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March 31, 2008
Newest member of the family
Thanks to mom and dad, and a healthy tax refund...
And there was much rejoicing!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 2:28 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 30, 2008
Let's bee friends
Tim: The twins and I are really into these little fuzzy bee-like toys that Grandma gave them (�and me!) When you squeeze them, they laugh! ha ha ha !!! The twins and I love to test Joanna�s patience (she thinks they are somewhere on the scale between amusing and annoying). The three of us have fuzzy-bee-laughing-fests and are thoroughly immersed in jocularity while Joanna rolls her eyes.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 28, 2008
"By this time I'm ready ta sock'em"
This elderly woman is hilarious. Hope I'm that feisty when I'm her age...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Love
I love their hands in this picture!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2008
different perspective
Kid on the side of the street (as I pushed the kids by him):
"Where did you get a two-headed stroller?"
Posted by Tim and Jo at 4:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Saving Money, Part I: Introduction
I�ve been inspired by blog posts by Maryanne and Heather. So, I�m going to do a handful of posts on how we�ve been trying to save money.
Basically, Tim has an incredible, but entry-level library job. So, the way it looks to us right now, I may have to work in a year or two. We�ve both been brainstorming about things I can do at home instead of having to go to work, or at least keep my out of the house time to a minimum (teaching piano, editing papers, and/or trying to hook up with a local home-school group are things that have come to mind). Thankfully, a great tax refund has helped delay the necessity of me working for awhile, though perhaps there are ways I can start slow. I�d love to have my dissertation DONE before I start a new project.
On using coupons: They�re a pain. Especially when I�m trying to push a cart, look for the items, match the items to the coupons, set aside the coupons I�m using in a good place, and not lose anything. Add a baby or two to the mix (which I haven�t had to do that often, thankfully), and it becomes chaos. Sometimes I feel like That Little Old Lady No One Wants to Stand Behind. I feel like white-trash sometimes, too, coming into a store with my pile of coupons. I probably look it sometimes, too, harried from taking care of the twins, perhaps not having had time to take a shower that day, and sometimes with a splash of spit-up I didn�t find until after I got home from the store. But I feel like the more I save now, the longer I can stay home with my babies.
My general rule for using coupons: only for stuff we need, or an occasional treat, and check to see if buying another brand or the generic brand is still cheaper even using the coupon (it often is!).
One day last week, I was feeling especially shy about using coupons, etc. Plus I made some register line faux-pas, like getting the wrong size of something and having to run back and exchange it. I was sure my cashier would be annoyed. But looking at my stuff, she asked how old my baby was. I told her we had twins, and she said, �I�m so jealous. I was pregnant with twins and lost one of them during the pregnancy.� We then had a long discussion about our kids, and how she felt happy and sad at the same time when her little girl was born. I almost wanted to give her a hug as we left�it was such a warm experience. Later, I felt so shallow for worrying so much about what others might think of me for using coupons. Clipping coupons and so forth to save money is not a great sacrifice in order to spend more time with these sweet little babies.
Next Post: Saving Money, Part II: Baby Stuff
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:06 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 25, 2008
More quilty goodness
The quilt is so beautiful, and the kids are so cute on it, I couldn't resist!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 24, 2008
Grace's visit & Easter
Tim: This weekend our dear friend Grace came down for a visit. The kids loved her. She regaled them with a lot of Irish folk songs and also some French songs. We should have had her record herself singing so when they get fussy we could pull out the "Grace tape" and play it for them. On Friday night, Joanna made ratatouille and we watched the movie of the same name while we ate it (we're geeky like that).
On Saturday we had a little picnic in a little park on campus and dined alfresco on Publix subs. It must have been the first time we had the twins out in the breeze and the sun. They were loving it. They were laying there waving their arms in the breeze and humming like they were at Woodstock.
Joanna: The kids adored their Auntie Grace. She gave Ian one of the most special presents he’s ever been given—an elven quilt! It’s incredibly beautiful, with leaf patterns, and stars, and beautiful batik fabrics. He loved it right away.
