Where did my babies go?

I seriously wonder this about 3 dozen times every day. They are growing and changing every day, all three of them.

Liam has become a parrot, he repeats EVERYTHING! Today, I said that someone was bugging me...next I hear "stop bugging me". Last night he was shaking his finger at me and saying "Don't Touch! Don't Touch!" when I was trying to change him. So funny!

Meghan is the mother hen of my brood. Each day she decides what the boys want and/or need. Usually it is that they need a snack, a drink, a cup of water, which she can partake in as well. She will get her little hands into the child proofed cup cabinet, get a cup, a cover and a valve, put the cup together, fill it up and hand it off to the thirsty boy. Yesterday, she decided she wanted some lemonade. She got out a cup, got the lemonade pitcher from the fridge and poured herself a glass...without spilling! Wow, what a big girl she is becoming.

Nolan is the rock star. He has "new moves" daily and likes to show them off in the living room, his bedroom, wherever. It is just so funny to listen to him and watch him perform. He loves to sing and will sing any songs that come into his head. I really can't wait for their Thanksgiving show to see if he takes to the real stage like he has to the stage in the living room.

Where does the time go?

I can't believe we are halfway into November. YIKES!

The kids had a wonderful Halloween. Nolan was Spiderman, Meghan was a Fairy princess and Liam was a big ol' bug. They were so adorable. The twins had a party at school on the 30th and wore their costumes. They did a haunted house, some fun songs, food, etc. They really enjoyed it. Then Trick or Treat!!! We were chomping at the bit for Daddy to get home from work so he could take them out. They were off after it got dark (6 ish) with the wagon just in case. How cute they were running down the street, and it was a warm night again so jackets were not necessary. I saw Liam wobbling down the sidewalk to the neighbor's and it was just the most precious thing. I stayed back at the house handing out the treats. When I saw them coming back, I was just tickled to see them. The older two were heading up the pack, running up to the doors and shouting out "Trick or Treat"...then the little guy, was bringing up the rear...carrying ALL the candy and I could hear the cutest little "Tickoteet" coming from his mouth. So sweet! And to hear them say Thank You to everyone was even sweeter!!

Our First Trip to the Zoo

Well, on Saturday we finally made it to the zoo. The day was gorgeous and we were on the road by 9:30 headed south to Providence. The kids found out when Daddy woke up where we were going. They had been hoping we were headed to the Cape, but when they found out the zoo was on our agenda for the day, I don't think they even remembered the Cape.

So we arrived there by 10:30 and off we went. Liam in his stroller and the twins hand in hand. We were disappointed to find that the elephant's habitat was under construction, there would be no elephants for us. We did get to see a great many animals, though. Zebras, giraffes, monkeys, camels, turtles, flamingos and on and on. The kids would climb up to see the animal or look through the fence and then say "What're we gonna see next?" They really loved it.

Once we went through all the exhibits we came to the "Nature Trail" which is basically a little walking trail through some wetlands similar to any found in the New England area. They got to see some ducks, some fish (not sure what they were, but BIG) and a big turtle. Then they learned something new from Daddy. Spitting into the water attracts the fish! So, it took a little bit of time to lure them away fromt he attraction of being allowed to spit, but then we were on our way.

We made a stop at the Carousel Village and took a ride on the merry-go-round. There was a great little "Hasbro Boundless Playground" there also, but it was being repaired, sadly. So, then we headed to the car again.

The Roger Williams park is amazing. I found out when we got home that it is 427 acres!!! They have the zoo, botanical gardens, a natural history museum, tennis courts, playing fields, paddle boats and many ponds. What a great place to have so close to a city!

We stopped for a bite at The Olive Garden on the way home and the kids were so good. They ordered their "Swirly pimples" and chicken fingers and we got our yummy meals. Liam tried everything, salad, chicken, french fries, noodles, pasta fagiole soup. He was a little eating machine. We talked about what our favorite animals at the zoo were. Meghan liked the zebras and the flamingos, I liked the giraffes, Daddy liked the monkeys, and Nolan raised his hands in the air and said "All of them!"

We had such a great day! And the first question about what we were doing today..."Can we go to the zoo?"

First Day Jitters

Okay, so I think I had the jitters more than either of the kids. I woke up a couple of times during the night and then was up for the day at 5:30.

Today was Nolan and Meghan's first day of pre-school at Totland College. They woke up full of anticipation for the day ahead. Yesterday, they received post cards from Mrs. Connor telling them how excited she was to meet them and start the school year. That on top of their new backpacks, their new shoes and their new clothes just really got them all excited for the day.

So, everyone got their outfits on and kept asking "Whener we goin', Mama?" Daddy stayed home from his morning at work to see them off. We posed for pictures in the house, out of the house, with backpacks, without backpacks, walking, running, you name it. We piled into the van and headed off down the street. The excitement in the air when we pulled into the parking lot was so obvious. We headed in and on downstairs to the classroom. Once the door opened, it was a free for all. We hung our backpacks on hooks outside the classrom and headed in to look for our names. The kids find their names on the table and then stick them to the wall to show that they are there. All three kids started wandering the room, checking everything out. I watched them for a bit and then we decided it was time to leave. Nolan had other ideas... He came running after me as I ascended the stairs. I had to turn back and pick him up. He clung so tight to me that I hated to let go. He was scared and nervous and excited all at once. I handed him off to Mrs. Graziano and left, with tears shimmering in my eyes (I didn't actually let them start to fall until I was out of sight of Nolan). I got up the stairs and out the door and managed to drop Doug off at the train.

Liam and I enjoyed a couple of hours of Mommy and me time and then it was off to pick the kids up. Liam was chanting their names all the way there. We went in and saw Chrissy and Sean waiting for Mattie's class to let out. We both figured that it was a good sign that we got no phone calls. I went down to their class and followed the other parents inside. As I peered into the room, I saw the kids peeking through the crowd, seeking me out. They were all smiles and we gathered all their stuff to go. Mrs. Graziano said that Nolan's tears didn't last long and he had a good day. Both teachers commented on how independent the kids are, how they don't completely rely on each other and that they don't often see that with twins. It was one of my many proud moments of the day.

Once we got in the car, I got to hear all about their day. The songs, the games, the playdoh, the sandbox, the snacks. It was such a great day for them and I can't believe my babies are little kids now!!

