Firsts

FIRST HIKE

Dave (Natalie's husband - Doug's sister) came into town for the weekend and we couldn't resist going on a hike.  We carried the babies up to see their first waterfall.  They were silent the entire hike up and seemed to love looking around, although Sydney never moved her head from looking over to the right.  It was so fun.

Doug's sister, Michelle, Dave, Doug, and the babies at the waterfall.  Michelle took Sydney the entire way up and back.  I think I lasted 15 minutes with Ethan.  His brace hit at my upper thighs and I had to stand up really straight.  Plus, it was a warm night. How is that for justification!  Thanks for joining us Michelle and Dave.

FIRST DAY AT THE PARK

The following day, we went to our first church activity and I convinced Doug that he could win in a dunk tank game where two players take turns in the 'hot seat' while the other player has 3 shots to knock him down.

He lost.

Ethan and Sydney sure had lots of attention at the park.  They came home and had a very long nap after being passed around from one girl to the next while Doug and I ate.  

FIRST FEEDING

We gave Ethan his first taste of rice cereal this morning.  After his last Dr. appt on Monday, we are discouraged by his weight gain and lack of good eating and sleeping so he CAN grow. We are giving rice cereal a try to see if it helps him sleep longer - he doesn't really sleep well.  We had no children's utensils, so we used a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon.

He seemed to enjoy it, although I really didn't like him being so messy.  This is going to be a big adjustment.  

Here are their stats:

ETHAN

Weighing in: 11 lbs 5 oz or the .01 percentile (yikes!)

Length: 23.5 inches (.08 percentile)

Head: 16.5 inches (9.49 percentile)

SYDNEY

Weight: 13 lbs .5 oz (5.45 percentile)

Length: 24 inches (5.62 percentile)

Head: 16 inches (8.16 percentile)

We are taking Syd to a pediatric opthamologist because her eyes are slightly cross-eyed.  Her right eye draws toward center.  We have an appt in a few weeks.  He said they may put a patch on her eye to help train the muscles (I think they'll later have her wear corrective glasses at a young age).  Wouldn't that look cute--one baby with a brace on his feet and the other with an eye patch?  Goodness.

Latest and greatest

It happened.  I have my first battle wound from Ethan's brace.  I was changing his diaper on the floor and playing with him and then he got excited and pulled his knees into his chest and thrust them toward my shin...yes, it hurt, and yes it's happened a few times.  Not my favorite part.

We went to Boise to see my nephew, Caleb, at his baptism.  He was so great with the babies - and especially loved Ethan.  Here he is with Sydney.  They both loved Caleb playing with them.

My nephew, Cameron, was also great to hold and play with E&S.

Levi was so cute with them...

Syd has been loving her tongue lately.  She looks like a goof.  It's adorable.

They both have been 'hands-y' lately...wanting to hold onto everything.  Well, this is a cute shot of him with his bottle.  It's like they want to hug cuddle it.  I think they could do just about anything and we would think it was brilliant and the cutest thing ever.

I got a nasty cold in Boise and apparently I am sharing the love.  Ethan has been extra sleepy and fussy today. Here is a shot of him in the bath tonight...extra chill.

After his bath, he thought it would be cool to fill his diaper so fast (while I was holding him) that it shot out through his pants, on his brace (yuck!) and onto the floor.  Yup, he's an over-achiever...pushing past what we thought wasn't possible for such a little bum.  We sat him in the bumbo so we could clean up his shoes as best we could.  Thought I'd get a shot of his feet.  He LOVES when we take it off for a break.  Maybe that's why he did that tonight...hmm.