This is the night before I delivered the twins!
Happy Birthday Josi and Libbi! What a surprise we were in for! If you don't know their birth story check it out on my blog.
In the hospital.
And if you are a parent of a twin, triplet, or any number of multiples you manage to silence your inner thoughts many times when other people complain about their "singleton". So this post is a shout out to my "multiple-mommas" out there and daddies too!
When people say the lovely comment "Two for the price of one" I want to quickly pipe back, "No, two for the price of two!!!!!" We spend double of every thing! Double the amount of formula, double the diapers, double the wipes, double the food, snacks, and baby ibuprofen! When we go to the doctor you'd think we'd be cut a break, but no, we pay two co-pays! Double the clothes, shoes, and toys. Double the bath soap, lotion, and Desitin! MULTIPLES = MONEY!!! and lots of it!
When people say, "Are they twins?" that is by far my favorite! I always politely say yes, but Troy and I did have an amazing moment one time when we were at Outback Steakhouse with my in-laws. If any one of you know my father-in-law (Who I have nicknamed "LD" like Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiam, because he has many characteristics of him!) THEN, this next sentence will be no surprise, but when he was asked by someone "Are they twins?" He replied "No, they were just born 6 months apart!" I could not even look at the person! But I was secretly happy he said the comment Troy and I say to ourselves every time someone asks!
When people are walking around the mall with their "singleton" stroller, people don't even realize the trouble it is to get a double stroller around places! I have to search for a WIDE path and hope I don't take out a clothes rack or something. Believe me I have thought about getting the front to back stroller too, that would only elongate my caravan of children! Which leads me to my next rant!
Troy and I have officially started referring to our family as the "freak show" this is because when we go out in public we are stopped and stared at by mostly everyone living and breathing. When people see two twin babies and a "matching-blonde-older version of the twins" they go a little paparazzi crazy! They want to get in their faces, touch them, talk to them which ALWAYS results in one or more crying! We honestly have to debate on the weekends whether or not to take the "freak show" out! "Hey do you wanna take the freak show to Home Depot?"...."Sure why not!"
On that note, we have discovered a high need for more "multiple" shopping carts at stores. When we take the "freak show" to Target we usually have to get two buggies! and then we draw an even bigger crowd, because we are caravanning through the isles. The best places to take your twins are Sam's Club, Tom Thumb on Camp Bowie if you live in Fort Worth, Target by Ridgmar Mall if live in Fort Worth. If you don't live in Fort Worth, and you live some where else it is always best to take the stroller the first time, and then scope out the buggy-situation!
The hardest part of the day is always bath time. I think my back takes the brunt of it, but when I think of the ease of bathing one baby over bathing two slippery crazy wild babies I get jealous of those "singleton" parents! Troy and I have to mentally prepare ourselves for the nightly chasing and corralling of two fast-crawling-twisting-screaming little chubby- baby butts! Not to mention we still have to get baby lotion, diapers, and jammies on them, too!
The next is, "When the twins don't sleep, Nobody Sleeps" It has truly been a tough month sleeping-wise. As oppose to the "It's your turn"-option that singleton parents have, multiple parents don't have that luxury! There is no turn-taking! I am so blessed to have Troy who wakes up and goes into the trenches with me at 1am to soothe sick/fussy babies. We sometimes look at each other as we leave for work after a long night with the twins and tell ourselves we survived...we are super mom and dad! It makes me love him more every time he helps me with them on a night like those.
And for all my fellow multiple-moms, I would like to say that I know exactly what you are thinking when someone tells you they are tired...(They don't even know what tired is!)
BUT with all my ranting and complaining, I will say that there are many perks to having twins.
First, they have a built-in play partner for life. They will blabber, grab, and follow each other all around the house and it is by far the cutest thing ever!
Second, it is twice the baby love and hugs every day when I come home. My favorite part of my work day is coming home to Charli saying "Mommy you're home!" and the twins both looking at me bouncing and smiling saying "MaMaMaMa"
Third, I get to feel like super-woman everyday when I realize I am their momma. After a night of no-sleep, then going to work and working with special needs students, next coming home to fix dinner, bathe 3 babies, and get them to sleep...I truly do feel like a super-Multiple-Momma! (Well...... some days! LOL)
Josi and Libbi turned 1 on Sunday! What a difference a year makes! In the last year we have moved houses, had precious twin baby girls, potty trained Charli Kay, changed jobs, I finished graduate school and got my Master's in Education, and Troy has been working on a major project at his work for a little over 2 years now!.....
The Twins UP inspired first birthday!
Happy Birthday baby girls...I have said it before and I will say it again...I am so blessed to be your Momma! God is Awesome and has blessed us so much.