Wonderful Sunday

Well, today was a work day for Daddy, so I was trying to think of something fun to do with the kids. I knew I had to get to Babies R Us to buy a new lock for the oven. Liam apparently thinks that's a good place to explore! So, I got it, but am waiting for Doug to put it on (it's just one of those things that if I do it, he'll probably think it could've been done better, so why bother?).

After that, we went off to Webb Park. They have great walking trails along the water where you can watch the boats coming in and out, have a view of Boston and just enjoy the fresh air. The twins took turns picking which direction we would walk in and we stopped at the top of the hill for a snack and a view of the water and the city. The kids are really enjoying these little nature walks, I have to do a little more research and find some more.

Everyone fell asleep on the way home (except me), so it was quiet around here for the Patriots game. Now they are still up (the curse of the nap) and watching a show in my room. Soon, we will all be off to bed!

Naturehood, Naturehunt, Tomato, Tomahto

So, today we tried something new. I was a bit nervous about it, not knowing how Nolan and Meghan would do with it, but we went ahead and did it. We braved Pond Meadow Park today. The walking/biking trail is 1.6 miles long and we only brought the single stroller for Liam. The kids did great!! We will need to prepare a little bit better next time and do a picnic lunch. They had some great picnic areas near the pond.

So we started out along the trails with a walking stick for Nolan and a lot of excitement in the air. They really had so much fun. They were checking out the woods, looking for animals, birds, and trolls under bridges. Each time we came to the pond, we would throw sticks and rocks in it. Lots of questions were asked and at one point, we had to stop and stare into a hole to see if the chipmunk we scared off would come back out. It probably took us a little more than an hour for the walk, but there were no complaints and just wonder at every turn. There were also vows to bring Michael and Katherine there with their parents the next time we go. This is definitely something we will be doing again.

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted!

Well, we have been on vacation for a week now. What a fun week we have had. The kids have been having such a good time. We have been at the beach almost every day. Meghan has told me that she is a mermaid....that explains why she never gets out of the water! Nolan has progressively gotten more brave as the week has gone by.

The weather here has been good for the most part. We had a cloudy/rainy day on Wednesday and so we headed out for a Dougie drive. We drove down through Chatham and Orleans and then on to Truro and stopped in Provincetown. We took a walk down the main street (Commercial, I think) and enjoyed the quaintness and the sights there.

On Thursday, we went over to East Dennis to meet up with Alison and Sarah (from Twinstuff). We had nine kids at the beach and boy did they have fun. They were running through the tide pools and collecting crabs. They all got along so great!

Today, we spent the day at the beach. Then this evening the clouds were rolling in as we were eating dinner. Meghan decided to leave the table to dance to the radio. When she made it out to the street, I turned to her and told her that we don't play in the street. She looked at me and said, very smugly, "I'm not playing, Mommy, I am dancing" and she continued her dance. My, my, my....her teenage years will be fun!

We went to candy bingo tonight with Tommy and Caroline and Annie. The kids were a little antsy, but started to get into it. Each time that Meghan had a number come up on her card, she would smile from ear to ear and say "I'm winning! I'm winning!" Well, as it happens, we didn't win. As everyone started gathering their cards and turning them in, Nolan looked at me and said "Did we win this time?" When I told him no, he started crying. He was so sad not to win the candy. Maybe next time...

Wow, I've been remiss!

I have not updated in so long and so much has been going on.

We've been spending so much time at the Cape. We were down there for the Fourth of July and Liam actually got to participate in the Pots and Pans parade this year, they all had so much fun. We spent the week afterward at Sue's while Jay, Leslie, Jessica and Brennan spent the week "up the street". The kids just had so much fun playing with their cousins and hanging out. They sure do miss them now. We saw a plane go over the house last night and Nolan said "Jessica and Brennan live on that plane!"

We finished two weeks of swimming lessons at the beach. We got off to a rough start with Nolan...apparently I HAD to be in the water with him, but he ended up doing well. And Liam, who was not old enough for lessons, joined in every day and got a certificate at the end, too.

Last Saturday was big doins around here. We went to Kohl's to get underwear for...you guessed it...Nolan!!! He has been working on being a potty boy. He had two great days this week with NO ACCIDENTS. And a couple of not so great days, but he's learning. And he's filling up his sticker chart, too!!

Other stuff we've done so far this summer...Strawberry Picking, Crafts at The Village Toy Shop, a trip down to the beach with Katherine and Michael (their vacation), playgroup, Christenings, Birthday parties, a trip to the Swan Boats in Boston. A fun filled summer!!

Beach Time

Well, we had a wonderful day on the beach today. The kids went down with Daddy while I waited for Liam to wake up from his nap. When we all got down there together, I had to lay out the blanket, because lunch on the beach actually means a PICNIC! They ate up everything and then they began their explorations. They had all kinds of stories for me. Next, I saw Meghan heading to the water with a boogy board. She was amazing. She would climb onto it, floating in on the waves, balancing...I was equally scared for her and proud of her.

Shortly thereafter, she headed down the beach again with Kerin. Next thing I know, she is running down the beach with a bird feather in each hand, flapping those tiny little wings and trying to fly. The smile on her face told it all! What fun to be three!

Stop Growing Up!

I really can't believe how big these kids are getting. Each day they say or do something that just makes me wonder where my little babies went. Our latest accomplishment is walking...further than just the neighborhood. We normally would take the triple for any of our walks, but this week the twins have said that they want to walk. On Tuesday, it was about 800 degrees out when we walked down to the garage to pick up the van. The kids were so good, listening to me, staying by my side, holding on to Liam's stroller. So, today we did it again. We walked down to the Landing to the Post Office, then to the Library, the park and home. Nolan started to get a little more daring, but I was able to reign him in. Meghan did great, until I decided it was time to leave the playground. She was angry, she stood by the side of the road with a puss on. She refused to cross the main street on her own, so I had to grab her...just to prove that she is still only three. Her mood changed quickly and we were able to have a pleasant walk home.

Is it his Irish genes?

