Camp Fun and Tales from a Lime

As I mentioned in a previous post, the girls are in camp for the mornings for the first part of the summer. They spent the first three weeks of the summer at the same camp that I went to as a child. To say that they loved it is an understatement. I've never seen them so happy to go to any camp/school/activity. They couldn't wait for the bus to come each morning. They would happily jump on. Apparently, the bus ride to camp was filled with songs and cheers. They had a swimming lesson each day (amazing!) and from what I read on the report, it sounds like they really improved. Teagan, especially, loved being in the water each day. They both passed their badge and will move onto the next level when they start lessons again in the fall. 

Besides the typical day camp activities, the girls got to jump on the trampoline, play with live exotic animals, watch magic shows and participate in an interactive music program. They came home midday with the best stories and huge smiles on their faces.  

While they were sad to see this camp end, they were excited to start animal camp again. They've been doing classes and camps at this place for a couple years now. They love the staff and the animals. On the first day, Teagan was reluctant to go in, but fortunately, one of the staff who they know well (and also ran their 3rd birthday party) showed up at the perfect time and whisked them away! 

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of either camp. They usually prefer that parents make themselves scarce once the kids are settled. I did, however, get a picture of the kangaroo who was visiting on their last day! He was camera shy and I was on the other side of the door!

This week, they are in a music camp. Lucky for them, spending a few hours each morning isn't such a bad thing because Toronto is currently in a heatwave. Temperatures have been hovering around 34/35 degrees Celsius (around 95F). Spending time outside is only bearable if we're by water. 

Apparently, our third little monkey wants to give the first trimester a most dramatic send off. I've been feeling pretty awful for a few days. The exhaustion is bad, but it is made worse by the fact that I'm not sleeping well. My saving grace is the fact that the nausea is intermittent and minimal. I'm trying hard not to complain, but compared to many, I have it easy. 

At 11 weeks, the monkey is the size of a lime. This week's update on baby gave me a good laugh...

 Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

I'm glad the monkey is being set up for a more attractive future. 

Our NT scan has been canceled and reschedule three times now. Apparently, the clinics don't look to see if there is a tech who can perform the ultrasound when they book it. It is now scheduled for this coming Friday, so a few days earlier than planned, but it can be done as early as 11 weeks, so I should be ok. 

If all goes well, we will be telling the girls after this ultrasound. Honestly, I can't wait. Teagan told me the other day, "Mommy, I would be SO HAPPY if you had a baby in your tummy!" The kid also told someone that we were having a baby 3 days before I even took a pregnancy test. She's intuitive! She also told me twice in a 24 hour period recently, "Mommy, your tummy is so big!" Tell it like it is, TT! 

Insomnia

Pregnancy insomnia is back.

It's 3:55am and I've been up for an hour. Thankfully, it isn't happening every night. It's only a once a week-ish thing. I don't want to disturb Jenn and get frustrated trying to fall back to sleep, so I get up. Once I've been awake for a little while, I get hungry. So, I sit here with my computer and a bowl of granola and blueberries.

I just discovered these photos on my phone.

If I can't sleep, I might as well laugh! The girls love to colour. They especially love to colour their fingernails, hands and faces. I'm not keen on it and stop it if I see it, but they're sneaky. This was too funny not to photograph. But, then it turned into a game. She ran around the house and I chased her trying to snap a photo. At least they're using washable markers!

There are no secret snacks

No, Mommy. We have to get one for Quinn.

I was out running errands with Teagan yesterday. I grabbed myself a protein bar and asked Teagan if she would like a bar too. She said yes, but in the same breath said that Quinn would like the apple cinnamon one. I told her that we didn't need to get one for Quinn this time since she would be eating it in the car. She would hear nothing of it.

This happens anytime I'm out with one of them. They usually request a small snack and I usually oblige. If we're in the grocery store, they ask for a pouch (those fruit and veggie baby pouches). I let them choose one. Two pouches are always picked up, with one proudly brought home for the other.

My girls fight like crazy at home. They yell, hit and push each other. Part of me gets it. I have brothers. We fought too. Sibling rivalry is normal. But, as a twin when you're young, you spend every waking second together. I can't imagine, but I'm also not a twin. I guess that this is where the twin bond comes from. They don't know any different.

A week ago, the girls had been fighting for hours. I tried and failed to separate them. I finally said to the them, Why don't I find you each a camp so that you can have some time away from each other?!! This was met with a very quick and emphatic, "NO!" Quinn then told me, Mommy, we never fight at school or at camp! And that's just it. These two are thick as thieves. I feel so privileged to be able to watch their bond develop right before my eyes.

When Teagan is nervous to try something new, Quinn takes her hand and shows her the way.

When Quinn is feeling too shy to ask someone a question, Teagan takes her hand and asks for her.

When the camp bus pulled up on the first day, they nervously sat together on their first bus ride.

When Teagan is crying hysterically because I'm going out for dinner, Quinn takes care of her, feeding her dinner and helping her into her PJs (yes, a babysitter is present!).

When I get upset with Quinn for colouring all over the couch with marker, Teagan is the first to grab a cloth and start cleaning.

On a good day, they will disappear for hours into their imaginary world, creating the most spectacular stories.

Yet, despite all of this, we can go to the park and they will go their separate ways. Quinn will head off to play with her best friend while Teagan grabs a shovel and some trucks and happily plays independently in the sandbox. They have their own friends at preschool and can be in separate groups or sit across the circle from one another without issue. I love this about their dynamic. They can shift between playing separately and together seamlessly.

I love that they are fiercely loyal to each other. I love that they adore each other, yet drive each other totally nuts. I love that they always have each other on their minds when they're apart.