Guest Rambler: An update from the new mom of twins and best friend ever, Brianne.

5:36 a.m.

I just got done handwashing 8 tiny little bottles and refilling them. That's a 150 bottles a week. I haven't slept for more than 3 hours at one time in 4 weeks. Kate spit up on me again. I am still wearing the same shirt she spit up on me yesterday. My left arm just might fall off from holding Zack for 2 hours straight. I haven't slept in the same bed with my husband in over a month. And I walked outside yesterday and realized it has been 3 days since the last time. Yet, I have never been happier. Something I NEVER expected.

Is it a question of perspective and managing expectations?

Although I don't get to sleep in the same bed with Wade anymore I do get to sleep on his side of the bed, something I have been wanting to do for years! A number of people have commented on how little I seem to be missing my old life. I wonder if this is because everyone kept telling me how hard two babies would be. Maybe it's because I kept telling myself how hard two babies would be. I was six weeks pregnant when I found out I would be having twins. I cried. I cried more. I didn't sleep for a week. And I let go. Very few people could really know how hard it was going to be. Why listen.

Do we let other people manage our expectations?

When a new movie comes out and your next door neighbor has already seen it 3 times in the theater you think... it must be really good. You go. You liked it but can't imagine why someone would pay to see it 2 more times. If you loved it maybe you thought you wouldn't.

I am relieved that having twins is easier than everyone told me it would be. I am grateful it is easier than I EXPECTED.

Are expectations a good thing?

For the first time in my life am I able to hold on so tight to the moment. I am present. I can't begin to see tomorrow. or the next day. I am too tired. I am happy. I just wrote a post in 15 minutes without any distractions.

I currently live in a space of no expectations.

Thank you Kate and Zack.

the end.

I liked today's 30 Reasons designed by Brett Yasko.

Aimee's Post Secret of the Day: Sometimes when I think about the night of Nov. 4th, I picture them announcing that Obama will be the next President of the United States and my heart races, I get a little, silent smile on my face, and I see the confetti falling from the sky.

Ahh, Justin Timberlake. How you have grown up. Once a mouseketter, then a "Bye, Bye, Bye"-er, then onto Brittney's first...umph...love, a solo career, and now a live-in girlfriend, Jessica Biel. We've watch you become a man.

Well apparently you have announced that you are no longer performing SexyBack live anymore. Last Friday night was the last time. You have retired the dancy beat and will probably save it for the 20 year reunion show to please all your old fans.

After reading this, I thought about my favorite SexyBack moment. Many of you will remember the Valentine's Bunco night at Wendi's house. I won't go into details but lets just say the mood was right, there was a crazy dance off and it was a night that will forever remind me of this timeless, get-on-your-feet-and-dance-your-heart-out song.

So in honor of Justin, and last live performances, and sexiness, and bunko with a k, and Wendi's generosity, here is a little clip for you.

Scott's family is coming up this weekend but I am going to be in ALL DAY trainings Friday-Sunday getting certified to train about this:


The Gottman workshop Bringing Baby Home will allow me to teach in hospitals, schools, churches and the like as a certified presenter. I am really excited to learn this information but sad that I will be in a hotel conference room while our guests are gallivanting around MY city.

On the bright side: Down the road, if any of you need someone to present on this issue (or have questions about your own relationship changing with children) I will be your gal! I'll let you know how it goes.

A critical vote is needed on my sister's blog. All of your votes count so please weigh in even if you don't know my sister.

Please read the pros and cons and vote here. It is your civic blogging duty to do so. Thank you.

These rugrats will be making the drive up from Salt Lake to Seattle tomorrow to spend some quality time with their favorite aunts and uncles.

Please give me a daughter like Jane someday. She is too cute for words and has a sassy personality to match it. I promise to love her and give her shelter and food and spoil her rotten in parental attention. I will foster her imagination and teach her about all things good and lovely in the world. She will grow up to be wonderful and kind and generous and will feed the sick and comfort the sad. Please give the next Jane in line to me someday.

Please, oh please, oh please. I have a mad crush on this little one. She. Kills. Me.

your favorite human,

Aimee

I can't help myself. I will be watching Britney Spears "For the Record" on November 30th. The DVR will be set.

Will my irrational interest in her ever end?

In light of the upcoming election I thought I would direct my readers to Politicolossus. Politicolossus, you ask? Yes, Politicolossus. Like Colossus at Lagoon but only better and with a political spin instead of an upside down spin.

This blog is written by one of my "anchor persons" in this universe*.

Jake is one of these FEW persons for me and has had a huge influence on my life in the last 10 years. He is the primary reason I am in the program I am in currently.

Anyway. Politicolossus. He eats up this political sh#*. Loves it so much in fact that in his free time writes essays with footnotes about Why Mormons Should Vote For Obama and The High Crimes of George W. Bush just to name a few. He just laughs when I hold the mirror up for him and let him know what a nerd he is for this. But, to each his own and I am always enlightened with the amount of information he knows not only about political issues but world issues, music, theology, history and life in general. He is a crazy reader too. This man owns tons and tons of books. He got the smart and talented genes in the family. Did I mention he was my cousin?

Well, raise your hand if you have heard of the new Oliver Stone movie, W? Ok, thank you. The few of you can put your hands down. Since Jake is also a musician he was asked/paid to have his rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic on the soundtrack to this movie (forgot to mention he got the musical gene too). They sought his song out not even realizing that he is the type of guy to see this movie on opening night and bask in its political, controversial delightfulness regardless of the fact that the CD is basically music of the Mormon inclined who tend to lean right in their political views. I find the whole situation very ironic and pleasing all at the same time. The Universe/God/Karma sure does have a fantastic sense of humor.

Read more about this and hear the song in the media section of his blog.

For some political enlightenment and/or thought provoking readings please visit the blog regularly. He always loves him a good discussion so feel free to agree or disagree. He invites all kinds of conversation.

I found an amazing blog today called I Wrote This For You via MadeByGirl and have been mesmerized for hours. At least 2.

The simple words of wisdom and dreamlike images of Japan, its subways, crazy intersections, and people speaks to my heart in ways I can't quite describe in blog words.

...because it feels like it. Did I really speak and understand those conversations I had? Did that experience really exist in my history? Because sometimes its feels like I can hardly touch it and other times it feels like nothing existed but being there... time, space and memory continues to mystify me. I have flashes of that experience at least once a day - sometimes there is no context for the flashes - just an unconscious trigger that lead to an image in my mind's eye. Other times it is a smell or sounds that allows the remembrance and reminds me it was real.

Check it out and spend some time. Some of my favorites here • here • here • here and last but not least here. And a couple more below...

So remember how I told you about my British friend from across the ocean and his freaking awesome graphic design blog? Well he did it again. He blogged about something that you all need to know about (well at least you Obama supporters and/or art lovers).

30 Reasons is a website where they have asked 30 graphic designers to produce art to encourage people to vote for Barack Obama for each day until election day. Awesome, right? Art and politics coming together for greatness. Brilliant. I love the Empowerment one.

Take a look here and sign up for the daily emails, my friends. Thank you for the hot tip, Alex.



And instead of watching the debate tonight I will be in class learning about illness and therapy. Thank heavens for DVR.

I have been flirting with these earrings for a few months now and tonight decided I needed to finally commit. I can't wait to let them dangle from my ear lobes.

This artist has some very cool creations. Still flirting with this, this, and these. Unless of course you get to them before me.

This post on Cracked.com about the 10 People Who Will Haunt You on Facebook gave me a good laugh this weekend.

I know 8 of the 10 people they describe.

Found via PopCandy.