Nolan has a special talent. He knows just what his mother wants to hear(and sometimes what she doesn't want to hear. It is like he has a sixth sense, ESP, or he is just going to be a ladies man. He knows how to give me the business by telling me that "We love the ankees! We don't like the Red Sox!" He gets a rise out of me every time. Today was the ultimate. I had sent him down to the family room with a small bag of marshmallows. Shortly thereafter, he came back up. I looked over and said "Buddy, you are not getting more marshmallows, I told you that is it." He walked over to me and said "Mama, I'm not here to talk about marshmallows, I'm here to talk about cuddling....wanna cuddle with me?" The natural gift of Blarney??

Bugs and Three Year Olds

Anyone who knows me, knows that bugs freak me out. Whether it is an ant, a spider, a bee heading for me or a mosquito, I jump at the site of a bug. (And don't get me started on Junebugs....ewwwww) So, with all our outdoor play in this nice weather, it is inevitable that I will be in a match with these awful creatures, especially with that stream we have in the back.

We've been sitting outside a lot and playing. The kids are running from the slide to the swingset to the sandbox to me. Sometimes I run with them, sometimes I am sitting in my seat. Either way the bugs are there. So I have taken to clapping to get rid of some of those small little annoyances. Unfortunately, my three year old son doesn't see them as annoyances. Each time I try to get one of those little buggers, he tells me to stop because "He's just visiting, Mama!"

She thinks she's smarter than I

We were in and out and all over the place today. Walking, running, playing inside, playing outside, a pretty full day. During the kids' outside time, I ducked in from time to time to do some laundry, turn the oven on, whatever. The kids were having fun drawing with their sidewalk chalk, playing on the slide, playing in the sandbox. As dinner time approached, I was ducking into the house a little bit more. Once I had things set on the stove, I headed outside to play some more. Meghan was sitting on the edge of the sandbox digging (I had caught the two of them trying to fill their pool with sand five minutes earlier). She looked up at me and very sweetly said to me "Mommy, can you go back inside?" I saw the wheels turning in her head and said to her "Why? So you can misbehave?" She answered me, just as sweetly, "Yes, Mama."

Summer Kickoff

We began our summer adventures on Cape Cod this weekend. We had been down to open up before, but this was the first "big weekend" down here. We came down on Thursday night after a long day of "When's Daddy coming home" and "I wanna go to the Cape". We got out for a walk that night and tucked the kids into bed a little late that night.

Friday, things began early with a walk to the playground, a walk to the candy store, a walk to the other playground. Then on to the bike rides, the constant bike rides, the never-ending bike rides.

The kids have grown up so much since last year. They are doing so good on their bikes and can just zoom around this place. Liam is getting going, too. Ever on the run looking for a new adventure. We did a lot of digging at the beach as well. Nolan went into the water in his sneakers and long pants...several times. The kids have had an amazing weekend and it is going to be such a great summer for them!

A Day at the Farm

Today was fun. Julie and I planned earlier in the week that we would get together with the kids. Our plans were dependent on the weather and it actually cooperated with us this morning. The rain was expected to hold off until the afternoon so it was off to the farm for us.

The day was gray with a little bit of sun poking out here and there. We got there and the kids grabbed hands to hold and away we went. We were a little bit disappointed when we got to the chickens, turkeys and ducks. Last year we were able to feed the animals, but apparently there is a new rule and they have taken away the food dispensers. (And of course Julie and I had stocked up on quarters for the day.) The kids were still okay with it. We visited the chickens, a very nasty Tom Turkey (he was spitting at us and did scare the kids at one point, but I can't be sure that they didn't start it), and a family of ducks including many ducklings. They were so cute and fuzzy.

We moved on to the sheep and the goats. They had them back a bit from the fence this year in the main pen, so there was no petting the animals, but the kids still enjoyed seeing them. We moved over to the other pen and they got to pet a big old sheep which they enjoyed. A goat then joined us by the fence and Katherine was loving him.

We took a stroll on one of the trails. Good thing I had the jogger with me, because it was a bit uneven. The kids liked the "adventure" of going through the woods. We picked some flowers as we walked and then headed back to the picnic area. We had a snack and played around a bit there, did some more visiting with the birds and then headed back to Julie's house for lunch.

The kids got to play a bit more, have lunch and a cupcake together and then it was time to go! They love playing with their friends so much and can't wait until we see them again.

What was she thinking??

This morning I was getting some stuff done in the kitchen. Both boys were there, having their breakfast. Meghan had disappeared into the bathroom. She has become very independent about her potty going since she started so I didn't think anything of it.

A little while later, I heard her whimpering in the bathroom. I was worried that she might have a tummy ache or the perhaps she didn't make it and had an accident. So I knocked on the door and went in. There she stood with the potty seat around her neck. She couldn't get it off no matter how hard she tried! I am not sure what she was doing, why the potty seat was on her head, but I had to get it off. When I asked her she brushed my questions off. Oh, what a time to have a broken camera!!

The Twin Bond?

I love that my twins have a "best friend" built right in to their family. True, they can gang up on us from time to time. "Don't say that, he is my best friend" "Please don't be mad at Meggie" And they can also fight...a lot!! "You are not my best friend anymore!" "Leave me alone, I need privacy." But the times when they are just showing the genuine love that they have for each other just warm my heart.

When we go out in the car, Meghan will help to unbuckle Nolan's seatbelt in his car seat. Nolan will make sure that Meghan has whatever she needs, even if it's the toy he is holding in his hands. They sing together, they laugh together, they love together. When we are in a store or a mall, they will hold hands and giggle together. When music comes on they will sing or dance together.

But today I had a moment when I wondered..."Are they too close?" We were in the grocery store picking up some stuff when Meghan announced that she had to go potty (Meghan always has to go potty). We were in the bathroom and I was holding Liam because there are all kinds of things he can get into in there. I asked Nolan to get some toilet paper for Meghan, which he did, of course. Well, when she got up from the potty, she turned her bum to him and said "Okay, Nolie, wipe my bummy" which he did, of course.

A Different Kind of Day

So, today was a little different than my usual day. Doug decided that he wanted to head down to the Cape and bring the boys. Meghan and I would have a night together and the boys would all have a night together. Nolan was all excited, "The Boys are going to the Cape!" Meghan was excited "I am going to a party!" Then it hit them, they would not be together. Meghan told me she is going to miss her brothers. Nolan told me that he and Liam would miss their sister. It is the first time the twins have been apart for more than a couple of hours. It is also the first time I have been away from my Liam boy. So I kissed them goodbye with tears in my eyes. Meghan and Nolan gave each other big hugs and bid each other goodbye.

