This DDOB has been in process for a few days now, so I'll try to write something now as both boys are napping. Or at least I thought they were sleeping...Matt just said Thomas is stirring. Nathan came down with a cold on Friday and Thomas has a slightly drippy nose today. Wow, too graphic! Matt has had a cold all week and so we think he nicely shared with the boys. The last couple of days, we've been so lucky not to have to go out and the boys have had some great day time naps--the only benefit of their having colds!

Mom and Dad were here again this week so that I could get to the dentist for a cleaning. I am so glad they are free to come so often, we have lots of fun together AND they are such a huge help. Wednesday morning I was out for about 2 hours between the cleaning and running errands that are too ! difficult to do with the boys. The usual routine for the boys is to have their cereal around 8:30, get bathed, dressed and then back down for a nap around 9:30. I left at 8:15 so Mom and Dad were going to attempt the above. Mom's comment upon my return was...."Nathan had about 45 minutes worth of nap and Thomas is tear-stained, pale and trembly, but still the victor after three rounds with Grandma. On round 2, she walked into his bedroom and frowned at him. Thomas looked at his grandma and gave this hesitant smile in the hopes of appeasing his frowning Grandma which thoroughly impressed her. She said by round three, they just walked into his bedroom and he started hollering.

No crawling yet, just rolling from our boys! The first picture, our friend Kathe brought a few toys for the boys so they opened them while she was here. The next pictures of Nathan, Matt captured last Saturd! ay morning. The last picture....no they never actually sleep together although I do set them in the same crib if I'm busy. I arrange toys around both of them and 9 times out of 10 when I come back, Nathan has all the toys.

We are packing up to leave Monday to see both sets of Grandparents as well as my sister in Ontario. The trip should span a week all being well.

must run,
love to each,

These are all pictures my Mom has taken! She is very good at remembering to get the picture when she sees something cute. I'm glad because being in the midst of it every day, I think I take for granted the cuteness of the situation! As you can see, the boys are very sturdy at sitting up, reaching and grabbing for things, catching themselves if they start to tip. Just yesterday morning, Thomas sat up on the kitchen counter while I got my breakfast things together...granted I never took my hand off his leg! Tonight, while my Dad and I bought groceries, Thomas sat strapped into the front of the carriage. All along, I had been bringing the carseats into the store and setting one in the top of the carriage and one in the bin of the carriage. He looked like such a big boy! Nathan's turn is next.

The boys had another RSV shot. Their current weights are! 16 lb 7 oz and 18 lb 7 oz!

We are teaching the boys to lift their arms as in "so big" and to wave. Nathan is starting to creep. Nathan also is into tapping! He taps everything....the table, me, his toys. The boys are so much fun right now. I just love hanging out with them.

Must get to bed,
love to each,
Jennifer

ps. pay no attention to my wet hair in the one picture...meanwhile the clock says 12:40. Yes, showering still does not always happen in the morning.

Today, my old department at Raytheon had their potluck holiday luncheon to which the boys and I were invited. It was very nice to see my old friends and to show my cuties off! Nathan had a little problem with people getting to much in his face and so he hung out with me for quite a while. Thomas kept it together pretty good. They were both held and ogled over for over 2 hours so they were exhausted by the time we left. The fellow in the picture above holding the twins is Thomas Silvia whom I worked with for something like 7.5 of the almost 8 years at Raytheon. He was a good teacher and friend. He must also have a very interesting goatee!

We tried to capture tonight Nathan's silly smile. Yes, he is smiling in the above picture and not crying.

off to bed!
love,

Have I said lately how much fun I am having with my boys? Their personalities and sense of humor are starting to show. They both like to make silly faces and noises. Nathan will look at you and wrinkle his nose with a smirk. I'm trying to get this on camera. Thomas was gurgling in the back of his throat this morning. They know when they are being funny maybe because we laugh! I just enjoy them so much! I am so thankful I can be home with them to see all the stages.

Early Intervention came again on Tuesday. Julie was very happy with their progress and was lecturing politely about baby proofing the house. We were so happy to show off Thomas' new trick of rolling over and to show how steady they are sitting up. I was also able to tell her that Nathan is now babbling (as opposed to cooing). Both boys say "ma" when they are distress! ed. I am not certain they know I am Ma but this counts for babbling. Anyways, Julie and I have agreed to go from biweekly to once a month visits.

Monday, I pulled them around the yard in the sled. They seemed okay with it except when Doodle kept running up which sprayed a little snow on them and barking at the moving sled. It has been too cold the last couple of days so we've just been staying in. Monday, we did a little shopping....these boys are granny magnets!

