Oh, San Francisco

San Francisco has a number of "street fairs" that can only be found here. Driving through them is always interesting. Driving through them with your daughters can be a little more difficult.

Andrew was driving C/D back from Carmel to meet me at their school picnic on Sunday and, going through downtown, he hears C say "Daddy, that man's not wearing any underwear." He turns his head and realizes he's driving past a 'street fair.' The man in question was wearing bumless leather chaps, and not much else. Here's to diversity!! (editor's note: I (AD) had to remove Molly's link to the Folsom Street fair. After following the link, let's just say it was not family appropriate.)

Baby in the Belly

A few days ago we told C and D that I have a baby in my belly (it was getting a little obvious). They were actually VERY excited. They started talking about all the things that they could teach the baby (they refer to it as "he" but tell me that it will be a "sister.") They kissed the 'baby' and hugged the 'baby' and patted my tummy (very hard I might add).

C also asked A if he had a baby in his belly? He said no, that boys don't have babies in their bellies, just girls. She reassured him "Someday when you be a girl you can have a baby in your belly too Daddy."

Yesterday she also asked me "Is the baby excited to meet ME?" And of course I said the baby just couldn't wait....which is true. She/he is going to be very lucky to have two big sisters like D and C.

The Name Game

So I found this baby name site and decided to submit a question. And she answered!

I especially like how she says that Charlotte and Dylan are a "very interesting pair" which translates nicely to "what the hell were they thinking?!" But I love 'em so guess that is what matters.

Here is her answer with suggestions. Click on the site to see reader comments. Do you like any of them???

Reader Question - Name for Baby #3?

September 17th, 2008

A reader named Molly recently asked me for a few name suggestions:

I have identical twin girls named Charlotte Maiden and Dylan Rose. I am expecting another. I need a boy or a girl name that fits with these names but isn’t too much like them (ie. I don’t want Sadie, Charlotte and Dylan because then Dylan would be too much of an odd woman out). I also don’t want any names ending in -en, -in, -an, etc. because they are just getting too popular. Finally, I’d prefer the names not start w/ a C or a D. Appreciate the help!!

Charlotte and Dylan make a very interesting pair, I think. The former is decidedly feminine and has been popular in Europe (and elsewhere) for centuries; the latter is traditionally masculine and has been popular in the U.S. only since the 1960s (thanks to folksinger Bob).

Here are some names that might work with both of them…

Girls			Boys
Alexis Astrid Avery Bailey Beatrice Brooke Ellery Georgia Gwyneth Ingrid Laurel Meredith Matilda	Margot Maeve Piper Paige Philippa Phoebe Ramona Reese Riley Shelby Skylar Sydney Willow		Adam Asher Anthony Alec Bennett Bryce Brady Blake Edgar Eli Everett Frederick Gareth	Garrett Graham Henry Hugh Jonas Leo Lucas Maxwell Micah Roderick Raymond Spencer Wesley

Do you think any of these names sound particularly good with Charlotte and Dylan? What others would you suggest?

Legally Brunette??

While we were in Hawaii my Mom took C and D to a toy store to pick out toys for their new cousin Charlie (who arrived the day we left for vacation...good planning molly). She let them each pick out a toy.

D picked out a doctor's kit. She loves to run up to me with her kit in hand and say "Mommy I need to fix you." She then gives me a check up, complete with LOTS of shots, during which I yelp in pain and she screams with delight.

C picked out a pink Hello Kitty ATM machine. She spends her time asking "Mommy, can I have some money?" so she can put it in, press a bunch of buttons, and then get it out again.

Sparkles, Fish Shirts, and Twirl Skirts

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I know one thing I will appreciate with Bedo---the time when I can dress her/him however I want. Because that ship has DEFINITELY sailed with the monkeys.

C and (especially) D have very strong opinions about what they want to wear, and in D's case that usually translates to "not very cute."