Meghan and I headed off to The Derby Shops. We did a little shopping for her, a little shopping for me and a little window shopping. We had a great time. She brought her "cell phone" with her and every now and then would whip it out and say "I have to call somebody" (it was usually Katherine). It was the sweetest thing seeing her walking along, shopping and chatting on the phone. I was having forward flashes to her teenage years!

We came home and got ready to go to Brendan's First Communion celebration. She was all about getting dressed, packing her back pack with necessities and preparing Jack's birthday present. When we got to the party, it took her a few minutes, but then she was playing with all the kids. She was having a blast. She enjoyed some alone time with Mommy and some playing without her brothers.

As we headed home from the party tonight, we called Daddy. He was out walking the boys for a final walk before bed. She talked to Daddy for a moment then gave the phone back to me. I asked to talk to Nolie. He took the phone, said "Hi Mama" and then immediately "Can I talk to Meggie?" So they spoke for a little bit, then she told him she loved him and handed me the phone. After we hung up, she said she missed Nolie and could we go to the Cape. It must be so hard being away from your best friend whom you have shared EVERYTHING in your entire life with. So now, we are just hanging out, watching a movie. Any thought of having the bed to myself tonight is long gone...It will continue to be girls night in the bed!!

Doctor, Doctor

My kids have such great imaginations. They are always making a game out of simple things, playing pretend and having fun. They play "Mommy and Baby", "Dora and Diego" and "Doctor".

So tonight after dinner, we got them into their jammies and then it was time to just hang out before bedtime. I grabbed a pillow and lay down on the floor. I will do this sometimes just to hang out with them or whatever. They get a kick out of it.

So we started off with some simple jumping on Mama. All 3 of them were just diving on me, on each other, everything. Each time Liam would get on top of me, he would start screaming "Dada, Dada" and then he would take off running around the house.

When the jumping slowed down, Nolan decided that he was the doctor and lucky me, I was the patient. So the two of them started examining me. They were pushing on my belly, my legs, etc. Nolan ran some sort of medical equipment (it was actually a toy drumstick, not sure what it was in Nolan's mind, though) up my arm. Then he decided he needed to do some more checking. He lifted my shirt a little and checked on my belly. Then he told me he was going to need to check my boobs (but he said it so it rhymed with books). I looked at him and said "You need to check what?" Again, he told me he needed to check my boobs. I then asked him what boobs are and yes, he pointed right where I thought he was going to point...not sure where he learned this one from...but I need to keep a better eye on him and the TV!

Overheard in the Halls....

So, I love to just listen to some of the conversations my children have. It's so funny getting a glimpse of what is going on in their little heads.

Today, I was in the kitchen while they were in my room watching a movie or so I thought. The next thing I hear is a garbled voice coming from down the hall. "Welcome to the Nolan and Meghan show! Take a seat!" They were talking into the fan and "performing". A little while later, they got bored in my room and headed out to the living room. Overheard "Well, Grandpa, what are you doing?" "I'm just going out, Grandma". After Liam got up from his nap, we headed on outside. Apparently on the trip out there, they were transformed. Meghan was now "Maggie" and Nolan was "Baby Shark"...I don't know where they get this stuff, but it keeps me entertained!

These are the rules....

Today I had a dentist appointment. The kids were all excited when I told them Grandma and Grandpa were coming over. They were eating their lunch, planning their afternoon and then they saw the car. A chorus of "Grandma! Grandpa! Hi! Hi! They are here!" rang out through the house. So they packed me off in the car and sent me off to my two hour appointment.

While I was out, they got to play bubbles...a favorite past time here. Then they went for a walk with Grandpa, and as Nolie informed me "Grandma had to stay with the baby." Then they went out to play in the back yard.

When I got home, Nolan was in the house trying to tell Grandma that the diapers in her hand were Liam's not his. Ummm.....they wear the same size. So, I got Nolan changed and Grandpa came in from the back yard. He told me Meghan was planting "beans", which means that she was digging holes and putting rocks in them. So Nolan was standing in the doorway leading to the backyard as we were all chatting. He looked around the room and noticed that I was there, Grandma and Grandpa. He asked "Where's Meghan?" I told him she was out in the backyard. He looked at the three of us again and said "Someone is supposed to be watching us!!!!!"

Could he be a genius?

Well, Liam is just not content to be a baby. He is constantly trying to do EVERYTHING that his siblings do. From climbing on the couch and jumping off onto the cushions to trying to climb the gigantic slide in our backyard to running down the street to "visit" the neighbors. I have been watching his physical abilities grow by leaps and bounds (literally) since he took his first steps at 10 months old.

Lately, I have also noticed that his verbal abilities are changing every day. He is constantly trying to communicate with everyone. He picks up any phone or phone type object (like a clicker, a toy, anything) and just starts talking into it. I'm not sure who it is he is talking to, or what language he is speaking. He starts off with a "Hello" and then it immediately turns into some jargon that whoever is on the other end of the phone understands.

He is repeating everything now and is saying sentences that we have been teaching him. He can say " I woooove ou" and "I'm cazy!" and it is just so cute coming out of his mouth...he says it with such determination. So today, I was very surprised by a new development. I went in to get him when he woke up and we were just talking back and forth and laughing. For some reason, I said "One". Liam answered me "Two". I couldn't believe it. So then I repeated "Two" and Liam said "Three". Wow!! Well, I thought we were on a roll. I said "Three" and Liam said "ENhe"...okay, I don't know what that means, but I kept going. I got to seven and he said it. Then he followed it with "eight, nine" and that was it for our numbers. So, he's got "1,2,3", has lost track of "4,5,6" and then grabs a hold of "7,8,9". Maybe he's not a genius in real terms, but in my little world he is!

She finally noticed!

Okay, so having boy/girl twins, there are obviously a lot of differences. Their readiness to do certain things like talking, walking, going on the potty. They each have certain things that draw them in, hold their interest and keep it (for as long as any three year old can be held captive). Meghan is drawn to princesses, baby dolls and pink. She loves her ponytails, loves flowers and butterflies. She's a "girly girl", most of the time. Nolan is drawn to trucks and cars, to dinosaurs and to sports, any sports. He likes baseball, football, hockey, golf, you name it, he likes it.

