kimbalina.com

oblivious

2009-06-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

This morning, I was sitting at my desk deep in thought when one of my coworkers comes running in and asks me, "Did you shut the fire doors???"

Um. what?

"Did you hear the fire doors shut? They would make a huge bang."

Um. I don't know...

And then, her and another guy start racing around the office looking for the fire.

FIRE!! And I am just sitting here typing away on my computer.

Later on...I told her that before 7 in the morning...I am so unaware and oblivious, that if there ever is a fire, one of the two other early birds needs to run in here and save me.

"Okay Kimmy, we will come save you."

Thank you.

Almost...but not quite

2009-06-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

Little girl: Are the babies identical twins?
Me: No, they are fraternal. One is a boy and one is a girl.

A few minutes later...

Little girl (to her friend): Look! They are twins. They're nocturnal.

dazed

2009-06-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

You know you're tired when you wash your face with conditioner and your hair with face wash.

Not like I would know...just sayin'

spamburger

2009-06-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

I went to a Hawaiian BBQ place today for lunch. I ordered a Spam and Eggs Burger and was stoked to try one for the first time. Spam = good, Eggs = good, Burger = good. Combination of all of the above? Excited! So excited, I took a picture of it before I dug in.

Weird. I don't SEE any Spam. Maybe they ground it all up and made it into a patty instead.

I took a big ole bite. It was just a regular old cheeseburger. They screwed up my order and I was too hungry to go fix it.

Spamburger fail.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Mom: So our church is having a picnic on Memorial Day weekend.
Me: Oh yeah? When is Memorial Day?
Mom: Well, it's a day where we stop and remember those who fought for us.
Me: Oh. When...not what. hehe.

I definitely know what Memorial Day is.

Thank you soldiers.

firsts

2009-05-12T14:41:00.001-07:00

The past couple of weeks have been full of firsts.

We went on our first family vacation...the babies got to see the ocean and the beach for the first time...they got their first colds, and on Sunday, I got to celebrate my first Mother's Day.

I love firsts.

isn't it obvious?

2009-05-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

My twin babies weren't born with very much hair. They've both got just enough to cover their heads but it will probably take awhile before any flowing locks of hair are blowing in the wind.

When we go out in public, I try to dress them up in the "typical" girl/boy outfits and colors just so it is obvious which is the boy and which is the girl. I put my little lady all in pink, with a little bow on her head, and occasionally a dress and my little man all in blue. And yet...it never ceases to fail, that at some point, somebody will stop us and ask...

"Twins!! Two boys? Two girls?"

"A boy and a girl."

"Oh! How perfect! Which one is the boy and which one is the girl?"

"Um. The one in the pink dress with the bow is the girl. The one in blue is the boy."

"trimmed"

2009-05-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

The other week while I was out in our backyard, I pointed out some overgrown bushes we have in our yard to Bertrand and asked him if he could trim them down. They are beautiful miniature rose bushes, but the thorns are deadly and I am constantly being stabbed by them when I walk past that area of the yard. I told him that eventually, we'd have to do something about those bushes since I was afraid of what they would do to the twins once they started walking around. Bertrand asked me how low I wanted them trimmed and I used my hand and kind of showed him how high I wanted them to come, then went inside the house to tend to the babies. A little bit later, I looked out the window to see what my newly trimmed rose bushes looked like...

Wait...WHERE are my rose bushes?

Where three of the bushes used to be, stood little bundles of...twigs.

Oh my goodness.

"Hun! What happened to the bushes?"

"I thought you wanted them trimmed down?"

"Trimmed...not chopped"

What a thoughtful husband I have. Now I will definitely not be stabbed by the thorns on those darn bushes...at least for awhile.

In the loop

2009-05-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Our babies are getting a little older and are learning to sleep longer through the nights. This is big news.

Just the other day, I was sleeping peacefully when my husband woke me up... to tell me that our babies were still sleeping.

