To make things easier, I went to their house instead of having Katie leave them at mine. Babies and little kids are far more comfortable on their own turf than anywhere else. Disturbing their routine is always a losing proposition and I knew that if I was going to have a fun weekend with BoopityBoop it would be at their house, where all their stuff is.
When I arrived at the house, they were both in their bumpos. I don’t have bumpos. They were side by side in the sturdy plastic chairs that make it possible for babies who can’t sit up yet to do so. Boop likes to lean forward in hers, as though she were trying to dive out the front. Boopity has a completely different style. She lounges, all cool and lazy. Just when you think it’s safe to turn your back on her, she goes stiff as a board and pops herself right out of the chair. She hasn’t actually popped all the way out and landed on the floor yet but it’s just a matter of time.
Katie left detailed instructions as to meal time, nap time etc., which was very helpful. With one baby, you can play things by ear, to a degree (although woe to the person who thinks nap time is negotiable!) but with twins, survival depends on routine. In between naps and meals, we spent the weekend finding out what makes the girls laugh. This is a never ending quest, since the answer to ‘what’s funny?’ changes day to day.
But we found enough things to keep us all laughing all weekend.
While they are looking more and more alike every day (Boop is still trying to catch up to Boopity’s weight) the personality differences are more marked. They are now eating cereal with carrots mixed in. Like most, they weren’t at all sure about the glop Mom was shoveling into their mouths when they first tried it but now they like it a lot. I had to feed them both at the same time but thanks to a yearlong bout of tendonitis, I’ve gotten very good with my left hand and was able to two spoon it. Boopity has figured out sucking the cereal off the spoon pretty efficiently but Boop’s tongue still pushes at least half the spoonful back down her chin. Boop shows her enjoyment of the meal by shouting in between spoons because you’re not feeding her fast enough. Boopity doesn’t yell but her little legs never stop pumping as she eats. Boopity is very physical in her excitement. She kicks her legs and pumps her arms. Boop is more low key than her sister. Boopity has also discovered that she has lungs. She likes to shriek at the top of them for no reason other than to hear her own voice. She doesn’t do it very often, just often enough to remind you what could happen if you screw up. So be careful!
The first night went without a hitch; they woke up once to eat, right on schedule. We all slept in until the dog woke me up, demanding her breakfast.
The animals were hilarious. They’re used to sleeping in the master bedroom but I drew the line there. I had no intention of animals in the room. Katie assured me that they probably wouldn’t even want to sleep in my room.
She was very wrong.
When it was bedtime, both animals pranced down the hall to the door of the master, clearly excited that it was bedtime. At the door, I turned to them and said “No. Not tonight.”
Imagine a dog and a cat deflating with confused disappointment.
They accepted it, although they clearly weren’t happy about it.
The next day, I was careful to keep the bedroom door closed, since I didn’t want them napping on the bed I was sleeping on. I must have left it open a crack, though because I went in during the afternoon and caught both of them on the bed. They both looked up at me with startled, guilt ridden faces, then bolted off the bed and out of the room.
We went through the whole charade at bedtime Saturday, too.
Aside from that, we all got along swimmingly. Once the pup realized she was persona non grata in my room, she removed herself to the girl’s nursery and slept on the double sized arm chair beside their crib.
Saturday night, the girls tag teamed me from midnight till 4. I think the dog was egging them on. She was really not happy with me for bogarting the big bed.
Sunday morning, Jay came up and we dressed the little boops up and took them to church, where they behaved like champs. They were awake for the entire service and were fascinated by the people, the songs and the stained glass. Neither of them made a peep the whole time. Then we went home and Jay made breakfast. Coach actually hung out with us about half the weekend. Long enough for BoopityBoop to decide he was okay and pretty funny, too.
After two and a half days and two nights of playing, being outside, bathing, napping, eating and giggling, we were all exhausted. The girls went to bed early on Sunday. I had hoped they’d be awake when Katie and Adam got home. I wanted to see their reaction to the return of Mom and Dad. Just our luck, both of them woke up again just after Katie texted me that they were on their way from the airport.
I thought the girls would be delighted to see their parents but instead, they gave them the biggest double dose of baby-cold-shoulder I’ve ever seen! Both girls refused to look at their parents, instead fixing me with a gaze that can best be described as “Take me with you, Nana!”
Katie assured me that they got over it by morning and were happy to welcome their wayward parents home.
Altogether, a great way to start the Fourth of July weekend!