They have different ways of showing their affection and love. Nolan is sweet and loving, always with a hug or a kiss. There to boost Mommy's confidence when she needs it. The compliments just flow from his mouth. And a random "I love you" is not a surprise.

Meghan is a little more subtle with her love. She likes to cuddle, she likes to kiss, she likes to take care of people. She mothers her two brothers all the time. She gives hugs and kisses to them, tries to help them with things that they could just as easily do themselves. She is a little mother hen.

Both of them are very observant, most of the time. They notice if Daddy misses someone when he is kissing goodbye in the morning, they notice when the neighbor gets home from work and they greet her, they notice when Mommy puts on her makeup and does her hair. That is why I was surprised that it took so long for one of them to notice a major difference between the two of them. They get dressed in front of each other, they bathe together, they shower together. But it wasn't until this week, that Meghan noticed...

Nolan was getting changed and was standing on the changing table. He was "nakie" as we like to say around here. She looked up, pointed, and said "I got a peepee, too! But it doesn't look like that!! I like it!"

I know as they grow older, their differences will continue to multiply. I hope that one thing remains the same, their friendship and love are what amazes me every day and I hope that that grows over the years.

Nighty Night

So as all parents, we have a ritual at night when the kids go to bed. We both bring them in to their bedroom, sometimes with Liam in tow, sometimes he goes before them with multitudes of kisses and hugs from everyone. When he comes in with us, he climbs into both the twins' beds to say good-night to them, it is really sweet.

We each go to each of their beds to say good night, tuck the blankets around the kids and give them a good night kiss and a hug. Nolan always says "What about a hug?" As we leave the room, there is a chorus of "I love yous" and "Don't let the bed bugs bite", so sweet.

Well, lately, Nolan has added a little bit more to his evening questions. He asks me each night as we are doing kisses "Mama, how the sun gonna come up?" I answer him "The sun will come up in the morning" and he replies with "When the moon goes down, right?" It is just so cute!

I got my Sox on last night!

Well, last night was my first game of the year, and it was a good one. I went with Julie. Tricia rode in with us and we met John, Margo and Brian before the game. Julie an I headed to Yawkey way to check that out before the start of the game. And it was a good game!! Tied 1-1 in the 9th inning, Ortiz was walked, Manny was walked, no outs. Lowell came to the plate. Struck out. Brandon Moss hit one down the line to CF, Jed Lowry tried to round the bases and didn't make it home in time. So, two out, bottom of the ninth, men on first and second. Varitek steps to the plate and hit the ball to the same place. Manny rounded third and headed for home, beating the throw to the plate for a Red Sox WIN!!!

Of course, my day leading up to it wasn't quite that exciting! But it was another day with the kids. We hung out playing in the house. It was sunny, but still a bit chilly so we never made it outside. When Liam went in for his afternoon nap, the kids and I decided to make a treat together. They donned their aprons, each checking out what picture was on the other's apron. Chairs were pulled up to the counter leaving little room for me to get near the bowl. And we made our treats. They had to know what each ingredient was as we put it in. They were amazed by the mixer (we used the hand mixer this time) and then they helped to form the mixture into "balls". (Well, Meghan did, Nolan dropped one and gave up on us.) They have so much fun helping in the kitchen and Meghan was loving the treats.

So as I got things ready for Grandma's arrival, the kids wanted to know where I was going. I told them I was going to Fenway Park. Well, of course, they thought I was going to some kind of playground without them. So I explained to them that Fenway Park is where the Red Sox play. Well, Nolan, in typical Nolan logic, tells me that "Daddy goes to the Red Sox! Girls don't go to the Red Sox!!" Well, my little man, have I got news for you...

Boys!

A couple of weeks ago, the kids got new pillowcases from Tommy and Caroline. They were all character ones, Dora, Elmo, Clifford, etc. They were just so excited, I think we probably could have gotten them into bed early that night just so they could use them. That night they each chose one to use and settled in for the night, content with their choices. About 15 minutes later, Nolan came out. He needed a new pillowcase. I wanted to know why. He said it was dirty. I looked and didn't see anything. I asked him how it got dirty so fast and he said "It's got boogers on it." I did some further investigation and didn't see anything on it, so I asked him where the boogers were. He grabbed the pillowcase, blew his nose on it and said "See!"

He got a clean pillowcase...

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, today was another busy day here for us.

Story hour started back today after a one week hiatus. The kids were having fun until Meghan "had to peeeeee". So we went over to the bathroom and that was a fiasco. There I was trying to help one 3 year old go potty, while another was shouting because he was enjoying the echo effect of a tile room and then there was the 1 year old who I was just trying to keep away from EVERYTHING. "Noliamdonttouchthat,noliamdontcrawlonthefloor,noliammeghancanflushit,nonononono" Yikes!!!

After some time at the library we came back home and Liam took a nap. The kids had a "picnic lunch" in the family room. Then we had to get ready for Liam's doctor's appointment. I could NOT find his blue book, but I could find the others...of course. So off we went, me and the three munchkins to see Doctor Katz. As we approached the office, the skies opened up and dumped rain on us, lots of rain, wet rain, puddle making rain, which means puddle splashing kids! We got in, got through the appointment with minimal crying (shots today) and lots of questions from curious kids. It's amazing how much more my other kids like the doctor when it's not their turn. Liam weighed 25lb 2oz and is 31 1/2 inches. He is in the 77th percentile for height and the 69th for weight...he's obviously my big kid.

So the rest of the day passed, pretty uneventful. Nap for Liam, some games for the twins, some cooking for me. Then Daddy was home and it was supper time.

At supper, I finished up and got up to head to my doctor appointment. Nolan wanted to know if I was going for a "chick up", then they told me that I was too big to go for a check up and I was definitely too big for "the white thing" (which I will assume is the paper covered table). Nolan decided I would have to stand up for my exam.

Once I got home, the kids wanted to know if Jeff was coming. Meghan had a tantrum over pajamas, but the minute Jeff walked in the door, all was forgotten and she had a smile plastered on her face for him. She loves him so, they all do. It's like the circus came to town whenever they get a visit from him.