Tim: Then on Sunday after church we drove to Joanna's aunt and uncles for Easter with the family. The highlight of the day for us was when one of the uncles fed Ian some cake. He had the strangest look on his face, but he seemed to like it, as he continued gobbling whatever was put in his mouth. Someone asked me if we've started to feed the twins solid food and after this uncle's stunt I said, "yes, but only cake." He also tried to feed Elanor an Easter egg but, alas, her mouth was a bit too small to take it all in.
Ian liked his first Easter egg, too.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 9:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Four Months
Joanna: So, last Thursday the kids celebrated their four month anniversary. They celebrated by getting together with two of the other kids in the baby line-up (three of my dear friends had babies within a month of me). The four kids had a blast, and the three moms (and their families) had even more fun.
I’ll let Tim catch everyone up on their recent milestones.
Tim: The twins have started figuring out how to use their hands. Ian will sit there for an hour and pop his pacifier in and out of his mouth (and against various parts of his face when he misses), utterly fascinated by the activity. It's his new hobby. He also sings a little song while he does it (the lyrics of which are "hooo" and "aaa.") Both twins have begun to realize what their lower appendages are for. They can stand on their legs for a while if we hold them up. Elanor is a little more steady on her feet than Ian.
We also stand them up in front of the couch and they can keep their balance for about 10 second before the cumulative effect of their wobbling takes over and they fall into our arms. That's our new hobby.
Joanna: Just to fill in the gaps….these past couple weeks, they’ve both learned how to play. They grab objects—toys, pacifiers, our hands—examine them, put them in their mouth, and talk to them.
They both talk a lot these days. Ian uses the darker vowels more (oooo, uhhh, ahhhh), and a number of consonants. He also strings together sounds quite conversationally. Sometimes he’ll lay in his crib talking to himself Elanor leans more towards the brighter vowels, especially aaaaa and ehhh sounds, cackling, and lots of g’s and k’s. It’s really fun to talk with them these days, they’re both so interactive. Elanor has a wide range of facial expressions, especially when she wants your attention. She’ll start by looking straight at you with her big blue eyes, raising her eyebrows at you a few times, saying “aaakaaa” then giving her big, wrinkled-nose grin. She also does funky baby crunches, lifting her head and shoulders to get whatever she’s reaching for.
Ian is really empathetic. I heard Elanor crying the other day, and went to check on her. Ian was hugging her head and patting it, like he was telling her not to be sad.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 8:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 22, 2008
Elanor laughs!
Our first video-blog, thanks to Grace!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 5:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 19, 2008
Ian intensely indulges his interest
Okay, I know the controversy over kids and TV, so we don't let him do it much. But he's so darn cute! Sometimes he even sits there conversing with the characters, "Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Awooayoo."
Plus, if the TV's on, it doesn't matter what way we place him, he finds a way to see it.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 17, 2008
Baby Food 101
My dear aunt helped me make my first baby food today. We're still debating when we'll actually start them on it (they're around the corner from 4 months), but at least we'll have a well-stocked freezer.
Here's what we did (actually, I did a lot of watching and learning) step-by-step, with prices. It took about 3 hours start to finish.
We started with:
-10 lbs sweet potatoes (@ $.50/lb=$5.00)
-2 lbs. organic carrots (@$1.00/lb=$2.00)
-about 3 lbs. black-eyed peas (@$1.50/lb.=$4.50) (note: you can get these for much cheaper)
-5 lbs. apples (@$.50/lb=$2.50)
-50 1-cup containers (given to me by nice aunt)
-ancient food mill attachment on my grandma's Kitchenaid blender
-----
Total: $14.00
We kept the skin on most of the vegetables for the nutrients. The food mill took care of keeping solids out.
1) Black-eyed peas: did a quick soak (boil 2 minutes, soak one hour, rinse), cooked for about an hour. Mashed into smooth puree with cooking liquid. Total: 16 one-cup containers (about 10 lbs. weight)
2) Sweet potatoes: washed, halved, boiled in water until soft (about 35-40 minutes), pureed with some cooking water. Total: 21 one-cup containers (about 13 lbs.)
