Technical Diffuculties

Sorry for the long break. Our one remaining computer gave up the ghost last week. Now that we've fretted for a bit and said lots of nice things about it, it has miraculously come back to life. I don't know how long this reincarnation will last, so I'll get an entry up now. If we disappear from the ether again, blame it on the computer malfunction, not my scatterbrained nature.

When we last left off, we were still in Massachusetts, enjoying the time with family and friends. In all, we couldn't have asked for the trip to go better. The girls mostly slept when we wanted and were very agreeable. They tolerated the car rides very well, too. We got to dip their feet in the Atlantic Ocean, albeit for a very short time, as a storm was kicking up. They ate peas from Pat's garden (and didn't like them at all) and spent time in a dualing doorway jumper rig that Richard set up on the swingset in the backyard. The met the wonderful twin girls that live next door--we now hope that our girls grow up to be that courteous and engaging! We stopped in New York again on the way home, welcomed by the Morehouse clan, and enjoyed an evening along Cayuga Lake. Beautiful as always.

Now home, we are returning to our routines and discoveries. We immediately set up a pool in that backyard, after seeing how much they enjoyed the one in Duxbury.

(Here's a picture that didn't get posted before. That's Brad's foot between the girls. This is how Naomi approaches virtually everything now--nose scrunched, mouth open and claw hands. )

The girls have been trying new foods and getting somewhat better at it. Two nights ago, Naomi (who's usually quite a bit less interested in eating--unless it's Brad's foot.) repeatedly leaned toward the spoon and opened her mouth, like she'd been practicing! I really think she's going to be the "I can do it myself!!" girl, and once they are feeding themselves, she'll be much more into the idea.

We took the girls to West Side Market yesterday, letting them revel in the sights, sounds and smells. They got to lick a mango.

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They have been paying so much attention to each other recently. It's grand amusement For William and I together with a girl on each lap and just watch them go. For the last two days, it's been a constant conversation:

Lillian: Aaaiieiiieiaa?

Naomi: Hissssssss.

Lillian: AAAiiiAAAA??

Naomi: Hisssssss.

William has accurately described Naomi's hiss as, "Please adjust my radio dial" kind of static. I refer to her as my tiny Komodo Dragon.

A few nights ago, we were sitting in just this arrangement, watching the girls do their thing when Naomi tossed her head back and went, "ha HAA!". It was one of those moments that makes me regret that we do not have a TV studio set up 24/7.

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For your picture fix, here are the girls in their formal portrait poses that Richard snapped in Duxbury.

Cherubs, anyone?:

Lillian:

Naomi:

Dining Out

We're still here, enjoying the luxury of Duxbury. Lillian and Naomi are signing more members into their fan club every day.

Tonight, we went out to dinner with Pat, Richard, Luke, and cousin Nancy, who's in from Pennsylvania to meet the ladies. We all trucked out to a delightful place called the Sun Tavern, housed in a building from 1741. (Should you ever find yourself on the South Shore of Massachusetts, try it; it's delightful.) Apparently, there's a ghost in the upstairs bathroom. Our waitress, Charlene, was fantastic. We (okay, I) were a little nervous about having the girls out in a relatively nice place. William and I usually do Chipotle. But, I couldn't have imagined it going better. The waitress (on her own, with pervasive wisdom) brought us a little dish of plain mashed potatoes, which Lillian took to like we would all expect. Richard was holding Naomi, who normally treats solid foods like an annoyance. But, he tried giving her a little taste, and wouldn't you know it--she grabbed hold of the spoon, and ate it up. She scooped potatoes off the spoon with her fingers and ate them that way. She smeared it in her eyebrows and ears and seemed to like it that way, too. Pat dished up a giant spoonful (a regular size grown-up spoon, no baby utensils here.) and Naomi ate it right down. I couldn't believe it.

Nancy showed us an amazing trick that may allow us to eat in restaurants for the next year or so. Apparently, if you turn the wooden high chairs upside down, you can cradle a car seat right in there. I know all you experienced parents are out there rolling your eyes and saying, "well, duh!", but this was a revelation. (Waitress Charlene also recommends frozen bagels for teething. A wealth of information here, people.)

We kept the girls out well past their bedtime but, they were personable and happy all through. Naomi giggled and giggled as Pat sang her the "Meh-na-meh-na" song from the Muppets. Lillian jangled her toy keys and ate her bib and smiled at everyone.

Duxbury has given us the joy of the 4th of July Parade as well. We stayed inside for the opening, which is just a slow moving display of the fire engines and their (very loud) sirens. So, we hid inside with the dog, but then stationed ourselves in front of Pat and Richard's wall and watched it all go by. The picture below is Nana and Pat (sisters) holding the girls. They were very much enjoying waving and eating the little flags that parading politicians handed to them. (Lillian and Naomi, not my mom and aunt.) There were lots of other folks around to enjoy the parade and party, too. In the background of this photo is Winnie, who, at 105, has been enjoying this parade since 1926.


We have a few more days to enjoy here, so I'll tear myself away from Scrabble and kiddie pool to make at least one more post. It's been amazing so far.

Pool Day!

The girls dove into their first swimming experience with no hesitation. That is, after a nap. We stuffed them into their swimsuits and Lillian promptly fell asleep in Nana's arms. Once they were all refreshed, off to the pool they went. They were hysterical. Naomi was just as relaxed as could be, lounging in her floating frog thing and chatting with everyone as she bounced from once side of the pool to the other. Lillian alternated betweensplashing frenzy and intense studying of her flotation device. The were in there for close to an hour, entertaining us all!

Lillin, in observation mode:



Naomi, waiting on a bottle with an umbrella in it: