More panda news...

Friday the kids spent the day at Grandma & Grandpa B's. They've got a portable crib with a mobile (or two?). On that mobile was a panda bear. Apparently Roman watched that like a hawk. Mike wrote about R's fascination with this animal the other day.
You can read about it and see photos on grandma's blog yes, like mother, like daughter). BTW, see Mom & Dad's San Diego Zoo visit photos here.



Yesterday I got up early with Mr. Finicky and brought him into the office with me. He was awake and alert but really didn't have anything to look at, so I thought I'd check the internet for some panda pictures. I found some, printed them and tacked them up on the wall. It kept him busy for a few minutes!

Sleep?

I'm getting in the bad habit of getting up way too early. There's a point where it's harder to go back to bed and have to get up then to just stay up and try to be awake for the day. Of course I'm gradually injecting the caffeine back into my system, something I didn't want to do because I don't want to become reliant on it. I don't want to feel like I have to have it, if you know what I mean. But I do notice I'm a heck of a lot more chipper and productive when I have the coffee. Uh huh. Quite the dilemma.

Friday night

Last night I got up to feed R around midnight. As he's having the spit up issues, which haven't improved any, I thought I'd sleep on the couch with him on my chest. It seems to help, well at least it seems to ensure that he'll sleep longer. And he did. I woke up around 5. He was still asleep, although he'll occasionally lift his head up for a few seconds with his eyes shut, and settle back in. I put him in the crib around 5:20. By 5:30 he was crying. Bottle time. Vibrating chair time. Time to feed Zoe time. Time for Roman to cry time. Oy.



Our Zoe is an awesome sleeper. She'll go from 11pm to 4 or 5am now.



I think once Roman gets over his stomach issues he'll follow. But we've got some time on that one.



grammatical note to the reader: I find myself injecting "the" in where it doesn't need to be. I think I picked this up from the Craig Ferguson. He does this for some reason and I find it amusing. If I find it amusing I do it myself. Sometimes you just have to make yourself laugh. Especially when you watch the news or read the paper. Pretty dire times otherwise. This blog is a respite from that, so I will speak of it no more... Except to say I keep thinking about how when R & Z grow up they'll read about whatever the heck is going on in our economy (it will have a name no doubt) in their history textbooks. Yeah, it all started right around when they were born.

Just 10 More Minutes

Just another tid bit, everyone who hears that we have twins says "Aww, I would love to have twins" I dont think they realize the work involved. 2 of everything, double the diapers, formula, doctors visits, ilnesses (colds and such) and if you work - double the daycare! Its hard to find a daycare with 2 openings for twin infants. Not to mention the cost..

Dont get me wrong, with twins you get double the blessings, double the memories and fun times. I love our twins dearly... but you also spend twice as much energy. One night in the beginning, when we were both getting up in the middle of the night to feed them, I had just laid my head down on the pillow around 11pm, and Mary shakes me and says its time to feed them again. I groggily shake my head and say "We just fed them!" She laughs and says "Yeah 3 and a half hours ago!" Wha? I look at the clock - sure enough, it says 2:30AM. Where did the time go?

On another nite, not too long ago, Roman was waking around not quite 2:30AM, and having been fed at 12AM, it was not quite 2 1/2 hours. So I get up and give him his pacifier, he quiets and I turn around and go back to bed. As soon as I get my knee on the bed he starts fussing again. Knee off the bed, back to check on him, looking at the clock - Not quite 2 1/2 hours yet, give the pacifier and get back to bed. No sooner do I get my head on the pillow, he starts crying again. One more time, back with the pacifier, back to bed. Just get settled in and "WHHHAAA!!!" I think this kid has a RADAR or webcam or something. Mary shifts and wakes and says" Why dont you just feed him?" and I reply "It hasnt been 2 1/2 hours yet, just give me 10 more minutes of sleep..." and she replies "Kids dont work that way"

No they dont.

Late Nite Pandas..er Ponders.

