The Twinks and The James Gang Go Swimming

Jude and Hannah (the blonde who doesn't go in the pool) are John and Ashley's and Madelyn is Jared and Jessica's.

More Fun with Identicals

The Importance of Being Emma

As I mentioned last time, Emma is very big on "Mine!" lately, something which we are battling against constantly. I provide, as evidence, what was to be a cute video of JoeJoe playing with his The Cheat, while Emma was happily playing with her cell phone. As you'll soon see, what is JoeJoe's is Emma's, and what is Emma's is Emma's.

Hit Me With a Double

Hi Internet! Remember us?

First, the latest. Little Man has a double ear infection. Ouch. He had a fever yesterday, and has been more clumsy than usual lately, falling down for even less apparent reasons than when he usually does. I guessed ear infections based on the balance problem, and our new pediatrician confirmed it. Oh, that's new, too. Our other pediatrician closed up shop at the end of February, so we had to find a new one. We're pretty happy so far.

But on to funny stuff. So the other night it was the coldest night we've had since, well, Winter. Sarah wakes up to JoeJoe whimpering/crying at 4:30 AM. She goes in to find him huddled in the corner of his crib. Only one sleeve of his shirt is still on and his pants are down past his knees. The coldest night in weeks and he decides to strip. Riddle me that, Batman.

So the next night, he got the full body treatment.



Emma got the same treatment, just in case.



We're also pretty sure JoeJoe is a Lefty. He loves to play with his toy balls and throws them all around, often with a running start. Emma likes them well enough, but JoeJoe is really into them.



Otherwise, they've been quite fun. They're getting pretty good at saying "please" and "thank you," if not always in the appropriate order. Unfortunately, Emma is starting to use "mine" much more frequently, as well as "no." Those are power words for the 16 month-old set, let me tell ya.

We'll have their Easter pictures up soon. I've not been a good photo journalist lately, so the photos you see are the only ones I've taken since the last update. No shame!

File Under: It's About Time

On Saturday, JoeJoe was not walking on his own at all, if he knew he wasn't being helped. He'd been walking with help for a while, but would only take a few steps before he realized he wasn't receiving assistance, after which he would promptly sit down. On Sunday, he was coaxed into walking some on his own by "LaLa," his favoritest person ever. By Wednesday, he was walking/running all over the house.

If this story sounds familiar, this is exactly how he started crawling. Emma had been doing it for a while before he even tried, after which he had mastered it in 3 days. So, he's 5 weeks behind her in walking, but I think he'll be up to speed by next week. Of course, he might not be as proficient as Emma, whom my dad has decided to make a hockey player, as she has excellent balance.

So they're both walking. This is the part where things get a little hectic, or so I hear...

A Pox on Your House. Oh Wait, Mine.

Upper Holley -

In startling news this weekend (Ed. The news is not startling), two cases of varicella zoster virus were discovered in two young children. This rare disease (Ed. The disease is not rare) has affected twins from the same family. The ailment, commonly known as "chicken pox," resulted in itching and general irritability in the tots. The source of the infection is suspected to be a nosocomial in nature, a result of their one-year vaccines (Ed. The infection does NOT meet the definition of nosocomial, our intrepid reporter just likes that word). Remarkably, the tots are already on the road to recovery (Ed. The recovery, while rapid, does not meet the definition of "remarkable") and are expected to be back up to full speed within days.

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In other news, Emma has been walking for almost two weeks. JoeJoe, while he enjoys walking with assistance, his confidence is not quite ready. However, he gets quite frustrated when he sees Emma walking around and he's not. He made a few tentative steps over the weekend when he didn't realize he was without support. It shouldn't be too long, however, before they're both running us ragged.

Say, It's Your Birthday

Let's all think back to an earlier time. A time of wonder, joy, and possibility. I think you all know I'm referring to "The Month Before This One."

[wavy screen and chimes]

The Twinks 1st birthday party was held the Saturday after we got back from the frigid hinterlands the locals call "Chicago." We left JoeJoe's hair long so everyone up there could see his curls. Of course, the air is drier up there, so what are curly locks down here end up being just a mullet in Chi-Town. Since his actual birthday had passed, and we wouldn't get the "but-you-have-to-let-it-grow-for-a-year" routine, we took him for his first haircut. We took him to Toni, the only person (besides Sarah) who has cut my hair since I was in 11th grade (that's late '91 for those scoring at home). We actually snuck in ahead of my dad's appointment, but he was game. JoeJoe was game, too, for he did not know what fate had in store for him.



We went with a scissor cut, because clippers would have left his fine, blond hair looking rather insubstantial.



After a while, he began to get worried. This wasn't nearly as fun as sitting on Daddy's lap and looking at the mirrors. He was led astray!



Lo, there was wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Betrayal! Yea, by his own father! And his father's father!



At last, the torment ended, and he was a big boy!



Onward we pressed to the party itself. Sarah and our friend (The Twinks' babysitter) really decked the place out with yummy food and a wall o' photos.



If you're wondering about that photo at the top of the wall o' photos, there's a story in it. In late 2006, The Twinks' two older cousins were born. Maddy's birthday party was on December 9, 2007. Since she was turning One, in the winter, her mom made very cute invitations to the "Winter Onederland." However, many people missed the pun, as the "O" in "One-derland" had a picture of Maddy in it. This caused some to read the invitation as being to a "Winder Nederland." I, of course, found this fantastic, and decided that any child who had a first birthday in December should have a Winder Nederland. As it happens, The Twinks were born on the day of Maddy's party, so we didn't get to go. However, we payed homage to the idea, with our own twist.



Rambling aside, let's get back to the party. The kids were dressed in some classy duds and the proceedings began. JoeJoe got to show off his new haircut, and Emma's hair was done up as only Auntie Hope can do it.





Friends and family came and we ate too much. We'll have to show the kids pictures when they're older so they can appreciate who came to their party. In the meantime, Sarah and I are very appreciative of all who came. It really was great.

We suited the kids up in their IKEA cake-slickers and let them stare at the candles. They don't know how to, and we really didn't want them to, blow out the candles on their own. Besides, these candles (from my friend Joe and his fiance Sara) will be their candles once they know what to do with them. We chuckled as we thought of The Twinks at 14 saying, "Gosh, Dad! Do I have to use my baby candle?!?! All the kids will laugh at me! It's got a rubber ducky on it, for pete's sake!"







JoeJoe watched Emma at first, to see if he liked her technique.



He did. She observed to make sure he did it right.



They received many excellent toys, some very cute clothes, delightful books, and even a Radio Flyer wagon. I have some personal favorites, one of which I bought and the others which my cousin, Jenn, bought, but I'll have to upload the pictures later. Needless to say, when your dad is a microbiologist, there are certain toys that you'll have that most other kids won't. Which is fantastic.