Windows

I'm afflicted with a bit of writer's block this weekend.

But I've been expressing my creativity in other arenas- experimenting with some of my new photography skills.  The photographs below are two of my favorites from this weekend.  What I love most about these two pictures is the illustration of Addy and Asher's contrasting eye colors.  Addy's eyes are just like her Dad's- a brilliant bright blue, like the summer sky. Asher's eyes are more like his Mama's- green, like a peridot. Similar to his Mama's eyes, Asher's also have some unique brown flecks in them. But unlike his Mama's, he also has some blue tones in his eyes. It has been said that our eyes are the windows to our soul. And when I look into the eyes of my beloved babies, whether in real life or on film, I can read them like open books. I can see the pure joy that overflows from their souls, the innocence behind their every thought and action, and their unique and animated personalities. Without speaking a word, I can read their eyes and know if they are excited, afraid, embarrassed, or proud. As Addy and Asher's mother, it is my sincere pleasure to read so deeply into their eyes every day, to know them so completely, and to love them unconditionally with my eyes, heart, and every fiber of my soul.

Routines

At the present time in my life, I am a girl of routines.  I like my daily life consistent and predictable.  Like the pieces of a puzzle, every day is slightly different, but they fit together nicely and create a cohesive existence.  I wasn't always a girl of routines and schedules.  Throughout my early adulthood and before Nick and I were blessed with the twins, I was much more conducive to spontaneity, and even thrived on having no schedule at all outside of work.  I was always ready (and excited) for a last minute weekend getaway or late night excursion.  Should we drive to the coast after work tomorrow?  Sure!  Wanna meet for a drink in twenty minutes?  Fantastic! What about staying up all night with a bottle (or two) of wine and good conversation? Absolutely!

However, when we became responsible for the well-being of our beloved Addy and Asher, everything changed.  What was clear from the onset for our family of four, is how imperative it is that we stick to a routine.  Both kids are very keen on maintaining their schedules (particularly regarding sleeping) and they are more content and well-mannered when we stick to them.  Not all families are dependent on routines like we are, but the way we have things working, like a well-oiled machine, proves that a predictable routine is ideal for us.  Every day when I put the kids down for naps or we tuck them in at bedtime, it is guaranteed that they inquire about what we are going to do when they wake-up.   They like to know what to expect. Either that, or they are preparing for careers in professional event planning.

The funny thing (and what I recently realized), is that I find myself nearly as reliant on our daily schedule as Addy and Asher are.   I like to know where we have to be, when we have to be there, and what we'll be doing.  Knowing what's in store for us makes life a bit more sane and manageable with twins in a sometimes slightly insane existence.

Don't get me wrong, I love to take part in all the play-dates, parties, sports lessons, field trips, and excursions we involve ourselves in. As the COO of our family, I make sure we introduce Addy and Asher to a variety of experiences, cultures, and opportunities.  I thrive on activity and socializing with family and friends, and I love to travel. Daily, trips out of the house are a necessity for me. And most of you know that I am not one to sit idly at home.  I can't even watch TV without multitasking.  Some may call it a disorder- that I am unable to fully relax.  And while I tend to agree to a certain degree, it's the way I am, for better or worse.

Although well aware of my aversion of cabin fever (among other eccentricities), I just recently realized that I am most comfortable and content when we are fulfilling our family's customary schedule. This week, home from the east coast, we are back into our familiar routine. We had a great time away, without question, but all of us are glad to be back to what is accustomed and routine.    I imagine that when the kids are grown and out of the house that I will feel more like embracing my old spontaneous self again- able to seize spur of the moment getaways and spontaneous date nights during the week.  I honestly look forward to that (because I do miss it), and hope that I won't be so exhausted after raising the kids to enjoy it all again.

For now, our present routine is exactly how I want my life to be:

With Much More Success

A mere six hours ago, we arrived home after a fun-filled visit with Grandma and Grandpa on the east coast. Enduring major traveling tribulations in October of 2009, we were nervous to attempt the journey again. In fact, after getting off the plane at BWI two years ago and declaring the flight was one of the worst experiences of our lives, we vowed not to attempt another cross-country trip until Addy and Asher could enjoy a cocktail. :) The flight was THAT bad. Much to our dismay, the return journey home was even worse. However, we recovered from the trauma, and sooner than expected, we were ready for a do-over. With Nani in tow, as well as a multitude of new entertainment, we felt confident this trip would be, at least somewhat, more tolerable. Much to our surprise and pleasure, Addy and Asher were practically genteel on both flights to Maryland, not to mention both flights home. In the face of extreme exhaustion, they remained well-mannered and in good spirits. Mama, Dada, and Nani were very proud. The kids proved that they are capable of civilized air travel, which bodes well for our future. Despite an overall lack of sleep throughout the visit, all five of us had a delightful time. In the duration of six days, we managed to pack-in a multitude of activities. From the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum, to a nature conservatory and walk, putt putt golf, and playground visits, to a lovely Mother's Day gathering with extended family and catching up with old friends, we were inundated with experiences that Addy and Asher will remember for a long time. Oh, and we can't forget that Addy acquired a new friend on the trip- a deer tick started burrowing itself into her armpit!

At the Air and Space Museum in D.C.:

Mother's Day; Great-Grandma, Addy, and Grandma:

With cousin Olivia:

As if all of the above experiences weren't enough to declare the visit a delight, Nani and I escaped to New York City early Saturday morning! She and I had an absolutely stupendous time together, and being blessed with time for just the two of us was sublime. I felt very fortunate that Nick, Grandma, and Grandpa took over Mama duties for the day (and picked us up at the train station at midnight) so that I could spend the day with my amazing Mom in one of my favorite cities. It was a very memorable expedition for us. We visited Ground Zero, among other notable NYC spots, and met-up with my dear friend Amanda (who has been a very close pal since preschool) and her hubby Josh, for dinner. I found a delectable place for dinner, complete with gluten, dairy, and soy free entrees, and gluten free beer. I was in heaven! It was a long, exhausting, fabulous day, complete with extraordinary weather- it was priceless. We even bumped into Cynthia Nixon in Amanda's coffee shop and chatted with Josh Saviano (he played Paul Pfeiffer in the Wonder Years, which for a child of the 1980's, is a big deal).

At the top of The Rock:

Ground Zero (I wanted to get One World Trade Center Tower in the picture. It is now the tallest building in New York city):

The High Line- a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the street on Manhattan's West Side:

Now that we are back home, after more than eleven hours traveling today, I am reflecting on our visit east. Above all, I want to thank Grandma and Grandpa for all the efforts they put forth to create a very welcoming atmosphere for the twins (and all of us). They acquired various household items, toys, snacks, etc., and it made the visit much easier for all of us. Grandma planned dinners with my allergies in mind, which meant a lot to me. They also provided much-appreciated entertainment for the kids, and made Nani feel comfortable and at home. Thank you so much, Grandma and Grandpa!

A New Focus

Never in my life has photography been such a sought after hobby and genuinely enjoyed pastime as it has been since my beloved babies were born three and a half years ago. I have always enjoyed documenting important events and milestones in my own life with photographs, but never as much as those of my kiddos. And I'm pretty certain I have snapped more photos in the past three and a half years than I did in the thirty-two years prior to Addy and Asher's arrival.

For the majority of my adult years, I took photos with simple aim and shoot cameras. I upgraded to a newer aim and shoot camera in October 2008, with a few more bells and whistles, in preparation for Addy and Asher's birth. But, it wasn't until I received the camera I presently use, one with many bells and whistles I don't think I'll ever appreciate, that I really began to find photography a challenging hobby. With each picture I take, it is my goal to find the right light, exposure, and focus to capture the image and impression I desire. With toddlers, however, my expectations are not as high, because just getting them to smile and look at the camera at the same time is a feat in itself.

I am enrolled in a photography class later this month focused on taking candid shots; using natural light, exposure, aperture, and shutter speed to take ideal pictures. I am very much looking forward to the afternoon I will spend in the company of an encouraging professional and a few like students. I hope that at the conclusion of the workshop, I will have acquired useful knowledge to apply when taking pictures of my most favorite subjects, Addy and Asher. And I hope that my efforts will come across in the future photographs I take.

A dear friend of mine, Ali, is an incredible amateur photographer (although she could easily be a professional). I believe that her ability is truly an innate gift, and she has honed her talent over the years to become very proficient. We have had the pleasure of Ali taking pictures of our family many times since I got pregnant. She visited us in the hospital one evening and took some incredible shots of my big belly (one of which is hung prominently in our bathroom). And every spring since the twins were six months old, Ali has snapped amazing pictures of them in our home and in various locales around Seattle. A few weekends ago, we met Ali for another photo session. The kids were very silly that chilly Sunday morning, but as usual, Ali captured some brilliant expressions and heartfelt moments.

Like Ali, I hope to hone my skills and learn to use light and focus to create emotion with my photographs. I am eager for the challenge and hope to continue to improve my skills as Addy and Asher grow up. But, even if my skills continue to improve over the years, I don't think we'll ever replace Ali as our favorite photographer. She has an intrinsic talent that I will never acquire, and I hope she will be part of our family spring tradition every year until our babies head off to college.

Some of my favorites from this spring: