Labor Day Weekend

And so here we are - the weekend before school starts.


First off, let me just say 2 words. Barack Obama. I don't think I'm the most political soul you will ever meet ~ but I have to say at the age of 41 I have never, ever experienced a politician that made me want to go out and be a better person...a better citizen. I'm too young to have witnessed first hand the inspiring speeches of JFK or MLK ...but I think I shall always remember the intense feelings of hope and excitement this hopeful president stirs within me. (Ok. The fact that he uses words with more then one syllable is also amazing. Its dizzying almost - to hear an intelligent, thoughtful and articulate leader speak. Woah). Ross and I both commented that we wished the babies were old enough to take them to the convention. Wouldn't that have been an amazing experience?

Anyway, its Labor Day weekend. We don't have much planned. We both need to work in our classrooms, and trust me when I say we are soaking up every last lovely minute with the babies. I will say that walking in the house at the end of a day of painful staff meetings to see those happy little faces light up is worth more to me then anything I could imagine.

Here are some images from our last week:

Practicing with spoons and eating...oh boy...




Helping with laundry:




With our dear, sweet neighbors Bud and Norma Jean




"See Jonas, this is how you are supposed to be sitting for a picture!"


"No no Jonas! Don't close your eyes!"



"How'd I do, mom?"




And so we wrap up our summer and head into another school year. Another autumn approaches...and while I am anxious about returning to work( as a busy high school drama teacher and director) - I know that the goal of my entire life now is finding the balance between motherhood and teaching. Balance - finding time for Ross and I as a couple. Balance. Find time for myself - watercoloring, reading, exercise. (yeah. I know...good luck with that one Vicki). Balance - Its my goal, my focus, and my mantra. It helps me to remember that at the end of each day I get to go home to my loving, kind husband and 2 of the most beautiful souls I have ever known ... my warm and sweet babies. Family. I like the feel of that word.

Preparing for Change

August is winding down. Where has the summer slipped away to? We both are getting ready to return to our teaching jobs. Time with the babies feels more precious then ever. How do working mothers do this? I feel so strange leaving the babies to return to my job. The rains have returned to our evenings. I lay awake in bed listening to the sounds of what feels like an approaching Autumn. I know it will be ok - I just wish I didn't feel so sad.

Jonas and Jember are doing well. They just turned 7 months old! Jonas is doing his best to crawl. This kid is a go-getter. He focuses in on what he wants and goes nuts trying to get it. Jem hasn't rolled over yet - but she seems to approach things in her own good time. She's pretty Zen about the whole thing. Her latest discoveries have more to do with her voice. Lately, she has been making bear noises. Growling, and g-r-r-r-ing" all over the place. Yes - she still does the dolphin squeals as an encore - she really is a budding little actress.

We approach the coming transition with a bit of anxiety. Big adjustment for us all as Ross and I head back to school. We'll just have to take it one day at a time and hope for the best.

The House of Screeeeeeech

Wowsa.

Jonas and Jember (both teething) have discovered a new noise. It is an ear-splitting, glass shattering, every-dog-in-the-neighborhood- is-barking-now, screech. They do it when they're unhappy, excited, bored, ay-yi, yi. Sometimes they are even smiling when they do it. Other times - its a clear exclamation of "Hey. I want something over here!"

We old-foggie, rookie parents are trying to figure out why they are doing this. Can anyone explain this to us? You may have to speak loudly - as I think I am experiencing hearing loss...sigh.

Happy Growing Babies!

Watching these 2 together is a special kind of magic. They're amazing!

The wonder twins

Their personalities continue to emerge. Jonas is so intense. Every thing he feels is immediate. When he is happy, he is over the top thrilled. When he is angry - yikes - look out! Jember is a bit more mellow. But she is quite the talker. And when she can't get what she wants she screeches like a dolphin. We call it her "dolphin call".

Playtime

Jonas loves his jump-a-roo






Jember laughing in the sunshine

Anniversaries. Looking back and moving forward

We had our anniversary yesterday. 6 years! I realize that to many we are but "pups" in the world of marriage but we both feel pretty proud. We've weathered our own storms together and still stayed strong. And now we have 2 beautiful kids. And may I tell you we are having such a ball. As long as the sun (M.I.A. for a lot of this summer) continues to shine we try and take a good walk each day. We live near the water and are surrounded by parks and pretty walks. The babies love being outside. So much so - that we broke down and bought 2 used baby backpacks. Our goal is to get these little ones out in the woods and the meadows for some real hikes.


OH! We have had a "roll-over" everyone! Jonas is our rollin' boy. He's really good at it too. Jember is close - but is actually working on her sitting up skills. She's a pretty balanced little gal (except when Jonas rolls over her). We marvel day to day how expressive and funny they are. How much they change and how much we are totally in love with them. Yowsa!

In the meantime, I will try not to notice that the calendar is telling me that we both return to staff meetings in about 3 weeks. I can't even bear the thought of not hanging with the babies all day. (Yes. I know I could stay home. But we are paying back some loans from our adoption and we need my income. sigh). We have found a couple of great women who have offered to be our nannies...and while their fees were MORE then reasonable...Ross and I are expecting to be living on rice, beans and baby smiles for a while.