I can still remember that moment in December 1994 when the Sonogram Tech uttered the phrase, “Oh look. There’s another one”. And my glowing wife said, “Another what?”. Just six short months later The Girls arrived!
They were six weeks early (ironically enough, it was the last time they were early), and weighed in at around 5 lbs each. One had more health problems that the other, so for a couple weeks we had one baby in Boise and one in Ontario, OR.
They say you block out the painful or distasteful aspects of parenting and only remember their cherubic faces and the first time they called you Daddy. But I remember the feedings every 2 hours and the toxic waste these little bundles produced.
First steps were made, little brother and little sister arrived. They went to school, played sports, suffered broken bones, immunizations, bee stings, dog bites and dentists. There was the time I dropped one of them into the sink and about had heart failure. All the ups and downs of parenting have been doubled for THIRTEEN years!
Sometime over the last couple years, I went from being funny, cool, smart and all-around entertainer of the year to some kind of blithering idiot. I don’t recall when the transformation took place, but I know it has taken place as the angelic (it still is) face of my daughter transforms into an expression of incredulity at what (if I weren’t an idiot) I can only imagine are her thoughts wondering how I’m able to dress myself. These looks often take place right after I say something incredibly funny.
A few years ago I got them this really cool inflatable crocodile that was a couch. They loved it (OK, they were 5). They drug it all over the house to sit or bounce on. I fixed a number of puncture wounds on the crock, but it ultimately succumbed to its injuries. I bring that up because for the longest time it was the greatest gift I ever gave them. I really wish shopping for them were still that FUN and inexpensive! For their 13th, I got them Matt Hasselbeck jerseys and we got them each mp3 players.
I’m wondering about the intelligence of buying something that causes more isolation and eye rolling. I loaded one up with Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers and some other teenagery music last night, she said, “thank-you, Daddy” (awww, she knows when to play that card). This morning she was listening to it when I asked her to do the breakfast dishes (a whole 2 small plates , 2 bowls, glasses and some silverware). Not only did I get the eye-roll, but a lip smack too.
They look so sweet and friendly. The one on the left is the eye-roller, she’s wearing black much more than I would like. The one on the right has a ‘boyfriend’, I will be having a TALK with that boy.
I have been telling them that they are moving out the day after graduation. With events like this, I’m starting to realize that more time has passed than I have left with them. They are going in to the 8th grade this fall. They already want to go to dances and they talk about getting a car and a job.
I want to snuggle them into a blanket (just like the picture at the top) and have them fall asleep as I rock the chair while the Mariners (1995 was a tremendous season… we hold onto that!) play on the TV. I have a feeling that if I suggested that, I would get the trifecta… eye-roll, lip-smack AND “AS IF!”.
