My Sweet Babes

Sarah
After her bath, I was trying to diaper and clothe my 9 month old baby. She was desperately trying to get back into the bath to play with the twins. Try as I might, I could not get the diaper on this determined baby. Dan had to pin her down while I got the diaper on her. She was not going to give in without a fight. Remind you of anyone you know?

Bethie
We were leaving the bathroom. With Bethie, everything is done in slow motion. She was moaning about something making her "ouchie". I said that her bottom was going to be ouchie after I gave it a smackie (a smackie is a love tap of sorts, a playful threat). She walked even slower. I reached over and "rap-a-tap-tapped" her bottom. She took off and jumped into bed. Then she looked at me and said, "I can't go to bed without a smackie!". Bethie does what she wants, when she wants, with little regard to anyone or anything else. Remind you of anyone you know?

Katie
It was Katie's turn for a kiss and a hug. I went over to her bed and was greeted with a detailed schedule of events. She said "Pick up The Baby". I picked her up. "Rock The Baby". I did as I was told. "Now put The Baby gently into her bed". Done. As I was leaving, she shouted out "Say 'I love you, my babies'". I said "I love you Katie, I love you Bethie". Apparently, there is no room for ad libbing. Remind you of anyone you know?

Reality Hurts

Today, Bethie, Katie, and I were sitting on the floor watching Sesame Street. Without warning or cause, Bethie jumped up and ran full throttle into the TV. I was shocked! I said, "Why did you do that?". She said with such sincerity and disappointment, "I tried to jump into the TV so I could eat that banana". I laughed until my stomach hurt.

Updates

1. Katie and Bethie went to the eye doctor today. They won't need surgery, but they will need glasses all their lives. They are far sighted.
2. Sarah is still sick, but nothing like she was earlier this week. She's eating more, but still not enough. She is also wheezy at times. We didn't go to CHEO.
3. I went to take a picture of all Dan's laundry in the crib and Dan said, "Oh! Are you cleaning it up now?". He is still missing the point. So, the strike continues.
4. Dinners are becoming a tad easier. I told the twins that the mothers of Dora and the Backyardigans gave me recipes. They are now enjoying "Dora's Favourite Chicken" and "Pablo's Pork". Thanks, Mum, for the suggestion!
5. The Battle of the Poop continues, and I'm losing.

The Heart of My Home

My kitchen would never be featured in some glossy magazine. A real estate agent would flip out if she thought she had to list my house. I have "personalized" my home - somewhat. But I love it! I love it so much that I thought I would take a picture of my kitchen and post it. But the twins are at daycare and Sarah's asleep, and the essence of my kitchen would be lost. The magic of my kitchen begins with the three Dora place mats and the matching Dora calendar. It's the highchair that we pull over to the table so the 5 of us can have dinners together. It's the massive toys (thank you, Dan's parents) lining the perimeter that provide endless amount of entertainment to the three girls. It's the fridge absolutely covered in coupons, magnets, and photographs. It's in the fruit bowl that always has fresh fruit for the kidlings. It's in the buffet that's filled with crayons and My Little Pony colouring books. These things might show up in photographs, but the camera can't capture the wonderfulness of my kitchen unless it's seen "in action".

The Scoop On Poop

When we were trying to potty train the girls, both kids refused to poop in the toilet. We had no idea what to do. Since they were obsessed with the Dora Themed Cakes from Loblaws, Emilie suggested that we tell the twins that if they did 10 poops in the toilet then I would get them a Dora cake. To track the poops, they would get a sticker and put it on the calendar. Bethie was very enthusiastic. She started pooping like a mad person. I couldn't believe it. She did so many poops that I started praying that she would poop in her Pull-Up so I wouldn't have to buy a cake so quickly. 38 hours after mentioning this deal to the twins, I was panic calling every Loblaws in the city to get a Dora cake for that evening. It cost me $30, but Bethie poops in the toilet.

Katie likes to wait until about 30 minutes after she's been put to bed and then she poops in her Pull Ups. I have tried everything short of buying a Dora slab cake. I told her that the princesses on the Pull Ups were angry. I told her that I wasn't going to let her have Pull Ups. I tried and tried to make her poop before bed. Nothing worked. Monday night, she confessed to Dan that she "saves" her poop so she can get out of bed and get another cuddle. That did it for me. Last night, I told her that she could have raisins and marshmallows with her breakfast if she didn't poop in her Pull Ups. She pooped in the toilet and I served my toddlers marshmallows with their breakfast! Tonight, she mentioned the deal and asked if it was ongoing. I told her it was, and up she popped up to the toilet and did her thing. So far, no poop in her Pull Ups.

What have I learned? My kids are motivated by food. Praise and stickers are nice, threats can be ignored, but food is gold!

O What A Tangled Web I Weave...

I lie to my kids. A lot. I'm starting to feel guilty. They are going to have a twisted view of the world because of me. Here are some of my lies (sadly, the list goes on and on):

• Santa is going to come back and take their toys if they don't clean them up.
• Their juice only "works" if it's half filled with water.
• When they jump, it makes the snow fall.
• Dora's Mummy gave me the recipe for the pork because it's Dora's favourite meal. Also, Tyrone's (from the Backyardigans) Mummy gave me the recipe for the chicken.
• Wee Willie Winkie (from Mother Goose) is angry because they are not asleep. This doesn't work so well because they think Wee Willie Winkie is their friend and they want to play with him.
• All their bath toys are going down the drain unless they clean them up.
• When they go to daycare, I have to take Sarah to Dr. Gfeller (who has retired) to get a needle. If they don't go to daycare, then Dr. Gfeller will give them a needle too.
• The Reverend is suffering from some plague that has closed the church until further notice.

Mother of the Year 2009

I know that we're not even through January yet, but my chances of winning the Mother of the Year Award for 2009 are pretty slim. I was doing well in 2008, despite the fact that my kids were ALWAYS sick. I tried hard. I did crafts and baking and activities. I held the kids while they threw up, I cozied them in their beds, and I would always "Stop, Drop, and Cuddle". But 2008 was blown for me when my 3 year old Katie listed everything that was wrong with me and said that she would run "far, far away from home". I thought to myself "2009 is a new year. I can do it!". Then my baby Sarah got sick. It didn't seem that bad . I thought she had a cold. I thought her wheeziness was due to "ineffective coughing". WRONG. My baby has an ear infection and pneumonia! The doctor said that if her breathing doesn't improve within 24 hours, I have to take her to CHEO. I must be the only mother out there that thinks a 9 month old baby is faking!