Lists

My life is full of lists. I think about lists all the time. I carry them with me when I go out just in case I need to check them when I find myself in a store. My biggest list is not one to check in the store. It is the list of things I want to blog about and probably will never get the chance. Unfortunately that list is just in my head but here's what I can remember of it right now...

-the train trip from Edmonds with Timo and Mimi- one major poo up the back,  2 diaper changes in the smallest/train bathroom with all three of us in the room, arrival early to Spokane- waking up Mimi to get off the train
-Mimi's obsessive love of Timo and how she likes to pick him up.
-the things l like about our crazy huge house - A mother's best friend- ice and water from the water dispenser (can be acquired even while nursing), a gas fireplace, a double headed shower (one fixed and one on a "rope" allowing warm water to cover you from the front and back), a basement big enough to ride bikes in, a garage
-Ami's school, his relationship with Emily (crush #1)
-Timo at 6 weeks, bigger, stronger, able to be picked up by Mimi, SMILING! sleeping pretty well, wakeful in the evenings :(
-Generous parishioners bringing us meals and food
-day to day shopping- hooray for Trader Joe's!!!
-furniture and deals i have found to outfit our house
-the list goes on...

in the middle

Tonight Mimi and I were at odds during bath-time. I told her that the rule that she can't pick up Timo yet applies all the time in our family. She said that I had my own family and she and Timo were in a different family - "the stinky bum family". Unfortunately we were already in the bathroom so I couldn't reprimand her bathroom language...
Then she sang a little song (maybe twinkle twinkle or row row row your boat) which was so high that I think she was seriously singing a high G above high C. (super duper crazy high- only canine audible almost)
Then after bath and before she fell asleep she said "Mum, can I tell you one more thing? Me: Yes.  Mimi: I love you. and after my good sleep I am not going to be so kooky in the morning".

5 Weeks

I am struck by the night noises- snuffling, gurgling, screeching, contented grunting. I plan to record these when I get to Spokane where my recording device is. Otherwise they will fade away/grow up.
Eyes are not goopy anymore
Acne comes and goes with every day- less in the morning, developing into the afternoon, clearing at night (sounds like a weather forecast)
longer between feeds- 4 hours during the day on one occasion!
Enjoys a soother on occasion - neither Ami nor Mimi ever took to one so this is rather handy especially considering all the changes that we anticipating ahead... and how many things I need to do accomplish....
Loves his morning walks in his Bugaboo with Mum and Gran and the dogs
He now weighs 10 lbs 2 oz (up from 8 lbs 1/2 oz at birth)

Timo on his new quilt made by my friend Mary (in all her spare time- Mom of 2, now 3!)

Ami's activities

I was going to write about what Ami has been up to these days but my sister so eloquently wrote about him on her blog that I figure you should read about it here!

Timo and Ami having a cuddle

Twin Summit part deux

Clearly world peace was on the agenda. And the boys were in agreement. Just look at their linked arms!

(if it looks like the same as last week's summit it is because Timo has a very limited wardrobe and this sleeper is my favourite- it's a hand-me-down from Ami!)

belly button

I remember when I had Ami that the issue of belly buttons was big for me. Not only is it the place where you were physically attached to your mother and is a little mark to remember that, but the mother's belly button is transformed in the process of pregnancy (at least mine was). You get to see right to the bottom of that part of you that you think you know but you have never actually seen the bottom of. I start to wonder how all that skin which has never seen the light feels after being exposed. After my babies were born my belly button did not go back to the way it was before- a lasting mark of my mother-hood perhaps.

I wonder what determines whether you get an outie or an innie. In my family we specialize in innies. Timo's is yet to be determined at this point but I must say that it is a particularly cute belly button. It reminds me of a little snail.

We have a plan

So the wheels are almost on the tracks for us to go to "Spoke" next Thursday. After today's bureaucratic hurdle of Timo's passport submission (which then required Martin to go to a police station in the Spoke to get them to verify his identity), we just want to double check with customs that we have all the documentation we need to enter the country. That will be tomorrow's morning adventure.
The kids and I have been in Victoria since the middle of August and now we have 50% more kids than we had when we arrived. I can't remember the last time I was responsible for 3 square meals for a day let alone weeks on end. It will be so strange to leave here and set up camp in a totally new place. As Little Red says it "makes me feel excited, well, excited and scared." Oh, and it makes me feel tired, and overwhelmed and sad too.