The Dentist

Today I took all three kids to the dentist. Jenna, still home on winter break, joined me there to help with baby handling which was great because there was no way I could have done it alone. We arrived on time at 8:00. After some paperwork, we waited in the waiting room. At 8:25 we were called in. We were then put into a smaller waiting room to meet the dentist. (I picked this dentist because everyone in the twins group I'm in uses them as they specialize in kids and have an open floor plan.) We met with the doctor and then someone took all their pictures for the files I guess. Then we were moved into another room and waited there for what seemed like forever. 20 minutes later after all the kids were settled and calm, they moved us again into a smaller room. At this point, we had been there for 50 minutes without anyone looking at our teeth. Considering I had asked how long the appointment would be in total (an hour), I was a bit worried. But then the doctor came in.

Parker went first. I prepared the dentist by telling him Parker would most likely scream bloody murder. He asked Parker if he could count. When I heard that I knew we would be ok. He asked how many eyes he had, how many noses he had, how many ears he had, how many fingers he had and how many teeth he had. Parker let him look at his teeth without any problems. He was actually absolutely perfect. I was so impressed. As was the dentist who said his teeth were excellent.

He then saw Miranda and Elizabeth, who were not as happy as Parker about the whole thing. But it was quick, so relatively painless. They too had perfect teeth. The dentist was very pleased all around, as was I. He said that normally we would come back in 6 months but because they were so good, we could wait one year.

We packed up, paid (we don't have insurance) and left. Everyone had their own toothbrushes and Parker got some cool sunglasses too.

Let's hope the good teeth genetics hold up for another 20 years or so.

Jackets and Shoes

As I previously mentioned, after hearing the montessori lecture the other day, I decided to put a little of it into action. I created a place for the kids to put their shoes and hung their jackets down low.

So, today when we were going to head out, I told everyone to get their jackets. Elizabeth, who spotted the set up yesterday, went to hers immediately. She then showed the others where they were.

And when we got back, she not only put her shoes away, she put Miranda's away too.

I guess there is something positive about the clothes and shoes obsession.

Jam Session

After naps today, we had a little jam session. Elizabeth seemed the most happy about the whole thing, but all enjoyed it.










After, we practiced lying down (rather than standing up) on the new bean bag chair.

New Math

Today, while writing 3+3+3=9 Parker said, I'm doing New Math. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I thought, of course, of Tom Lehrer.

Sweeping

Yesterday I attended a tour and info session for a local montessori preschool. Although I found the whole thing little cultish, I did get a nice reminder that kids like to do things that mommy does. So while I was cleaning up the floor, I let the girls help.

Potty progress

I've been checking in with Parker every 10 minutes or so to see if he had to go pee, and he always says no. And then maybe once an hour I've been making him sit on the toilet anyway, where he is usually able to go pee. I will hand it to him, the kid's got a big bladder.

So this morning during the 10:30am forced pee, he peed substantially, and went poop as well, which is always cause for celebration, so we left the bathroom in triumph together.

10 minutes later, when I was thinking that we had a good 30 minute window before I started pestering him again, he walked over to the bathroom door and said, "I want to go pee some more." And sure enough, he went pee again. This is the first time he has gone in the toilet entirely of his own volition.

They grow up so fast.

Dresses

My friend Rachel (who is married to Michael who has twins) gave us some clothes. When I was going through the box, Elizabeth had to check out some of the clothes. She immediately spotted a dress and had to put it on. She also wanted the shoes put on. She was very pleased with herself and kept playing with the dress. Miranda wanted in on the action but then was pretty upset about it. She got over with a few jumps on the trampoline.

I left these outfits on them, adding some jeans for warmth, when I took them out later in the day.

I really am very worried about Elizabeth and her clothes and shoes obsession. It doesn't seem to be a phase. But she is becoming quite the little jumper!

The end of an era

As is our tradition, after reading books to parker tonight, I told him I would stay with him for 5 minutes. He said, No, it's not 5 minutes yet. I thought he was just being 'cute' trying to get me to stay with him longer. So I told him 5 more minutes. He corrected me again. He said, It's almost 5 more minutes. In 3 minutes it will be 5 more minutes. I looked at the clock and sure enough it was 5:52. Since he knows he is suppose to go to sleep by 7:00, he was, in fact, correct. Then when 5:55 came up, I started the 5 minute countdown. Now in the past these 5 minute countdowns have lasted anywhere from 1 minute to 20 minutes. But today, they had to last exactly 5 minutes.

