More teenagers

Yes, it's true. There are two more teens in this house. Moriah and Susannah celebrated their 13th birthdays today...and officially entered teen-dom.

They awoke to crepe paper streamers at the bottom of the stairs, the number 13 made out of crepe paper on the windows and chairs festooned with crepe paper. Unfortunately, the crepe paper didn't cancel school for the day.

It wasn't an easy day, schedule-wise, to turn 13 because of all that this family had going on. Jim had to go to Anchorage, Samuel had DDF Club after school, I had to work and then had class, the girls had X-C running and the end-of-season pizza party and then piano right afterwards, Jim and I had play rehearsal and then Bible study at the church.

I had found time to make a delicious (and I mean DELICIOUS) apple pie cake for the X-C party (I stayed up insanely late last night/this morning after finishing homework to get it ready for baking), using up the last of my energy reserves and the flour and sugar. But my lack of time, energy and basic baking staples meant I couldn't make their 'official' birthday cake in time to have it for dessert, which was to be Texas Sheet Cake.

After Bible study, though, I had a little brainstorm and suggested that Jim get ice cream for a little celebration. That worked well and the girlios enjoyed (I think) being sung to over Goo Goo Cluster ice cream. They each got their own song and each got the chance to blow out their candles. Samuel insisted on helping light the candles and thankfully didn't catch anything on fire.

Here is a photo of the two 13-year-olds with their birthday ice cream:



Happy Birthday, Moriah.
Happy Birthday, Susannah.

I love you more than you could ever imagine.

Know what else?

How in the WORLD did I forget to add the other biggie deal from a little over a week ago?

The little girls turned three! On January 31 to be exact. We had our regular church stuff Sunday morning (although the singing of the birthday song isn't regular) and had a relaxed afternoon. Even though the new three-year-olds didn't sleep a wink at naptime for all the excitement of anticipating their party. After Jim and the girls got back from confirmation class, we had some friends over to help celebrate with cake and ice cream. I'll work on a longer post soon (I really will!) because I still need to download some photos from a friend's camera.

Suffice it to say that the little girls are definitely not babies anymore. They're "tottlers" as Bethany says. I guess they're really more like preschoolers. Wowie, where did the time go?

Two year check up

Today was our visit to see our pediatrician, Dr. Shen, for Abigail and Bethany's two year check up. I was wondering what sort of reaction they'd have to the office, because they sort of freaked out at their 18 month check up. Thankfully, they bopped right into the room and didn't seem to notice that Darla the nurse had a cart full of instruments.

Abigail got a little nervous when she had to become a 'naked baby' but sat willingly enough in my lap for the preliminary exam. Darla listened to her heart, measured her head, took her temperature under her armpit (oh, that one was close...almost mutiny), measured her height and took her weight. Bethany watched and learned it would be painless and was obliging with each part of her exam. We said goodbye to Darla (Bethany kept saying "bye bye di-ya" every few moments) and told the girls we'd be seeing Ellen next. Bethany, in keeping with being the littlest sister, said "Abigail first".

Ellen's part of the exam was completely painless (but she would return later in a more menacing role...stay tuned) because she was the person who talked about developmental stuff. We got those papers to fill out about how brilliant your kids are (both girls scored well above their ages in everything...almost third grade! ha!) and waited for the doc to arrive.

Dr. Shen is a great pediatrician, in my opinion, and not just because she has twin girls too. She's patient and kind and gentle and can get little ones to participate in the exam. Both girls checked out just fine. They are doing well/above average for their age developmentally... apparently, though, having your child identify an animal using the sound it makes doesn't count. hmph. They have to say the name of the animal. Who made up that silly rule?

We took a few extra minutes to chat about our other kids and other life stuff (she's just that kind of doctor) and we were on our way.

You're dying to know what else Ellen did today aren't you? I should say, first, that Ellen saw the little girls a lot when they were first born. She was often the nurse on duty when we'd come for weight checks or other issues and was wonderful to us in those first stressful months. Today, however, she administered a flu shot to each girl...they weren't quite so fond of her after that. Didn't bother me at all. *grin* I feel confident that the event will be long-forgotten by the babes by time we see her again.

Now for the stats:
Abigail weighed in at 27 lbs., 7 oz. and was 34 1/8 inches long.
Bethany weighed in at 23 lbs. 8 oz. and was 33 1/4 inches long.

We spent the rest of the morning/early afternoon in Anchorage running errands before arriving home just as school let out and the chaotic afternoon of the girls going to a class to make an American Girl dress and jr. high soccer for Samuel and Jim going on a bike ride with Hurley and me going to my mosaics class (and totally missing calling my mom for her birthday...rotten daughter...sorry Mom!! We love you!!).

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (One, Two, Happy Birthday to You)

Earlier my two year olds (weird to say) were quibbling over shoes with little buckles. Abigail knew she was annoying Bethany, but she kept the other shoe out of her reach anyway. And grinned as she did it. Abigail puts on a devilish grin when she knows she's bugging someone. For someone who was running a fever and a total lump in my arms earlier, it was actually kinda nice to see Abigail being a stinker.

Here are a few highlights (and a couple of lowlights) from the little girls' first two years:

They were born only three and a half weeks early, which is good for twins.
Abigail was 5 lbs. 12 oz. at birth, Bethany was 5 lbs. 2 oz.
Bethany was born with club feet but casting and bracing have made a huge different and to see her run and jump and play, you'd never know that she has it.
Abigail had reflux and cried a LOT at first, but meds controlled it and now she's fine.
They were both slow to grow, but are doing fine now. Abigail is noticeably bigger at this point and I get comments like "oh, how far apart are they" and very surprised faces when I reply "four minutes".
They've been to several states (and DC) already (WA, VA, D.C., NC, PA, NY, RI, MA, MD, IN, KY, IL, CO and of course their home state, AK!).
They were baptized at 9 months, wearing the same baptismal gowns that Moriah and Susannah wore.
Abigail has been a monkey and Dino Flintstone for Halloween.
Bethany has been a snowboarder and Pebbles Flintstone for Halloween.
They began walking around 15 months, within a week of each other.
Elmo and Blues Clues became favorites a few months ago.
They both love to be read to, a highlight of my days.
Abigail loves veggies and Bethany loves cheese. Both love sweets.
They both love being pulled in their sleds and they both love 'no' (snow).
They adore their older siblings and sometimes cry for a sibling instead of a parent.

I could probably go on and on (and probably missed something major). I hope this gives a little view into their first two years. It's been a wild ride (starting when the ultrasound tech told me there were two in there again) and at times I've had to hang on for dear life, but I wouldn't change a thing, my dear sweet babies.

Happy Happy Birthday Abigail and Bethany. Thank you for two wonderful years.