so busy I have been remiss in my duties and congratulations. So let's start with Duane and Bernadette. YAY! They traveled a very long road and are finally parents to twins Scarlett and Hayden. Bernadette has been a trooper and definitely get's the super mom of the year award for her tireless patience and vigil in India. We hope to see her and the babies home soon safe and sound so they can depart on the next leg of their journey of being parents.

Prior to Bernadette and Duane there was also Tony and Mike with the birth of their daughter Zoey. A huge congratulations to them as well and don't worry...Zoey will eventually go to sleep. Of course, you will have gained several bags under your eyes until then but nothing a little cover-up won't hide ;P

Jason and Adrian welcomed their daughters, Clara and Olivia, into the world as well. I have been communicating with Jason off and on for over a year now vial e-mail. Seems like forever, we couldn't be happier for them! Now the real fun starts. Jason was terrified at the thought of twins...don't worry, you'll both be too busy to be scared.

And the most recent addition to our blogging family is Doug and Bill's new daughter Christina Lei! I have a special gift for you guys and I will mail it out as soon as I can find those magical minutes of free time that has just about disappeared when we became daddies! Doug and Bill hold a special place in my heart simply by virtue that they are from my home State. Mike B. and I hope to travel back to Hawaii one day, when the thought of a very long flight with our two girls doesn't scare the crap out of us, and get to meet them.

WHEW! So many babies into the world all to people who were bound and determined to make their family dreams come true. For these people, and for many of our blogging family who are pregnant and expecting soon, congratulations! 

PAID!

Dear Rose and Eva,

At approximately 10 am this morning, May 4, 2012, my online bank said the payment to the loan we used to pay for our happiness/neurosis/exhaustion/bliss was "PROCESSING." Thanks in part to the IRS, a bad economy, and a fortuitous new job, we may now stamp "PAID IN FULL" on your hineys. Whew!

You both may now rest easy knowing that you will not be re-possessed. You do, however, still need to be mindful that completely over-the-top tantrums can send Baba to the keyboard to inquire what children are going for on eBay.

Now I can rip-off fellow blogger (Our Simple Lives) Mark's line "Thanks, I bought 'em that way." and actually mean it. Can't really say that in earnest when you're still doling out payments can you.

They're Growing Up!

Today, Friday, April 27, 2012, our girls had their first day at PRESCHOOL! Now granted it's for 1 day a week for now, but it's a huge event in the girls' lives. Mike and I had been talking about this since they turned two. Okay...arguing is more appropriate as we had a difference of opinion. I felt they should start earlier, he didn't. We finally agreed to wait until they turned three and start them out one day a week. The plan is to eventually increase them to 3 or even full time. For now, one day a week.

We have heard many stories in regard to a child's first day at preshool/daycare. Some dive right in, while other scream so badly even the professional caregivers ask they be taken home. Our niece was one who screamed and was pulled out. She was put back several months later and did well. Perhaps she wasn't ready. We were concerned this might happen to our girls.

Up until today, Eva and Rose have only know Baba, Daddy, and Auntie as their primary caregivers. We did not really know what to expect. the pictures in our minds ran the gamut from the girls waltzing in holding hands, spewing forth flowers and love to all they meet and touch, to, sonic screaming meemies making the eardrums of the caregivers bleed and stopping just shy of a Linda Blair head rotation moment and projectile action. WHEW! The latter did not happen.

Since we made the decision on the date, we have been prepping them for almost a month. Talking to them about school, telling them how much fun it was going to be, and in general getting them very excited about going. It worked..another big sigh of relief. So this week has been about preparing everything.

This morning was a mad dash and a departure from the routine as we had to feed, clean, clothe, and shoot out the door. We got in early, we spent a few minutes at the office, then headed down the street to the facility which is in walking distance of our office. We got them in their new classroom, and while they were distracted and exploring with the teacher, beat a hasty retreat...a "throw 'em in the water to teach them to swim" first day approach.

In the afternoon, I gave the place a call to see how the girls were doing and they reported they were doing fantastic! We promptly went to pick them up at 4:30 and they were in the playground. Eva saw us first, she gave us a token whimper and a look of "Where the Hell have you been!" Rose...she was too busy still running around. But, once she saw us, came running. Of course, the teacher told us that around 4, Rose kept putting on her coat, standing by the door, and announcing "I'm ready to go home now!" Yup...that's our girl.

We gave them a special treat for their first day, picked up pizza, ate dinner, and let them run amok. They were still wired from the day. By bedtime, they started to crash, Eva barely making it past her second tickle, tickle before passing out.

The most important thing in all this...they had a great time! We'll see what happens next week. Mike thinks now that they know we'll be dropping them off, they'll not be as accommodating. We can only wait and see.

Our girls are growing up. It's hard to believe 3 years ago we were just in India for baby pick-up! 

The Importance of Diction

This evening, downstairs while waiting for paperwork to be dropped off by the accountant...

EVA: Baba...I hear a fuck!
BABA: A WHAT?!
EVA: I hear a fuck...it loud.
BABA: You hear a what?
EVA: A fuck baba, a fuck! Outside! It loud!
ROSE: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee! (running past us both being very busy)
BABA: Eva...you mean a truck?
EVA: YES BABA! A truck. It vewy LOUD!

Diction is an important skill to teach your children...especially before they enter into day-care!

Hula Hams!

Spring is upon us...Daddy went shopping for Bathing suits as Eva has outgrown hers. Rose, sadly, shall get Eva's hand-me-downs until such a time she really objects. In addition, we of course had to pull out the old suits to see what fit. The rest...well...enjoy.

I immediately sent this off to my Kumu Hula in Hawai'i and told him to prepare for two more students!