Thanks for keeping me in the loop! Next time...just leave me a note. ;)

filter

2009-04-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

Ever since I've joined the ranks of parenthood, I feel like I have lost any filter on my speech or thoughts. Actually...it probably started when I was pregnant, but has gone completely out the window now. Now, talking about bodily functions...their frequency, smell, texture, and anything else gross is such a normal part of my every day conversation that I completely forget when I am in public...that this is not normal. What? Not everyone has to change their shirts a couple of times a day because of spit up or not everyone gets the occasional pee in the face?

Too much information? What's that again?

I was warned this would happen.

creepy crawly

2009-03-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have this irrational fear of tiny bugs. Well, tiny bugs that are creepy crawly and come in large groups, ie. ants. Well tiny bugs and anything that has a lot of little holes...because they remind me of tiny little bugs and then I get itchy all over. It's not like I'm afraid they're going to eat me alive or that I don't realize I could just squish them and it's all over with. It's that there are so many of them and I feel like they will all crawl all over me and give me the eeby-jeebeez and I hate that feeling. Hate.

So given that it was raining off and on the past month, all the ants outside decided to come inside my house. Our house became a war zone with random screams when I encountered the little guys. Then there would be screaming, eeking, and laughing as I tried to clean them up and kill them.

As soon as I see ants, I get itchy all over and feel like they are all crawling on me. Whoever would happen to be in my company would get scared out of their socks when I let out a scream and then start slapping myself in hopes of killing whatever ant would be crawling on me. I would make whoever happened to be in my presence including random strangers check for me, "is there an ant on me?" The other day when I suddenly screamed then kicked off my shoe and pulled off my sock to kill an "ant" that I swear crawled into my shoe and through my sock JUST to tickle me...Bertrand told me, "You know...it doesn't really mean there is ant on you every time you itch or feel a tickle."

Oh.

Fine. So everyone thinks I'm crazy.

This morning when I was up at 6am rocking one of the babies in the rocking chair I felt a little tickle on my face. I ignored it at first remembering what my wise husband had told me. But then the itch was out of control and I scratched...and guess what? There was a freaking ant on my face.

See? They ARE crawling all over me. Irrational fear my butt.

can i have my hour back?

2009-03-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

I'm going to lose an hour of sleep tonight because of Daylight Savings.

Not much sleep - one hour = ouchie

Actually, I think I'm getting used to the sleep deprivation so losing one hour may not be so noticeable. Just give me some chocolate and I'll be good to go.

mommyhood

2009-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

mommyhood rocks.

I never could have imagined being more in love with two little human beings than I am with my little K and little B. Having twins has kept me on my toes and I have never cherished sleep (what's that again?) so much in my life. I have learned to soothe, feed, hold, and change two babies at the same time. We have mastered the "twin shuffle"...because you know as soon as you put one baby down, the other one wakes up and cries. I could not have asked for a more caring, patient or loving husband and father for my children, to share this journey with. Sitting down to eat, take a nap, watch tv, check email, or you know...breathe, is a luxury now, but one little smile from these little munchkin faces, and it is all worth it!

The day has finally come

2009-02-12T16:19:00.002-08:00

...I am back in my pre-pregnancy jeans!!!

6 weeks later...I am back in my pre-pregnancy jeans (without having to wiggle and lay down on a bed to button up...hehe). Yay!

And now that I'm mostly recovered from delivering the babies...I'm looking forward to heading back to the gym. You know, whenever I manage to get some sleep.

Best Christmas presents ever

2009-01-02T13:48:00.001-08:00

Our twin babies arrived on Christmas Eve.

They were the best Christmas gifts we could have ever asked for!

whatever you call it

2008-12-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Me: My foot really hurts.
Bertrand: Oh no, what happened? Did you slam it into something?
Me: I don't know. But my left toe really hurts.
Bertrand: Which toe?
Me: My um...thumb toe.
Bertrand: ...you mean your big toe?
Me: Hmm. Yeah....

stretching

2008-12-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

What does it feel like to have two little people moving around in your belly preparing to make their entry into the world...at any moment?

