Pictures from Halloween

September-October update

As my friend Hillary likes to point out, I am not a very good blogger. Not surprisingly, while on bed rest, I had more time for my posts that I do now especially since I've been back at work. But don't give up on me -- Kevin still is a crazed photographer of our kids and Hope and Jack are still so darn cute, so I will make up for the quantity of posts with the quality of the updates and cute shots!!

A quick update before the pics -- things are going well for us in Havertown. Everyone has adjusted to our new schedule of day care and work. It's crazy for all of us at times, but in general everything is going fine. I have found that I am pretty happy to be back to work. It is a nice change to the daily routine of bottles, diapers, and naps and I am enjoying using my science brain again.

Hope and Jack are great. They get more and more fun each day. It has been wonderful to watch their personalities develop and see them start to interact with each other. Jack is quite a little charmer with a big smile and a lot to say. He knows what he wants and isn't afraid to let you know. Hope is more mellow and an all around happy baby. She has been talking a lot lately and is especially a fan of her time on the activity mat. She takes after her father and really loves her naps! We don't know how much they weigh currently, but we have an appointment in early November, so you'll have to check back in for the next update. But every time I pick up both car seats and lug the kiddos up the two flights of stairs to day care, I am reminded that they are growing like crazy!

As you can tell by the pictures below, there has been a lot of training of our future super fans this past month or so. We will choose to focus on the cuteness of the babies in the pictures instead of the disappointment with the end of the Phillies playoff run and the not so stellar performance of ND football thus far this season.

Jack's first tribute to Touchdown Jesus
Umm, Daddy . . . my naps are more important than the big game!
Fans-in-training with DadI couldn't resist these matching outfits with ducky bibs! Could they be any cuter? I don't think so.
Jack on the activity mat showing off his big smile and great head control.
Go Phillies!
Jack loves his hoodie as much as his mom does!
In preparation for Halloween and Fall, I suggested a trip to a local farm.

Here they are looking serious before our big adventure
Dad had Hope in stitches (as usual). Jack was not as amused.
Actually he was just really tired as he fell asleep soon after the above picture was snapped. We loved Hope's choice of leg placement and Jack's hand.
Soon after that Hope also fell asleep and got some assistance with holding her pacifier in by her twin brother.
Here they are at the Linvilla Farm by the mums with my goose gord.
The three of us in "pumpkinland" - I wanted to lay the babies in a pile of pumpkins for the ultimate photo. My more safety conscious husband vetoed that idea.
Here's Jack later in the day loving his bumbo seat
Hope doesn't quite have the head control for the bumbo just yet, but we let her try it out anyway.

The above two shots were taken on a walk by Hillary who visited us a couple weekends ago. Come back soon Auntie Hill! On that same weekend, we were treated to a short but wonderful visit with Auntie Court and the entire Beyer clan. Pictures of Addison and Braden holding Hope and Jack were priceless and hopefully Court will share them with me so I can post them on the blog. (Hint hint)

Below are shots from Jack and Hope's first night of trying rice cereal in their high chairs. The feedings are going ok depending on the night. The babies have been waking up at night and earlier in the mornings demanding food lately - suggesting to us they may be ready for some solid foods, but when the spoonful of cereal is presented to them, they don't always agree that it should be placed in their mouths and then swallowed down.




Here they are hanging out together on the activity mat. Emma was trying to join in on the fun (you can see her eyes peering out from under the couch). Having the two of them together on the mat is one of my favorite things to do. They always end up holding hands, touching each other, rolling around together, or just gazing at one another. It is so cool to watch. Jack keeps wanting to have a conversation with Hope, but so far, she isn't ready to talk back at his command.

That's all for now. Check back in a few days for photos from Halloween. (I'll send out an update as who knows how long it will take me to get the photos off the camera and up on the blog!)

XOXO from all of us!

It only took a week

I know I was warned by many that day care was going to make my kids sick, but I don't think I thought it would happen so fast. Exactly one week after Hope and Jack's first day at day care, I got the call today come pick up a sick baby. I had gone to a doctor's appointment after dropping them off and thus was still on the train downtown when I got the call to turn around. I am already having a tough time transition back to working full time and another day off and home with my babies is not going to help with my adjustment! I am thankful the stomach virus that Jack (and Hope?) has/have is minor. As if my babies didn't spit up a lot already???

Thus I cannot report much on how it is to be back to work. Strange, but good to see my coworkers again and talk/think about something other than the twins for a little bit - though I seem to do a lot of talking about them as well! I tend to sneak out early most days to make it home to help Kevin with the after school feeding. Let's hope my boss does not catch on too soon.

Video Time

Hope and her "ice cream cone"


Jack learning a new skill
Jack talking to his friends
And so it begins . . .
(first ND game with Dad)

End of Summer Photos

Above - Jack with his pucker lips

Below - An update from the shot we took 2 months ago and posted on the blog. Fortunately for all, this shot was not taken at 4am like the last one (see June 14th to compare).
Hope is too distracted by the ceiling fan to look at the camera and Dad.
But she is a big fan of her Granddad!
Jack and Aunt Marianne
Seriously Mom, we are too big to both squeeze on the nap nanny!

I am so much more comfortable alone, though I like having my doggie friend with me.
Not sure if is the hanging monkey or the fan above that has made her happy.
My boys ---
We took our first trip to Ocean City the day before Kevin returned to school. We timed it to arrive in time to feed Hope and Jack on a boardwalk bench before getting hot doughnuts and breakfast at Browns. Here we are taking a break from the boardwalk sun under a pavilion. Hope has found her ice cream cone hand. Mine was found a little later from Kohr's Brothers with rainbow sprinkles.
Somebody already loves the shore!
Me too, Mom!!!
Walking on the boardwalk is exhausting.
On another note, I finally got their name letters up in the nursery. Here's what it looks like now with the two cribs and stuff on the walls.
Hope couldn't stop staring at Jack on this morning. They are starting to notice each other and it is really fun to watch. The other night Jack was clearly directing his chattering at Hope. I cannot wait until they start having conversations.