3) Carrots: washed, cooked in water until soft (about 30 minutes?), pureed with some water. Total: 4 one-cup containers (about 2.5 lbs.)
4) Apples: washed and cored, cooked with one cup of water for about 20 minutes until soft. Pureed all (including water). Total: 4 one-cup containers (about 3 lbs.)
After each was processed, we scooped them into containers to cool. Meanwhile, we labeled the dates and contents on each of the lids.
I came home with a crate of 46 very full containers, totalling about 28 lbs. of food. Especially in the beginning, it should last at least a month (even considering that there are two babies). Not bad for about $14.00, and an afternoon.
Here's the food (from left to right): sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, apples, carrots.
I think it worked out to about ten cents for the equivalent of a jar of regular baby food (maybe less!), which seems like it will add up quickly--especially with two babies.
Plus, I can know exactly what's in their food. It'll be great when summer rolls around, and we can buy lots of local produce. I'm determined to find a local produce stand! And maybe after they get used to food, I can pull a DiBer and add fun spices to it.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 5:32 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
March 16, 2008
Baby Bloggers: The Meeting
So, at the house of her terrific aunt Austina, we finally got to meet Genevieve!
We've been following each other's baby stories from utero. So it was exciting to talk with each other, and for our babies to finally meet.
The kids looked pretty thrilled to finally meet each other.
Yes, Genevieve's eyes are every bit as big as her mom's blog suggests.
And she's twice as cute in real life!
Babies were fed. Burped. Swapped. Stories were told. Updates were given on blog posts ("So, I read the other day that Genevieve..." "And the twins were...?").
We marveled at Genevieve eating solids, and the stages our kids will hit in the next few months. And it was terrific to realize that "virtual" friends were real friends!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 7:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 14, 2008
Much reading is a weariness to the flesh
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:56 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 12, 2008
Milestone
Sooo...my current chapter just passed 50 pages! And isn't nearly done...
Combined with my first chapter, it means that my dissertation has passed 100 pages.
If I can get 200 solid pages (+ appendices + interviews + bibliography, etc.), I would be a very happy camper.
That means I'm about at the halfway point. Or maybe a teensy bit past!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 11, 2008
Yesterday
There are many days not like this (they don't usually end up on the blog, haha)...where babies skip naps and get off schedule and mom gets off kilter, etc. (babies have definitely made me sense my own helplessness, and absolute dependency on God for help). It also helped that Tim was home sick from work with wretched seasonal allergies. But I sort of felt like super-mom yesterday...
*I updated my CV and helped Tim with his
*I wrote an application and e-mail for us to coauthor some articles for a music encyclopedia (very excited about this!!)
*I made tangible progress on my dissertation
*I made a curry dinner
*And I still had time to rock and snuggle Our Little Things
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Tummy time pays off
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Holding hands
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Elanor eats Ian
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The unfortunate propensities of gentian violet
PS I've become more adept at using it since then...
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 6, 2008
The Mark of the Potter
So, we've officially become Helen junkies.
On Saturday, we decided to pop out there for a walk in the town with the babies. We took a little detour on the way to stop at The Mark of the Potter, a grist-mill turned pottery shop, of which I have many fond childhood memories. It's on a windy little road up a mountain, about 10 miles from Helen.
We started out with the babies' first picnic by the river. We could wait for fun Helen food. They could not. People walking past us gooed and oohed at the babies.
Inside, we saw a craftsman at work.
On the back porch, you can feed the fat fish, or watch the rapids. I probably fed those same fish when I was a little girl.
We picked out a mug in memory of the occasion, and left for our day in Helen. It was a gorgeous day to walk outside with our babies snug in their little slings.
