Date Night

Last night Alan and I had a date night with Adam.  We took him to dinner, then to the long-awaited Kadena release of Toy Story 3.  He was super-excited and even wore his pajamas that look like Woody's costume.  He was the hit of the theater.  Every kid (big & small, alike) would point and say, "LOOK!  There's Woody!"  And Adam ate it up.  He even said to one kid, "I'm not Woody, I'm just dressed like him."  I guess he didn't want to get caught providing a false identity.  He covered his ears on the loud parts and laughed at the funny parts and clapped when the Aliens used "the claw."  It was a fun, perfect night with our #1.  Here he is, getting ready for the show to begin.

See that big bag of popcorn he's holding?  Well, he ate it all.  Then, last night he took Pepto because he had a tummy ache.  This morning he told me all of this:  "Mommy, next time Ms Karina comes to take care of the babies and you and me and Daddy go to the movies to see a movie, I'm not gonna eat that much popcorn again because I might get a tummy ache again.  I'm just goin' to tell the man that works there, 'No, I don't want any popcorn,' because that was a lot of popcorn that I ate."  Tough lesson learned.

Milestones

In the past week or so, we've reached a few milestones around here.  First, Audie rolled over!  Back to front, too, not the easy way.  Here he is, confused and frustrated:

Second, the babies started cereal!  Audie started about a week ago, and Anaya wasn't interested then.  But yesterday she finally took an interest in it and today she went to town. 

The babies transitioned into separate cribs a few weeks ago, but it's nice to know they can still snuggle up together.  I put them together after a bath, while I finished bathing Adam and this happened:

*Side note:  It's hilarious to me that there are how many? stuffed animals and blankets surrounding them.  With Adam, we would have rushed over to remove the blankets because all the books said to.  Now, it's more like, "Eh, they're still breathing and, more importantly, happily sleeping.  Why mess with a good thing?"

Another great thing that's happening lately is these babies will put themselves to sleep.  That didn't happen with Adam.  You just give them a pacifier and a lovey and they're out.  The other day, Audie fell asleep but just couldn't commit to a nap enough to take his hand off the toy.

We're not quite to five months, so that update is around the corner, but day by day, little by little, these guys are (dare I say?) getting easier.  That, my friend, is good for everyone. 

Our "Fixtures"

I debated telling this story, but a recent addition to it makes it too hard to resist.  A few weeks ago, after I had taken a shower and was dressing in my closet, Adam walked in and said to me, "You're not supposed to show your penis."  "Well,"  I said, "I don't have a penis."  His reply:  "Well...I see one!"  Highly doubtful.  After all, I doubt the whole "delivering a baby" thing would have worked out... 

Fast forward to Saturday - he needed to be bathed quickly so I convinced him to take a shower with me.  After we undressed he said "Let me see if you have a penis," as he proceeded to try and check.  I moved him away and said that I did not because girls did not have penises.  After a few seconds of silence he asked, "So do you just poop?  Because you have to pee out of your penis."  Huh.  That was an interesting deduction.  I explained that we had different parts for that.  And then I showered on my knees so he would no longer be at eye-level.  I think Dad will have to be the shower buddy from now on...and I'm sure that will create a whole 'nother series of questions!       

Crank It Up!

After the blog with the video of the babies "talking" to each other, I got lots of requests for more videos.  Here is a 45-second-long gem.  I would love to tell you that this is a rare occasion, but...  

The video is really dark, but that's really not important.  Turn it up! 

Deadly Vegetables

The other day, Adam and I were playing with his Army men and he was separating them into groups based on their likeness.  What can I say?  He's his mother's son.  Anywho, he put them all into groups.  Then he said to me, "Mommy, all of them have a bunch of guys except for the pickle shooters.  There's only two pickle shooters."  "Oh, really?"  I ask.  "And, which ones are the pickle shooters?"  He shows me this guy: 

"Do you think that's a pickle he's holding?"  I ask him.  He replies, "Yes.  He puts the pickle in the jar that's in there and then he shoots it and all the pickles come banging out."  Of course they do.  "Do you think it could be something else he's loading in there?"  I ask him.  "Well...I'm sorry, it might be a carrot.  Yeah, I think it's a carrot."  Me: "Yeah, that makes more sense."