Opening Day- Cape Cod 2008

Well, we ventured down to the camper for the first overnight of the season. We packed the van to the gills and headed on down. The twins fell asleep on the ride, but little Liam boy stayed awake the whole ride! We got down there mid afternoon and went to work setting stuff up and cleaning.

The kids were so happy to be back. They were running in and out of the door, jumping on and off their bikes and full of questions. Mainly "Can we go to the beach? Can we go to the playground? Can we ride our bikes? Can we go for a walk?" Just after we got there, "Miss Rose" came over to see the kids. She was amazed at how big they had all gotten. They were full of smiles and greetings for her. Once we were pretty much settled, we went for a walk. (Well, Doug and I walked, Liam in his stroller, and the twin son bikes). We stopped to chat with lots of people along the way and the kids were loving it. Then after a "potty stop" we headed down to the beach. The kids were just engrossed in throwing shells into the water. Liam went running toward the water and almost got soaked up to his knees, it was so cute, it was his first time at the beach when he could walk.

We went for a walk last night and then the kids went to bed. Not an easy night, they were all in the same room, so when the baby woke, Meghan did, too. Hopefully as we get more used to being there, that will change.

On the way home today, we did a "Potty Tour of the South Shore and Cape". Meghan had to go to the bathroom about 3 or 4 times on the ride. We did put a pull up on her after she announced that she had to pee five minutes in, she kept it dry until she fell asleep. I'm not sure if she really had to go, or she just wanted to check out the facilities from Dennisport to Weymouth.

Waaaah.....!

Meghan's not my best friend anymore, Mama!

What a day!

We have been going, going, going all day. And what a fun day we had.

We headed out of the house by 9:30 and went to our police station tour. The kids loved it. They got to see the 911 command center, the cells (including a padded cell that I want them to save for me), a police car, a couple of motorcycles and the paddy wagon. The kids all climbed into the wagon and got to go in the police car, too.

Then we were off to "Daddy's Boston" to have lunch with Daddy. The kids were so good and they got some BIG plates of noodles for lunch. We left there about one o'clock and headed up to Melrose to see Sue. We had a nice afternoon with Sue and the girls. Her house looks terrific! And we stayed for dinner before heading home.

Liam was asleep before we hit the first stoplight. Meghan and Nolan stayed awake for a while. We had a running commentary on where we were driving..."We are going over a bridge, we are going into a tunnel, ohh, mama we are going over a white bridge now....hey, that's another tunnel!!!" Nolan wanted to wave to Daddy in the window when we drove through Boston. I told him that Daddy was already at home waiting for us, and he kept telling me "Your kidding, Mama!" It was so cute. Now they are still talking in their room. Sue gave us a very exciting sleeping bag and we can't settle down yet!!

Now I know why...

my parents never bought me one of those foolish horns at the parades. I wanted one. Every time we went to something like that, I asked for one, but no deal. I thought they were so mean to deprive me of such a wonderful toy! Well, today, I realized that they were not mean, they were just protecting their sanity and the sanity of everyone in the neighborhood.

Today, we went to the carnival. It was something we planned with Chrissy this week. We met her and Mattie at the high school for the carnival. The kids were so excited to see each other and simply running along and picking dandelions probably would have been enough for them. But, we had a plan. So we ventured forth into the lovely Midway of the carnival. Look at all those games, look at all those prizes, look at all that fried dough (no, I resisted). We bought some ride tickets, just a few, and the kids took their turn on one of two moonwalks. It was a close call with little Meggie girl, she barely made the height restriction (36 inches). This one had a slide and the three of them just had a blast. So we moved on down the way. We checked out some rides, Nolan was enamored of The Crazy Bus, but we didn't go on it. Then we came to the Merry Go Round, the three of them were thrilled to go on that. Chrissy climbed on with them, while Liam and I watched from the side. They looked a little nervous at first, but moments later, the smiles on their faces told me all I needed to know. They loved it! After the merry go round, they played their game. It was basketball and they were guaranteed a win. All three of them got their baskets and moved to the prize bins. Look at those big inflatable bats, look at those little stuffed animals, but no, there it is, the prize to beat all the other prizes...the horn. It looks like a harmless little toy, but tell that to the crowds that had to deal with three 3 year olds running in circles, walking in a line holding hands, chasing each other, all the while tooting those horns! They will tell you a different story. As will the neighbors, who got to witness the parade in my driveway. Hmmm..do you think they will notice if they are missing tomorrow?

Bowling is Fun!

Well, today was a first for us. Nolan and Meghan had their first bowling experience and I would say it was successful. We went with my Mothers of Twins club, so there were six sets of twins total there today. Two sets of girl twins, three sets of boy twins and my boy/girl twins. We were the youngest in the crowd and we were lucky to have Grandma & Grandpa come over to watch Liam...so I could concentrate on bowling rather than running.

The kids really loved throwing (yes, I know they are supposed to roll them) the balls down the alley and watching the pins get knocked down. They also enjoyed pushing the button, pushing the button and oh, did I mention, pushing the button. It didn't matter if someone was bowling or not. There was a little issue with our lane, it stopped working for a while. I'm sure that it had nothing to do with Nolan rolling balls at the mechanism. The kids have decided that they would like to go again, and next time Daddy can come. When I asked them what was fun about today, Meghan answered "Bowling!" and Nolan answered "Wocking down the pins"

Positive Reinforcement

Well, anyone who has potty trained children knows how important positive reinforcement is to the process. A hug here, a kiss there, cheers or even a "potty dance" (which we do, in the kitchen singing about the accomplishment). It makes the child feel good about their accomplishment and encourages them to keep up the good work.

Here in the Connolly house, we are trying anything we can to get at least one person potty trained. Meghan is much more interested in this big step in life than her brother. She has been urged along by the prompting of her mom telling her that her best friend Katherine is doing this, too and the Sticker Chart. So on Monday, we started with underwear. She did great. Two accidents in the morning and then accident free until 7:30 last night (bed time a.k.a. diaper time). Tuesday dawned with one eager little girl. So we had an amazing day, accident free from 10 AM until 7:45 PM. Stickers, hugs, kisses, phone calls to Grandma Noreen and anyone who would listen all helped to confirm to her that she is a big girl. But my favorite part of the day, the part that melted my heart, was the reaction of her brother. This is what I overheard from the bathroom today:

Nolan came in to check on her progress. Meghan said "Nowie, I just peed!" A pause as Nolan checked out the results and then said to his sister "Good Job, Meggie!! FaFive" (which is Nolie speak for High Five).

