and even more joys....

15. Have I mentioned how much my girl loves music class? Look at her- sitting nowhere near me- having a blast!!


16. Fur Real Kitty, "Lulu". Yep- this is Violet's Christmas present. So ridiculous, but she loved it in the store, and she really never loves any toys. She adores animals, but is usually afraid of mechanical, battery-operated ones. I think she might actually think she's getting a real cat. JOY!

17. clean toddlers + kisses = big time JOY!!!

18. vintage Raggedy Ann and Andy sheets! Yeah!! I had to change Ollie's Thomas the Tank Engine sheet off of his bed today and the only other set of twin sheets we own (now that we're out of the crib mattress!!) is this pair- which used to be mine as a little girl! Made me happy. I also have a matching sleeping bag for future sleepovers. hee hee.

19. A moment today. I took the kids to the mall- a quick trip, just to pick up a few things. Piled them in the stroller which they haven't done in a while. I'm sure we are a sight at the mall- our big double-wide stroller, Oliver still in his Spiderman slippers, Violet refusing to take off her mittens or hat yet still guzzling her baba...suddenly Violet scream-sings out, "RUDOLPH THE RED -NOSED REINDEER!". One second passed and Ollie answered, "HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE!".

Reader, they sang the whole song, at the top of their lungs, taking turns with each line of music. Crazy bliss.

20. my follow-up from yesterday. I don't want to make this too wordy, but I also want to really make clear just what a blessing this was.

If I had to name the top five most difficult things about having a child with special needs, one of the things included would be the IEP meeting and all that comes with it. IEP means Individualized Education Program. It's something I'd never knew existed before Violet. It's updated every year, more often if needed, and can include any and all members of your child's team (you as parents, therapists, case manager, etc.).

The difficulty comes here, for me, in twofold:

1. as autism is the one diagnosis that presents itself differently in every child, there are no clear-cut means of treatment; every child is unique in his or her needs.

2. as much as I am fighting for the best for my child, it's the county's job to spend as little as possible. Bottom line.

We've been working on Violet's IEP since she turned 3 in June. We have ABA providers for her that aren't covered by our county; they'd prefer to use their own therapists. Ben and I decided to fight to keep our providers and this has been ongoing. We were told to expect, in this order: 2 meetings, mediation, due process and then court, if needed. We were ready for this, and ready to fight; we felt that strongly.

We had our first meeting the week before Thanksgiving, and it was civil, but no one seemed ready to budge. We talked about dates for the next meeting.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, we got an e-mail yesterday.

They're letting us KEEP our ABA. And paying for it. No more meetings, no money out of our pocket, no need for Mama to put on her boxing gloves.

Best. Christmas. Gift. EVER.

hugs and kisses

another quick post- I managed to capture the end of what was the twins' first MUTUAL hug (usually one gets the urge to squeeze, and the other pushes the hugger away). Too sweet.
Then, last night, we were all snuggling on the couch, reading books before bed (or should I say reading the book du jour five times in a row....), and we started to say good night. I kissed Violet who was in Ben's arms, and Ben kissed Ollie, in my arms, and just on a whim, I said "Kiss sissy....", and Oliver leaned in to smooch! And Peanut smooched back!!!
My heart exploded.

we survived!

Well, knock on wood, we are all healthy again, after the WORST stomach bug ever! We are so grateful to be feeling good again, and that no one had to get treated for dehydration. The babies are back to normal, and funnier than ever. I think they are going through a big mental growth spurt- suddenly so smart and into learning anything they can absorb! I LOVE watching it and encouraging it. The best thing that happened this week was on the first day they felt a lot better. Oliver was crying about something- often when he stumbles, I try to give him a few seconds to work it out on his own and recover. I ask him if he's ok and offer him a hug if he'd like to come to me. Anyhow, on this day, he tripped a little, and started crying. He looked up at me, but before I could say anything, Violet was there, wrapping her arms around him and saying, "ok? ok?" (actually it was "k? k?"). I'm telling you, I felt like my heart would explode!!!! However, it was not what Ollie was hoping for and he shoved her off....Since then it's happened twice more, and the last time, he begrudgingly hugged her back. Unbelievably cute.

A few other things:

*Violet is amazingly skilled in animals all of a sudden! Naming them, making their sounds, and matching the sound up with the correct animal. One day, the TV was on and we heard "baa!baa!". She looked at me and said "sheep!" (really more like "sheeeeee"). She loves walking around with her little animals, playing with them, kissing them, and handing them up for me to kiss.

*Oliver is loving hats, or anything that goes on your head or face; sunglasses, headbands, etc. If he finds a hat, he brings it over to us and angles his head so we'll put it on, and says, "hat!". He'll wear it for hours....too cute.

*Oliver now loves corn dogs.

*Violet is learning her ABC's. She likes to "sing" the song along with me, and also will point out letters wherever she sees them. In a book, on a soup label; she points to them and sings the song.

*Violet's language skills are skyrocketing. She will repeat anything (and I mean, anything!) you say to her, and she remembers it! She can read two of her little books after memorizing the words. Oliver is a little more solely comprehensive. He still babbles a ton, but isn't into repeating things. However, if you ask him to go into the kitchen and get the book about Charlie Parker and give it to Grammy, he'll do it.


















Oliver, trying to engage in a little post-bath chat. Violet would rather read, thank you.

busy babies...

Violet channeling her inner Cinderella...

Oliver using his "Yabba Dabba Doo" foot power to drive the car...

keeping Mama on her toes!

wonderful kisses....

we've found a new place for the babies to play! It's an indoor place called "The Treehouse", and the twins love it. It's filled with all sorts of wooden toys, things to ride on, a mini slide and tunnel, books, puzzles, etc. There's a place to have snacks, and it's all padded, so the babies can go off on their own (kind of), and have a great time. They've done really well interacting with the other kids; I guess they've never known anything BUT sharing! The best part is that this is something I can take them to on my own, which I haven't been able to do with any other activity yet. There are almost always other mommies of twins there, as well, which has been great for me and the babies!

Lots of new busyness at home, as well. This morning, I heard nothing for 60 seconds, which I'm quickly learning is trouble. Oliver had climbed into the oven. Yes, into. Terrifying. So, now we have latches on every appliance in the kitchen, and most cupboards. I thought having a foot-activated lid for our kitchen trash would be enough, but Violet has taken to pushing the can across the room, like a push toy, and then tipping it over.

Last night, I started rehearsals for "Fidelio" at OCP. What a world of difference for me compared to the last opera I did in February! I felt so confident leaving home last night, knowing my toddlers would be happy babies for Grammy and Dada, and go down ok for them. And how wonderful knowing I could come home afterwards and not have to fear Violet waking up and needing to be rocked, or having to do sleep training with Ollie. I love this age! Such happy, beautiful babies.

pictures galore!

Ben, me, mom (looking at something FAR more interesting than the camera!), Tug, Melissa and Jon

the couch peanut
(look at the crossed feet!)

some serious reading before bed!

what else to do when you've grown a natural mullet?

happy boy- with SO many teeth!

yum! watermelon for everyone!

snuggling with grammy and mommy in pajamas...

peanut has just learned how to "give kisses", which is why I'm slopping on her in so many photos!

birthday parties can make you THIRSTY!

Ollie is ready for the Conan-O'Brien-look-a-like contest!

Nothing feels better than a healthy dose of self-love!

"Dang Paparazzi!"

not a lot of time to write, but cute photos abound, so I must post them! more from Ava's party (thanks to auntie miss!) and some of post bath hair-stylin' fun!