And so it was, Ari left on Friday May 16, and returned Monday night.  I took off both Friday and Monday, and played Mr. Mom for four days.  In a nutshell, the girls were so wonderful for me (especially during their photo session and eye appointment, which, by the by, went wonderfully - Doc said their eyes are great, and Julia's ROP is completely gone!).  We had some absolutely precious moments, like bedtime snuggles and teaching them to give each other goodnight kisses.  But the greatest moment was Monday afternoon, when Marayla took her first unassisted steps.  During playtime in the living room, I stood her up and held out my hands for her to walk to me.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, she made a move to lower herself back to the floor, but instead stood back up; she put her right foot forward, then her left, wobbled a little, then put her right foot forward again, then fell into my ecstatic arms!  She was almost as thrilled as I was!  I called Arianne immediately, and she was thrilled too!  Our Itty Bitty is walkin’!

1. Thlann thlahn (morning dialect), Phthann fthahn (afternoon dialect), Lann lahn (evening dialect, also known as “the exhausted dialect”),noun

1. Ceiling fan
2. Light Fixture affixed to the ceiling
3. Airplane

- Word cannot be communicated unless accompanied with a finger pointing up toward the object being discussed

- Origin:  2008, Virginia:  from "fan" + "light" + "plane"

 
2. Abookey ah-boo-KEE, noun

[Alternate Versions:  Abookay, Abookdee, Abookday, Abook (rarely used)]

1. Book
2. Bound group of papers containing words and/or pictures.
3. Book-shaped box, greeting card, toy, or anything that could at some point in its existence take the shape of a book.

- Word cannot be communicated unless accompanied with extreme jubilation at the mere sight of the object being discussed

- Origin:  2008, Virginia:  from "a" + "book" + extraneous, yet silly suffix

GrandMarmy and I took Julia and Marayla to their fifteen month appointment at our pediatrician in Falls Church on May 9.  I had some apprehension about this appointment as they were getting the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, along with two others, chicken pox and hib.  MMR has a bad reputation linking it to autism, which for any parent is very scary.   You can wait to have MMR done until after your child reaches eighteen months, the pivotal age for autism.  However, in our area there have been a few cases of measles in the past six months, and in my gut I know there aren’t any developmental problems with Julia or Marayla.  So, I am staying on track with vaccines.  Overall the appointment was traumatic because they know that the doctor’s office means shots.  From the head measurements to tummy checks they were in hysterics.  Then when it came time for vaccines they handled them well and got over it quickly.  We have an eighteen month appointment, with a couple more vaccines but then they are done until they are four years old!  In the next few months we have their one year eye appointment, specifically following up with Julia’s retinopathy (from being a preemie), and Marayla is having her VCUG redone to check and see if her vesicoureteral reflux has resolved so she can get off daily antibiotics.

Stats-

Julia

Weight 21 lb 4 oz  (25 percentile)

Height 30 “ (40%)

Head Circumference 18 “ (less than 60%)

Marayla

Weight 19 lb 8 oz  (12%)

Height 28 3/4 “ (6%)

Head Circumference 18 3/8 “ (60%)

I love Marayla.  She’s a sweetie-pie, plain and simple.  Her smile melts my heart.  I love how she expresses her love for us by gently butting our heads, we call it head butts.  I love how she feigns shyness by bowing to the ground.  I love how she sings her Wind Wind song (I’ve been waiting so long to hear my child sing!).  Marayla was the first to laugh, and it was a total accident.  Her bath wasn’t yet ready so I kept her occupied by kissing her neck, chest, and belly.  She lost it and laughed uncontrollably in that way kids laugh that make you have to laugh in return.  Ari and I were so excited – it felt like we walked into a whole new room.  Marayla loves to fiddle her bottom lip and make a funny sound.  She loves her books, and her bedtime dolly.  She can’t get enough of her Froggy puppet friend, and flails her arms around like a windmill whenever he shows up to play.  Marayla loves her sister, and loves to race her up the stairs every night.  She’s a talker, and always chitter chatters, especially when we’re in the car.  She is an emotional girl, full of love (and sometimes sass!).  Marayla is a sweetheart, dipped in sugar, and wrapped in a cuddly snuggle bunny.  Marayla is beautiful; she is Daddy’s Ray of light.  Marayla, I love you.

Arianne
One year ago today I drove away from the NICU for the last time, never to visit my daughters again, but to be their Mommy.  This was a monumental day for me as a mother.  I was now the full time care taker for both my girls.  I remember sighing with relief and feeling like our life was beginning.  We had an idea of what to expect as we had been caring for Julia for almost two weeks, but this day started our crazy life with twins.  This past year has been the longest of my life--and certainly the fastest too.  I have been looking forward to this milestone above all others for some reason, feeling like I can’t really celebrate this first year of life until now. Tomorrow is the girls’ adjusted birthday too!

I love Marayla.  She has depth in her eyes, sometimes I think it may be conflict (when she hits me or pulls my hair because she can’t express herself).  Other times I can see the wheels turning while she figures something out.  Her head is full of thoughts and I am anxiously awaiting her to tell me what she is thinking.  Marayla is usually light hearted; she will let another person hold her, and she will smile at a stranger.  And, yes, her smile is the best!  She is so sweet and gentle, and she is my snuggle bug.  Just this morning she woke up early (well, too early for me), so I brought her in to my room and we fell asleep snuggled up together sharing a pillow.  When we woke up together we both just smiled at each other, and I remembered that today was her anniversary – I thought that it was so fitting.  Marayla is the talker and right now she is focused on the ceiling fan, so I find myself saying “where is the fan?” anytime we are in a room with one.  Just this morning she pointed to the one in my room and said something with an “Fl”, over and over.  Marayla doesn’t like to nap and needs a lot of encouragement to fall asleep.  She is usually the one to wake in the middle of the night too.  Just yesterday she cut her first top tooth.  I suspect the next one is moments behind.  Marayla is particular about food and her small waist line shows it.  She loves any type of beans and could eat an entire container of strawberries and a few oranges in one sitting.  Marayla does this funny crumple thing on my chest when she is silly and also when she is starving (to tell the difference just look at her face).  She also loves to bonk her head on the floor, it’s so funny.  I am very protective of Marayla and very in tune to her needs.  I can just sense what is going on with her, we have an unspoken communication and that is very special, as I have that with my Mom too.  Marayla you are so special to me and my life is a more amazing place for your presence.  Marayla, I love you.