Tea for 3 + Me

We celebrated Willa's 3rd Birthday with a super-girly tea party. Camden Parsons, Sofia Janc, and Reyn Linder attended. It was a drizzly day but the guests stayed warm and dry in the playhouse, for the most part. They wore frilly dresses and homemade hats, and sipped tea from Willa's finest china. PB&J sandwiches and grapes served as the main course, and a chocolate-frosted cake with sprinkles and a giant cookie "3" was the eye-popping dessert. Everyone was appropriately demure through lunch, until a handsome Mr. Brooklyn Parsons popped in. Before long, carnations were flying and giggles had turned to full-on laughter. The party moved outside for some swinging and tricycling in the rain. Everyone got pink-cheeked, wet-headed, and dirty, which wasn't part of my original plan, but made for the perfect ending. It was the best of both worlds!

Dance Recital

Willa has been taking tap and ballet from Ms. Rhonda for the past 6 months or so. Nona's treat! I take her every Wednesday, while my Dad and Paula keep the babies and make me a delicious dinner, and Sean goes bowling at Turner Hall. At the first class of each month, parents get to observe the lesson from inside the studio, as opposed to through the crack in the door. Being inside truly distracts and disrupts the dancers, but it is absolutely worth it. I leave that 45 minute class with cheek cramps from smiling so much. There just isn't anything cuter than a row of tiny, tutu-clad 2 and 3 year olds! You can see what I mean as you scroll through the photos below. But trust me, it's nothing compared to the live version. Anyway, her recital was last Saturday at Hondo's on Main. (She danced on the very stage where Sean proposed to me 12 years ago. Sweet, huh?) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was their tap number, and Silver Bells was ballet. She did great, remembered her steps much better than I expected, and completely nailed first position! It was quite touching, watching my little girl brave the stage for the first time. Sniff.

Bear With Me

Well, I'm sure you've heard...a lot has happened since I last posted. From bed rest to birth to daily life with 3 under the age of three, I promise to gradually fill in all the blanks. I think I have finally reclaimed my blogging mojo. So bear with me and check back often, as I get caught up on the highlights of the last half year.

Letters to the Twins, Part Six

Twinkie and Twinkette,

Well here we are, at the end of your gestation, and I'm only 36 weeks and 1 day. After 6 weeks of strict and diligent bed rest, you are still determined to come early. (You must only have a dash of Penick in you.) I have dilated to 5 centimeters and I'm 70% effaced. Since at least one of you is still breech, we're going in for a scheduled cesarean today, in a race against my progressing labor. Though I am completely terrified, I am so ready for you. I have had plenty of time to prepare for this day, but feel so utterly unprepared. I have had a ton of visitors in my hospital room, all wanting to stroke the big twin belly one last time and share in the excitement of your impending arrival. Everyone is giddy and happy-go-lucky. Everyone, that is, except for your daddy and me. He's just plain nervous. My nervousness has reached a whole new, uncharted tier. It's been a kind of out of body experience for me. I don't believe there is a word for what I am feeling. It's a mix of so many things and heavy on the emotion. I am feeling a bit rushed today, but glad you're going to have such an awesome birthday. (08-09-10) I am excited for Willa to have siblings, but uneasy and a little sad that she doesn't quite understand the change that is about to take place. I am so happy for the relief my pelvis is about to experience, but a little guilty that I'm thinking of me. I am eager to finally see your faces and hold you in my arms, but more than a little horrified for the nurse to come wheel me off to surgery. We've had a rough road, you and you, and I, but the end is kind of bittersweet. Watching the clock, waiting for five, the hours are both creeping and flying by. I'm finding that going into labor is nice...pain is good...it occupies the mind. A scheduled c-section is just eerie. It's showtime. See you in a bit!

Love and kisses,

Mama

Letters to the Twins, Part Five

My dear double dose of Heep,

So you've gone and turned on me...breech, that is. That's okay, Lovies, make yourselves comfortable for the time being. You still have at least 8 weeks until I let you out. Just remember that it will be greatly appreciated if you turned back around and joined in my efforts for a natural, non-surgical delivery. It's no rush, and just a suggestion. You are each over 3 pounds and 17 inches in length. Whoa, that's a lot of baby! And your movements have grown even stronger and more pronounced, enough that it sometimes takes my breath away. I'm getting nudged by pointy little limbs all over the place and occasionally wonder if you're in there using my organs as a punching bag or a string instrument. Since I can't check in on you anytime I want, I'll admit, it is nice to know you're okay...and entertaining yourselves. Your growth is great, and you seem to be healthy and strong, just as a German pair should be. You still have some important work to do, like completion of your lung development and packing on a few more pounds. But the doc says everything looks great in there, despite my ongoing and bizarre pregnancy ailments. What's a little sciatica, double carpal tunnel, and heartburn in the whole scheme of making two babies? I am certainly woman enough to handle 5 or 6 bathroom trips a night, some swelling, and 30 extra pounds which seem to all be resting squarely on my pelvis. Maternal fat storage is such a cute name for cellulite, I think. And if it weren't for the carpal tunnel, I could fix my face right up to conceal the splotchy brown pregnancy mask that has washed over it. The freight train snore I've developed is only temporary and I secretly think your daddy finds it endearing. I only wonder why it is that I can't consume enough ice, and find new car scent to be so intoxicating. Your daddy and I have finished Willa's room and have been working away on your's. Your shiny new chest of drawers is stocked, and your cribs are set up. Only a few more finishing touches and all that will be missing is you. We are so eager to welcome you home, but know that you are not quite ready for the outside yet. It won't be long. XOXO

A Party for Willa's 2.5

June 27th marked Willa's Half-Birthday. So, as promised, Sean and I hosted a big bash in her honor. Lots of family and friends came and dined picnic-style, on hotdogs, macaroni salad, baked beans, watermelon, and fresh squeezed lemonade. The non-pregnant adults enjoyed Peach Bellini's, Green Lizards, and of course, Bud Light. Dessert was brownies and cupcakes with sprinkles. The gargantuan inflatable fortress was a huge success and Willa ran wild and shoe-less all day. She played harder than I have ever seen and must have had the best time of her entire 2.5 years! This one will definitely be hard to top next year.