I feel like I am coming down with a cold tonight and the boys seem a little out of sorts with gas, etc. I hope we aren't getting anything. must get to bed!
love to each,

Yesterday we went to visit Aunt Margie while we were in Westwood. It was so nice to see her. She and her daughter-in-law came to visit the boys while they were at Brigham and Women's hospital. This was the last time she saw the boys so it was so nice to show them off! They were very well behaved during the visit (it was Matt we worried about...crash! or maybe that was Jen...), in fact they both took part of their afternoon nap while we finished up eating! Aunt Margie was happy to see them eating so well--I fed them lunch soon after arriving. She was also glad to hear I was still nursing.

Our friend, Lisa gave us the johnny-jump-up which both boys seem to like. I feel so thankful for everything people have given us or loaned us! Last time we were at Babies R Us, I was amazed at the prices of things like swings and saucers! I don't know how I woul! d of gotten through these days without all these extras! So thank you to those of you who have helped in this way!

I must get going now. I have to get to Target today (there isn't a clean diaper left in the house) and I want to try pulling the boys around in the sled. Friday we got 14 inches of heavy snow. Our temporary shed for the tractor collapsed again so maybe we'll have to hire Howe and Company Associates to build us a real shed!

love to each,

We had a rolling good time today! Thomas is definitely rolling from back to front. He even demonstrated for his Dad and here I thought babies did not perform on command! Like Nathan, he seems unclear on how to get back off his belly. Nathan easily rolls back now, it just took time for him to learn he could. As I watched Thomas on his belly, all I could think of was when you see a beetle that has been overturned and all the legs are wiggling, but the beetle isn't getting any where! I guess eventually all that wiggling gets synchronized and we call it crawling.

Today was a really nice day and it was so fun to have something new to show Matt when he got home from work. We didn't go out except this evening for Bible study. Nathan is getting the idea of jumping in the Jumperoo. He seems to enjoy it now. It's hard to catch in a photo his enjoyment. The! last 2 days, I've played the piano for them. They love it. Thomas just stares at me with his big eyes and Nathan gives me his huge grin. They are perfectly quiet as I play.

must get to bed,
love,

We broke down and bought yet another thing to trip over as we traverse our livingroom. The boys tried out the Jumperoo at their cousin's house and Thomas especially seemed to figure it out after watching Noah use it. No toy is as fun as playing with their daddy though!

I am finding more and more that they just want to be in the same room with you and will loudly voice their opinion upon being left for even a minute. They are very aware of our presence even if they seem to be happily playing.

Over the last few days, Thomas has figured out that if he hollers in between bites, that I'll feed him faster. Meanwhile, Nathan quietly waits for his food. We are both sternly telling Thomas to knock it off and he understands our tone of voice to some degree. I must admit, it could be construed as brattiness....although, it seems to ! be alot worse when he is tired but it is still not acceptable.

We've been trying to get out every day. Last Friday we did not get out and it was an incredibly long day. A little stimulation can go a long way! I must admit, the boys both do a bucking routing upon being put into their car seats....I think Thanksgiving trip turned them against their seats!

On Monday, we parked in the library lot and took care of our errands in town by walking and using the stroller. Today, Matt and I received our flu shot from our primary care doctor who was very excited to meet the boys.

Off to bed!
love to each,

It was one of those days that we say "we survived!"

Enjoy the pictures.

love to each,

The cradle used in the first 2 pictures was used by Matt's dad. In the last picture, Thomas and I were swinging in Matt's sister's sunroom. It was absolutely lovely to sit in the sunshine.

Well, we saw Dr. Cohen today for the 8 month check up. He was very happy with the boy's progress. They received their flu booster and the second hepatitis shot. They do seem to take their shots so much better now. They stop crying almost as soon as I pick them up. My mother came with me, thankfully and was a huge help. The doctor would like to see us get rid of the pacifiers within the next couple of months. He wants us to use sippy cups every meal to teach them drinking is part of the table experience. Nathan is up 1 lb, 11 oz to 15lb 9oz. Thomas is up exactly 2 lb to 17 lb 7 oz! The doctor said, obviously they are eating well. He want! s us to start attacking the cradle cap that both boys have. He suggested we rub some mineral oil on the scalp, use a soft brush to loosen up the flakes, wipe it clean and then wash it with stetson blue shampoo. He also wants us to use dove soap to help Nathan's small patches of dry skin. That is all I can remember.

love to each,