They've Been Warned

Well, I've done my level best to prepare Nate and Seth for the arrival of Hurricane Rita (AKA Grandma Rita) and her sidekick sister Auntie E. tomorrow at 6:30 PM EST. I didn't have any luck finding baby scuba suits, so I guess the boys are on their own as to how they're going to survive the deluge of Grandma R's slobbery kisses and tears, which will be abundant I don't doubt.

Although, in her defense, my poor mother had to wait 39 long years to become a grandma and then I made her wait another 4 months and 2 days to fly out and meet her grandbabies – because I'm a BIG MEANIE like that – so none of us should be surprised if the babies are half drowned by tomorrow evening.

Still – you can't help but feel sorry for the poor little guys.



– Will this blanket be 'nuff you think?



– Dunno. I has a terry cloth. Dey hold plenty of slobber.



– OK, me too. Bring it on Gamma – we's ready for you!

*sigh*

Oh, those sweet, innocent babies - they have no idea what they're in for. I'd better gather up the blankets and look for higher ground because there's a big wet front about to blow through.

- L.

4 Months

We're 4 months old today!



– Look, Seth! I'm an aeroplane!
– That's nice, Nate. These sure are cute outfits mommy bought us.



– Now I'm pulling my wingflaps in. Prepare for da landing!
– Yup. I sure do like these outfits. They fit pretty well wouldn't you say? Mommy says they fit a little too well.



– Oops! Dat was a crash landing I think.
– I hardly noticed. I'm busy modelling.

Mommy note: I couldn't resist these little muscle shirt onesies when I saw them. They've been great for keeping babies cool in the heat wave we've been having plus they're super cute to boot. Not sure how well the detailing shows up in the pics, but they have a pocket and drawstrings decal on the front. I thought I'd add that in case you thought the drawstrings were some really coordinated (and symmetrical!) drooling on the babies' part.

Oh, but what's this on the back?



*sigh*

The babies, they just keep growing and growing and more and more of the outfits they're fitting into say 6 months on the tag. I know my boys are a good weight for 4 months, but I'm pretty sure they're not unusually big. Who sizes these outfits anyway? And what size ARE they going to be wearing when they really are 6 months old?

- L.

Kidney Day Update

Thanks to everyone for all the comments left in yesterday's post. I was laughing that Padrin is more popular than the babies – but I know it's not every day his kidney turns 11.

Or 12 for that matter.

Yes – somehow I lost a year in there somewhere because Squirtle turned 12 yesterday. What can I say? I have mommy brain now (which is a great excuse for just about any occasion btw).

Padrin, Squirtle and I all had a great time celebrating over dinner last night. Our server took a nice picture of us, but Padrin is feeling shy and declined to be shown so I've protected his identity with that handy symbol I normally use to cover baby bums and bits.



Trust me though, it's a nice picture of the two of us and it's been so long since I had time to make a hairdo or put makeup on I figured I'd better post the pic anyway so I can remember what it felt like to look like a cute momma for an evening. I had forgotten there was still something salvageable under all the baby spit-up.

Did I mention that I'm incredibly humble too? ; )

Ah, where was I? Oh yes – even though it was Squirtle's big day, Padrin surpised me with some awesome gifts for Nate and Seth.





Two bunting bag type sleep sacks and two little pocket pillows (for the Tooth Fairy of course!). I love, love, LOVE how he had it all personalized and the "A" and "B" on the sleep sacks is just too adorable. It takes me back in the nicest possible way to a time when Nate and Seth were known simply as Baby A and Baby B.

Thank you Padrin for the lovely gifts and for being such a good and thoughtful friend. I look forward to celebrating Kidney Day again with you next year when Squirtle finally becomes a teenager.

- L.

Tonight Will Be The First Time...

... that I won't be tucking my babies in. However, it's for a very good reason because today is Kidney Day.

No, not World Kidney Day, but a very special day nonetheless.

11 years ago today is the day one of my best friends received his second life saving donor kidney. I first met Padrin in 2003 when we both worked for the same company. He invited me out to celebrate Kidney Day the first year I worked there and I've been inviting him and his kidney out to celebrate ever since. BTW, I named his kidney Squirtle that first year and it kind of stuck.

