Molly – Life Continues To Become More Normal

Molly talks about her life that centers around raising twin boys and shares her New Year’s Resolutions.

By Molly

Being a mom to my twin boys is the toughest, easiest, and most rewarding job all at once. Yes, it is tough at times, but this whole experience is priceless.

I say it is the toughest because I’m basically on-call 24/7. It’s a never-ending job; as all of you moms out there know. It is far more exhausting than a 9-5 job, that’s for sure. It is tough to even get out the door to go somewhere with the boys sometimes, so I will end up waiting until my husband gets home or my parents to watch the boys on the weekend while I just run to the market. You know, the simple task of running to the market; get dressed, grab your keys, in the car, be back in 20 minutes.

Just going to the market is an event. It is usually a minimum of an hour before I am even out the door with the boys. I have to get dressed, eat breakfast, carry two twenty-pound boys downstairs, get their breakfast ready, feed them, let them play for a few minutes to get some energy out because they will be in the car and a stroller for the next hour or so, make sure their diaper bag has everything they would need, change their diapers, put their clothes on, put their jackets on, their socks and shoes on, get one of them in their car seat, go to put the next guy in only to realize that they both just pooped literally two minutes after I just changed their diaper, take the first guy out, remove all their clothes, change their diapers, put their clothes back on, get them in their car seats, take one baby down stairs, go back upstairs to get the second baby and my purse, grab the diaper bag, put one baby in the car, and finally grab the other guy, and we are then finally off to the market! Whew! Once we get to the market, it is just as big of an event, which I’m sure you all get the gist. And then once I get home I have to bring the babies, groceries, diaper bag, and purse all back up the stairs. Side note: we have a tri-level town home; hence, all the stairs!

It is tough because it can be exhausting sometimes. You know, when you get home from work and you just want to sit on the couch and relax for a few minutes in peace and quiet. Or just close your eyes for a few minutes. Those days no longer exist.

This isn’t me complaining; merely, just that being a twin mom can be tough sometimes. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough at times. It is by far so, so, so, much easier now than a few months ago. It gets easier and easier every month.

The boys both started walking at 10 months. That was definitely a plus. People kept telling me, oh, be glad they aren’t walking. I kept telling people, “I can’t wait until they are walking!” With two infants, it’s hard to always be holding them and having them both need my attention at the same time. Once they started walking, they could entertain themselves and interact more with each other.

I have to say, it’s one of the easiest jobs because I think the boys are extremely easy going. It’s very rare that they will cry for no reason. Thankfully, they have never been like that. Whenever we go out, strangers are always commenting on how happy they are. Even with their teething, they haven’t been too fussy. They just got their 15-month shots and they both cried for about three minutes and then they were fine. They weren’t fussy at all later that day. Whenever we go to the play gym, they will fall and not cry at all while other kids their age will be crying at the top of their lungs over something similar.

I’m also so lucky that they both have pretty much the same sleep and nap schedule. They nap at the same time probably 99% of the time. They sleep 10-12 hours at night and nap for 1-2 hours during the day. Whenever we are out and they are both napping, strangers will comment on how lucky it is that they both are napping.

It’s gotten so easy at times that I sometimes think to myself, “I think I could have done triplets!”

This so-called “job” of mine is the most rewarding “job” I have ever had. Yes, it is a lot of work, but being a mom to twins, there is an extra special something. Watching the bond grow between the boys is so incredible. In the last month, they have really been starting to talk to each other in their own little lingo. It is hilarious to watch. Then they both will go on opposite sides of the room, yelling back and forth at each other.

Watching them interact with each other, which is pretty much the majority of my day, brings the highlights of my day: the moments when they both work together so they can both stand on top of their toy together, playing peek-a-boo with each other, their little arguments, laughing hysterically at each other over something so simple, watching them chase each other around the room, sharing toys with each other. The list is endless. I watch them and honestly think to myself every day, “Wow. How did I get so lucky?”

I also feel so lucky anytime I do go out with the boys. Walking around, well, anywhere with them automatically attracts attention. We are lucky to get through the mall only getting stopped once. Usually it’s a hand full of times. I typically do not like attention, but I don’t mind it with the boys. It’s like, I get compliments, but they are indirect, so I don’t feel so guilty. Ha ha.

As life continues to become more “normal,” I have now been trying to focus a little on myself. For the past six months or so, I’ve been trying to lose this baby weight (and delicious food weight!), but haven’t had a ton of success. I’m to the point now where I need to make this commitment. I can’t keep making excuses for not eating healthfully and not exercising. My new goal is to weigh less than I was the week before. Usually, I’ve been so focused on numbers and I think that has been my downfall. This time, I simply want to weigh less each week. Whether it is 2 pounds or .2 pounds, I will be happy. It is that much closer to feeling healthy and being at a healthy weight.

When I was focused on numbers, I’d get cocky when I’d lose two pounds and say to myself, “I did so good that I can eat more this week! “ And then I would end up going overboard. Then if I only lost .2 pounds, I’d get discouraged and end up eating.

Since I don’t know too many people in the area, I found a workout buddy on Craigslist, so hopefully that will act as an additional motivator. I also plan to do an 8k and a 10k run next year, which I have never done before. So it’s terrifying, but I am more excited than anything. So I am just now starting to train for that. I would eventually like to do a half-marathon, and possibly a full marathon, but I’m not sure my body will let me. My knees aren’t in the greatest shape.

I want to be happy and healthy. I want to be around to see my great grandchildren. If anyone is interested in sharing your workout and weight loss goals, I’d love to hear them!

The other thing I’m going to do is to try to take some more time to be crafty. I absolutely love doing projects, but haven’t felt I’ve really had any time up until now.

I made my best friend this Scrabble photo box for Christmas,which came out great!

Since the boys were born, I’ve had the chance to get to visit my best friend in Seattle a few times. I’m so thankful for my husband and parents to watch the boys to allow me to do this. It is a nice little breather for me. Anyway, this past trip, we made fuzzy donuts to hang from our rear view mirror. They came out so cute!  I also had the chance to make some penguin bookmarks!

I guess you could call these New Year’s resolutions; although, I think it was more coincidental that it happened to be at the same time.  What are your New Years resolutions?

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

Molly lives in Portland, Oregon, and is a stay-at-home mom with twin 16-month-old boys. She grew up in Southern California and moved to Oregon five years ago with her husband.