Glass Half Full

Daddy Daughter Dance

Last weekend, our elementary school sponsored their first annual Daddy Daughter Dance.  One of our PTSO committee members had helped with a similar activity at her previous school, and she really pushed to have a dance at our school.  I am so glad she did!  It was an amazing night.  We were hoping for a big turnout, but we were all stunned by how many dads/grandpas came with the girls.  It was a huge success, and several people have already said how excited they are for next year's dance. 

Even though Rachel is in 6th grade (elementary school in most areas), here in our county 6th grade is middle school, so Julia is our only grade-school daughter.  She wouldn't have minded "sharing" Steve for the night, but I think she was pretty tickled to have that one-on-one date with her Dad.  Steve bought her a pretty little corsage, and here is Julia modeling her outfit (while waiting for Daddy to finish getting ready).

At the school, the girls and their dads signed in on pretty scrapbook paper, then they took a little questionnaire to fill out together.  It was a list of "favorites" with two columns, one for the dad and one for the daughter.  We hoped it would break the ice a bit and help the dads and daughters learn a little more about each other.  We noticed that a few dads came back to the gym after the dance was over, hoping to grab their "favorites" paper that they had forgotten.  I thought that was sweet.

Before the dancing began, there were some yummy treats to sample.  The ladies who prepared the food did such an excellent job!  It was a beautiful spread (the chocolate fountains were a smashing success).

We had a local photographer (one of the moms at our school), who set up a backdrop for photos.  I think almost everyone got their picture taken.  I am looking forward to seeing the pictures of Steve and Julia.

I was in charge of the music, which at first I thought would be no big deal, but as the dance drew closer I honestly lost sleep over it!  I had this fear that everyone would think the songs were lame, or that the girls would be on the dance floor alone, sort of talking/dancing, and the dads would be in the background talking to each other about bike rides or college basketball.  I never imagined that we would get so much participation!  It didn't hurt that the sound system was amazing, generously lent to us by my brother-in-law, Sean.  Anyway, I guess I just didn't give the dads enough credit beforehand -- they all turned out to be dancing fools!  Here is a cute picture of Steve and Julia.  My favorite part about this pic?  If you look closely, you'll notice chocolate on Julia's hand and mouth.  As I said before, the chocolate fountain was a smashing success! 

I agonized over the playlist, but should have known that when it comes to elementary-aged girls, you can't go wrong with Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and a little Lady Gaga or Black-Eyed Peas (I threw in some Coldplay and other "grown-up" music for the dads).  It was the YMCA, though, that really got everyone out of their seats and onto the dance floor.

There were honestly a few times during the evening when I was wiping away tears.  I think it was a very special evening for the girls, and maybe even more so for the dads.  When the song "Daughters" by John Mayer was playing, I noticed this little girl looking so lovingly up at her Dad, that I had to snap a picture.  I think this captures the essence of our night.

Yay for Dads who adore their Daughters!!!

 

Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails... times two!!!

I'm pretty certain that most of my blog readers have probably already heard my exciting news, but here it is again:

I...AM...HAVING...TWINS!!!!!

Two days ago, I went to the doctor for a routine exam, and being 16 weeks along in the pregnancy, we were hoping we'd be able to find out what we were having.  Almost immediately after Dr. Hall put the ultrasound wand on my abdomen, he stood up straight and sort of started giggling.  I thought this was a little odd, but figured that since he knew we were hoping for a boy, he must have seen the "it's a boy" clue right away.  Then, he turned the screen a little bit away from me and more in Steve's direction, and asked him, "Steve, are you seeing what I'm seeing?"  I looked at Steve's face and my heart immediately began to pound.  His mouth had dropped open and his eyes were wide.  He said, "There are an awful lot of extra body parts in there!"  Then I realized what was going on --- twins!!  I screamed.  "Are you kidding me!!!"  We were all laughing and shaking our heads.  I sort of focused on Steve and didn't pay much attention to the ultrasound for a few seconds, then Dr. Hall said, "I think they are both boys!"  I screamed again.

We left the office and somehow made it to the car.  What a shock!  Even more shocking is that this was my THIRD ultrasound.  A few people have asked me, "How did they not see the twins before now?"  This is the chronology of events leading up to our surprising discovery:

7 1/2 weeks:  My first visit.  Lengthy ultrasound showed a tiny, tiny fetus with a detectable heartbeat.  We were thrilled.

10 weeks:  I started making comments to Steve and others that "I swear I am already showing!  This is so weird.  I have never shown this early before!"  One night I began to have some spotting which started out dark and then turned bright red.  The next morning I called the doctor.  He said to come on down, that he'd squeeze me in.  VERY quick ultrasound showed one fetus with a strong heartbeat.  Relief.

12 weeks:  Next "routine" appointment.  Still having some spotting but figuring it was just how this pregnancy was going to be.  Still feeling like I was growing at a quicker rate, yet not gaining any weight to show for it.  Hoping for another ultrasound to put my mind at ease, but since I'd had an ultrasound only two weeks earlier (and the doctor was having a very busy day), he used the heartbeat-detector machine (I am sure there is a more official name for that, but whatever).  We heard a heartbeat, it sounded strong.  I was so tempted to ask for a quick ultrasound, but lost my nerve.  Didn't want to look like a silly girl.

