Dinner Conversation

Nate's parents are going to be visiting us soon. We were talking about it a little bit at dinner tonight and said, "Hey Isaac! Guess who's coming this weekend?"

Isaac's response: "JESUS!"

Hey. . . you never know. . .

Some things I've noticed as a Mommy of twins. . .

1. PEOPLE STARE AT US - Everywhere we go, people stare. It doesn't really bother us; it makes us laugh, really. Nate and I usually just chuckle and move along. If someone is with me that isn't usually out with me, I warn them that they will be stared at - and often!

2. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT US - I notice people whispering and pointing at us when we're out. Last night we were leaving a restaurant. Nate was several feet ahead of me with the twins in their carriers, and I followed behind with Isaac. As I was walking through the waiting area, I heard someone say, "Either they are (twins) or they had them REALLY close together." For a minute I thought about saying, "Oh, they're twins!" I didn't, though. . . I had a nice laugh, though, as I left the restaurant.

3. PEOPLE ASK US QUESTIONS - People ask us all sorts of questions, and nothing seems to be off limits! Here are a few samplings of questions we are asked:

• Are they twins? Always makes us laugh. . . of course they are! I think when the twins are older I will understand this question a little more. Sometimes I just feel like saying, 'Nah. . . had one and then SURPRISE - the other one came about 3 months later. . . "
• Are they identical? This one makes me laugh, too. People usually ask this before they think about it. . . one boy, one girl. . . nope, not identical!
• Do twins run in your family? Nate and I usually say "Yes." We both do have multiples in our families. Nate has twins and triplets; I have triplets. . . saying "yes" to this question avoids questions like the one below. . . A friend once told me she says, "WELL, THEY DO NOW!" I like that answer, too!
• Are they natural? Hate this question. . . especially when asked by a total stranger! I dealt with it my entire pregnancy and will probably be answering it the rest of my life! Of course they are NATURAL! Is there such a thing as an artifical baby? I know what people are getting at when they ask me this, and I think I will always get defensive about it. And for some reason, I always feel like I have to explain things to people (even though it is none of their business). Infertility is heart-wrenching, and my heart breaks for those who struggle with it.

We're getting used to the whispers and stares and questions and feel so overwhelmingly blessed with our little family. . . It has been a huge adjustment, and we have moments that are VERY DIFFICULT. I won't say that there haven't been tears shed. . . I think I've had a moment or two that all 3 kids AND Mommy have been crying at the same time. . . but I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

The Poo Poo Choo Choo!

We tend to fill up the Diaper Genie rather fast these days (wonder why?). When we empty it, this is what it tends to look like. . . and we've somehow nicknamed it the Poo Poo Choo Choo. Isaac loves to pull the Poo Poo Choo Choo out to the garage when it is time. . . we all get a kick out of it. And yes, we do make him wash his hands when he's done!

Knock-knock-knock!

Knock-knock-knock! This is what we hear at least one time each night. . . usually it is 2, 3, 4 times. Post bedtime, little Isaac knocks on his door. Last night (or this morning) the knock-knock-knocks (there are ALWAYS 3 knocks) occurred at 2:30 am and at 5:30 am. There is no rhyme or reason to the timing of the knock-knock-knocks, but they are happening every night now! Sometimes you can hear the pitter patter of little feet or a jump off of the bed before you hear the knock-knock-knocks, but most of the time it startles and scares us out of our sleep. Nate and I usually take turns to see what the catastrophe is. . . this morning I believe it was that he needed something out of his stuffed animal basket (which is something he could easily do for himself). . . I'm not sure what it was the other time. It could be that he wants his pants changed (the child does not wet his pants at school, but he for some reason refuses to "hold it" during the night.) It could be that he cannot find a stuffed animal in his bed (because he insists upon having about 20 in his bed so it's no wonder he can't find a specific one. . . ) It could be that his music has stopped (even though this can't be the case because we purposefully keep his CD on "repeat" mode). Who knows? It's always something new. . . and sometimes all you have to do is tell him to get back in bed and you're good as gold.

We don't know what started the knock-knock-knocks. We just hope they end. . . SOON! Now that the babies are ALMOST sleeping through the night, we would prefer to not wake up to the knock-knock-knocks! Every night when we put Isaac to bed, we warn him, "No knocking!" I've even threatened to take his blanket, his turtle, or his Ike dog from him if he knocks, but doing this would be more of a punishment for me and Nate than it would be for Isaac.

Oh well. . .

Here's hoping for no knock-knock-knocks tonight! Mommy's TIRED!

Itsy Bitsy. . .