Damn that kid for knowing how to tell time.

Getting comfortable

Pals

After music class this morning, Parker wanted to hold Miranda's hand on the walk to the car.

Eli loves music.

Today, Elizabeth walked over to the CD player, climbed up on the chair, turned it on and then adjusted the volume to a completely reasonable level.

And we thought she would be the "pretty but dumb" one.

Shows what we know. Maybe we're the dumb ones.

Soccer

Parker had his third soccer class today. Despite the chaos of the first week, he and the rest of the kids have settled into a reasonable semblance of order. Both last week and this week, Parker did just about everything the coach asked him to do, usually within 60 seconds of being asked. Last week, as we were waiting for class to start, Parker kicked the ball from one end of the field to the other over and over, making about 10 goals in the process. This week we had an accident-free pee break in the middle of class, which was a relief in every sense.

Totland

I took the girls to Totland in Berkeley today, a toy-strewn park that's always a hit.

New Jammies

We got a lot of hand me downs this week. For Parker from Lincoln and for the girls from Dalila and Saul and Avi. Everyone loves their new jammies!

Play Cafe

Jenna and I took the kids to Play Cafe this afternoon. (I can't handle them by myself there.) Everyone mostly stayed in the reading and drawing room. From time to time, Elizabeth or Miranda or both ventured out to the other play areas, train table and ball pit, which they were not allowed to go in. Parker played with a couple other kids and even went up to some mom and said, "Hi, my name is Parker." Yay!

10 Minutes Till Bedtime

The kids have a new favorite book. Chicka Chicka was replaced with this book my mom gave the kids during our last visit to LA. It's a simple book about a child getting ready for bed and the hamster tour that happens to coincide with it. Hamsters, first just a family and then hundreds of them, come to participate in and watch the bedtime routine. They help the little boy brush his teeth, take a bath, get dressed, and read a book. Each page the only text (except for some things the hamsters are saying) reads, "10 minutes till bedtime", "9 minutes till bed time", etc. It's in a big bubble that comes from the other room where his dad is reading the paper.

The kids just love it. All of them. Elizabeth likes pointing at the hamsters. Miranda likes saying "bedtime" in her ridiculously cute, yet tonally perfect way ("bah tah"). And Parker likes acting it out. Before naps, we have to go through the whole, which includes brushing his teeth and changing into jammies. Today, he wanted to even take a bath, which was where I drew the line.

My favorite part is at the end, when, after all the hamsters have left and the tour is over, the boy gets a good night kiss from his dad. All the kids look at me and wait for their kiss. Miranda even makes the kiss noise ("Mmmm-ahhh") and puckers her lips while turning her head to me.

After hours of breaking up fights, soothing the cranky, cleaning up meals, and holding the teary, reading this book to the three of them is just the ticket.

Lolly pops and Letters

Note: This is one of those blogs that if I was not the parent of the child I am speaking about, I would have almost no interest in the content. In fact, I read the blog of another twin mom who recently went through the same thing and now looking back, I can truly appreciate her excitement. At the time, I just thought she was nuts. But I digress.

Parker went through the whole day yesterday without any accidents. Which includes three big poops in the toilet. I'm not sure if he's getting better or if I am getting better watching for his signs, but something is working (today at least). Yesterday, twice I noticed him doing the "pee hold" (holding his pants at the crotch). We calmly walked to the bathroom where he did his business. Another time, I saw him with a strange expression and stance and we went to the bathroom for a poop.

He still can't really articulate when he needs to go, but when he finds himself in the bathroom he knows what to do. Sure, from time to time, he tells me how hard it is and how he can't do it. I just remind him that he 'has' done it and yes, sometimes, even for mommy, it's hard.

We're doing a combo toilet training method. A little prevention. A little bribery. (Probably how you are not suppose to do it.) Today, I told him he could have a lolly pop after lunch if he went poop before his nap. He told me didn't need to go right then, but then shortly later when asked again, he went in, sat down and went poop. He quickly ate his lunch and was very happy with his dum dum lolly pop. Yesterday, he got three letters from his letter book collection when he went three times. He picked G, U, and M.

Anyway, he's doing very well and we couldn't be happier.

Brotherly Love

The kids watched a little TV (ie Parker's favorite math dvd) today all together on the chair. Miranda was done sitting with Parker long before Parker was done having her there. (Parker still doesn't like Elizabeth.)