Hello readers! Let me introduce myself- I’m Amanda, and I am a babywearing, cloth diapering (sometimes), breastfeeding, pumping, two time graduate student, part-time pastor and pastor’s wife. But my greatest claim to fame is being the mama of my twin daughters, Auden and Amelia. Who from here on out will be affectionately referred to as the Pixie and the Bug!
This blog has been a long time coming- over a year ago two of my sisters encouraged me to start writing about my life and adventures with the Pixie and the Bug. But I have a confession- I’m a perfectionist. I wasted a wonderful, glorious, milestone-filled year waiting for The. Perfect. Time to start writing. And you know what? I never found it. First I thought I would launch this blog on the anniversary of the day I found out I was pregnant. When that didn’t happen, I thought I would try for the anniversary of the day my husband, the RevEv, and I found out we were expecting twins! But for whatever reason, that didn’t happen. Now here we are, over a year later, and I have had a day. It was far from perfect, but if I waited for the perfect day then nothing would ever happen. Because let’s face it- no day is perfect. But they are all memorable.
And so, dear reader, let me tell you about my day. I woke up and snuck downstairs to begin my morning pumping session (more on our breastfeeding journey later!) before the girls woke up, placing the RevEv on baby wake-up duty. I had to lead the weekly prayer circle at my church this morning so after changing diapers and getting the girls dressed I dashed off to work. When I returned home I loaded two very tired and cranky girls into The Van and headed to my alma mater for its summer music institute. Thankfully the girls took a nap in the car, but I had to wake them up when we arrived at the university so they were not in the best of moods upon entering the crowded building. At lunch time.
We found a table with some old friends who were eager to hold the girls but neither the Pixie nor the Bug were having it. They only wanted Mama. Which they expressed quite loudly, with loud protestations and big, fat tears. So I balanced them one on each knee while trying to simultaneously hold onto two bottles, tear up pieces of string cheese, and hold a conversation. Suddenly, my leg felt very, very hot. And wet. Bug’s diaper had flooded, again, all over my pants. “Oh God!” I exclaimed, but my conversation partner didn’t even notice- when you’re a pastor in a group of pastors God gets mentioned a lot- and I hastily excused ourselves and rushed up two flights of stairs to the chapel, the only space that lent itself to diaper changing.
It was around this time that Pixie underwent a full-blown separation anxiety attack and refuse to be put down without shrieking. Loudly. In a building with very tall ceilings and stone floors.
Things were looking up as we listened in on a musical rehearsal. The girls love music, and it wasn’t long before they were dancing around the front of the chapel, amusing the choir members. But then Bug figured out where the door was. You can see where this is going, right? Bug ran out the door- I ran after Bug- Pixie started crying because she was left behind. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
It was around that time I decided to call it a day and loaded everything up, wet shorts and all (did I mention Bug had been running around in her diaper and tank top because her shorts were soaked from the aforementioned diaper flood?) and escaped to The Van to go Home. I decided I deserved a special treat- the Starbucks kind. While waiting in the drive through I was reliving the events of the afternoon, all the little snafus that had occurred, and then I caught myself laughing. It was pretty ridiculous. And despite feeling hot and frazzled, I also felt incredibly blessed.
I was blessed with the opportunity to see friends that I haven’t seen in months, and in some cases, years. I was blessed to be part of such a loving community that embraces me and my daughters on our good days and not so good days. I was blessed because I had clean pants to change into when I got home, and a washing machine. Most importantly, I was blessed with these two remarkable little girls who fill my days with love and surprises.
Welcome, dear reader, into the crazy, often chaotic, far from perfect but still oh so wonderful life I get to share with the Pixie and the Bug. If you are family and friends that are trying to keep up with all of the adventures and changes these girls are experiencing, welcome. If you stumbled upon this page because you are a babywearing/cloth diapering/breastfeeding/pumping maybe even a pastor mama, welcome. If you are looking for something that will make you laugh, or cry, or maybe make you feel a little bit better or less alone in your own parenting journey, welcome.
Welcome, to The Pixie and the Bug!
