Toddler Twins

There are several things you realize about yourself when you are the parent of two toddlers.  I've spent many years attempting to "know myself" and at one point felt that I had a strong grasp on who I was. False. For example: Now, I've always considered myself a patient, considerate person. However. Almost-three-year-old girls will push that patience to its extreme limit. If you were not already aware, children who are of the age of two enjoy doing everything for themselves. They also enjoy putting on ridiculous outfits.
Here's the scenario: We're running late. I'm almost ready, but Molly and Zoe are still looking like a hot mess, still crusted with this morning's Cheerio remnants even though it's 3 in the afternoon. Whatever. For a second I think: I mean, the grunge look is coming back in. But can't decide whether Cheerio stubble says hippie chic or just straight up haggard. Deciding I'd better not risk it I grab the easiest outfit I can find and tell them to put it on (which they are totally capable of doing). I go to finish getting ready and when I check on their progress I find them frolicking in the backyard with Charlie our cat. Looking like this:

Nailed it, Molly.
Not a single item that Molly is wearing is one of the things that I picked out for her. Awesome. Sometimes you just gotta roll with it. At least the sweater and skirt somewhat coordinate.

Here's another gem I've discovered: When your kids approach the age of three, naps may (oh, happy day) or may not (my life is a living nightmare) happen. Which brings me back to "knowing myself." I used to think I was the epitome of laid back. Well now. When it comes to nap times, watch out. I don't really care that you girls are outgrowing this wonderful gift of rest that us adults would kill for. You WILL lay down. I also don't really care if you sleep, but pipe down for a couple hours because mommy needs to be productive. And by productive I mean I need to have a least 2 hours of uninterrupted Facebook time.

Also, when I was pregnant several people told me I was lucky because twins don't ever fight with each other. Ha! Those people have obviously never experienced the dinner table situation at the Stover house. I won't describe it for you here because honestly you would want to tear your hair out, but basically every night I want to tell the twins to cut the crap and stop flinging their spaghetti at each other.
Life with twins is intense, frustrating, sometimes infuriating, yet all around beautiful.  They yell, scream, fight, throw tantrums and love me more than anything. And I love them just as much. They are mine and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

Something Red, Something Blue; A Party for Thing 1 and Thing 2

Molly and Zoe turned 2 years old yesterday.  Two already!  I can hardly believe it! I never want to be "that girl" that has the mushy mom blog, but every mom has to gush every now and then when it comes to their children: I can barely begin to describe how amazingly blessed I am because of those two sweet things! Every single day I am amazed by the new feats they achieve (I know, I know; finally getting both feet off the ground while jumping might not seem impressive to some, but when they finally mastered it my mind was blown)! For obvious, divorce-related reasons, this year has been a crazy roller coaster.  Yet, everyday Molly and Zoe pulled me up, put multiple smiles on my face, inspired belly laughs, and made everything ok wonderful.

Anyway, enough gushing! Since I grew up in a family that always made a huge deal out of birthdays, I'm carrying this on with my own girls, natch.  Since the day I learned I was having twins I've had fantasies of dressing them up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat, because seriously, how cute is that?! So I threw them a Dr. Seuss party.  While I set up for the party they were allowed to watch Caillou (a really stupid kids' show that they LOVE for some reason) all morning.
This is how twins watch TV:

The girls have absolutely zero idea what birthdays are, so it was essentially a party for me! 

This may sound silly, but throwing this party for them was, for me, a way to honor how special they are. They've given me so much in the last two years; they took this selfish, one-track minded girl and turned her into an aware and caring woman and mother.  So they deserved this day; even if they had no idea what was going on! 

Little Destroyers

Fact: Life with kids is messy.  I'm finding that life with twins is crazy messy! Here's a few examples from the last few weeks:

Exhibit 1: When left alone, toddlers will get into/destroy EVERYTHING!

I was getting dressed in the other room for literally less than a minute and this is what happened. Their room was spotless originally!

Exhibit 2: Wipes are like a tractor beam for toddlers. Sucks them right in.

They took every. single. wipe. out of the dispenser and threw them around the living room. Notice how proud Molly is of the feat that they achieved.  

So I tried to put them back. Not quite the same.

And finally, Exhibit 3: The casualty of owning the most gigantic monstrosity of a jogging stroller known to man.

 It fell on my leg. And it hurt. A lot. 

So yes, being a mom is messy.  Really messy.  These two little girls have taken my world by storm.  But I wouldn't change anything about it! 

Meatless Monday, I mean, Thursday

So, since I always tell everyone how much I love cooking, I thought I'd share some of it here.  I've read that it's healthy to go meatless one day a week; and since I'm still working on restoring this "mommy bod" to its svelte former self, I decided to give it a go.  Tried it today. I feel hungry.  Definitely cannot go full vegan or anything; I now know this after one full day of it, but I will push on! So today I made a veggie pasta dish that didn't turn out half bad, if I do say so myself.  But before I get to that let me show you what I walked in on when I got the twins up from their nap before dinner.

The room did NOT look like this when I put them down for their nap! Yes, Molly is pant-less; and yes, those are her purple jeans on the floor.  Apparently, naps are clothing optional.

But I digress...so here's the finished meatless Monday Thursday meal:

Let me break it down for you meatless-minded folk such as myself.  It's spinach fettuccine with summer squash, zucchini,  baby bell peppers, diced tomatoes, red onion, basil and oregano.  And Parmesan cheese, of course, because cheese is a requirement for every meal!  Not too bad, although, spinach fettuccine is a bit alfalfa-ish.
Molly and Zoe even liked it...

Until Zoe decided finger painting with it was more fun than actually eating it...

Molly ate it all. Typical.

So, I say, anyone thinking of going meatless, at least sometimes; go for it. Just don't be offended when your kids turn your spinach fettuccine into an art experiment!

The Little Things

It's the little things that count.  This is what I learned today.  First thing this morning I woke up to find Zoe had poo all the way up her backside. Sweet. Good start, day.  But then as I grudgingly changed her diaper/sleeper/sheets, she started singing her toddler version of the ABCs and made it all kind of OK.  Then I had part four of my divorce mediation. Sweet.  Good middle, day.  When I got home I really was hoping the twins might be ready for a nap.  They weren't.  But then they spent almost an hour pushing the laundry basket around the house and laughing their heads off.  It was quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen and I found myself forgetting about divorces and courthouses.

After dinner, Molly decided to steal Grandmom's reading glasses and wear them around the house.  Adorable. Good ending, day. Literally!

Somehow, every day, these two find a way to take my dull-drums and turn them into highlights.  The little things they do are so precious and I love watching every minute of it; I wouldn't have it any other way!