D likes every random t-shirt she's every received, especially if it is blue, brown, or black. I got these not very cute blue shirts from their swim school for free. Every morning she wakes up and asks "Can I wear my fish shirt?" I tell her it is dirty. Then she asks, "Can I wear Charlotte's fish shirt?" The only thing she likes more than the fish shirt is the Cal Berkeley shirts she's gotten from Uncle Todd and Papa. "Can I wear my Oskie shirt?" It's like she's purposefully taunting me, but I am not going to bother buying her a Stanford shirt in the hopes of competing--why would any kid want to wear a shirt with a tree on it when she can wear a shirt with a bear on it? Other favs are the black butterfly shirt and and the blue airplane shirt. Basically she likes tshirts, and then god knows what else she decides she wants to wear with it that day.

D will also wear anything 'giraffe'--her assortment now includes a giraffe dress, swimsuit, and shorts (that she found on a clearance rack while we were buying a gift at Janie and Jack--she'd stripped down to her Thomas underwear trying to put them on before I even knew what was happening).

The one thing D likes that I might be able to work with is "twirl skirts." She likes to spin around and watch the skirt fly up. Unfortunately, we only have one skirt that qualifies for that right now. Maybe Santa will find some more for her. (Not that she will want them if it comes from him. They hate Santa. I say "Santa's nice" and D says "No he's not. He tried to carry me." God help the person who tries to carry D when she doesn't want it).

C likes anything pink and anything that sparkles. I gave her new barrettes for school and the first thing she said when she saw them was (forlornly) "But Mommy, they don't sparkle." If it is pink she is in. They have new shoes from MaeMae and D's sparkles and C's don't, and we'll walk to the park and she'll keep saying sadly "My shoes don't sparkle in the sun." She loves her sparkle #2 shirt and can't wait to wear a sparkle #3. She also likes anything with mermaids on it, especially 'mermaids with mouths' (I have no idea what the distinction references). And she likes anything with a C for Charlotte on it.

They both like things with "stuff" on them. I have generally given up buying things that don't have something on it...as in hearts, flowers, fish, monkeys, mermaids, etc. Stripes are generally a no go with them. Polka dots occasionally get the nod. Anything seasonal is a hit (thankfully because I'm a little Halloween obsessed).

I realize I'm rambling about this and I'm probably the only one who cares, but if you knew the amount of time that seems to go into the dressing process you might be more sympathetic. (And I'm pretty convinced that they egg each other on too). At this point I've started to give up and let them wear what they want, and I don't buy anything that can't be returned. I just have to get over the feeling sometimes that people who see them must think I like C better because she generally looks much more coordinated/cuter than D. Then again, D is so happy strutting around in her apparel of choice that maybe that's all people see : ).

Here they are on a rare occasion when they actually put on what I wanted them to wear! Just in time to get frozen yogurt all over themselves during a 'special treat' with Daddy! (C in pink of course, D in green).

Escape

Andrew and I escaped to Hawaii for a few nights. Free flights and hotels points are a small perk of Andrew's constant travel. The non drinking/being fat definitely puts a bit of a damper on any vacation, but being able to just relax and hang out with each other was so fantastic. It was like the calm before the storm (Andrew kept asking "Can we still leave the kids with your mom and chris when there are 3 of them?!") Here are a few pics (I'm 24 weeks in these pics).

Fatigue

Little C and D are being worn out by school and I don't know what to do about it. And I'm wracked by insomnia this pregnancy. I keep getting up between 3 and 4 am and not getting back to sleep. Brutal. We are a tired, cranky, crew. Boo hoo.

Seriously?

I'm in Old Navy buying some maternity stuff for our trip. The woman at the counter squeals, reaches across the counter, and starts fingering my belly button!

"Oh my God it is so big and it sticks out so far!!!"

Me: "Yeah, um, it's always been an outtie." (STOP TOUCHING ME!)

Still flipping my belly button back and forth with her finger: "Oohh! I bet the baby will have a big belly button too!!!"

SERIOUSLY???????