Liam is sure in a hurry...

Every where I look, I see this little munchkin running by. One minute he is in the living room, the next, I hear him banging on the bathroom door. Oh wait, who is that coming down the hall?

It must be tough to be the littlest guy in the house. He is always one step behind everyone else. The twins are just a whirlwind and he wants to be caught up in the whirl. I don't think he realizes that he is two years younger. He wants to do everything that they do. He builds forts with them with the living room cushions, he jumps on the beds with them in their room, he tries to climb up the massive slide in our back yard and he wants to run down the street. I was folding laundry tonight when I heard him coming up the stairs, he hit the ground running and was through the dining room, into the kitchen all in pursuit of his friends. Go, go, go!!

We did have a moment of still time with him this afternoon. Doug came home from work early and we were sitting on the couch, the twins were down in the family room. Liam got himself up onto the couch and stood between us. He then proceeded to get and give kisses. He just kept switching it up. First me, then Doug. Of course Doug was trying to read the paper at the time and Liam just kept sticking his head in front of it...looking for a kiss. What a little sweetie!!

Adventures in Nature

Well, I am not the biggest "nature girl" in the world. I love being outdoors, but the creatures and the insects that come along with it really skeeve me. Like this morning, there was a hornet in the house. I freaked, thus the kids freaked and Doug was annoyed. Oh well! I hate bugs!

So after some very stress filled shopping time today (yes, Doug was working so I was forced to bring 3 kids to Jo-ann Fabrics and Kohl's ...where's my medal?), the kids fell asleep in the car. They napped briefly when we got home and then it was, yes, you guessed it "I wanna play outside" time.

So we went out and we were hanging out, blowing bubbles, playing hopscotch and chasing one very active little man around the yard. That kid can move. We finally decided to take him for a walk. I got Liam into the jogger and the twins were planning to walk and find "things". So we headed off on our usual short route around the block. When we get to the next street over, there are lots of walls to "balance" on. We did great on the first two...but the third one had some loose stones that I was telling Nolan to skip by and get on the wall further on. Well, I think we all know that 1. Male human beings do not listen and 2. Three year old boys are fascinated with rocks, sticks, etc. So as he is playing with the loose rocks, I see something move. It's black and yellow and long and scaly...yes it is a snake. Mommy yells "Nolie, Nolie look out" He realizes what is going through his hands at the same time and jumps from the wall crying. Meghan looks over to see what the commotion is all about and sees the tail end of the snake going back into the rocks. I calm myself and Nolan down (as much as I can) and we continue our walk. Nolan didn't leave my side for the next 10 houses or so, but as we walked, the story became an adventure that he wanted to take Daddy on. When Daddy got home, he heard all about THE SNAKE and "doyouwannaseedaddyicanshowyouletsgoitsonourwalk". Well Daddy didn't go, but this story will probably go down in history as our most exciting walk (at least until we see a deer.)

He's Singing like a Bird...

So, last June we had a very "exciting" day here one afternoon. The van was in the shop and I was home with the 3 kids. I was getting everything ready for a walk to the garage to get the van (which meant fastening the infant seat to the triple jogger for the walk). As I got everything ready to go, I heard a scream from the kitchen. I went running and there stood my Meghan with blood all over the floor around her and both a sharp knife and a pair of scissors. I couldn't tell where the blood was coming from at first and both she and Nolan were crying. I called Doug and he ended up calling 911 while I called Debbie to come over (and she made it before the ambulance). I discovered the source of the blood was Meghan's middle finger, but I couldn't tell how bad it was. So off we went to the hospital in an ambulance (my first ride in one!). As we calmed down on the ride, I tried to talk to her about her injury. She didn't really say how her finger got cut. She got all bandaged up and was looking rather pathetic by the time Doug got there. We headed home and still didn't get the real story on what transpired while Mommy was away from the kitchen.

So, a couple of times recently, we have seen an ambulance or a fire engine while we are out in the car. This morning was no exception. As we talked about it, Nolan said "Like when Meggie went to the hospital" and we talked about that. He said "I didn't cut MY finger" and I said "No you didn't, did you cut Meggie's?" "Yup" (This is about the fifth conversation like this in the last 2 months). So 10 months later, he has recovered his memory and is singing like a bird about his crime!

Privacy-It's all relative

pri·va·cy [prahy-vuh-see]

–noun, plural -cies.

1. the state of being private; retirement or seclusion.
2. the state of being free from intrusion or disturbance in one's private life or affairs: the right to privacy.
3. secrecy.
4. Archaic. a private place.

So, what does privacy mean to you?

To an older person, it means keeping their business, their finances, etc. to themselves. Like my 80 year old neighbor, I just discovered for the first time today that her younger sister lives around the corner. She came up and introduced herself to me this morning as I was going out. She is the mother of twins and the grandmother of twins and wanted to meet my twins. I have lived here for 7 years and never knew she was right there.

To a teenager, it means maybe hiding their friends, their IM's, their plans from their parents, their siblings, anyone. It means time alone in their rooms, on the phone, reading their emails, reading their text messages. In a big family, it is a precious commodity.

To a three year old, it means one thing. Yesterday, I was getting dressed to head out for the day. I was in my bedroom with the door closed and Nolan came looking for me. He called out "Mama, where are you?" I answered him "I'm in my room" "Well, what are you doing". Again, I came back to him:"Mama needs privacy" And, to a three year old mind, that means only one thing "There's no potty in there, Mama!"

A Year Changes so many things

For many years I was pretty on the ball, I worked full time and was out of the house and at my desk at 7 AM. Then I had kids, and I still managed to be on the ball part-time (because I worked part-time). I would get things set at night, kids bags packed, their outfits ready (usually) and I would head off to bed at a decent hour. I got up on those work mornings at 4:45, got in the shower, got myself dressed, hair dried, make-up on and bag ready to go. I woke the kids up at 6:15 and got them dressed and into their high chairs for a light breakfast while Doug got into the shower. I would leave the house between 6:30 and 6:45 and head off to my "other life". When I got home at night, I would get dinner set, play with the kids and read my paper (yes, I even had time to read my paper). Then something happened to me. I had another baby. I became a stay-at-home-mom. I lost my edge. I find that I can't get out of my own way in the mornings these days. I get up and if I don't get in the shower right away....I don't get in there until after 10 AM!!! I let the kids stay in their pajamas for a bit, too. Unless I have a set plan for the day, we are very lax in our ways. I need to find a way to get organized, I need to plan better, I need to find my former self.....I'm going to look under that pile of laundry...