At night, baby daddy has BP and DP duties (that's bottle patrol and diaper patrol duties - for all you military folks that follow) until around 01:00 hours. Then Mommy gets up at 03:00 hours as she falls asleep by 21:00 hours(9PM). And one of the favorite activities during chow time is to watch PBS - we are too poor for Cable so we go with the rabbit ears. So the other night as I was feeding Roman, a show about Panda Bears came on. Mary says she read that babies notice black and white early on really well. Mr Roman took notice of the animals on the screen. I couldnt get him to peel away from the screen. He took such interest as they showed Panda babies running around. I had also learned from watching that the Panda baby they were talking about also was born at 5#'s 5oz, same as Roman. Well, Roman I guess we will have to take to the San Diego Zoo when you get older and see the Pandas there. But you have to be quiet as they dont like loud noises, as the Zookeeper told us over the loudspeakers when Mommy and Daddy saw them when we went there in 2007.

Hand me downs

Little Zoe is the first born and the first and only girl. How is it that she's come upon these "hand me downs"? Momma. Grandma B had been saving this outfit for 36 (oh my!) years in anticipation of the little girl her daughter would have. And have her she did.



Zoe had been sleeping most of the day, at least most of the day Mom was home (she got to get out and run some errands). At about 8:30pm she was wide awake in her swing, looking around. Mom talked to her and she put on several wide smiles.






A girls gotta keep warm under the blanket (and flaunt her "I can look right AND left" skills).



Grandma B is going to have to fill in the details on the outfit. I know it was handmade by a friend - I think a woman on our block. I don't know that I have a photo of me in it, otherwise I'd post it!

Bath & Tummy Time

Both used to be agony for R & Z, but now they seem to enjoy it, well for the most part. Saturday night was bath night and I couldn't get these lyrics out of my head "Splish Splash I was taking a bath...long about a Saturday night" (video here, I didn't realize it was Bobby Darin).

Mr. Roman was having a good time afterward, he turned his head left. Woo-hoo! We're trying to reinforce this behavior. It would be nice to avoid the baby helmet, which I now understand is for the purpose of keeping the head from developing flat spots. Or at least that's the theory I'm going with.

He was conversational as well:

Now and Later

Yesterday Mom spent some quality time with...the computer. Well and with the kids, which included a stint with Zoe on the playmat in the office with Mom. She's such a mellow girl, she only cries for a couple of reasons, one involving input and the other output. She's a good girl and we think she takes after her dad, personality-wise. Time will tell. Little sweetie.

She loves to look around, strengthening those neck muscles all the way. I love holding her and rubbing my cheek agains her soft hair, and such a sweet smell! In the last couple of weeks we've all noticed how both of their eyelashes have grown. Zoe's got these dainty little eyelashes that curl up perfectly. Roman has long, thick lashes just like his dad. Why do the boys get them? Liza Minnelli would be jealous. Boy, there's a reference they'll never get! But it's the first example that popped in my mind :)

At any rate...

We had photo day Friday night (who am I kidding, everyday is photo day, I'm obsessed). I've been working on our Christmas card. As a blog reader (:)!) you get a video preview. Below is some video of Roman's shoot. He tends to be a little more...immediate in his needs. Hmm, just like mom. I'm hungry, I need food (or my pacifier)..NOW.

I've actually thought about this personality thing a bit, especially at night after responding to Roman's cries. He'll cry and cry and cry, all thru the diaper change. He's desperate for the bottle. I want it NOW. Kind of reminds me of me. Not always patient, not always willing to go thru the minor discomfort without complaining and focusing on the now and not the later. There's often reward in "the later". I'm trying to take a lesson from it. Zoe, she'll cry to let us know she's needing some input or wants removal of the output. Once she's got our attention she doesn't feel the need to dwell on it. She's ok.

I think she's on to something.

Saturday night's entertainment

Sometimes just sitting on the couch is entertaining.
And this is the best - two kids cuddled up. I took a nap this afternoon with both of them sleeping on my chest. I had to actually wake them up because they were going on 4+ hours since they'd eaten and I sure didn't want them making up for it in the middle of the night. It was a good day. The only bad part was that Dad was gone most of it, but he's off (hurrah!) tomorrow.

Another visitor from Chicago...