31

I was thinking about my upcoming birthday (which I'm totally sure you're aware of and have shipped a gift for) and then I was thinking about people who don't like to celebrate their birthdays.  They're too bummed about being another year older and they don't like to acknowledge it.  Instead of being one of those people, which isn't really my nature anyway, I thought I would celebrate my life thus far by making a list of 31 good or fun things I've done. 

1.  I said "Yes" to a blind date.

2. I married the man God sent me who was worth keeping.  Not only worth keeping, but worth sacrificing a lot for.  But I don't sacrifice nearly as much as he sacrifices for me.  Or you.

3.  I dated and had my heart broken - and maybe broke a few hearts, too.  But it all taught me what I needed to know so that I would be ready for the right one.

4.  I finished school - high school and college. Not that I'm using that degree, but I could if I wanted to.

5.  I said "Yes" when Alan asked if I would move to North Carolina...then D.C...then Colorado Springs...then Omaha...then Okinawa.  I'm proud that I've been that resilient and that flexible.

6.  I beat cancer.  And even got a tattoo to celebrate it. 

7.  I gave life to three precious, healthy children and I love them endlessly.

8.  I've been a bridesmaid for my best friends' weddings

9.  I went to Times Square for New Years Eve

10.  I've stayed healthy enough to run countless 5Ks and a 10K

11.  I've run a half-marathon...

12....and a full marathon!

13.  I ran in the Texas State Track Meet in 1995

14.  I've been a good friend, especially when friends needed a good friend.

15.  I rocked a bald head.  I made that shit look good.  So did Alan ;-)

16.  I took the ultimate Spring Break vacation (at the time) - Cancun.

 

17.  I learned to surf and rocked.

18.  I (We) survived two deployments

19.  I was a manager of the pharmacy I worked for in Austin.
 
20.  I learned how to shoot a gun. 

21.  I know how to jump-start a car.  Beyond that, I know how to call a tow truck!

22.  Aside from chemo, I've never done drugs.

23.  I've made friends all over the country - and world! - who will be a part of my life forever.

24.  I've known God, lost Him (or faith in Him, at least), and found Him again.

25.  I've (We've) taken an RV road trip with a 2-year-old and two dogs across the Western U.S.

26.  I've flown an airplane over San Antonio (okay, only for a few minutes, but have you?)

27.  I've been to the two biggest car races - Daytona 500 and Indy 500 - and actually enjoyed them!

28. I've survived a hurricane, driving in a blizzard, a pretty big earthquake and being held-up at gun-point.  My Guardian Angel has me covered.  Bring it. 

29.  I've been a good parent - not perfect, but good. 

30.  I went sky-diving.

31.  I've built a life that I love (even when I think I hate it) and am proud of.  Isn't that what's most important?  I'd hate to waste a day worrying about how old I am and missing out on this life and the opportunities it's yet to present.

Heroes in a Half-Shell

So today we attended our first ever year-end program.  I can't believe we're already there in our life!  Adam's program for Okinawa Montessori School was themed "Under the Sea" and all the students, broken down by age group, dressed as various sea creatures and performed dances.  Adam was a turtle, along with a group of boys his age.  Except, not just a turtle - a Ninja Turtle.  And they did a rap dance.  I know.  Friggin' adorable!  I had forgotten to take a picture of him in his costume until we got home afterwards.  You can see by the busted ribbon on the side that he tore it up.  If only I had remembered to take in the waist on his pants, there would've been no holding him back.  We think there's talent, but you can be the judge ;-)

...And Breathe Out...

