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February 28, 2005

Hey, how come she gets one of those?

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Posted by Matthew at 5:09 PM

Checking it all out

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Posted by Matthew at 5:08 PM

7 Months Today, second attempt

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Posted by Matthew at 5:06 PM

7 Months Today, first attempt

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Although I can digitally introduce a "We are 7 Months Old Today" sign, I still try with paper. As you will recall, the last round was a disaster. We had a similar struggle today with Zofie, the paper hound. Here they are fed, changed, and ready to go for a nap. Maybe Amy will have some luck this evening with the paper sign.

Posted by Matthew at 1:10 PM

February 27, 2005

Home once more

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Posted by Matthew at 12:13 PM

A walk with the new stroller

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The problem with getting a jogging stroller for Christmas is that it is hard to justify taking the girls out in the dead of Winter. Since the temperature was above freezing and we have been inside too much lately, we went out. Zofie & Maeta seemed to enjoy the trip, althouth I think I enjoyed it more...

Posted by Matthew at 11:53 AM

February 25, 2005

La pequeña torre

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Melissa and Zofie were busy building their own Trump tower for the Chicago area.

Posted by Matthew at 4:57 PM

Spoiled silly by Auntie Mel

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Needless to say, when Aunt Melissa is in town, the girls have more fun than with their boring old parents. The girls were so exhausted at the end of the day that we even worried a little bit because we heard no noises from their room all night (usually we hear them wake up and chatter at each other a bit). Those folks in Carmel better watch out---the girls want Auntie Mel in Chicago.

Posted by Matthew at 2:37 PM

Trapped!

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We took Melissa over to show her the addition at church and had a little adventure: we got stuck in the elevator. My little contribution to the building project was the dedicated phone line for the elevator; it was good to know that it works as it should. Fortunately no fear of confined spaces for this crew. Always good to pack a camera along---you never know what excitement might come along.

Posted by Matthew at 12:32 PM

Nothing can phase Maeta

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A further picture from the trapped series. Maeta slept through the whole event. Note that we have retired the pumpkin seats from the stroller---the girls are now riding in regular stroller seats and full-sized car seats.

Posted by Matthew at 12:31 PM

February 24, 2005

Maeta

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Posted by Matthew at 10:59 AM

February 22, 2005

Fed, Changed & Playful

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Posted by Matthew at 8:57 AM

February 20, 2005

At least she has good taste!

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Zofie's proto-crawl is becoming more efficient and she chased Amy around the room for the William's-Sonoma catalog Sunday evening. This made all the more remarkable by the fact that just a few hours earlier she was running a fever and completely lethargic. When it comes to high-quality kitchen-ware, apparently nothing can hold these babies back.

Posted by Matthew at 5:37 PM

A dreary day, a cold, and a book

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Even though she has only been around us a short time, Zofie has already figured out that when you are sick, you should curl up on the sofa with a good book. In her case, the comforts we find in the sofa are found in her mother's lap. There is something delightfully Freudian in this last notion that I will leave alone for now.

Posted by Matthew at 5:11 PM

Poor sick girl

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This might just be a cute picture if you did not know that Zofie is not a cuddly baby. Amy and I can count on one hand the number of times that Zofie has fallen asleep in our arms. The poor girl caught the family cold and spent half of the day miserable and wanting to be held.

Posted by Matthew at 12:39 PM

February 19, 2005

Fresh from her nap

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The girls have such sweet, fresh faces when they wake from a nap that Amy and I look forward to getting them up each day. The picture we don't have: Maeta covering her ears when we turn on the light---I think she has not grasped the concept of covering her eyes.

Posted by Matthew at 5:11 PM

Ready for Prunes

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The grand list of foods grew this week to include prunes and butternut squash. So far the pureed green beans are their least favorite, but these two enjoy their meals so much that even though the first bite is usually rough, they rally and clean their bowls.

Posted by Matthew at 4:13 PM

February 17, 2005

Finally...sushi

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Posted by Matthew at 2:45 PM

I have a cold

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Maeta is a little trooper despite the fact that she has a cold. Things you learn: you can't suck your thumb if your nose is plugged (no way to breathe). Poor baby girl.

Posted by Matthew at 12:38 PM

February 14, 2005

Very Healthy Babies

We went to the doctor today. Both girls are very healthy and the doctor expressed no concerns about their heath. They each got more immunizations and were very brave little girls

Maeta 25.75 inches, 16 lb 5.75oz
Zofie 27.50 inches, 16 lb 3.75oz

Their heads are the same size: 42.5cm

Maeta is in the 50th percentile for weight and height
Zofie is in the 50th percentile for weight and the 90th for height.

Two milestones:

(1) Maeta now weighs more than Zofie (although we should note that Maeta ate 2oz more than Zofie at breakfast, so it could be a slight anomaly).
(2) Zofie is now technically too long for her baby car seat. We will probably still use those for church, but we bought new car seats for the girls yesterday, anticipating the change.

Posted by Matthew at 9:25 AM

Grandma Christian & her little monkeys

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Posted by Matthew at 7:44 AM

February 13, 2005

With her friend, the elephant

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Posted by Matthew at 5:06 PM

Our Little Girls

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Beautiful dresses and leggings from our friends Rick & Karen make these babies look more like little girls. Amy especially loves the little leggings.

