Nothing like a little travelling

We are in Chicago this week. Alex had some business meetings so the babes and I came along with him. His sister lives here, so it is a good excuse to spend some time with family. We got here on Tuesday and will head back home on Sunday.

The babies have actually done really well so far. This was their second plane trip (we came to Chicago in January – I KNOW, WHAT WERE WE THINKING!! – when the babies were 6 months old). There were extra seats on the plane so we were able to take their car seats on. The flight was even enjoyable! They ate, slept, and ate some more. I got to write some and even peruse a magazine. That’s more ‘me’ time than I get in the normal course of a day.

We are staying at a Residence Inn so the setup is fantastic (when you have babies, at least). We have a living room with a separate bedroom, a pretty much full kitchen, with a DISHWASHER!! I don’t even have one of those at home. It is awesome. I have so much more time – when I’m home, once they go down for their nap in the morning, I have to wash bottles, cups, dishes etc. Which usually leaves me with about 15 minutes to sit down and read the news, pay bills, whatever. Here, I just load up the dishwasher in about 5 minutes, and I’m DONE. Yee haw! I am so ready to move out of my uncle’s place. We need a dishwasher! That is motivation enough.

I venture to say that the babies are sleeping better here than at home. The hotel supplied us with two pack and play cribs so we are all set. They are napping now…quite peacefully. And later we are going to go out shopping for a while and then meet up with the fam.

I am really enjoying being here. I love Chicago, but even more than that, it is wonderful to have some variation to our daily routine. It is so easy to get stuck in a rut – to not want to leave the house because it is nap time or eating time or whatever. I try not to do that at home, but it is very easy to get sucked in. But when you travel, you better forget it unless you want to be miserable the entire trip. It is great for me to be forced to be more relaxed with the schedule and routine. The more we do it, the more I see that the babies adapt and are fine and the more I’m inclined to do it some more. Don’t get me wrong, it is a HUGE pain preparing for a trip with 10 month old twins, but very much worth it.

By the way, I will try to occasionally do some catch up between my last update to now, but I think I’ll do it in a more casual fashion….in keeping with my current ‘relaxed’ theme .

My first Mother’s Day

It’s my first Mother’s Day. I have come to realize over the years that I am not a very sentimental person. I feel things, for sure, and I am most definitely emotional, but I just don’t do the sentimental thing too terrribly much. We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, don’t really buy gifts for holidays, birthdays are not a huge deal, etc.

However, I’m feeling alot about Mother’s Day. For a couple of reasons, I think. First, we waited so long and fought so hard to become parents. It was a very long, three year emotional roller coaster, and not the fun kind. My heart broke at least 36 times over that three years and every time I thought I couldn’t handle another crushing blow, one was delivered and my only option was to figure out a way to handle it. It was hard and it still makes me sad to think about it.

And my second reason for feeling emotional about Mother’s Day is that I realize now just what it is to be a Mom. And Mom’s deserve this day so much. It is harder and more challenging that one can ever imagine. You can never be prepared for this huge job. There are so many things wrapped up into being a Mom – enormous responsibility caring for and shaping these new beings, love so massive that its hard to express, self reflection that is very hard at times, and a huge desire to BE BETTER.

My heart is so full today. I have the two most beautiful babies one could ever dream of having and they are my soul. I love them with all of my heart and I am so proud to be their mother.

Happy Mother’s Day.