Yes, THAT's My Husband

Is it weird that I get a tiny thrill from introducing people to Andrew at places like preschool? First, I just like when he can actually be there to introduce (I've had to go to several preschool "family" events by myself which sucks). But aside from the obvious reasons you are proud to introduce your spouse, he's always the young hotty in the room! Maybe because I'm old, maybe because I'm fat and pregnant, maybe because we are on #3 and they rightfully assume no 31 year old in his right mind would let that happen, maybe because we have twins and people assume IVF, and definitely because we live in SF, but I know the assumption is that I'm going to have a much older better half. And in walks this youngin' (w/ a smile like his daughter Dylan). Once I get over myself--as in, I'm thinking "Do I really look that old? Couldn't I be 31 too?" Ha ha--I have to admit, I quite enjoy it.

I wonder if someday C/D will feel that way. As in "Meet my Dad. He's a DILF." : )

3 sessions of school in....

and we have our first illness : ). C got a fever last night. And I think I'm secretly happy because it gives me an excuse to keep them home from school and let them sleep instead.

Things have been going ok with school, but the sleep issue has been brutal. I feel like a bit of a spaz for being so stressed about this, but if you saw how out of control tired they are after school you might sympathize a little more. They behave well at school, come home, and completely meltdown. It is like they have no control over their behavior. They randomly bite each other, grab each other, cry, throw tantrums, and generally lose their minds. It is hard to get mad at them because they are so out of their minds exhausted. And I feel bad because it is just me trying to soothe them both (even when Andrew is in town there's no way he can be home before 6:30ish). The other mothers seem more relaxed than me, which I chalk up to A) they are cooler, better mothers than me, B) many of them have kids who have already dropped naps, and/or C) they don't have twins.

I keep wondering if I made a mistake, though I do really like the school. But I do feel so terribly guilty for sending them to a new and sometimes scary place when they really want to be sleeping. (They are still crying when I leave them, which sucks. I really don't think they would if they were not tired). Hopefully they will adjust eventually (withOUT dropping naps completely)....

How to Ruin your Fantasy Football Season

Make Tom Brady your #1 pick. Watch him tear his ACL about 6 plays into the first game of the season. Whine like your 2.5 year old twins do on occasion.

All Growed Up

My little girls had their first day of school today. I kinda of can't believe it. I have to admit, I've been stressed about it. I am stressed mostly because they are in a 3 day a week afternoon program, which means I have to send them to school tired AND they are going to get all screwed up on their sleep. AND I worry about them dropping the daily nap that they (and I) desperately need them to take. So not ideal (and it just makes me a little bitter that I live in a city where I can't just get them in a good morning program).

They took their giraffe and elephant backpacks filled with their plastic monkeys, "Thomas the Train owie (one of those things for cold packs but they just like to carry around), picture books that I made for them so they could look at pics of themselves and their families, and for a special treat, lion, giraffe, bunny, and lion. (I thought about putting them in hairclips w/ C and D but ordered a little too late. Luckily they had name tags.)

C and D did about what I expected them to do. They cried and held on to me (Andrew came but had to leave before I did) and wrapped their legs around me when I tried to put them down. It was pretty brutal. But I hugged and kissed them goodbye and then walked out, trying hard not to cry myself. Two minutes later I couldn't hear them crying. They were pretty excited to see me at the end of the day, but they did seem to have a good time. (And they were sitting RIGHT next to each other when I returned. Very sweet). So hopefully we made the right decision to send them to an afternoon program.

I am glad they are starting off on this new phase in life, but I'm crushed too. Although some days are tough, these days and years seem to be moving way too fast. Please stop growing up monkeys.

P.S. Sadly, this might be the only picture taken of me during this pregnancy. I keep asking A to take a mid-pregnancy pic but no luck yet (Andrew, is it still passive aggressive if I've already asked you directly several times?!? :))

My Inner Flick

An email went out asking for volunteers for C/D's new school. Before I knew it I'd said "yes yes yes" to several things, including "room parent." It's like the extracurricular maniac in me came out after almost 20 years in hiding. And then I was kind of embarrassed. When did I start to become a PTA Mom?

I console myself by saying that I won't be good enough at it to become one of "those moms." I mean unless they need creative marketing or a website revision my skills are marginal at best. (good cook? no. artistic? no. organized? depends...)

Then again, who knows. First Room Parent, then PTA Mom, and in a few years...the vice presidency.... (?!?!?!?!)


And here's a video of D/C teaching their monkeys to swim.