Two is Better than One

I tried to do my Disney blog from my iPhone, but it didn't work, and I have a "no make-up" policy. When I do that, it keeps me from capturing the present.

Instead I will talk about my wonderful babies. They are maturing so much. They are finally developing some distinctive traits. Anastasia is very verbal. She has started saying "Whas dat?" all the time. She wants a name for everything. She has entered parrot phase where she tends to just repeat the last couple of words of anything someone says.

We hired one of Mike's friends to professionally paint our stairwell and do some other work and he has a helper. Every time they open the door or come back in during the day, Anastasia says "hello!" Clear as a bell, bright and cheery like they have been gone for a week. Or she will say "Hi worker mans!"

Amelia's most distinctive trait is still her compulsion about music. Anything that has a beat makes her wiggle. She loves to dance and will do turns and leg lifts and a number of other indistinguishable movements that range from hip hop to ballet style. Anastasia wants me to pick her up and do ballroom with her when the music is on.

Anastasia likes to climb up on the piano bench and pat it so that I will sit next to her. Then she crawls on my lap so I will play the accompaniment for twinkle little star while I help her move her fingers to make the melody. Amelia has gotten over that and wants to make her own music.

Amelia still tends to be more willing to give up what she has for her sister, but they both want me to get a drink, snack, candy, or whatever for their sister if I give them one, and each insists on taking it to the other wherever she is.

They are both sick, but Amelia definitely gets it worse than her sister. When they were 2 months old and got RSV, it was Amelia who spent 4 days in the ICU and two in a regular room, where Anastasia had 4 days total in a regular room. They are dripping horrible mucous and nasty cough. Amelia is running a fever. When Amelia gets sick, she gets grumpy and lethargic. Anastasia gets wired and goofy.

Anastasia can open doors and leads the mischief making. Amelia is always trying to climb up my legs and wants to be with me all the time. I am absolutely not liking the terrible of these twos. They get in to stuff and love to make messes. Terrible two times two is four, right? But it is 10x as much trouble.

Still, I love my precious babies so much. I have not taken the time I need to to just play with and enjoy them, though. Time goes so much quicker when you are older. I am about to start rambling on about missed opportunities and failed self-expectation, so I will stop.

I will say, though that I auditioned for the TV show America's Got Talent last weekend. I told Mike I might not do it. I was worried that I would make it and that this is not the right time for that kind of focus. He thought it was ridiculous of me not to try. I did not have to worry about making it. About 1/3-3/4 of the people who audition are singers. It is just overflow from American Idol and people who are too young or too old for it. But the show is not looking to be American Idol. They want variety acts and such. Going in costume is the key. Having a gimmick is crucial. It was a good experience. I will be much better prepared if I decide to do it again.

My 3 year old dryer is dead. I might be able to get a repairman out here for $100, but I hate that stupid machine. It has been falling apart for many months and in not energy efficient at all.

I am going to try to commit to updating my blog every Sunday. It was pretty easy to do today because I did not have to travel with kids. We will see how well I do.