I submitted a story to the "Spoonfuls of Stories" New Author contest. Here's hoping I win--$5000 and a published book to boot!

Times Two: A Story About Twins by Amy Harris, 2010

When you get into the kitchen cabinets, you make a huge mess—times two!

When you splash in the bathtub, the bathroom is dripping wet—times two!

When you eat spaghetti, your high chair is covered in sauce—times two!

When you play in the mud, your clothes are brown—times two!

When you throw a fit in the grocery store, it is loud—times two!

BUT…
When you see your baby cousin, you give her lots of hugs—times two!

When you hear Grandpa or Grandma come in the door, your little feet run to see them—times two!

When you finish singing your favorite song, you smile and clap your hands—times two!

When you put on your own shoes, you are proud of yourself—times two!

And when you say, “I love you,” you make me so happy—times two!

Enjoying some fun in the sun before the wind hits later today.  I am a huge believer in sun hats, so my kids are, too.  About twenty minutes after these pictures, the wind blew in and we went inside.  It was fun while it lasted.

Dandelions are the perfect flower for a two-year-old.  You can pick 'em and no one minds!

Taking a picture and getting it right the first try is a rarity around here. After at least five tries I got a shot of both girls smiling with eyes open. It was worth it!

Take 1:  Only one girl

Take 2:  Both girls, one in front of other

Take 3:  One sleepy eyes, one closed eyes

Take 4:  One small smile-eyes open, one large smile--eyes closed

Take 5:  Success!  Love those girls!

I forgot I took some pictures of the girls in their wrap dresses I made earlier this summer. The dresses were size 2, and I thought they looked small--until I put them on the girls! They are too big and will have to wait until next spring/summer to become a part of the daily wardrobe. I again discovered it's extremely difficult to make a 1 1/2 year-old hold still for a picture!

On a lighter note, here's a video shot a couple of days ago. Hadley is checking Harper for poop--down her shirt! They are starting to talk and make a lot more sense. So funny and so darling!

Took the girls to their well-baby checkups for 18 months old today. Harper weighed 19 lbs. 14 ounces; Hadley weighed 19 lbs. 11.5 ounces. They each had to get two immunization shots, but we are done with immunizations until they are four! Woohoo! They are very tiny and petite for their age, but otherwise they are healthy and happy. What a relief--we have two normal 18-month-old daughters!

I woke up this morning to the girls just laughing their heads off! They were tickling each other and laughing so hard. There's something I'll miss next week!

Both Harper and Hadley are really starting to put words together. It's starting to make sense, and I can understand it!!! It always amazes me when babies learn to talk! Some of the latest phrases:
-Hunter's shoes (and they WERE his shoes)
-hat! go outside! (they know they have to wear a hat to go outside, so they want a hat on)
-who is it? (when someone comes in the front door)
-Hello? (when talking on the play phone they have)
-drink sippy (sippy cup with milk in it)
-I have poop (and unfortunately for me, she did! They also have a "baby sign" to go with this one)

Harper and Hadley are officially graduated out of the SoonerStart program! They are no longer considered "delayed" or developmentally behind. What a relief! They are both doing most things at 18 months (and they turn 18 months old tomorrow), so they have definitely caught up and progressed.

Hadley said "clean dipey" which is what I say when we're getting on clean diapers each day (I actually have a song...don't ask!). Harper said "my puppy" yesterday (and it wasn't her puppy, it was Hunter's). I can't believe how all of a sudden they're talking! They do Baby Signs for a few things, but now I think they're talking more than signing.

Harper got two more teeth, and Hadley's trying to get hers to work their way through. Then they'll both have 12 teeth. Just as they're getting their teeth IN, Hunter is going to start losing his. I dread the "loose tooth" stage! Teeth just gross me out! I think my idea of Hell is something involving me and other peoples' teeth!!!

Hunter is still very anxious about Big Nick coming down the street in the parade (in four days). I wonder if we're even going to get him out of the house! Prayers requested!

I gave my presentation yesterday in Young Adult Literature--the semester's officially over! Summer school starts June 1, and I have to be in Ada May 31st...that's coming up soon (I'm dreading that more than the teeth issue!). Hopefully it's a smooth three weeks for my whole family!

I'm trying to get everything ready to have a garage sale in a couple of weeks. I love going to garage sales, but I dread (with a big capital D) having them! I can't stand people who grab up a bunch of stuff and ask to make a deal on all of it...I put a price on it for a reason! I'm not a bargain-maker (my husband is, though), and I just want to sell it at the fair price I've already assigned to that item (I mean, come on, 25 cents is already cheap!). So, I'm pinning all the little tiny outfits together (oh, how can I get rid of those tiny little clothes Harper and Hadley wore last summer?), and stacking up stuff we no longer use (how can I sell all the things with memories attached?). I'm such a pack-rat--what a disaster!

I'll put it all out on display. It will look so nice and organized until the first rush of bargain-hunters pours in...then, I'm mad again--look at the mess they've made of my size- and season- categorized baby clothes!

Hunter will cry when we sell his toys (that he no longer likes or plays with, but LOVES when he sees them for sale). I'll declare I'm NEVER having another garage sale ever again. Until next summer when the stuff gathers and the clothes pile up...Phil will talk me into another one. *sigh* I still hate having garage sales!

The girls are now 17 months old--and into everything! They're growing out of the 12 month clothes (which is good because most of their summer wardrobe is 18 month size).

I'm working on getting my masters degree in education with a library media specialty. I'm done about a year from now (after I make it through the summer program living in the dorms again for three weeks).

I just heard my old classroom from last year will be vacant again (I would love to go back to work, but who would watch the kids, pay for their medical insurance, and have enough energy to play with them in the evenings?). I wonder who'll be there in the fall...

Here's a video from back before the girls were born until they were about six months old. Such precious angels, and we got to keep both of them! After such a crazy roller coaster ride of a pregnancy, we weren't sure if we'd come home with even one. God is good!

Dec. 4, 2007 at 7:24 PM

I ended up having an emergency c-section at exactly 28 weeks (12 weeks early) on November 11th. The girls (we named them Hadley Sue and Harper Kate) are doing well for their age, and they are both in NICU for at least another 8-10 weeks. The pictures are from about 11 or 12 days after they were born.