When Adam turned four months old, I remember thinking, "Okay, this is good.  It's getting to be more fun and not so hard."  Having that memory, I have been looking forward to seeing what these babies would be like at four months.  Honestly, I've been desperate to see if four months bears any ease or improvement.  The last few weeks have been incredibly tough for me.  I have felt overwhelmed more times than I can count and have wondered endlessly why I feel so inadequate.  Why is it that the mamasan can come over and care for the babies while doing laundry and dishes and cleaning my floor and I can't even accomplish a phone call?  I often wonder if there's some secret Phillipino concoction she whips up and drugs them with.  And I might be okay with that.  It might actually make me feel better to know that's why she can do it all.  It has just seemed like I am never enough and I have been unable to figure out how I can possibly be more.  Audie was crying constantly (cutting a tooth?  gas?  over-tired?  WHAT IS IT???) and decided to give up the pacifier in favor of my finger, rendering me useless to the other two children.  Anaya threw down the princess card quite often and shrieked and screamed until we let her have it (whatever it was) her way.  But, alas, it's always darkest before dawn, right?  And here we stand (ALIVE!) at four months old and, what do ya' know?  I can let out that breath I've been holding for the last four months.  It is getting a little bit easier.  Lil' bit.  Our dinner conversations are no longer drowned out by the crying and instead the music is their cooing and playing, or on a really good night - peaceful slumber.  Speaking of sleeping, with a paci (Audie has rebuilt that relationship!) and a lovey they'll generally put themselves to sleep, which is a dream.  They smile and laugh, and play and listen and are very attentive when they're awake, watching and learning from Adam.  And they looooove Adam.  And he loooooves them, which is a bonus.  They sleep six hour stretches most nights.  They pick on each other, which is funny.  Like kicking each other in bed, or knocking each other's pacifiers out if they've lost their own.  They're getting used to their carseats, I think, which gives me hope for our probable trip back to the States in November.  I was beginning to wonder what 14 hours of screaming baby was going to do to us...The bottom line is, whether it's complete bliss or not, four months is definitely a milestone and we'll take what we can get.

Anaya is the princess.  That hasn't changed.  She rules the roost and calls the shots.  If she starts crying (which is really more of a scream), you can bet Audie will drop whatever he's doing, even if he's completely happy and playing, and provide some sympathy tears.  Except when they decide that tag-teaming would be a better strategy.  And she could be sitting there completely happy, but if she sees me pick Audie up, she kicks out that paci and starts fake-crying.  Princess.  But she smiles a lot, too, though, and it's absolutely precious.  She'll wake up in the morning and immediately start crying so we'll run in there to tend to her every want, but when we arrive she's all smiles.  Moody.  Female.  She likes to nap with me, which is sweet.  She also likes altitude.  Don't even try to hold her for long sitting down - no one around will be happy with you.  She still has her blue eyes, which are breath-taking.  We haven't been to the doctor yet, but I'm guessing she's about 12-13 lbs.  She's a pistol.

Audie is the baby, although I'm trying really hard to not place that stigma on him.  The past few days, though, he's been an absolute dream.  He cries when he's hungry or tired or uncomfortable, but not too much else.  He is still my little snuggle-bug, which is nice.  He likes to be held close and tight all the time, especially while he falls asleep, but he won't really lay with me and nap.  He has those big, brown eyes that are so bright and full of life, just like Adam's were.  We get laughs easier out of Audie and it's so stinkin' cute!  And what a flirt!  I'll look over at him and he'll just be sittin' there, smilin' at me, like, "How you doin?"  Or I'll have him and Anaya propped up facing eachother and he'll just start smiling at her.  He's a little sweetheart and I think when he sleeps, he epitomizes the picture of a sleeping baby.  Perfect.  I think he's probably 13 lbs.  When his hair grows in, he's gonna be a knockout ;-)

Life around here is getting better by the day and we're looking forward to what's in store.  I know it's going to be hard work, but we'll figure it out together.  We're looking forward to having everyone meet them in November.  Here are a few recent pics and even a video of both of them talking, but it's a little long (3 mins.), so sorry about that.  Four-month-olds don't really do anything on-cue.