Look what I baked

Astrid and Clover - Born May 12, 2010

Big sister Clover

Little sister Astrid

This photo was taken yesterday, on their 4-week-old birthday.  Every week...every day actually, feels like a huge milestone, and yet it has absolutely flown by.  Baking, crafting, knitting, blogging has not made it into my daily routine.  Though I received plenty of advice about how my life will change with the birth of my twins, I was wildly unprepared for how much work it would be.  I had never had a 24 hour workday before, so I had no idea what I was in for. 

Though not necessarily blog-worthy, I have been cooking in a sense.  I've been preparing and serving 8 to 12 meals a day for two hungry twins.  I've also developed the skill quickly mastered by new mothers everywhere, of doing everything one handed.  Typing, for example, as I am doing now.  And because I have twins, I often do things no-handed using my elbows, shoulders, hips and supremely dextrous feet to complete certain tasks.  Yes.  This is my life now.  

And although I was told more times than I could count, I was also wildly unprepared for how much my lifestyle would change.  Today, I was able to get out of the house for an hour or so to make a much-needed grocery store visit.  My car radio was tuned to KEXP, as usual, but I hadn't had the occasion to listen to the radio at all in these past 4 weeks.  Hearing Radiohead on KEXP felt so deliciously wonderful and reminiscent - like a souvenir from my old life.  As I rushed home to my girls, I turned the music up loud and breathed in my former self.  And I realized that I haven't lost anything, I am still the girl cruising in the car listening to KEXP.  I'm still me, I'm just me as a mom; and thinking about all that I've gained just made me feel lucky.  

They are silly and beautiful and angelic and fussy and hilarious and baffling and overwhelming and perfect all at the same time.  The best way I can think to describe it is that it feels like a gift.  The best gift I ever got.  

(Thanks to my lovely and talented friend, Jill, for the top and the bottom photos).  

Comments

[Lanie]

Beautiful is an understatement. Congratulations! Keep holding onto you, sometimes it is easy to get lost. :)

[Jill]

Miss those babes and can't wait to see them! I can't believe how much older they look at just four weeks!

[Karen Larson]

So glad to see another blog posting. I missed them. Like you said, time has flown and will from now on. Enjoy each minute, we sure are. Love, Mom

[Betty]

Bri, they're gorgeous and the pictures are amazing!I hope to meet them soon, although, it may be a while before I can get up there with our craziness going on too! I'm so impressed you even had a chance to blog!! xoxo

[Kathryn]

They're so beautiful! Good to see you last night, Bri.