Posted by Matthew at 4:38 PM

February 12, 2005

Bath time for the M baby

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Amy and I share responsibility equally for child care--with one exception--I have not been home for bath time since the second week of life. Fortunately, Amy takes pictures from time to time so that I get to enjoy it too.

Posted by Matthew at 4:26 PM

My funny valentine

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Melissa sent the girls Valentine headbands which make us laugh. I hope the girls appreciate them as much as we do.

Posted by Matthew at 8:58 AM

February 11, 2005

At play with cups

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Posted by Matthew at 1:58 PM

Waking Up

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Zofie has the best looks on her face when she wakes up. This does not really do justice to it, but it does capture the nice drool spot on the sheet (much like her parents when they wake up).

Posted by Matthew at 8:08 AM

February 10, 2005

Steak and Shake

Zofie's top lateral incisors appeared yesterday bringing her tooth count to 4. Maeta is still gummy. As Amy is quick to point out: Maeta may be gummy but she can drink out of a cup. Looks like Z will be eating steak while M drinks shakes.

Posted by Matthew at 6:48 AM

February 9, 2005

Not all fun and games

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These are from the digital video camera. It shoots pictures faster than the Kodak so we get some good action shots.

Posted by Matthew at 5:13 PM

Getting started early

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Our friend Nancy gave the girls toy wireless phones for Christmas. It took us a full month to feel strong enough to take the sound, but we gave in and brought them out. Unlike most electronic toys, these have big soft buttons that are easy for babies to push, so we hear them ringing constantly. Each phone is set at a slightly different tone, so they have a nice harmonic effect when played simultaneously---usually.

Maeta decided to see how the phone and the dog chew sounded when she smacked them together. An amusing half-hour.
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We are thankful that even though someone has made a chewing toy for babies that is in the shape of a doy; no one seems to be marketing a chew toy for dogs in the shape of a baby.

Posted by Matthew at 4:47 PM

February 8, 2005

Dead batteries and parental logistics

On Sunday the battery died on the digital camera. I put the dead battery in my pocket with good intentions of getting to Walgreens, but it has not happened. In this age of excessive media opportunities, I will try out some of the 'other' digital cameras at my disposal and label them as such. Three options: (1) The Panasonic PV-GS120 digital video camera which also has the capacity to take moderately grainy digital pictures with its 1.2 megapixel lens; (2) the Treo 600 organizer has a very grainy camera and (3) a Samsung digital phone whose camera even has a miniature flash.

It never ceases to amaze me just how difficult a small project like getting a battery can be with twin babies in the Winter. Twins are not really overwhelming---but logistics are often an issue. I suppose that the logistics end of the operation will become further expanded in, oh, 7 or 8 years, once we start taking these two girls to sports and lessons (no doubt different sports and different lessons). Maybe by then (a) getting batteries will have become easier and (b) I will have figured it out. More likely, I will have just figured out how to deal with how to get a battery in the middle of February once it is no longer the primary difficulty.

On the upside of logistical work, our friend Heather babysat tonight and Amy and I were able to go out for a lovely dinner alone.

Posted by Matthew at 11:14 PM

February 6, 2005

Zofie is slithering off the ranch

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Zofie has begun to move places with purpose. Her strength and coordination has improved and she is frequently found somewhere far other than where she had been left minutes before. Our days are spent picking her up and moving her back to the blanket.

Posted by Matthew at 5:52 PM

Maeta prefers the stationary life

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Posted by Matthew at 5:32 PM

The sleep of the just

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I took a similar picture last month, and thought that it would be a nice comparison.

Posted by Matthew at 4:49 PM

We blog so you can choose...

Chicago Tribune | Enough already! Your boss in her bikini. Your baby nephew crammed into a Christmas stocking. About 300 shots of your sister skiing at Lake Tahoe. Pictures of somebody's weekend barbecue. All are online photo albums sent to your e-mail inbox, waiting for you to click and peruse. And then perhaps wonder, "Why should I care?" The ease of online photo services means more people are uploading their digital shots and sending pics to everyone in their address book. About 26 percent of Internet users had pictures posted to an online photo service in 2004. And more than 825 million photos currently are stored at online photo services, reports InfoTrends, a market research firm in Weymouth, Mass. Online photo services are a snappy way for family and friends to quickly share photos. But too many users are sending unwanted pictures to too many people. From co-workers to cousins, we receive access to odd or irritating albums. (more...)

Naturally, we hope that you will continue to want to see this edited collection.

Posted by Matthew at 2:36 PM

February 2, 2005

The center hour

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When we are 'on schedule', the girls nap until around 4, wake up, eat solid food and then play until 6 before getting ready for bed. That hour or so from 5 until 6 is the best part of my day. They are rested, fed, and charmingly energetic. All they want during that hour is my attention and kisses. No matter what else happens in the course of the day--the world is just the living room for that hour.

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Posted by Matthew at 5:57 PM

Maeta

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Posted by Matthew at 5:50 PM

February 1, 2005

The little family

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Posted by Matthew at 10:07 PM

Zofie & Grandma

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Zofie has become more wary of strangers, and it took a little while to remember her grandparents, but she adapted and has had a nice visit with the Repps.

Posted by Matthew at 4:27 PM

Maeta & Grandma

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Posted by Matthew at 4:19 PM