Happy Birthday Rose

So as I write this, our little girl Rose is fast asleep, albeit not without a fight. Lately, she has been fighting going to bed tooth-and-nail! I remember the days when you used to sleep most of the day. But in what seems to have been a blink of an eye, you turned three. 

I would have tried to be more poetic and flowery in my post, but both Daddy and I are just too tired from assembling you and your sisters birthday present...love is just plain exhausting. Happy birthday Rose. We love you...I'll try not to blink or I may miss your fourth birthday.

Milestones

It has been a while since I have done a "real" post. The bags under my eyes can attest to this. By the time we get home, we're exhausted…we feed ourselves whilst our girls steal croutons off our plates or beg for chips or chocolates or whatever hits their fancy at the time. We attempt to watch the news…okay, it's more like one of us attempts to watch the news while the other one is stuck watching Ni Hao Kai Lan, The Fresh Beat Band, or some other child's program in the other room with two little girls jumping on him trying to rupture his spleen and occasionally bombing up and down the hallway screaming at the top of their lungs…maybe losing my hearing isn't a bad thing.

Life with two little girls almost turning three is just so busy! Dear Edward and Paul…God speed.

The big thing is POTTY TRAINING! Eva had started early on, but we weren't diligent enough so she backslid. However, as the girls will start daycare once a week after their 3rd birthday, we made it a point to really start. It has been a challenge, exasperating, annoying, funny, and I'm oh so waiting to get rid of the changing table and the diapers! Training one is enough of a challenge, but two at the same time is like trying to teach a bear how to ride a unicycle using a hula-hoop while juggling multi-colored poodles.

But we are making progress. Rose had been the hold out. She had informed us and Auntie on several occasions that she doesn't want to be a big girl. We persevered. Just four weeks ago she told Auntie that "someday" she would wear underwear. Within a week of that statement, she was all for the undies. 

Eva has been ready, willing, and able. Problem is "monkey see, monkey do." Rose isn't doing it…she doesn't want to do it. Rose does it, she wants to do it and is mad as Hell if we let Rose do it first. Don't even get me started on the stolen toys when the other one isn't looking! OY!

The goal is to have them potty trained before they enter Daycare. We're getting there. Sometimes it takes cajoling, but we are definitely getting there. And while I know it's not supposed to be funny, the first couple of times Rose had an accident you could have sworn the child had gotten stung by a bee. She was in HYSTERICS running around trying to figure out what to do as she felt a potential accident coming on. You're trying to get her on the potty, but she's still wasn't cotton to that, so she ran around some more like a chicken with its head cut-off while Baba and Daddy tried not to laugh at the flailing child while trying to convince her to go on the potty.

As of this week, and over this past weekend, I can say our girls are nearly house-broken. Not only were they able to hold it and inform me in Sam's Club that they had to go potty, but they patiently walked with me to the bathroom, went to the big stall, waited until I got the portable potty out of the bag and situated on the floor, then patiently pulled their undies and pants down and did the deed…4 times! For anyone who's been in a Sam's Club, you know how big they are. On ALL four occasions, I swear to God we were as far away as we could be from the bloody bathrooms! So the fact they accomplished this 4 times without an accident is impressive. Plus, I got some exercise briskly, well as briskly as one can with two nearly three-year-olds, walked to the bathrooms.

The next step is weening them off the diapers in the evening. This will be harder, I expect accidents, late night washings, trauma. But they will get there and we can finally be rid of the changing table and diapers! A joyous celebration will be had by all with a great deal of appreciation coming from my wallet! In my rough calculation, we have spent nearly $3,000 JUST on diapers! 

So for now, our next big milestone is potty training. The next milestone will be Daycare one day a week. At least the facility is in walking distance of our office in case we have any major melt-downs!

Aunty Moses

Aunty found out this morning that when you yell "potty training!" while making a beeline to the doors in a crowded grocery store, people part out of your way as if Moses himself were parting the Red Sea... 

I Had a Dream

Yes, I had a dream. it was not as poignant and moving as Dr. Martin Luther King. Nor did this dream carry with it the passion and tenor Martin Luther imbued into his being as he spoke that famous speech. But, it was just as awe inspiring.

This morning, just before I woke up, I dreamt I woke up. It was quiet. I could hear my husbands deep breathing as he continued his slumber. Light was streaming into the windows, the white noise of the fan we always turn on before bed hummed comfortingly. It was quiet. 

I was refreshed. I stopped and listened very hard…nothing. The girls were still asleep. I looked over to my left at my clock…it read…10:00AM!

I balked…could  it be? Did I actually get to sleep until 10 am in the morning? No little girls screaming for attention? Had we just passed a momentous milestone and I didn't even know it until now? 10 AM! It was QUIET!

Alas, it was just a dream…"baba……Baba…..BABA!" I woke up. I blearily glance over to my left at my clock….it was 6:30am. Sigh…crap.

SPAM Begone

So we're getting Spammed again by less than reputable persons. To our regular readers, we have turned on comment moderation. You can leave a comment, you just won't get the instant gratification of seeing your words/name up in cyber lights right away...sorry if it's a buzz-kill.

On the flip side, I'm now letting anyone comment as I can control the nasties and hit delete with unfettered glee! Ooooohhhh...my finger is just a tingle! My attitude is simple when it comes to comments, hateful...DELETE...Spam...DELETE...difference of opinion...PUBLISH. You may or may not agree with some of the posts and opinions we have, that's cool. A robust dialog, even perhaps tense or adversarial, is part of life. We do not, however, tolerate spam or just downright spiteful, hateful, or mean-spirited comments. In my experience, the people that leave these types of comments are in need of therapy...and I'm not a therapist.

I don't expect everyone to hold hands, grow their armpit hair long, build a bonfire, don a guitar and sing cumbaya...I do expect respect. Simple.