This week Mike's cousin Ron(ny) was in town on business and stayed with us for a few nights. Here, he holds Zoe. It was fun to spend some time with their 2nd cousin (??) and for Mommy to get to know him a little better and for Dad to catch up. Chances are we'll see him once and awhile when he makes his way up to this neck of the woods. I'm sure he'll see big changes between visits. Welcome to our cast of characters on the blog, Ron(ny)!
[I asked him if he liked being called Ron or Ronny. Mike calls him Ronny, but I know how family can be...Nicknames aren't always what everyone else calls you. Mikey. Mike. Mary. Mary. Doesn't work, although my family nickname is Mamie, from my little brother's mispronunciation of my name...AT ANY RATE...I have so deemed you Ron(ny). Well, at least for as long as I remember deeming you that. My memory ain't' what it used to be]

Tangent: When thinking about this blog post (hard to believe advanced thought comes with this, eh?) my brain synapses put together a memory of a book I used to like as a little one. One of those Little Golden books called something like "Pete and Penny". It was what we'd now call retro, the drawings looked like something from decades before. I'm guessing it was written/illustrated in the 40's or 50's. There's a page where their uncle comes to visit. He brings them a vial of iron ore from the Iron Range in Minnesota. Even then it seemed odd to me, except I was somehow impressed that Minnesota (my home) was in the story. The story progresses (somehow!) with Pete and Penny (twins?) becoming somewhat bored with all the things they used to enjoy, their toys broken etc. The book ends with Mom coming home with... a new baby!

Don't expect that one, kids.

This is more for Mom & Dad then anything...I know we'll smile when we watch this sometime down the road, remembering all the sounds you made. Roman is a little more noisy than Zoe (the quiet, calm one...at least so far). He's got his little grunts and his little "I'm practicing my evil villain" laugh. Always reminds me of the bad guy in a batman type movie. Not that he is or will be the villain, he just likes to laugh that way. How's that for digging myself out of a hole? We're really going down the comic book line in the last few days, aren't we?



I recorded this in the morning after the bottle and before daycare. I was working from home before a dentist appointment. It was nice to be home to get them started on their day and give them a kiss goodbye. Normally I'm out the door at 6 and miss the hub-bub.

Swingin' x deux

Lazy day, swinging side by side. Usually this is Zoe's thing, but yesterday both enjoyed a little relaxing time swinging in the living room.

Our new ipod selections...

Above is a creation by Daddy, something he made awhile back to amuse Mommy. You see Mommy still has fond memories of Curious George books from when she was a little girl. As Grandma B tells it I loved to go to bed with my "boops" and I recall warm feelings when I look at the 'classic' Curious George books. I loved the pictures. I still do.
When Daddy saw the picture of Wicket he decided it needed some modification. Maybe he'll make another comic book snapshot for us...

In keeping with that (sort of) I decided to update our music selection for you. I made a stop to the lovely St Paul Public Library and found a selection of music for people your age (and some of it for our age too). Among the mix is the soundtrack to the Curious George movie (which you'll be watching in a few years). I listen to it now as I write and you two sleep behind me. Roman in his vibrating chair and Zoe on her play mat. Well, Zoe isn't quite sleeping...

But the music is enjoyable for both of us. This song was actually played quite a bit on the radio when it came back: Upside Down.

p.s. I still love, love, love Curious George and can't wait until the two of you can sit in my lap and have storytime.

pps The cartoon now on public tv is very cute too, I can't wait to watch those with you too!

10 weeks + 1 day

Dad started something dangerous with this captioning...

I know, know, its been awhile since I have posted. Holidays are the busiest time of year for Daddy's work. But here is an image I couldnt refuse to post. My love for comic books not too obvious here.

Today is a big day for Zoe and Roman, as they start day care this AM, probably harder for Mommy and Daddy than anyone else. But time keeps on ticking into the future and they keep growing every day. Before we know it they will be starting college. So lets remember today.

Our girl Zo

I am Zoe. I am 10 weeks old.


I am mellow.


I'll eat what you give me (look at my cheeks!).


I don't fuss much.

I'm working on my own hip hop moves (brother Roman started the trend back near Halloween).



Today when Grandma put me in the crib with Roman we watched the mobile and I let him suck on my fingers.

I'm a good sleeper. Put me in my swing and I'll happily go along for the ride.