So wherever you find yourself today, give your kidneys a hug. Take them for a walk, treat them to a cranberry juice, make a donation to the Kidney Foundation or sign up to be an organ donor. And don't be shy! I know you're out there, so take a minute and drop Padrin and Squirtle your good wishes in comments. : )

- L.

The Bath Saga

A few weeks ago it became obvious that it would soon be time to transition Nate and Seth's bath time from the kitchen sink to their baby bathtub, especially if I was going to be bathing the babies by myself. Even babies that really like their bath in the kitchen sink are surprisingly squirmy and at 12+ lbs. each it was just too much to hang on to a wet slippery baby with one hand and wash said baby with the other.

For whatever reason I decided to try the tub we purchased by myself for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It seemed like a pretty standard tub and our babies have always been pretty calm at bath time so I figured it would be no big deal. I have to tell you, even in a worst case scenario I didn't expect SO MUCH SCREAMING. They both hated it. So. Very. Much.

Like, a whole lot – and my words aren't doing this justice. I don't think Nate cried as hard when I nearly dismembered his wee toe, just to give you an idea.

Both Nate and Seth hated it so much that we went back to bathing them in the kitchen sink while I scrambled trying to find a tub they would hate less. I thought part of the problem was that the basin of the tub we had originally bought was quite shallow when filled with water and left more of the baby exposed than covered – which had not been the case with the kitchen sink.

For your reference, this is the tub we originally bought. Looks pretty standard, no?

In the end, after much research, reading of user reviews and thinking about how much I didn't want to face Round 2 with the original baby bath, I broke down and purchased this instead:



Yep. It's a bucket.

Well, a bucket meant for bathing your babies in that is. It's a spa bath. Pretty fancy, huh?

There are various models that range from $30 to $50. Which one did I get? Oh, the $50 one of course because it could be delivered and none of our local retailers carried one. La-dee-dah!

Since the babies hated the bucket less than the baby bathtub I was at least able to get a few pictures so you can gauge for yourselves how it was received.

Well, OK. I've added a little commentary. ; )



– Well, dis is new. I wonder what I think of it?



– Oh, right. I hate it!



– I'm with you brother. Dis is stinkeroo! Why mommy? Why???

My poor babies!

In the end, it wasn't as miserable as the other style, but no one liked it either. I will say that I had an easier time bathing them in the bucket though, so I'll give the new tub a few points for that at least.

*sigh*

- L.

Save Us!

– Oh, won't someone please save us?
– I fear the end is near my friend.

Dun-dun-DUN!



– Well, hello there.
– Oh noes!



– Don't mind if I do.
– Aiiiieeeee!



– You sure are tasty mister bear.
– Oh, the agony!



– I think I keep you.
– Well, maybe this isn't so bad if you ignore the drool.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the couch...



– Well, hello there YOU!
– Oh no.



– My mouth is busy but I just noticed my hands are free. That seems like a shame. Let me fix dat.
– Eeeek!



– Oh, much better. You taste good mister kitty cat.
– Aiiiieeeee!



– I could do this all day.
– Oh, the humanity! Won't someone think of the teething toys?

Mommy note: Well, Nate and Seth might not be teething quite yet, but these toys were a big hit nonetheless as you can see. Thank goodness they're washable since they got pretty drooly by the end of the day.

- L.

Summer Is Here!

And it's time for Nate and Seth to model their cute new summer togs!



– How cute are we Nate?
– Oh, 'bout this cute I'd say.



– Mine has a whale.



– I like dis whale a lot!
– Dat's pretty neat Seth. I look like I'm holding my breath for some reason.

I also thought I'd try to take some pics of the boys trying out their new Bumbo seat. It got mixed reviews though as you can see:



– I think I like this.



– I do not like this at all!

So I snuck in a few more shots after they fell asleep.







Don't forget to check out Nate's chubby little wrists! I can't believe how my little guy has turned into my big guy. Remember when he looked like this? He was mostly all eyes back then and now he's my chunky little monkey. I never would have guessed when we brought them home from the hospital that Seth would end up being the skinny one!

- L.