Open House

This weekend Brooks and I felt like a realtor showing an open house. Though the volume of foot traffic was the same as you could expect in this type of scenario, we were actually showing off Mason and Ike for the first time to several family members who had never seen them - Corinna, Hunter, Angus and Betsy.

Every single person who told me before we had the twins that even simple, everyday tasks become hard with kids is absolutely right. It's even harder with TWO. Gone are the days that Brooks and I eat dinner before 9 p.m., much less eat together. I have forgotten what a morning shower is, hence the nappy oily hair I sport in most of my photos on this blog. If I have an itch, I don't scratch it because chances are I am holding either Mason or Ike. Even answering the phone has become a nuisance. At one point the other day I was sitting in my den holding a sleeping Mason when our phone, which was on the coffee table, rang. Because I didn't want to risk waking Mason up and having to endure another 30 minutes of crying, I had to maneuver my right foot over to the phone, pinch it between my big toe and second toe (yes, I have a large space between those two toes), and carefully lift it to my right hand. Mission accomplished. I suppose we're really having to act like responsible parents now because Brooks' mom left on Saturday after two weeks of "round the clock" nanny-like assistance. It really is amazing what just one extra set of hands can do to alleviate the chaos of caring for newborns, or to keep me from having to assist with diaper changing (note, I've only had to change one yellow poop diaper so far - I'm better at feeding and burping).

While we said a temporary goodbye to a teary-eyed Grandmother Carolyn on Saturday morning, we welcomed back my parents, who had been at the beach for two weeks and had not seen Mason and Ike since a few days after their birth. Visiting for the first time was my twin sister Corinna, her husband Hunter, and their two boys Grainger and Reston (scroll back down my past blog posts for a photo of Corinna, Hunter and Grainger when he was only days old). Corinna could not get over the twins! In fact, she was so excited to finally see them and hold them that she wanted to spend the night and help out. Hunter, if you're reading this, beware!!! I'm not sure if she's ready to stop at two ;o). It was very special to finally have all of the Grainger/Shull cousins get together for the first time. It's been a long time coming. Brooks and I can't wait until next year's Grainger family beach trip at Litchfield Beach with all of the kids. My parents are already trying to scout out a house that will comfortably accomodate all of the madness that will surely ensue.

My first cousin Angus, Betsy and their girls Catchie (2) and Mae (8 months) also came to visit us on Saturday. What was funny is that earlier in the week Angus had emailed me a recount of a conversation he had had with Catchie about the twins soon after they were born. During the discussion Catchie told Angus that yes, she did like Mason, but no, she did not like Ike. Even funnier was that he told me this conversation followed one where she confirmed that yes, she did like Mommy, but no, she did not like Daddy. Nevertheless, Catchie was great with Mason and Ike and even presented them with their very first stuffed animal toys. Somehow Angus and I were able to pose for a photo with all of our kids.

What a whirlwind of a weekend it has been, but how special it is to continue to have family and friends play such a supporting role in our lives. We can't believe that today was Mason and Ike's 14th day in this world. But we also can't believe that 15 days ago Brooks was 35 pounds heavier and the only cries we heard in our house were those coming from Simba as he begged for food off of our dinner plates.