It feels like just taking a normal average breath of air is like hiking Mount Everest. It feels like every muscle in your body is mad at you for making it carry almost an extra half of your original body weight. It feels like you are the biggest klutz because you can't gauge how far something is from you when trying to walk through a small hallway or opening (and then realizing that you no longer fit). It feels like when you try really hard to stuff your entire wardrobe into that little carry-on. You push and squish things into every little pocket, you sit on it, you get others to help you and just manage to get the lock closed...but you can tell it's just about to bust at its seams. It feels like you just said something you really shouldn't have and the person next to you elbows you in the ribs...really hard. It feels like you are a beached whale when you can't manage to roll over and get out of bed without some help from the one who got you into this situation in the first place. It feels like everything is just out of reach...like the far and distant sink while you are brushing your teeth, and so you accept the fact that toothpaste and water will just get all over you. It feels like no matter what you do, or how fast you think you are doing it, you are moving at a snails speed. Actually...I think I've seen a couple of those sluggies stick their tongues out at me as they zoomed past me. It feels like you have two very distinct aliens in your body when you look down and your belly is lopsided, or a little body part sticks out like a head, foot or knee.

And...it feels amazing. I can't wait to meet these two little aliens.

Just when you feel like you couldn't possibly stretch anymore...your body surprises you and keeps on growing.

choppy chop chop

2008-11-26T08:37:00.001-08:00

I cut off 10 inches of my hair.

Woah.

I have never in my life had short hair...unless you count when I was a baby and it was growing to its long state. So this was a big move for me. But it was for a good cause so I feel happy that I was able to share my hair with someone else who needs it much more than I do. I decided about a year ago that I wanted to grow my hair out to donate it to cancer patients. There are a few organizations out there and ultimately I decided to donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths who makes wigs out of the donated hair for women with cancer. I know how hair can be such a great form of expression and self-image for a woman and can only imagine what it would feel like to lose all of your hair. If you're thinking about doing it, I encourage you to find an organization and grow your hair out to donate it and make a small difference in someone's life. After all, it will grow back..right?

So now I'm sporting a fresh new do and still getting used to it. I keep going to touch hair and instead grab some air. My neck is a little colder. And taking a shower and washing my hair? That was quite the learning experience. I know better for the next time....much much less shampoo.

mom delivers baby at BART station

2008-11-21T17:54:00.001-08:00

Baby Born at San Leandro BART Station

The 21-year-old mother was with her 2-year-old child at around 7 a.m. when she started going into labor at the top of the escalator.

A station agent and a police officer helped her until paramedics arrived and delivered the baby, Johnson said.

Hmm...yeah. Not planning on riding BART alone anytime soon! =)

lil' mr. mischievous

2008-11-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

they're coming two-by-two

2008-11-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

A few of my very close girlfriends threw me an amazingly cute and fun little baby (babies?) shower last weekend. The theme was Noah's Ark with little animals coming two-by-two, just like our babies will be coming in a very short while. The place was decked out in adorable decorations, yummy food, great company, and hilarious belly busting games. I had such a great time.

Thank you friends! I love you!

so this is what it comes to

2008-11-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

As of lately...my shoes no longer fit comfortably, or at all for that matter. Given the fact that I am carrying and growing two little people in my belly, my feet have retained some water and grown a tad swollen. Okay, a lot swollen. It has started to make me really sad thinking that my cute shoes no longer fit me and will not be an option for the next couple of months (hopefully they go back to normal after). So sad, that I decided that I no longer cared WHAT I was wearing, as long as they are comfortable and fit.

So this led to me and my husband going to the store and buying some fur lined Crocs that I can wear for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was actually looking for the ones that had the fur inside the shoe instead of showing on the outside, but they didn't have anymore in my size. So out of desperation for comfortable shoes, I bought the fur lined Crocs with fur peeking out on the outside.

This morning before leaving for our many doctor's appointments, I pulled off the tags to my new shoes and popped them on. And then I paused and commented to Bertrand, "Wait...these look just like the inside house slippers I just took off. Am I going to be the pregnant lady who wears slippers out in public??" He then tells me that I am overreacting and that my shoes were clearly Crocs and clearly outside shoes. I asked him again, "...but I really think these might look like my slippers I wear in the house. Oh no!" He reassured me that I looked fine and that they did not look like slippers.