Ah-choo! (or, if only I could say gesundheit)

R little boy

Roman- Mr. I'm working on my neck muscle development and like to wake up for the day sometime after 8pm... I enjoy the first 5 seconds. I laugh every time I watch it (which has been several times). It's what I was trying to get on video - that moment of "whoah! I guess I 'm not in complete control of my movements". I think Zoe is a bit past this. Not totally in control, but not so roamin'. ha ha.
Check out the 35 second mark too. Hi Roman!

Thanksgiving

We spent most of Thanksgiving Day at Grandma & Grandpa B's house. Above, G-Ma B and Zoe. Below is a photo she took a few days before. I received the captioned version in my email this morning from Grandpa.

On the way home we were able to make a quick stop to see Grandma K. Since she works retail and since she works for a store that chooses to be open on holidays (bah humbug!) she wasn't able to spend time with the grandkids. She did however enjoy parading them around the store showing everyone she worked with. Good times. I'm glad we stopped to visit.

I think he's got this figured out...

More Roman pictures. Why? When we got home from our Thanksgiving outing and got both R & Z fed Roman decided he wanted to be awake, wide awake. We had put him in his vibrating chair, but alas that wasn't going to cut it. In mom's arms, yeah I think I prefer that, he said.

I put on some music (a little jazz) and danced around with him. Still awake. I had managed to get halfway ready for bed- pajama top on (the better to spit up upon). But bedtime for Mom it would not be. I told Dad to get out the camera. A photo opportunity.

The living room has become something of a disaster area. I think I better get used to it.

The piano now acts as a shelf for all the stuff we're accumulating. Supplies for daycare - 2 days/week starting on Tuesday; extra clothes for Roman (you gotta have them handy when he demands a wardrobe change throughout the day...:); iron and ironing board (never quite made it back downstairs after last week's attempt to get some 'work clothes' ready; vacuum (ditto, not quite back in it's resting spot after a quick attempt at cleaning); and the Thanksgiving Day paper, full of ads. Also note Sam, sitting under the chair in his favorite spot: right next to the large heat register. Nice and toasty for him.




This Black Friday I actually took advantage of exactly one deal: The Tickle me Cookie Monster and Tickle me Ernie. $5 each at Big Lots, of which there is one 2 minutes from our house. Good deal and I didn't have to fight crowds to get it. I was up at 5 something feeding Roman and made my way over 10 minutes before the doors opened. There were probably 11 people in front of me, of which probably 11 went in search of the same deal.

Meanwhile I must plan my strategy for Zoe's photo shoot...3 more days off (woo hoo!) to accomplish it. Lucky me. Dad goes into work today but should be home this weekend, which is really, really nice. Mom misses him.

Another sleeping photo

Even on one of those days where you're exhausted (and I mean exhausted) and you see your baby sleeping, well, it has to make you smile. Mr. Roman and Ms. Zoe look so sweet when they're asleep. Above Roman is sucking on his finger which will help in the frantic searches for his beloved pacifer. If he can suck his own finger we might be good. But when the time comes to ween him off...maybe not.

Week 9

Okay, the photos reflect week 9 less one day. Sundays are going to be picture day. I thought I'd better start dressing them in some of the outfits that they'll be outgrowing soon. This matching set came from Kitty. She became an aunt again last week with the birth of little Francis Louise. Francis' mom worked at the Baby Gap and outfitted us with some adorable clothes, including the blue hoodie and pants Roman was wearing in the previous post.

I picked this photo because it highlights one of those details about Roman I don't want to forget. Sometimes when he sleeps, often when one of us is holding him, his mouth scrunches up like this. So cute. Don't we all think our kids are adorable? And aren't they? :)



It reminds me that we're happy they've developed a layer of fat. They were so skinny when they were born. Mom is SO HAPPY to be spending the weekend with both Roman & Zoe. Going back to work was tough and thankfully this upcoming week is a short one because of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Mom will have a four day weekend with you again. Unfortunately dad is working long days, including this weekend and it probably won't let up until the new year.

It kind of looks like Zoe is punching Roman, huh? An indication of things to come? Zoe wasn't too keen on settling in for a picture with her brother:

As I was getting ready to put Zoe in the Snugli carrier (thanks Liz & Kevin!) so that I could sit down with free hands and download these photos I noticed she was now ready for her closeup. I think she likes the individual attention. Smart girl.