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,