Wednesday after Christmas.

This boy enjoys tummy time! Look at close he is to rolling over - do it Jackson! Roll over!!

Today was very long, very quick, rewarding and frustrating all at the same time.

Both tomatoes are off of their sleep schedule, exhausted and having a hard time, again.

But they ate like champs! Jackson took a 230mL bottle today! Way to go Jackson! Great feeding Norah!

They are loving their solid foods, everyday. We are up to four foods, two fruits, one vegetable and rice. Technically they can have prunes because they've both had prune juice, but we haven't fed them solid, i.e. pureed, prunes yet. Today we tried cinnamon pears, banana-pear combo and pruney-rice with banana-pear combo. The "Samara-Pears" both varieties, were a huge hit as compared to the Ger6er pears which received scrunchy-faces and were pushed from both babies mouths. Samara's Pears have it!!

Finally, both babies were frustrated that I'd been away two days longer than a regular weekend.

Jackson refused to look at me this morning. Literally. He took away my eye contact as punishment for being away from him for so long. When I continued to talk to him, knowing he'd eventually get over being annoyed, valid feelings - his to feel, he started to cry. Without fail this brought Roger and Sara running, both to coo over Jackson, but mostly feel sorry for me. What a way to begin the day!

Then this evening, Tabitha decided that even though we'd had a great day together, she was angry with me too. Maybe her perspective is to think ahead to tomorrow, whether or not I'll be back, whereas Jackson thought about the past. As I told Roger and Sara about her beautiful, social mealtimes she started to cry. Loud. Strong. Sudden. Both Roger and Sara freaked out, decided there must be something wrong. She settled into Rgoer's lap, happy as a clam, we talked some more. As soon as I returned to the topic of her eating, she started crying again, just as she had before.

These are two very clever babies. Roger and Sara may not see it but I see more evidence of their intelligence everyday.

My time off was lovely. Lots of driving but wonderful family time, all with my in-laweos. There was only one tantrum had the entire visit! Sadly that was given by my sister-in-laweo who is in her thirties and still lives at home. I've suggested to Norah we buy Mr. Seahorse for she and my parents-in-law, but we've yet to agree on it as an option. Maybe "Santa" will leave a few copies in next year's stockings!

Friday, the weekend and Me!

Thursday turned into an exhausting but awful day. Honestly. Tomatoes were exhausted and needed much more sleep than Roger and Sara said they should have. They ended up having the two one hour naps Mr. Pediatrician had suggested. Is he insane? They were basketcases. When Roger and Sara tried to do their nighttime routine, Jackson refused to eat. He finally took 50ml (almost two ounces) and promtly threw it all back up. Awhile later they convinced him to take 50-70 more and he kept that down. But all he realy wanted to do was sleep. They had an equally tough time feedimg him Friday morning.

On good Fridays Norah joins me at work. Oftentimes there are other more interesting things to do and she tries to get out of it, occasionally succeeding or compromising and only doing half the day. Because of Thursday she stayed all day Friday without the tiniest complaint. The reason I couldn't blog yesterday, are you ready fo this?

The day was awesome! Jackson caught up on his sleep. He ate wonderfully except one tough part of one feed. Tabitha slept, played and caught up a bit too. Norah and I grabbed lunch from this deli around the block. It was a really great day! I was so busy enjoying it that I didn't have time to blog! And we had a photoshoot. Photoshoots are always better when Norah can help. She has different ideas, perspective and her own set of hands. She's also completely willing to just do as I ask if I have something specific in mind. An opportunity to work with four hands?! Who wouldn't love that?

And today we are having a party in our tiny apartment. I'm very, very excited about it. We moved here over the summer and it is really, really small. This may sound awful but quite the contrary. I love it! There are only the two of us and Basel and it is perfect. We haven't really had many people over since we've been here, still settling, organizing, etc. So tonight is our big debut. I think the place looks good, the menu is perfect and now to decide what to wear...

Have a great weekend.

Lizard

There was a lizard in our kitchen sink when we came home last night. Norah freaked out and climbed up on a bar stool - should have taken her picture rather than the lizards - she's 5'9" and was petrified in such a girlie way! It was a teeny-tiny lizard and so scared! I think it must have came from one of the two plants she'd bought earlier in the day and put up over the sink.

Poor little lizard! I caught it in a vase and took it outside to a tree, across the street rather than the one nearby that Basel likes. I apologized to it, poor little lizard, it was a tree in the middle of downtown - not really getting back into the wild! At least it is back outside!

Ahh, Saturday!

Lovely Saturday spent with Norah and Basel.
Ahh the weekend!

Water Balloons!

Norah, being the amazing wife that she is, trotted off to the market and bought us more water balloons!

The kids, excuse me, youth and I went through 200 water balloons!
(of course we picked up every.single.broken.piece.of.balloon before we left our campsite.

Camping

Norah and I joined the high school youth for our annual camping trip.
We had two new high schoolers this year who were just as great to hang out with as seasoned campers.

Moved In, kind of.

Norah and I moved the last of our stuff into the new place today. I don't know where it's all going to go. We only have one closet in the entire apartment!!!

Last Sunset

Tonight we watched the sunset on our last full day of vacation.
Why oh why does it have to end?

Dinner and a Hottie

If only you knew how hot my wife is! Tonight we did (another) fancy dinner. I love being seen out with Norah, she is truly beautiful. Again I ask, does this vacation really need to end?!

Still Scootering!

Beaches, historical sites and time together - can we vacation forever?!

Scooter Power!

We rented a scooter today!! It was very thrilling. I've never driven a scooter before but I learned and drove Norah and I all over! Sadly the rain poured down on us but it just made our vacation all the more adventurous! I love Norah!

Exploring

Off exploring today! Norah and I are going to check out some local history.
We're still loving our vacation!

Yippee-Hooray!!

Loving our vacation, time together, no dog and no kids!!

Yippee-Hooray!!

Vacation!

We're on vacation!!!!

Norah and I are taking a more needed, much earned and worthwhile vacation - just-the-two-of-us!!
She's finished her time with Cameron and will start with Jackson and Tabitha while I'm finishing with Madison and Addison after which she's off to school and I'm on the job!

Derek visits

Derek, Norah's brother, visited today. He hadn't seen our new place yet. I think he liked it...he's a tad competitive and I think what he really liked is that ours is smaller than his and Amy's. Oh well, I like ours better.

I've got no stitches...

Basel is back to his old self - happy, stitch free drama-dog that he is!
Damn, but we love him!

Stitches out - finally!

Basel is getting his stitches out today!!! His bandage has gotten so dirty and torn up, despite our best efforts. I think we'll take him out for a good long run after.

Visiting the new digs!

New job site for Norah! Of course she posed out front for me, my wife is excellent!

Animal Hospital/Doggie Stitches

Poor Basel had to get stitches today!
All drugged out he's sleeping now.
Our sweet Basel!

Rainy ride home.

Driving home from NYC was very wet and rainy - but we had a great drive. I love to drive!