Yes, Still More Baby Pictures

I've started playing around with a neat new (free) tool called Picasa. It helps to sort pictures out on your computer. Since I've been taking a bazillion (I'm sure that's a word) pictures of the babies, it has come in handy. I used it to create a web page for some new pictures. You can access it here. Tell me what you think.

(More pictures of Trixie this time.)

A Very Sweaty Day

Wednesday was one of the hottest days of the year, so of course I went to play golf. It was a tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society that I play in every year, so I really didn't have control over the date it was held. But, oh man, do I wish that I did.

It was hot. It was damn hot. I tried to keep hydrated--I must've had about twelve bottles of water while I was out there. I took my towel and put it over my head and put my cap on over that, making me look like some golf-playing addled Arab. But I didn't care what I looked like, because it was hot.

Not having played golf for a year, I played as terribly as I expected I would. And did I mention it was hot?

Still, it was golf. I had fun.

By the way, Adam has gotten over whatever little bug he had, and is feeling fine again.

A Bad Day at Daycare, Maybe

The Missus got home just after I did. She'd taken the twins to daycare, another practice day in preparation for her return to work next week. I helped her bring the kids in, still in their carseats. When I went to get Adam out of his, he looked at me, and seemed to recognize me. He smiled at me with that big toothless grin of his, and I felt like I could fly.

He might not have had such a great day today at daycare though. The ladies there reported that he didn't eat much at all. That certainly doesn't sound like Adam! Now we're worried that he's getting sick. He seemed fine, though maybe a little fussy.

When I was holding him he did this cough/yawn/burp/sneeze that was pretty damn cool and sort of frightening.

If he is sick, it's a new milestone: his first illness.

Great.

Pictures, Finally

I finally had a chance to post some pictures of the twins. The Missus kindly took Speed and Trixie over to see her sister, leaving me with a precious hour or so to type on my computer. Woo hoo!

I posted two sets. Find them through the Baby Picture Index.

Enjoy.

Where are the pictures?

One of the ladies at work stops by every once in a while and asks, "Where are the pictures?"  She wants to see some newer pictures of Adam and Tessa. This is very flattering, but it also makes me feel guilty that I haven't uploaded any pictures lately.  I have been taking pictures of the kids, but not posting them. I just haven't had the time.  I've never been as busy, and tired, as I am right now.  (I'm sure you parents out there can understand.)

I have three goals:

1. Make sure the kids are taken care of.
2. Sleep enough that I don't crash on the way to work.
3. Work enough that I don't get fired.

That's it.  That's the list.

New Nicknames

In the womb, Tessa was very active, but Adam was so quiet that the Missus actually worried about him. Their personalities have switched from that time. Now Tessa's pretty calm and usually goes right to sleep. Adam never does anything calmly. That's why his new nickname is "Punkie McFusspot."

(Tessa, for reasons which need no explanation, has been given the new nickname "Fartie von Stinkybutt.")

Happiness

The Missus and I were rather unhappy this weekend because the twins were pretty fussy, especially the boy. As they are getting a little older, they would prefer not to be asleep in their bassinets (as Mommy and Daddy would prefer), but instead they want to see what's going on, and yell if they can't. Also, both of them are still suffering from some reflux and that makes them grumpy.

At the same time, as they grow older they are getting more fun. They both have learned how to smile, and it's a great game to try and get them to grin. I was very happy last night when I went over to Tessa's bassinet. She was awake and looking around. Suddenly she broke into a grin and laughed!

It was the best thing I've ever heard.

Growing

The twins had a dual pediatrician's appointment today. They are doing just fine, though they are a little sore after getting five shots apiece. This evening they are still somewhat grumpy about it.

They are both healthy and growing well--in fact, they are above the norms for preemies.

Here are their new measurements:

Tessa: 9 lbs, 10 oz. 21 3/4 inches long.
Adam: 11 lbs, 3 oz. 22 1/2 inches long.

Adam seems a lot longer than Tessa, because she usually keeps herself curled up into a little ball, but they're not that far apart.

The Missus (aka Mommy) was slightly traumatized by her (briefly) crying babies, but is doing well herself now.

Light and Sound

Leesburg got creamed last night by an incredibly strong thunderstorm, and it seemed to come right over us.  Our neighborhood was hit with lightning several times, the thunder using our house as a drum set.  The power was out for about three hours.  Fortunately, the kids were too young and the Missus too tired to be scared by the light and sound.  Sitting there in the dark, watching nature's show of power, I could understand why people used to believe in thunder gods.  I could picture Zeus sitting up in the clouds throwing his thunderbolts down for no other purpose than interrupting our sleep.  The jerk.

But, hey, I learned that I can change a diaper by flashlight. So that's something.

We had a busy weekend.  The family trip to cousin Connor's birthday party on Sunday was a success.  The twins seemed to enjoy the car ride--well, at least we enjoyed them sleeping all the way there and back.  The Missus and I got a little break as Speed and Trixie were passed around from one family member to another.  Daddy (that's me) got to take a nice snooze on Monday afternoon when the Missus took the twins over to her sister's house for a while.

Yesterday morning we met a bunch of very nice ladies at the twins' daycare.  The Missus is going back to work for two days a week starting in August, so we're going to ease Tessa and Adam into a new routine.  The daycare center seemed very nice.  It's affiliated with the hospital that the Missus works for and comes highly recommended.  I think the twins will respond well to the new experience and the new people they'll meet. Adam's already pretty comfortable there: he managed to pee all over one of the ladies.

I'll be posting some new pictures as soon as I get a couple of minutes to download them from my camera.