Yes, we bought Olivia a bathing suit. . . an itsy bitsy bikini. You wouldn't believe the cute little bathing suits that they have out there for little girls. NATE is actually the one who insisted that she have a bikini. I think we both feel like we will allow her to have one now and maybe next year, and then no more bikinis for a long, LONG time! I can hardly wait to see her chubby thighs and chunk of a belly in this thing. And yes, I know, I will have to slather her with sunscreen when she does wear it, which probably won't be as often as she wears the one piece suit she has. . . She may only wear it once just for the photo opportunity. But still, I had to share. . .

Naughty Spot

Isaac has been in the "naughty spot" THREE times today. Actually he was there THREE times by 1:30 pm! What in the world?!

We used to call a time-out "time-out," but for some reason, "naughty spot" does the trick a little bit better. Thank you, SuperNanny! Isaac does NOT like the "naughty spot."

We started out saying "naughty chair." Then I realized that not every place will have a "naughty CHAIR," but every place WILL have a "naughty SPOT."

Oh, Isaac. . . you are so much fun, but you are such a little stinker sometimes! Luckily we have been free of the "naughty spot" for about 5 hours now. . . here's hoping for a smooth evening!

Tag

I have been tagged. . . I guess this means I am supposed to blog 7 weird/random facts about ME. Here goes:

1 - No one has ever been able to say my last name - even now that I am married. Growing up, Mahnensmith was hard for everyone. That's pretty understandable when you look at it. People that knew our family for a long time still couldn't say it. You'd think Haugh would be better, but it really isn't. We get everything, including HOG and HO. There was a time at work when a woman, a mother whose child I had seen in speech for over 2 years, kept referring to me as Mrs. Ho. . . lovely.

2 - Nate CANNOT beat me at Scattergories. Just can't. He tries, but has never, ever beat me. We don't play games very much anymore (since the twins were born anyway), but he does not like it if I pick Scattergories. . . he knows he will have to accept defeat AGAIN. About the only person who CAN beat me in Scattergories is my brother. That is because he makes up ridiculous answers and argues until everyone agrees that they are acceptable.

3 - I have a steel-trap mind. I remember everything. I remember the birthdays of people I went to elementary school with. I remember what I wore on my first date with Nate. . . I remember a lot of weird things. Nate hates it because I am really good at bringing stuff up just to make him crazy. . .

4 - My most embarrassing moment ever was at my 5 year high school reunion when I asked a girl there if she knew if she was having a boy or a girl. . . but she was NOT pregnant. Enough said. . .

5 - My hometown is Syracuse, Indiana, which is WHERE Lake Wawasee is located. The following scenario happens to me ALL of the time (and it drives me crazy):

• Random Person- "Where are you from?"
• Me - "A small town about 2 hours north of here - Syracuse."
• Random Person - "Never heard of it."
• Me - "Have you ever heard of Lake Wawasee?"
• Random Person - "Yeah. I went there every summer to visit my grandma." or "I used to go to this place called The Frog all of the time!"
• Me - "Well, Lake Wawasee is in Syracuse."
• What I really want to say - "DUH! You were in Syracuse. Are you kidding me?!"

6 - Whenever I vacuum, I like all of the "sweeper marks" (I'm not sure what else to call them) to be in the same direction, and it really bothers me if they aren't. Luckily, at our new house, the carpet does not really show any "sweeper marks," so it makes vacuuming nice and easy! (I do kind of miss the "sweeper marks," though. They gave me a sense of cleanliness, I suppose.)

7 - I have a note from high school from a friend that is folded like a house. . . remember how you used to do that? On the house, she drew 2 people and a mailbox that says "Mr. and Mrs. Haugh." Yes, that is WEIRD! This particular friend had kind of a crazy crush on Nate, who I didn't know or even talk to until we were in college, and she thought it would be fun to tell people that I liked him. (She also told ME that she and Nate dated and a lot of other things that were not true, but that is another story.) I kept the note and still have it somewhere in a box. It makes me laugh whenever I find it when I'm going through things. . .

I guess I am supposed to "TAG" 7 people to do the same thing, so I will tag:

1-Jen

2-Wendy

3-Allie

4-Darcey

5-Jennie

6-Staci

7- Monica

I don't really EXPECT you all to do this, but it is kind of fun. . .

The "C" Word. . .

Isaac said the "c" word today. . . yes, he said CRAP. Actually he said, "Oh, crap!" I kept saying, "Isaac, what did you say?" while Nate LAUGHED in the next room. I guess we REALLY need to watch what we say around him from now on. . . and no more watching basketball with Daddy for awhile. . . which will be hard since March Madness is about to begin!