Goodbye 2011...Hello 2012!

I have been away a long time! Work has been crazy, so I haven't had the time or energy to post anything. This school year has been difficult and not good at all. I cannot wait for it to be over, and I don't think I've said that before in the 10 years I've been teaching! I think with the economy, more and more kids are having major issues at home, and when you get to know students and are trying to teach them, well, it wears on you. Top that with no permanent administrators, and it's not a good thing. But enough about work!

The girls turned 3 this year, which was exciting. Yes, 3s are rougher than 2s! With the 3s, it was like they were bipolar. It has gotten a little better, but there are still major mood swings! It has been awesome seeing M & S grow up. They are so big now and becoming these little, interesting people.

I don't think I've gotten any twin comments this year at all. It's funny, when they are infants, you get so many comments, many of them not welcome, and then it diminishes. Which is totally fine, I just think it is interesting. It is so much easier now that my girls are older. While I still prefer to go shopping alone- it is so much quicker! I can take them shopping by myself, and it's not that big of a pain. Not like it was when they were 2 and under. Pretty much everything has gotten easier. The tantrums are not fun, but once you know the best way to handle them for each (because oh, they respond SO differently to things!), it gets easier.

I noticed someone asked me a question on my last post, and I never answered it! So I will now. They asked about how long I kept the girls together in a crib when they were infants.

I had a full size co-sleeper that they both slept in for a long time. I think I kept them both in it together until about 4 months, when they started rolling over. And even after that I would have them nap in it. We had 2 cribs set up from the start, but didn't need them right away. They slept in the same crib until they started really rolling around, probably around 5 months. Before that, sometimes I would have one sleep in the crib and one in the co-sleeper. It just depended on what they needed. The best lesson I ever learned being a twin mom: You do what works for YOU! People will give you suggestions, which are great, but you need to find what works for you and your babies and stick with it. Good luck!

Big Girl Bed Update

I hesitate to write this, but I felt the need to report. We switched a couple months ago to toddler beds. Has it really only been 2 or so months?? It was a big deal and it took me back to the dreaded newborn days. I was not getting ANY sleep. First, I had to sleep in the room with them until they fell fast asleep. Then, they started waking in the middle of the night, and who can forget their lovely super early in the morning wakings? Which are still going, by the way. Anyway, I am happy to report that it IS getting easier! I now rub their backs until the fall asleep and then sneak out. And it hasn't been taking them long to fall asleep. I am pleased at the direction this has been going!

Oh, and another HUGE update! M finally, FINALLY is pooping on the potty!!! Twice now she has gone on her own. S is next.

Pacis, Pre-school, and Poop

Pacis
Last night M asked for her paci. It was really so sad. She first told me that she was sad. I asked her why and she said, "Because I want my paci." and she said it in a way that was so sad :( I did not give in though!! I told her that she was a big girl now and didn't need it, and that I wished I could give it to her, but couldn't. She did eventually go to sleep too!

Pre-school
Pre-school is going well! They love it, of course. I have been dropping them off since I have been on break, and S is always the first one in, not looking back, ready to go! M started to hang back and hide behind my legs a bit. Once she gets in there, she is fine, but I think she also wants to spend time with me. The only thing I don't like, is when I pick them up. They go to afternoon pre-school, so when I pick them up they are super tired. I bring them home and they act crazy. Bipolar even. They will get upset over the smallest thing, then be happy, then upset. I want this, no I want that! Do this for me, NO don't do that for me!! It's exhausting!

Poop
I originally put "poop" in the title just so I could have another "p" word- the English teacher in me acting up- but I do have some poop things to write about. Mine still will NOT go in the potty. I have tried bribing. That doesn't work. Bribes just don't work all that well with my kids. They say they are scared, so we talk about it, but they still won't do it. Some have told me to take away the pull up at night, since that is when they poop. They hold it until they get in a pull up then let it all go! I tried that with M a couple times, but she will either just hold it and then have an accident at school, or poop in the undies. Not ok. So we continue with pull ups at night. I keep reminding myself that they WILL get it eventually. Just like they got peeing in the potty. Laid back is what they need. I just need to remind myself of that!

Paci Update!

Getting rid of the paci was a little LESS painful than I expected! The first night, it took them forever to fall asleep. But, after the first night, they did not even ask for their paci at all! We had explained it a bunch of times and talked about it for well over a week beforehand though. I really was expecting them to ask and cry for it though. The only thing that is happening, that I think could be paci related is that M is waking in the middle of the night. And she wants me. And she doesn't want to stay in her room. She wants to come sleep in my bed. I really need to stop letting her do that! It's like when she was 6 months old again!

Paci Fairy, bedtime, etc.

Tonight the Paci Fairy is coming! What happens is she comes during the night and takes the pacifiers and gives them to the babies who need them. She leaves a nice toy in its place though! I'm not too worried about Sofia, she'll be ok. Maya is the one I'm most worried about. In the past 2 weeks she has gotten even MORE attached to the paci. I got them each a LaLaLoopsy doll, so I'm hoping that will help, but I have a feeling the next few nights will be horrendous.

I am STILL laying on their floor with them. Not sure when this will change. I'm flattered, really, that they want me around all the time. I know that will change eventually, but I do need to get stuff done!

Potty Training! It is going well. They go pee on the potty all the time now. Maya wakes up dry in the morning and after naps (WHEN they nap, which is an entirely different post!). But they won't poop on the potty! M went in her undies yesterday. Other times, she will ask for a pull up. S just waits for her pull up at night and then poops. I'm going to try bribery. I got a few Hot Wheels cars from the store ($1 each!) and I will show them to the girls and let them know they will get one every time they poop on the potty. I'm hoping it works, but knowing my girls... it might not.

Toddler Bed Update

It's been a little over a month since we switched to the toddler beds. IT's still pretty insane. Most nights, I have to lie down with them until they fall asleep. And they won't go to sleep until it is fairly dark outside. So our bedtime routine- I mean process- usually goes like this:
* brush teeth, use potty, get jammies on
* story, or 3
* girls get in bed, I lie down next to them
* 5 seconds later, I'm telling them again to lie down
* repeat
*repeat
* repeat, threaten to leave
* actually leave
* go back when they start beating each other up
* repeat all of this until it is almost 8 pm. Then, they will lie down, and eventually fall asleep.

Check out this post from Rants From Mommyland. It is SO TRUE! Threes are insane!
Top Ten Reasons Why Three is Worse Than Two