Labor Negotiations

One and a quarter

Happy Ninth Vegas Anniversary honey! Eight years ago, today, we "slipped up," (sorry, I can hardly contain my laughter) and didn't use a condom. I had already been off the Pill for two months, but wanted to make it three, you know, 'cause that's safer, and all, so we were using the gloves. My god, how naive I was back then. I even had that "choose the sex of your baby," book. Missionary? Doggie? Faster swimmers? Is that how babies are made? Present me, wants to reach back in time and slap 33 year-old me.

In other news...15 months old. Amazing. Surreal. I can't believe these beautiful babies call me mama. (and they both do, now) As a matter of fact their language skills are "exploding" as they say. I can't even keep up with Nic, she is starting to repeat everything I say. I hear you're supposed to keep lists of words? I'll try. Julia is still sort of a mono-syllabic kind of girl, and Da-da means quite a lot, depending on context, for both girls. Daddy, doggie, duckie, what's that? You really have to pay attention. They are so much fun. And although, sometimes I feel a little drudgery in my day, it doesn't have anything to do with them. It's more a laundry-folding, dishwasher-emptying kind. And I had that before they were even born. I feel so lucky to be able to stay home and watch every new thing they discover or do. They are growing so fast and are real little people with personalities. I'm in constant amazement.

The house is really coming along, now. The second floor walls and framing are done. I expect the roof trusses will probably go up this week. Maybe even more. I walked around the first floor the other day, and you can really start to imagine living in it. How big the rooms are, what the views out of the windows will be. It seems like eons ago, that we signed on with our architect and builder, and now we are finally seeing something materialize "overnight." Anyone have any experience with recycled glass countertops? We're thinking of doing something other than the ubiquitous granite, that will also help our LEED certification.

Oh, did I mention the braces might be coming off in August or September? Four and a half years. I think it was worth it. I want to celebrate with a little "work done." Extreme Makeover, maybe?

Thank you, Easter Bunny!

The recovering Catholics celebrated Easter in their own way, Sunday. (and yes, you saw Christening photos on that 1st birthday post...we try...for the family, you know) My dad and brother came over for a brunch of Eggs Benedict (which I didn't fuck up, an Easter miracle in itself) (did I just say Easter and fuck in the same sentence? I'm on the express train to H-E-double toothpicks, I swear...) spinach gratin, fruit salad, blueberry streusel muffins, Honeyb@ked ham (for which, D braved a Good Friday police-guided parking lot, for) and Mimosas. The girls thought their 10:00 a.m. "snack" was delish! My heart was melting watching my dad with the babies. Julia taught Uncle M how to "rub noses, like the eskimoses."

However, the kin had to be shoved out the door promptly at 11:30, so we could put the girls down for an early bottle and nap. Had to skip lunch since they were full of blueberry muffin. At 1:30 dresses and shoes went back on, and we had a little impromptu egg hunt in the front yard (no hidden dog "chocolates"...) since the morning snow (I know! Hello...March 23rd!) had melted. "They" also got some good loot. "One for daddy, two for mommy, one for daddy..." Notice how the ears on the bunnies were the first to go.

We drove over to my mom's where another egg hunt was waiting. The girls showed off their Easter finery (including their Dollar Tree Easter bonnets. Apparently Easter bonnets are no longer the rage and were hard to find. Thanks Hannah Mont@na. But hey. They cost one. dollar. No losers, really. The gaudy hats did take attention away from their hand-smocked dresses, though.) and enjoyed being the center of attention. After ham again, we made it over to D's parents for...you guessed it...MORE HAM. Somehow, I didn't eat at their place, which is becoming a holiday tradition since the twins have been around. Did I mention how I didn't have Thanksgiving dinner? Long story.

The girls were so well behaved and we didn't have any screaming meanies. They even stayed up a little later and went to bed easily. We're slowly getting better at this "having kids" thing. Well, "having the kids," not "having kids." Semantics.

Since it was also the first day of Spring last week, we celebrated by going to our Botanical garden, where we fed the ducks and ate lunch. Nic took a catnap in the stroller which completely screwed any chance of a nap later in the day, but we still had fun.

We have also been exploring a couple of playgrounds, including the one right by the new house being built. The girls are starting to enjoy the privileges that come with age. (sniff)

Speaking of the house (Pamplemousse...) the detached garage walls are going up today, and hopefully next week, the house itself will start going up, too. Not much else to report on that, though. Looking at late July/early August for completion. Ha.

Happy 1st Birthday, Babies! It's been quite a year (and a half...)