For Jubilee’s birthday, we converted one side of our kitchen counter into a chalkboard:
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Daphne and I are both horrible artists, so instead please imagine the chalkboard filled with beautiful birthday pictures. 
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Note: We got the idea from an article in Martha Stewart Living. We didn’t stir the paint well enough and we didn’t sand the surface well enough, but it still works well as a kid’s chalkboard.
Jubilee is 3 years old today.
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Tonight Jubilee asked to put her underwear and pants on by herself. I gave them to her, explaining the front and back and she did it! We ecstatically sang Dora’s “We Did It!” song, so much so that she wanted to sing it again.
Today Angelina discovered her hands! She’s fascinated by them.
You are the very first adventure into the real world for Daphne and all three of her girls!
What a sight to see. One mother pushing a stroller carrying two babies, along with an energetic toddler, shopping at a not-that-big grocery store. At home and in the car, I gave Jubilee very specific instructions. Don’t touch anything. Help Mommy push the stroller. Stay next to Mommy at all times.
It was not an easy task for an almost 3 year old to pull off. But she loves pushing the stroller, and while it makes it difficult for me to steer, I’d rather have that than shouting at the top of my lungs, “Look out / Don’t-touch-that / Come back / I’m-sorry / Yes-I-will leave your store and never return.”
Since I had the stroller, I obviously couldn’t push a grocery cart, so I used a basket. My Always-Helpful Jubilee wanted to carry the basket. “Okay,” I agreed incredulously, “but if it gets too heavy, let me know.” A couple times I asked Jubilee if she wanted me to hold the basket and she said no.
Then comes sheer genius. Jubilee puts the basket on the floor and begins pushing it. Now she’s significantly faster, a little more out of control, and definitely having the time of her life. Why stop her? Besides, even though she wasn’t staying as close to me as I would’ve liked, it made grocery shopping so much easier! (Minus the narrow aisle that was filled with people, but that only happened once.)
I lost count of how many, “What adorable babies!” and “You must have your hands full!” comments I heard. I don’t mind at all; the attention keeps me going.
All in all, today was a success. And I won’t mention the downside of getting into the drive-thru pharmacy that took 15 minutes with Madeleine screaming because I was just a few minutes behind the 3 hour routine. Or that Jubilee tried to give Madeleine her pacifier but wouldn’t take it. Or that Jubilee at one point covered her ears because her sister was crying so loudly. Really, I won’t mention it because this is a happy and successful post. 
Last Monday evening, Jubilee was dancing to music in the living room. David was at the dining table with a friend and I was in another room. Suddenly I heard Jubilee crying very hard. After David held her, I took her and asked her what was wrong. Of course I couldn’t understand her because she was crying.
“Jubilee, I can’t understand you when you’re crying. If you calm down, then you can explain to me what happened.”
After a few more whimpers she says, “I was spinning around, and I got dizzy, and I fell down, and I bumped my head on your nursing stool.”
I was very impressed by her articulate and detailed description of the situation!
Can you spot 6 differences between these pictures?
Bottle-feeding:
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Breast-feeding:
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1. Dish drainer missing. 2. Dirty bin missing. 3. Strainer missing. 4. Clean bin missing. 5. Countertop visisble!
I don’t know why I didn’t post this earlier. I guess because it was such an important update that I knew I needed some time write it.
Angelina and Madeleine are tandem nursing and I am no longer pumping around the clock!
I had seen a lactation consultant on November 13th, who helped me get both babies to nurse more easily. In particular, Angelina was still having trouble latching on. Pat also helped me to tandem nurse. Then she gave me some advice on how to continue working with both babies.
Things were going well and I was able to nurse one baby while the other was bottle fed. Then I would go pump. But my milk pumpings began decreasing because one baby was taking most of the milk. So my body was thinking it only needed milk for one baby. Uh-oh.
On November 30th, I called Pat and explained the situation. She said, rather frankly I might add, “Aren’t you getting tired of pumping?”
“Well yeah, ” I replied. Those few words from Pat was the motivation I needed to buck down and get both babies on me. I began attempting to tandem nurse and it went okay.
On December 4th, I saw Pat for a follow-up appointment. Michelle came along to observe how she could help me during feedings. Things went very well!
I had been tandem nursing for a few days, minus the before-bed and middle-of-the-night feedings. But on December 5th, I stopped all pumpings and was nursing exclusively.
On December 7th, I returned my hospital pump. I saw Linda, my first lactation consultant who had helped me with the rigorous discipline needed to get my milk supply up to a level suitable for twins. I shared with her how I was now tandem nursing. She said it brought chills to her hearing the news. It felt so good to share my story.
To quote Dora the Explorer, “We did it!”
Thank You, Lord, for it was all because of You.
You will drink the milk of nations
and be nursed at royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
- Isaiah 60:16