16 weeks:  Most recent appointment.  Had long since stopped telling my husband that I thought I was having twins, because "certainly we would have seen them on ONE of the ultrasounds, right?"  Laying on the table, doctor laughs, husband nearly has a heart attack, scream, scream, shock, more shock.  Me enjoying declaring to Steve, "I TOLD YOU I WAS HAVING TWINS!"

So there you go.  I'm having twin boys.  It was a blast to hear everyone's reactions, but my favorite was a text from my brother, Greg (I'll edit it slightly, but you'll still get the picture):  "Mindy, if there were ever a time for a "HOLY SH&%!!!" - it's now!" 

We went to Target after the appointment and bought some blue onesies.  I found a few of Emily's old dolls and put the onesies on them, then wrapped the dolls up as a gift.  After school, the kids were immediately asking about our appointment.  We had them gather around the island and told them to open the gift.  Cameron was already shaking in his seat even before the tape came off the box.  When Rachel pulled out the first doll dressed in blue, everyone shrieked, "It's a BOY!!!"  Then Julia yanked the second doll up, looking puzzled, and Rachel screamed, "TWINS!!??"  Cameron starting clapping and screaming, Julia jumped up and down, and Rachel actually sat there in shock (she's old enough to process that this really IS a "Holy Sh&%" event for our entire family!).  Incidentally, Emily just seemed pretty ticked off that we had dressed her dolls in different outfits without consulting her first.

Needless to say, we are all so thrilled, if not somewhat humbled, panicked, shocked, and surprised.  It's crazy to think that just a few months ago we felt good about being "done", then decided to to try for another boy, then got pregnant with lightning speed, and now we are having twin boys.  I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride!  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few months.  The due date is Aug. 30th, and my goal is to stay pregnant for as long as possible!  Thanks SO SO much to those of you who have already shared your sincere kind words and encouraging messages.  We love you!

P.S.  That unsettled feeling of having a "phantom itch that I just can't scratch" (from my last post) makes a lot more sense now!

An Ode to Stretchy Pants

I was feeling very out of sorts but not knowing why.  I mean, you feel somewhat out of sorts during pregnancy the whole time, but this was different.  It was like I had a phantom itch that I couldn't scratch and it was so irritating to me.  This lasted for several days, until I discovered the cause - I needed to break down and finally buy maternity pants.  I realized that every time I was feeling unsettled or irritated, it was usually after I had been wearing my regular jeans all day (doing the elastic trick on the button, of course).  I finally just said to myself, 'I'm going shopping.'

Who gets giddy while shopping for maternity clothes?  I did.  I was grabbing every cute pair of capris and jeans and cargo pants I could see.  Each time I pulled them on I felt like letting out a little cheer.  I know that sounds pathetic, but I have long since gotten rid of my other maternity clothes, and the clothes now are actually quite a bit cuter than I remember them being!  The whole experience shopping for maternity clothes reminded me of many years ago, when I fought and fought the idea of getting a minivan, but then when we eventually got one it was so convenient and spacious I felt like cartwheeling out to the garage every time I needed to drive somewhere with my little kids (then the kids got older and we decided to get an SUV, not knowing that we'd be having another baby! I'm sure there will be days when I really miss that sliding door and lower seat).

Anyway, all I can say is, what a difference that beautiful stretchy band on the stomach makes.  I was tempted to wear the pants straight from the dressing room to the service counter to home, but instead I held off and changed into them the minute I walked through the door.  I felt so carefree and, dare I say, even a little sexy in my new pants.  I smiled all night and couldn't stop hugging my kids and my husband. 

Bless you, stretchy pants.

  

Playing Favorites

It's official.  Emily has chosen Steve as her favorite parent.  Most children who have a favorite may not share that fact so freely, so as to spare the tender feelings of the other parent.  Not Emily.  She is so smitten with her Daddy, and shows her favoritism shamelessly.  It's not to say that she doesn't love me, too.  I know she does.  When we are here together during the day, she often gives me hugs and kisses, and when I come home from being gone, she is always happy to see me (although it's nothing like the greeting Steve receives upon returning home from pretty much anywhere, including the garage after just taking out the garbage).

The most blatant display of her lopsided affection happens each time the bus pulls up to drop her off from school, and Steve isn't the one picking her up.  I can see her standing up on the front seat, pouting, with her thumb to her forehead (the sign for "Dad").  Poor Dave, the bus driver.  As I approach the open doors of the bus, I can hear him giving her a pep talk about "Mommy's here!" and "What a nice Mommy you have!"  Makes me feel a little pathetic to hear the BUS DRIVER taking up for me out of pity.

I'm sort of getting over it, though.  I know she loves me, she knows I love her, and the favoritism comes in handy when she has a nasty diaper and won't let anyone but Daddy change it.  Sweet justice.  Here are a few pics I've captured of Emily and her main man...

Come to think of it, Emily, I really don't blame you.

He's my favorite, too.