No April Showers here!

So, we had another great day of outdoor play/work today. We bought some pansies the other day and I had to plant them because we are going to be busy the rest of the week. We waited for Liam to go down for his nap after lunch and then we headed out. We had to go out to "Daddy's Shaed" (Meghan's pronounciation). We headed back out front equipped with a couple of trowels and a rake. The kids loved digging in the dirt and helping out. We planted a row of flowers and then we came upon the big excitement for the day.....a worm! The kids were fascinated with it and we watched it as it burrowed back into the dirt. When the story was recounted to Daddy at dinner, it was so cute.

Meghan: "We saw a worm, Daddy, but we can't touch it"
Nolan: "He was REALLY BIG!"
Meghan: "He had to go back in the dirt"
Nolan: "He doesn't like the sunshine"

Apparently they are now pros on worms and their habitat.

So we got everything planted and then we came in to work on supper. We were making two pans of stuffed shells...one for us and one for the Fords. Liam woke up in the meantime and the kids started bugging me to go for a walk...in the red carriage. Once I had everything settled in the kitchen, we headed on out. We walked for a bit with the twins directing again. We got back and played in the yard until supper. I so love being able to spend time outdoors!!

Spring has Sprung!

Well, today was BEAUTIFUL!! We started out our day pretty slow. Called Matt to wish him a Happy Birthday before he went to school. Got the machine, but he got the message, he was outside playing with his new motorized go-kart. Got the kids up and dressed (well, they got me up when they climbed into my bed at 6:45 AM! Yikes! )

We just hung around the house in the AM and then after lunch, our outdoor adventures began. Liam is attempting to walk down steps now rather than crawl down them. He cracks me up. He gets onto the front lawn and takes off running. For some reason, he loves to run next door to the Kilroy's front lawn. He stops in the middle and waits for me to come get him. He also loves to run to the back of the driveway and crawl down the slope. Gets filthy, but he enjoys it.

So the kids decided they wanted to go for a walk. That resulted in a summit about which mode of transport we would be taking. :D The wagon is just not feasible when none of my 3 munchkins wants to walk. (Well, Liam probably does, but think of how long THAT walk would be). So then we had to debate about which stroller would be best. Since Nolan didn't want to walk, the single stroller (Liam's jogger) was out. He started pushing for "the blue one". Meghan had to explain to him that there are only spots for 2 kids in that stroller and we have 3 kids. We finally agreed on the triple!!

We headed off on the walk. The kids love to pick out our route. As we get to some roads they will ask me to turn or to go straight. We walked up Homestead and heard the sounds of some tree work. We found the source of the noise and that was something they HAD to see. We watched as the tree men were taking down a huge pine tree. The kids were amazed watching the pieces come down on the crane and then get ground up in the mulcher. We talked to the homeowner for a while (we actually looked at the house when we were expecting the twins) and then decided to go on our way. More excitement....a 10 week old puppy was around the next corner. She was jumping on Meghan and she just loved it. After that we continued on. Our search today was for flowers and flags. We always pick something to look for on our walks. The kids had a great time and mommy got in a good amount of exercise. We came home and relaxed until Doug got home, then the twins promptly headed back outside with him. A late dinner (6:45) and Nolan acting up prompted his removal to his room. Where he quickly fell asleep. Liam was next and then Meghan. All is quiet here now except for the crack of Big Papi's bat.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very fine place to start....

Mmmmmkay. Where do I start? How will I do it? I would like to document these fun, crazy, tear my hair out, bittersweet, loving, happy, wonderful years of motherhood.I guess I will start at the beginning.

I began my journey into motherhood just 3 short months after my wedding. We found out that we were having a baby. We were excited, we were nervous, we were looking ahead to our future with our baby. Then, a week later, I started spotting, I thought I was miscarrying. I was scared, sad, worried. A blood test and a an ultrasound revealed to us something we never even considered. We were expecting TWINS! Wow! Our life had changed in an instant! We had a pretty uneventful pregnancy. I felt great most of the time. Dr. Shakr had me go to half days at work in October, by December, I stopped working. I scheduled a c-section for February 23 (so they didn't have to share a birhday with Daddy ;)). Well, little did I know that these little beings had a different idea. On February 14, I started to feel exhausted and had stomach pains. On the morning of the 15th, I called the ob's office and they sent me to labor and delivery. I was put on a monitor and the babies seemed okay. The doctor wasn't seeing contractions at all and so I was about to be sent home. One of the nurses asked about my bloodwork..."What bloodwork?" I asked. So, they took some blood and sent it off to the lab. It turns out that I had developed HELLP syndrome. These babies were coming TODAY!!! I needed platelets and I needed them fast. I got a platelet transfusion and then my blood was checked again. My count was still pretty low so they ordered another transfusion. At this point, we were told that I would be delivering these babies under general anesthesia, which meant that Doug would not be there for the delivery...I would be alone and out. Luckily, Maureen Q. was one of the nurses on that day and she asked to be in with me. It was nice to have someone I knew there as I was put under, she held my hand and I drifted off. I woke up I don't know how much later and it was all done....I was drugged (mag sulfate among other things) and they wheeled me out to recovery. I still didn't know what we had, was it two girls, a boy and a girl, two boys? Doug was there with the babies as I came out. He looked at me and asked..."Do you know what we had?" I shook my head and he told me. "We have a boy and a girl." The tears came, I was so overjoyed to meet these little babies that I had waited so long for. We talked for a little bit about names and came to our decision. Our son would be named Nolan Rea, by doing this, we carried on Doug's grandfather's name. Then we named our beautiful daughter, Meghan Elizabeth. With this middle name, she carried on her grandmother's name and her mom's middle name. We called our parents to let them know the good news. Then we called everyone else. It was such an amazing day.