It's About Time for that 11 Month Post

Well, I am probably the only one who really cares, but I totally missed my 11 month post. I had big plans for it, but it just never quite fit in the timetable. Everytime I would sit down to write it, I would either get rudely interrupted by a severe case of writer's block or pleasantly interrupted by my two little buddies. As it is, their 1 year birthday is now just about 10 days away. So I don't think I am going to do a full 11 month update as has been done in the past - just thought I'd write a little bit about what we've been up to. And I am going to do my best not to mention the dirty "H" and "S" words (That would be "heart" and "surgery"). We've had enough of that talk for a little while.

What can I say about 11 months? It's been bittersweet --- my babies are growing up each day and while we thrive on seeing them discover and learn new things, I desperately miss those sweet angel babies. Because let's face it: they aren't so much babies anymore - they are getting into that "toddling" stage. And maybe that's why writer's block would hit with a vengeance when I would try to do the post - a part of me just wants to hang on and never make it to that year post. But the train is coming and I can't stop it. That's a really bad metaphor but all I can think of at the moment. I can't pause time and let's face it, time is a sweet and precious commodity these days. Definitely not enough of it.

After a long 10 or so months of a non-cuddler/snuggler, Quinn actually has broken down and now tolerates my snuggles. Not for long periods of time, but sometimes I can catch her just rights and she will just lay in my lap against my chest and just chill. Can you imagine her "just chillin'"??? It warms my heart - and I'd like to think on some level she knows her momma just needs that right now.

Ryan, of course, still snuggles up with the best of them and lays the most still of both of them. My favorite is after he has taken a bottle and he just lays there on the floor with his head on the boppy pillow. A child has never looked so content. Fast forward one year, and I can totally see him lounging on the floor in his pjs catching Saturday morning cartoons. It's those moments that make my heart swell and break all at the same time.

But alas, these brief moments of non-movement do not last long enough. Before I know it, they are up and running everywhere. Well, not running but cruising, crawling, making their way through their "palace" (ie: our home, which is so not a palace, but completely belongs to them now, save for my one last place of solitude, my bedroom). We are for the most part, babyproofed. It's taken a little while to complete because while I love our open floor plan, it's not actually the most condusive set up for baby proofings. It took a few amazon purchases and trips to Target to find the right mix of large enough gates and the correct cabinet locks. Some of the stuff is still kind of "jerry-rigged" as we call it - places where the gates aren't quite long enough and we've been forced to tie them down with a colorful array of bungee cords.

We also have "an issue" with the door to our bedroom staying shut (thank you, awesome soil here in Houston) so we have an awkwardly constructed gate in front of that, too. Then of course, there are the blinds and shades. I have comprimised on lifting one shade because it allows them to see out in the backyard and quite frankly I was tired of picking it up constantly after they would yank it down. However, (and I am only saying this for right now), I am not comprimising on my blinds. I apparently think it's more fun to say "No, No, No" over and over again.

But my instict also tells me that the kids need boundaries and there are just some things they shouldn't bother. And they totally know the word "No." They get it. I have to almost hold in my laughter when I tell Quinn, "No, ma'am." because she looks at me, gives me this half little grin, then when I say "NO!" again, she looks at me with these pitiful eyes and sits her butt back on the ground and starts bawling her eyes out. It's quite the scene. For about 1 minute until she finds something unless she would rather do. Currently that involves rearranging my kitchen furniture and pushing chairs all around until she is satisfied that they are all completely in position (away from the table and not at all what I had in mind). Interior decorating is not in her future.

And I don't think you'll find our house spotlighted in any design magazines anytime soon.

And little Ryan - well, he is not devoid of getting into bouts of trouble either. He just goes about it much more quietly than his sister. His current favorite is to crawl bellyside under our coffee table or wedge himself between the couch and some other small space. Then he just cries and cries because bless his heart, he can't figure out how to get out. He is still less steady on his feet than his sister but improves every day. Some days he just can't keep that big noggin' up, and he will hit it on just about everything imaginable. It seems everytime I go to get him from the crib or pick him up from the living room, he has a new red mark, bump, or bruise. I suppose we should be lucky that he has only busted one lip (so far). And I wouldn't even call it so much "busted" as just "marked by 4 little teeth" when he attempted to bite through it after standing on a toy that wasn't meant to be stood on.

Wow, reading through all of this, I sound like mother of the year that just lets her kids run wild. I assure you that I do not - that of course I keep tabs on them at all times. But as many of you can relate, if you turn your head for just 30 seconds, something can happen.

And I think that's why I am so tired.

I was doing the math. The kids sleep from 7:30pm to 7am most days. They are up for only about 2+ hours, then back to bed to almost 11am. Then up again until about 2pm and down until 3:45 or 4pm (if I am feeling generous). And down again that night. So really, we aren't talking about an insane number of waking hours. But when they are awake - wow. It's an energy sucker. Matt would vote that the worst/longest window of time is the 10:45 to 2pm slot because it includes both a bottle feed and lunch feed and lots of playtime and clean up. I would say that 4pm on is the most difficult because at that point I am just ready for Daddy to be home.

Now that the waking hours are pretty much unproductive work hours, I have taken to waking up about an hour and a half before the babies to get in some moments of silence, eat my breakfast, and get a little work done. It makes for a long day but I find that if I don't have those moments of solitude, then I have the hardest time thrusting myself into all things "baby" once the 7am alarm sounds.

Ok, so I am pretty sure that 11 months has consisted of more than babyproofing and "no's" but I told you this was a somewhat unconventional post before we move into the sappiness that will be their 1 year birthday post in just a short time. So I am not going to get all sappy bappy now. I have to conserve that. And conserve my tears.

I suppose I could tell you about their birthday party but to be honest, it's going to be a pretty small event and save for cakes and a banner, pretty traditional. I see all of these posts out there about these crazy elaborate 1st birthdays that look nothing like the first parties we grew up with. First, I will say that I am jealous of the people who can put that all together and make it look like something from a magazine. I think most of them make all of that clever stuff too. Where they find the time and inspiration is beyond me.  This is not my department in the least. I am only somewhat gifted in "google" and "etsy" searches, and since I am precious on time and not made of money, for the most part I have resisted. It will still be cute though - hopefully.

 I do know that for sure we have cake. And I even found smash cakes for the babies that are vegan (note: we are not vegan in the least, but the babies aren't supposed to have eggs yet because of my allergy to it, so we went the vegan route - only for their cakes, not for the "adult" cakes). When I spoke with the "cake lady" she warned me that the vanilla ones do not taste as good as the chocolate because you can tell there are a few ingredients missing. Ummmm, just a wild guess but I am taking bets that R&Q just won't care. After months of stinky formula, veggies, fruits, yogurt, and meat - their first taste of icing should be what heaven is like.

We did break down and order 2 "big" cakes (the ones the adults will feast on - WITH eggs), one for each of them. While they won't remember their 1st birthday party, I always want them to know that it's a tradition. It's a special day for them both - and in the future, we will always have a cake for each of them of their own choosing. So why not start now? After all, we apparently are made of money. Or at least etsy, one step ahead, and smocked auctions thinks so.

Happy 11 month belated birthday post, Ryan & Quinn. We love you so much!