Here we are in spring, finally. It’s been a cold dreary winter here. Virginia is not great in winter. It’s not cold enough for snow (and if it does there is panic in the streets) so it’s mainly just cold and rainy. This year it’s gone on a bit longer than usual. School is starting to wrap up and the girls have totally blossomed. They like school and I think they enjoy enjoy going together but being separated. They’ve learned so much and have improved in all of the areas that we had concerns about at the beginning of the year. The best news is that they are completely done with therapies!  The speech therapist said that they are now well within the “normal” range. They’ve really worked hard and are honestly incredibly bright so to finally be caught up is awesome. I’m so proud of them. They still do their twin talk which is really fast and its own language. The speech therapists were fascinated by it. I love that they have that connection with each other but it can be frustrating for me  They have the word “nee”  that they say with different inflections to mean different things.  It’s always used as something they like, or is good.  They also have the word “futti” that drove Tim and I crazy trying to figure out.  They would get super upset that we didn’t do we wouldn’t turn the futti on. They only say it in the car.  After about 5 months of them screaming at us for being morons that couldn’t do what they wanted I figured it out.  It was the navigation system in the car.  They liked watching the map.  I have no idea how they came up with futti.  They do also have a weird mental connection.  The best example is when they were in speech last month.  They had separate therapists and would go to two different rooms with an observation room between them that I would sit in and watch and listen.  They play with games and toys that encourage speech but the rooms have different toys.  Emi stopped what she was doing and told her therapist that Taya was playing with a barn.  Taya had just started playing with one in the other room and there is no way Emi would have heard or seen that.  It was pretty freaky.

 

Even though they have such a strong connection they will fight with each other about absolutely everything.  If I don’t give them the same color cup, spoon, bowl etc. at exactly the same time then something is gonna go flying.  They fight over who walks out the door first, or who takes a bath first.  Today they fought about who could sing along with the radio.  They both have quick tempers and will throw whatever they can get their hands on when they’re mad.  They’re also not above getting physical with one another.  Taya is quicker to hit and more aggressive.  She likes to pin Emi down and sit on her head.  Emi is more of a tattler and had been known to do something bad and then try to pin it on Taya.  3 has been challenging.

Taya                                                     Emi

 

I’ve been trying to give them more individual attention so I signed them up for parent child gymnastics on different days.  Tim and I alternate taking them.  They both love it.  Taya is fearless.  She can walk the high balance beam without any help.  They both love the trampoline and can do a few tricks on it, but we have one at home so they do that often.  Emi likes to do twirls and spin like the older girls do on the floor.  She studies them and tries to mimic the moves.  I think their favorite part of gymnastics is the leotards.  The first time we went I just put them in a Tshirt and leggings.  I didn’t know that most of the girls would be dressed like they were on the Olympic squad.  Emi and Taya saw the leotards and kept pointing at them and rubbing the little girls that had them on so they guilted me into buying some outfits.  They are so proud when they have them on.  They are both very much into girly clothes and hair.  They hate jeans and prefer to wear a dress everyday.  They want to wear tutus and sparkles and high heels.  They also need their toes painted weekly. They’re gonna be high maintenance when they get older 😂

Emi                      Taya

 

They like to dress girlie but they are happiest when they’re getting dirty.  They like to throw rocks in the water, dig in the dirt, paint and play in the sandbox.  We went camping again a couple weeks ago and I swear I’m still scrubbing the dirt off of them.  We do this thing at home called “cook up a mess”.  They each have a kit with measuring cups, spoons, spatulas and other cooking stuff. I set up a work station in the yard and give them stuff like sugar, cereal, rice,  and dried beans with some water bottles.  They then basically mix it all together and spread it around and pretend to cook.  I used to give them flour but I forgot that flour plus water equals paste, so now that’s out. It is their favorite activity.  They love to watch videos on YouTube of cupcake making and they pretend they are stirring the cake mix and making the buttercream.

Emi, Taya

We had a nice Easter.  They loved the Easter bunny and were very excited for Easter egg hunting.  The problem was that Emi realized that the eggs had candy in them so she would find an egg, open it and eat the candy before continuing.  Taya just kept grabbing eggs which made Emi mad because she wanted to get them, but at her pace.  Emi likes to be in charge and is very particular about how she likes things done. Taya just steamrolls her way through things.

Taya                                     Emi

Mother’s Day is this weekend and I just want to thank you again for choosing me to be their mom.  I always spend that day with you on my mind and in my heart.

Take care