The End.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 3:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 5, 2008
Professor McFarland
We dedicate this blog post to our favorite professor - Austina
She shoots....she scores!!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 9:55 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
The Elanor Dance
Posted by Tim and Jo at 4:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
GRE
Tim: Yesterday I took the GRE (which, I believe, stands for Grief. Repulsion. Exasperation.) What an ordeal that was. I spent almost two months preparing for it - working through two books with sample questions, studying vocabulary flashcards, doing sample questions online, etc... The first section was analytical writing and I think I did really well on that. Next came the math and I guessed at many of the questions. The verbal section was next and it was difficult because my brain was fried from the math. Starting last year the GRE has included an extra section to test new types of questions. I was hoping it would be another verbal section. It wasn't. 45 more minutes of freaking math questions! There I was guessing at more answers. Well, it turns out that I scored a 610 on the verbal and a 600 on the math, both of which are decent scores. I though I did a lot worse. The Lord was merciful. I'm just glad it's over with!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 9:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 4, 2008
Grandma and Grandpa time
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Our little Linus
Ian loves to cling to things. Clothing. Hair. Flesh.
Ouch.
So, we recently introduced him and Elanor to blankies. Elanor was mildly interested. He adores his.
Notice the difference between these two photos. In the first, I have just given him the blanket. His face is tense. His fingers clench it nearly to the point of white knuckles.
Moments later, Ian is calm.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:45 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Sleeping through the night...
We don't want to get excited too early, but the kiddos have decided to start sleeping through the night.
Not quite sure how this happened, we haven't been pushing for it (they're only 3.5 months old), but we've been letting them determine their own night time feeding (we feed them both at the same time--so whoever wakes up first calls the shots). They've slowly moved their 3-4 AM feeding to a 6-7 AM feeding, sleeping for nearly 8 hours at a stretch. And most times, they'll wake up happy, smiling and babbling at us. Occasionally we have to pop a pacifier in, or pat them and let them know we love them, or pick them up and rock them back to sleep, or they'll get hungry earlier than usual, but even those moments are becoming more rare. I don't know if this is just a phase, I know they're still young and we'll probably have some issues later on, but for now we're really thankful. Especially with two.
The only book we really read on sleep training was one of the Baby Whisperer books. It's a non-CIO (cry it out) method that encourages parents to (1) listen to their baby's (or in our cases babies') unique temperaments in order to (2) guide them to establish good sleep habits rather than having to painfully break poor habits later on. We haven't followed the book religiously, but we've found some patterns that seem to help with their sleeping. Like giving them lots of exercise in the early evening, and cluster feeding before bedtime. Swaddling, especially with our SwaddleMe outfits (one of the best things we've been given as parents!) and pacifiers also help. Swings for nap-times, and lots of snuggles at bedtime are a usual part of the routine.
Neither one of us are comfortable with CIO methods, especially extreme ones. Not to wander too far into controversial territory, but I've seen advice that makes me really uncomfortable, like, let your baby cry for four hours straight without intervening. Now, if one of my babies is just fussing for a couple minutes in the process of going to sleep, I don't have a problem with letting them work through the process for a couple of minutes, and intervening if the fussing turns into real crying. I've read of parents who let their kid cry for ten minutes one night, five the next, and by the third night the kid is sleeping well. That seems fine! But for four hours????
I don't think CIO would work well for our babies in any case. Once they start crying, I mean really crying, not just fussing a little, it tends to escalate. I had a bad experience once that I don't want to repeat. We give our babies tummy time, even though they used to fuss about it. From everything I've read and been told, it compensates for putting kids on their backs to sleep, and helps them to develop necessary muscles. So we felt it was important to do it, even if they didn't like it. Now they enjoy it: they're turning over already (stomach to back), holding their heads up at nearly a 90 degree angle, and looking around. Anyways, early on I let Ian stay on his stomach for too long, and while I was doing a chore, he cried himself to sleep. I picked him up, and he woke up and just wailed in my arms like I never heard him do before. I still feel sick thinking about it. And I don't think the sleep that he had was a healthy kind of sleep, obviously he wasn't calm and relaxed when he woke up from it.
Anyways, I don't want to be judgmental towards other parents' methods, not the point of my post at all. I mean, I'm a three-month rookie at this whole parenting thing. I'm just super glad that at least for now, we don't have to deal with the sleep issues that can exhaust parents and children, and lead to difficult discussions and decisions on the parents' parts.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:36 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack