How is it already September?

As of this weekend, I have 17 month old babies, and a 31 year old husband.  How did this happen?  I was actually thinking about the craziest thing this weekend - Andy was only 23 when I met him.  We were such babies!  I think of everything that has happened in the past 7 years, and it's so surreal.  I know that eventually, when you get married, you realize that you've been with someone for what seems like forever.  It's only been 7 years since we met, and so far, things seem to be going okay :-) 

Most of all, I can't believe it's September.  I'm feeling a little. . . adrift.  I keep finding myself having no idea what day it is, having no structure to my life is kind of messing with me.  I figure as soon as Fall TV starts, it will be easier.  At least then I know what day it is based on what I'm planning to watch that night.  I'm also trying to plan things for us to do during the week, we are officially signed up for storytime at the library, I've been making playdates, etc. because I need to give my life some kind of structure.  I have a basic structure to our day (although the "let's drop down to one nap" change that happened last week is throwing me off) and that makes me happy.  One thing I always said about our schedule last year, with Andy home in the morning, someone watching them in the afternoon and me home at night was that I felt so out of control with everything going on.  It was hard to pass along information like who ate what when, what everyone was doing about a diaper rash, etc.  I like being with them all day.  I like knowing what they had for each meal, exactly when they napped, picking out their clothes, you get the idea.  That part is great.  I feel like I am getting better and better at being a Mommy. 

But the part of me that feels useless to my husband?  That's not getting better.  I'm not useless, I know that.  I keep up with the laundry, wash the diapers, keep the kitchen clean, feed our kids 2 meals a day without him, I can run errands, I've even vaccuumed, mopped, and taken the trash out.  But I feel like I'm a failure in the part where I'm supposed to be providing to the family income.  My last paycheck came, and I haven't heard from the schools I was hoping to hear from about subbing by now.  I am hoping that after I get signed up on the county sub list, I'll start getting some work.  I'm trying to remember that I liked subbing.  I liked meeting different kids, seeing how other teachers ran their classes.  I'm thinking it will be less pressure for awhile.  No papers to grade, lessons to plan, just show up, follow the plan, go home.  I hope this doesn't sound like selling out, but I think it might be a nice change for now.  I can choose when I work, when I don't.  I used to be good at the day to day subbing.  Maybe this will work out. 

Anyway, enough about that, bring on the cute babies! 

September 6 - Happy Labor day!  Maggie and Ben had their first experience with watermelon on the rind.  They were fans, big fans.  When they were done, Maggie went around with a paper towel and cleaned up her face, her hands, Ben's face, Grandpa's knees, the floor, everything she could.  I'm afraid the girl isn't going to like living in our house.  There is a neat little soul inside that little body.  We're sorry. 

September 7 - When we had our baby shower, my cousin and his wife put together the best collection of Ohio sports clothes.  I never dress them alike, but they were in their matching OWU shirts, and these were the best sweatshirts to go with them.  It was kind of fun to have them match.  I think if I had both boys or both girls, I might be one of "those moms" who matched them. 

September 8 - Tell me she doesn't look like a Roller Derby girl?  I LOVE those socks.  Love them.  I am thinking of just getting her 6 more pairs of the same socks to last all winter.  They go with everything, and did you notice - totally stinking cute!

One more from this day - I finally figured out one way to get them both in the same photo.  I asked Maggie to go over and give Ben a kiss.  Unfortunately, the cutest one was blurry.  This is close.  Oh, another tip?  Bribe them with crackers. 

September 9 - This is the normal state of our living room.  We've given it up.  No matter how many times things get put away, the first thing they do every morning or when they get up from their nap, they go straight for those shelves and empty them.  Sometimes they sort, sometimes they throw everything into the climber, they put things in the dump truck and push it around, but those shelves?  Only ever full when they are sleeping. 

September 10 - Maggie's Halloween costume arrived.  Look at my little Maggie Monkey!  She was so funny, we're practicing that wearing the costume means making the monkey noises that she is so good at.

September 11 - Happy Birthday Daddy!  They love the happy birthday song, I think it's mainly that a bunch of people they love all burst into song at once.  We also discovered this night that they really love chocolate cake.  Who knew?

Couple of cute cousin pictures from the birthday party.  My nephew is 6 months old now.  Notice how he is pretty much as big as my two peanuts.  He weighs more than Maggie, and is off the charts for his height.  I'm curious to see how this all plays out as they grow up! 

September 12 - My baby can read!  Okay, maybe not quite, but I can't help but think of that commercial they have on all the time.  We have had this Words book since they were born.  It isn't one we read all the time or anything, but I've slowly realized that Maggie knows a lot of the words, so she'll say them when you point to the picture.  This morning, she handed me this book and we sat down.  She knew words I didn't know she knew.  Table.  Dress.  Cup.  Chair.  I know we've read this book many times, and she has memorized the words.  But wow, my 17 month old daughter is a genius! 

I have been on Blogger for just over 2 years now.  I found out two interesting things this weekend.  One, that I can view all kinds of stats on my blog.  Like how many views I've had.  Where people found me.  What countries they've come from.  Huh.  First of all, this has always been a public blog, and I'm happy for readers.  But some of the stats I'm seeing?  Never would have guessed it!  So Hola, Bon Giorno, Bonjour, おはよう　ございます　(I hope that is right and it doesn't mean something rude or dirty - just copying from a website!), Selamat datang, zdravstvuyte, dobriy ranok, etc.  Also, the other thing I figured out?  I can change the time on a post and schedule it for a decent hour.  So no one needs to know that I'm posting this at midnight, and hoping to stay up long enough to catch the next chapter in the Fanfiction story I'm hooked on.  You don't need the details.

Thanks for stopping by, however you found me!