Weekend Escape

Josh and I took advantage of a company meeting this weekend to leave Kate and Maya with the grandparents and spend a two baby-less days in the beautiful Sonoma wine ountry. Josh had to work, but I took full advantage of the lovely hotel and spa - it was really a little decadent. I spent one afternoon getting a massage and then floating around the shaded, 85 degree pool, drinking wine and eating pizza delivered poolside. I also saw TWO great movies (Up! and Star Trek). However, I was definitely ready to come home and see the girls after two days away from them, and I couldn't wait for them to wake up this morning so I could give them a big hug and a kiss.

Kate and Maya did great with the grandparents. We came home to a clean house (including a clean fridge - something I've been meaning to clean for a month), sleeping babies and happy grandparents. We are so incredibly lucky to have parents nearby who are willing and able to take care of twin babies. I didn't worry even for a minute while we were away because I know that grandma and grandpa love and care for Kate and Maya just as much as we do.

They still have their colds and Maya's poor gums are even more inflamed, but I think they're on the mend and I'm hoping that Maya's teeth will appear soon. All in all the girls have very stoic about their colds and the teething.

Here's a picture of Kate and Maya outside playing with the grass today.

Colds, and teething, and crying, oh my!

I had a feeling that after such a perfect weekend of hanging out at the beach, going on walks, and a BBQ that our good luck must be coming to an end.

I was unfortunately proven right yesterday when Josh noticed the tiniest stream of clear snot dripping out of Kate's nose yesterday. She has now developed a full-blown cold along with a nice case of diarrhea. This, of course, has made for a very cranky baby - one who was up for a good part of the night crying. Maya doesn't seem to have the cold yet, but I know it's just a matter of time before she gets it, too. In the meantime has her top two front teeth coming in and is cranky from that.

I have to say that even though for the most part last night and today was kind of bad, there have been a few funny, if gross, moments. Kate had two blow-out diarrhea diapers today - the kind that, no exaggeration, get poop all the way up to her ears. During the last one, I got her pretty much cleaned up, in a fresh diaper, and then turned my back to throw the dirty diaper away. When I turned back to look at Kate she had a poopy wipe (I guess I missed some when I was cleaning up) in each hand and was waving them around like an air traffic controller and grinning. Hmm, maybe this is only funny if you've been dealing with two fussy babies all day and night...

Taking bananas from a baby, etc.

(I've decided that whoever came up with those phrases - "like taking candy from a baby" or "sleeps like a baby" must not have actually ever had any experience with a real baby.)

Maya has decided that she REALLY likes food - especially bananas and mangoes. I was eating a banana today while holding Maya and, since she's had bananas and liked them before, I thought I'd give her a lick of the banana. Instead of a polite lick, she grabbed the whole thing and tried to take a big bite out of it. Of course, this isn't a great thing for a baby from a choking hazard standpoint, so I had to remove the banana from her grip - which prompted a very loud, angry, and prolonged squeal. I quickly put some in her teething basket (a very cool product, btw) and she was happy again.

OK, and here are a bunch of pictures from today. Sorry there are so many, but I couldn't stop taking pictures on the walk we went on today. It's been a spectacular spring here and the camus lilies, the wildflower in below pics, are in full bloom.

Kate in the field of camus lilies



Maya


Maya, Kate and I


And, here's just a view picture. We really live in a beautiful place.


Here's one of the poodle we're currently dogsitting sitting in Kate's lap in the car.

Kate, Maya and I reached new heights of commotion and fussiness yesterday when we had to take a "time-out" during "Baby and Me" class. This tells you something about the level of fussiness because this is a class full of babies between the ages of 6 weeks and 8 months - and we were the only ones who I've seen in the 10 weeks of class who need to take a time-out during class. The thing was that it didn't bother me - even when a friend called after class to say that she felt for me and that everyone knew I was just doing the best I could. It made me realize that I've come a long way since the Kate and Maya were born. If this had happened to me a few months ago I would have been wracked with doubt and guilt and wondering if I was a "bad" mother. Now, I truly do know that I am doing the best I can and that we're all doing just fine. (And, really, they are usually pretty happy babies, I think they just get overwhelmed at the commotion at Baby and Me.)

In any case, here's a picture of Maya and a friend in the infant swings on Sunday with Kate in her own swing in the background. They love the swings! Cute, huh?


And, here's a happy Kate in her swing

Today was the kind of day that makes me remember why we live where we do. It was a beautiful, spring day with cloudless blue skies and temps in the 80s. We took Kate and Maya to a beautiful pool at a local luxury resort - it really felt like we were on vacation with poolside drink and food service, spectacular views and the warm, huge, kid-friendly pool.

This was the first time Kate and Maya got to get in a pool and they didn't hate it. They were in the pool for about 30 minutes and while they weren't ecstatic and laughing, they weren't crying either. So, this counts as success in my book.


Here we are in the pool - check out the cute bathing suits.


Here's Josh and the girls apres-swim

Stalking

Yay - it's Friday! Kate actually spent 30 minutes hanging out playing with her toys on the floor today - without me having to help entertain her. At some point I looked up from the computer and saw this...

Peas for dinner