At the end of my first doctor's appointment, the doctor stood up and shook my hand and then leaned over towards Bertrand to shake his hand. Bertrand was too preoccupied trying to get my shoes in place for me to wear once I got off the table that he didn't realize the doctor was waiting for him. Then the doctor chuckled and said, "Oh it's okay, I see you are on purse and slipper duty", said goodbye and left the room. Once we were alone in the room, I turned to Bertrand and said, "Did you HEAR what he just said? He said SLIPPERS!" Bertrand looked up at me and then started to bust out laughing while I gathered my things and whimpered out the door.

I whined and whimpered about my new shoes that look like slippers and that I am now "that lady" on the way to our next appointment. As the nurse greeted me and took me to my room, she looked down and said, "Ooh! You're wearing your comfy shoes" I just glared at Bertrand with my "really?" face who returned my glare with a laugh. Embarrassed, I hid my shoes in the corner of the room so the doctor wouldn't see them. At the end of our appointment with her, she said goodbye and as she left the room, turned and gave a nice long pause as she looked at my lowly shoes in the corner.

We only talked with a few people this morning after slipping on these shoes and almost all had something to say about my "slippers". Bertrand, how could you let me buy these shoes and then let me wear them in public?

I am the slipper lady.

trick-or-treat, give me something good to eat

2008-11-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

One of the great parts about living in family friendly suburbia is all the cute little kids that run around and say little cute kid things and do cute little kid things. This also means...a lot of kids coming to your house trick-or-treating for Halloween. I prepared my usual giant bucket of candy as I do every year and filled it with three giant warehouse store bags of candy.

This was the first year in 6 years where I haven't dressed up for Halloween. Sorry folks. This year, for Halloween, I decided to just be a pregnant woman. BUT...I did wear an orange shirt and Halloween socks.

Before the sun even set, little princesses and frogs and witches and superheros started ringing our doorbell. And soon? It was almost pointless to even shut the door because swarms and swarms of children were flocking through the neighborhood and to our house. By 7pm, we realized we were out of candy. And we had been semi-stingy not knowing how many kids would be rolling through and only gave about 2-3 pieces per kid! So Bertrand did the emergency candy run while I scrounged up some more candy from my own personal candy stash to give to the kiddies.

And then..it poured and the rain came down, and the kids stopped coming. And somehow after buying pounds and pounds of candy and several hundred children later, I got left with some not-so-favorite candy.

Next year, maybe we'll just buy the candy aisle to be prepared. And kiddies, you can't touch my personal stash of good stuff!

dogs and dolls

2008-10-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had jokingly mentioned how we should get a doll to "practice" for the babies and see how the dogs might react to a baby in the house. My mom bought us a doll that came with all these little accessories including a litle basket, extra outfit, pacifier, blanket, and a little bear.

Yesterday, I opened up the doll and sorted its little toys and then carried it around pretending it was a baby. The dogs did great! They were obviously curious and wanted to check out this new addition. They gave little sniffs and were calm and nice when we would tell them to be careful and to just say hi to the baby.

Then I sat down on the couch and put the baby in it's basket on the floor near me to watch what the dogs would do. Toby decided he would take guard and protect this new "thing" and laid near it. Max would occasionally come sniff it, but was otherwise undeterred and continued running around and playing with his toys. And then...I saw Max walk up to the basket, set down his favorite rope toy against the basket, back up a little, and then proceed to take the little bear toy that belonged to the baby doll. It was his peace offering and he was making friends by offering to trade his very favorite toy for her little bear!

After taking the toy back and telling him that it was the baby's toy and not his, I sat him next to the basket for a picture so his daddy could see how he had given the baby his rope toy. And then Toby? He decided he wanted to have a picture with the baby too...

toby punkeroo

2008-10-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

We turned on our tobycam this morning so we could watch Toby while we were away at work and see what he was up to. Bertrand initially pointed the camera at the doggy beds so we could see him resting in his bed. Instead? Toby decided he'd rather sunbathe by the sliding glass door. So at lunchtime, Bertrand went home and moved the camera to point at the sliding door so I could watch Toby in his "spot". The second Bertrand left? Toby decided to go sleep in his bed.

Punk.