I had a "quick" return to do at the mall today. I thought it was a good use of time. We were already in the area after a Chick-fil-A breakfast play date with friends. Unfortunately I forgot the stroller so I had to put them on their teddy bear and giraffe backpack leashes. I am learning to set my expectations low. Just one return. Anything above and beyond that would be considered icing on the cake. We started out pretty good. Walked in on a mission. Went up the escalator (big hit!) and completed the return. I told them I'd get them a treat if they behaved. They behaved so our next stop was the candy store. I let them pick out one of those huge old-fashioned lollipops. Ben picked a blue one; Luke a red one. We left the store, lollipops in hand. However, Ben kept correcting me, "Not lollipop Mom. Treat. TREAT." He's very literal sometimes. Since I had told them I'd get them a treat, this was NOT a lollipop; it was a treat. Ok, Ben, whatever you say.
I was feeling confident. Thought I'd make one more stop. I had a 25% Macy's coupon and the boys are in desperate need of summer clothes. They had already noticed the star on the Macy's sign so they were happy to go in. We made our way up another escalator (which Ben calls excavator). There was a very small, seemingly manageable toddler boy section. I moved as fast as I could perusing little boys' basketball shorts and T-shirts. ($30+ for miniature gym shorts, really?!!) We found some cheaper ones. Luke started to lose it because he wanted to take off his sweatpants and put on the basketball shorts (he's a little obsessed). We quickly distracted him and avoided that meltdown. By now their faces are sticky red and blue messes and he managed to get the nastiness in my hair as I leaned down to talk him out of a full on tantrum. I raced to the back wall to find the 3T clearance. In the 30 seconds it took me to look through clearance, they had each untied one of my shoes. I swear sometimes they talk to each other without making a sound. It was like they were ganging up on me. As we were walking to the register with my hands full of Nike discounts, Ben dropped his blue lollipop on the floor. And that was it... there was no stopping this meltdown. It split in half. Elephant tears and wailing. "Mommy, fix it. Mommy, FIX IT!!" Normally I would at least try to rinse off the lollipop that had been dropped on the floor but there was no time for this luxury. I tried to hand him the half still on the stick. Wasn't good enough. He took the other half from the floor and shoved it in his mouth chewing loudly. Made me wince. Hopefully he didn't chip a tooth. Meanwhile Luke was still enjoying his intact sucker. We threw the clothes up on the counter. And I'm pretty sure they talked to each other inaudibly again, conniving another attack on mom. In unison, they both dropped (or maybe threw) their lollipops on the ground. This time they each shattered into a dozen pieces. And next thing you know they are both on the ground on their bellies eating lollipop shards directly off the floor like dogs. I felt helpless. I suggested that they at least pick them up with their hands but it was no use. And I wonder why we get so many illnesses in this household. Oh dear! Thankfully the lady at the Macy's counter was so sweet. Even after watching all of this she went on and on about how much she misses the days when her kids were this young. Part of me thinks, "REALLY??!! You miss THIS?! Are you blind???" but then the other part of me knows that someday I'll be saying the same thing. After she rang everything up and told me I couldn't use my 25% off coupon on Nike or clearance items (WHAT?!!) I got down on my hands and knees and used a wipe to clean up as much of the sticky mess as I could. We practically ran to the escalator. Ben decided he was too scared to go down the escalator by himself. Luke had already started so I had to drop his leash and pray it wouldn't get stuck in the moving stairs (thankfully it didn't!). Whew! What an adventure one simple return can be.
It was funny how many comments I got as we walked through the mall with the boys on their leashes. "That is adorable!... Wow, you have your hands full... Wait, are they both YOURS? They must be close in age!... You're a busy girl... Pretty sure they couldn't be any cuter..." It's good to be reminded of how cute they are. They really are an adorable little duo and I know they're going to grow up fast. But I also have to admit that it's affirming to me to hear outsiders comment about how crazy my life must be trying to keep up with them. I DO have my hands full. I feel like it shouldn't be that hard. I have plenty of friends with 3, 4, or 5 kids. 2 shouldn't be so hard. But there are moments when it just is. And that's ok. We take the bad with the good. Wouldn't trade my "Irish twins" for the world.
Some funny things they've said/done in recent weeks... (You'll notice most of these are about Ben only because he's the chatty one of the group.)
- I usually repeat back what I think Ben is saying. Sometimes it's hard to understand and if I don't repeat it back, he'll just keep saying it over and over until I do. He's gotten in the habit now, if I repeat it back correctly, he says "Yeah, right mom" as if to say encouragingly "you got it right, mom." Or "No mom" and then he says it even louder and with more frustration if it takes me awhile to get it.
- The new alarm clock seems to be helping their sleep a little bit. They totally understand the concept that they're not supposed to leave their room until the light turns green (at 7 am). They need reminders sometimes to go back in their room but they usually comply which is wonderful. Gives me just a few extra moments to myself to rest or brush my teeth or read my Bible before starting the day full steam ahead. Luke's excitement at 7:00 is adorable. He comes bounding out of his room, "Mommy green, Mommy GREEN!!!"
- They're still usually awake by 6:15 but there was one morning when they slept until 7:15. Ben was dumfounded. He got to come out of his room right away because theylight was already green and he said, "Mommy, not dark outside!" He just couldn't believe it.
- We love the way Ben says "DE-licious." It's usually in the context of jelly.
- They're learning how to clean up their toys. Best motivation is to tell them they'll be rewarded with a TV show, but Ben is already learning the art of getting out of work. He says, "Hard to clean up Ben. Dewey do it." LOL! He's got the Uncle Dave gene. ;)
- Both of them will say "sorry sorry" if they bump into you or spill something.
- I made them a fruit/veggie smoothie the other day and told them it was a Juice Smoothie. Ben called it a Juice Movie. He later referred to it as a Juice Watch (since they use the word "Watch" to mean watching TV or a movie).
- I introduced them to Space Jam ("Pace Jam" per Ben). For whatever reason, he died laughing when one of the tall monster aliens bonked his head on the backboard of the hoop and said, "Ow, that hurt!" Both Luke and Ben quote that line multiple times a day. There's some other line about "I smell something" which Ben quotes as well.
- Ben was in trouble for something at nap time one day and as I was trying to get him settled down to read books he said, "Nannie Ben's room." He was totally done with mom and ready for a softie.
- One of my favorite Ben phrases currently is when he says in a hushed tone at bedtime "Sweet dreams Mommy." Just melts my heart. Although recently I realized he was saying Sweet James (the name of one of his neighbor buddies). Hahaha
- Nannie and Papa visited last weekend and the day after they left, while sitting in his high chair, Ben stated, "Nannie, Papa gone. Plane. Home." It's astounding how much they actually understand!
- Ben also gave us his own interpretation of where snow comes from. He pointed upwards and said, "Snow mountains. Come down here. Ben's house." Where do they get this stuff?
- Ben continues to talk incessantly of "Grandma's house, Henry." He says the phrase so quickly it sounds like one word. Grandma and Grandpa's house will always be a highlight.
