After the Fall

For a while now, when we put Adam into his highchair, he immediately tries to become the next Great Wallenda and attempts to balance himself standing up. Last Friday, he received an unfortunate introduction to the law, the Law of Gravity, that is. While the Missus had her backed turned, he extricated himself from the straps, stood up and tumbled out of the highchair. He conked himself really well: he still has a pretty nice black-and-blue lump on his noggin, and he slightly chipped one of his front teeth. He's recovered, but I don't think the Missus has--she still feels extremely guilty. I haven't recovered either, and I wasn't even there.

Tessa is starting to get a little antsy sitting in her chair, but we haven't seen her try to get out yet. Usually because she's too busy eating, the little oinker. Tessa's sense of humor is developing quite nicely. She loves to be chased, so she will poke you to get your attention, then start to run away from you, pausing first to make sure you are coming after her.

Both kids have been enjoying daycare immensely, especially since they've been playing in the sandbox there. When we get them undressed in the evening, it's truly incredible where you find sand. Short answer: everywhere.

Bedtime

We've been incredibly lucky that the kids are such good sleepers. Adam has always been a snoozer: he takes after his dad. Tess was much more trouble, but even she has been very easy to put to bed lately.

Now when we take them upstairs for "night-night," we put them down and let them walk to their bedrooms. They are incredibly cute since they both have a "blankie" to take with them.

It's something I'll always remember--even when they're teenagers and don't love me.

Crackers

Time's flying by. The twins are getting bigger and smarter every minute.

Last weekend, Adam got his first haircut. We saved some of his hair in an envelope, so in ten years we can open it up and say, "Why the heck did we save this?" Seemed like the right thing to do.

Earlier, Tessa had gotten her ears pierced. I wasn't really happy the Missus took my beautiful baby daughter to the Mall to get mutilated, but she said it was a tradition in her family and outvoted me. Sometimes families are not democracies.

The kids are getting more vocal all the time. This isn't always good, since they scream a lot. Especially Tessa. The Missus says it's her Spanish heritage coming out. They both have learned the word "cracker" which they use when they want a Graham cracker or a saltine. It is very cute to hear them talking in English. It's funny that they are learning English words for food first, just like most of the Spanish words that I know are about food.

We had a nice peaceful weekend. We took the kids to the mall which they enjoyed very much. Adam managed to fall and bump his forehead on a chair when we got home. He's okay, but he's got a bump the size of a cherry on right between his eyebrows, poor little guy.

I'd type some more and post some pictures, but the kids are screaming and the Missus is screaming--for me. Got to go.

The Wonder Twins' Summer

Here is a new set of pictures of the twins enjoying their summer.

New Skills

Everyday it seems that Tessa and Adam master new skills. As a proud parent, you'd think I'd be happy right? Most of the time, yes, but not all the time.

I'm happy that Tessa's learning to point to her eyes when you say ojos, and her head when you say cabeza. She's a little bit ahead of Adam, but he's catching up. Supergeniuses, both of them, I'm sure.

Adam has learned to open doors. I'm not so happy about that. We always keep the door to the mudroom/laundry room closed since we tend to keep child-unfriendly things in there. The other day when I was Mr. Mom, I noticed Adam and Tessa wandering around in there. Hmm, I thought, I must've left the door open. The second time I caught them in there, I realized he opened the door and I was caught between pride and annoyance. Pride, because my boy is growing up. Annoyance because we have to keep an even closer eye on them now. Tessa will be right behind him when she gets just a little taller.

Then Adam realized he can open the pantry door. They've been trying to get in there ever since we brought them home from the hospital. Tessa always goes for the big jug of olive oil and Adam is fascinated by the tuna fish cans. Not sure why.

Earlier in the week I picked them up at their new daycare. We switched them to one closer to the Missus's work. I was a little anxious about going there to pick up the kids, since I'd only been there once before along with the Missus. I was sure that a lone male trying to take kids out of a daycare would be subject to all kinds of scrutiny. Did I need to show my license? Would I be frisked?

When I got there, I buzzed in and started to get my id out. The lady behind the counter saw me and said, "You've got to be Adam's dad! He looks just like you!" She directed me down a hall. Another lady saw me and said, "You're Adam's dad, right? He looks just like you. The twins are over there." When I got to their classroom, the teacher said, "Wow. You're definitely Adam's dad."

So the little man looks just like me. Poor guy.

Yesterday the Missus and I celebrated the beautiful weather by taking a stroll through the Reston Town Center. The twins were in the double stroller until we got to the fountain plaza there. We let them walk around (walking right beside them, of course.) Tessa and Adam walked to see the dog, and then the fountain, and then back to the dog. The Missus shadowed one and I took the other as they went back and forth, back and forth. Every once in a while we switched off; it was a lot of work. The twins laughed and giggled the whole time. They loved every minute. So did we.