Week Six

The boys are now six weeks old. They're growing quickly and becoming more interactive. They have started reacting more to each other's cries, and when one is being fed, you better believe the other wants to be certain he isn't left out. At this point, if one cries at night, Steve and I both get up and prepare for the inevitable demands from the other. Fortunately they remain fairly good eaters and sleepers, regularly going three hours (and sometimes four) between feedings.

Hanging out in the comfy twin pillow (Jack on left, Henry on right):

In the right light, Jack seems to have a reddish tint to his hair and an olive-y cast to his skin. Henry is pale like me, and blonde. Even though Henry looks more like me, his eyes look more like Steve's (Jack's are more like mine). We know their hair and eye colors are far from set at this point, so it'll be interesting to see how they end up.

Ah, brothers... Henry flings his fist into Jack's face:

Jack, unfazed, attempts to eat Henry's hand:

After much cajoling, I finally get Jack to look into the camera (I can almost hear the exasperated "what do you want!?"):

Jack making faces with Dad:

Jack sleeping, adorably:

Jack trying so, so hard not to fall asleep:

Steve files Jack's nails:

Henry treats me to the stone-faced glare of a baby tired of picture time:

Steve continues practicing for a possible second career in nails (now filing Henry's):

Henry and me in our sorta-matching outfits (Henry enjoying stretching his arms):

This next series of pictures is the result of Steve's dogged attempts to entertain a bored and fussy Jack. Steve finally pulled back the curtain from the window behind his chair, thinking perhaps the little guy would like to look outside. He did indeed.

I love my boys... that's all I have to say about that.

Babies' Early Visitors

In the first days after the boys were born, I had a lot of pain and discomfort and didn't feel up to having a lot of people around, but we did have some low-key family members come into town to help us out.

First to visit: Steve's parents came by to see us in our last couple days in the hospital and to assist with our transition home.

Grandma Loveridge with newborn Henry:

Grandpa Loveridge with newborn Jack:

In addition to bringing a ton of very much appreciated diapers, they brought us a bunch of frozen meals, saving us on several occasions when we were so caught up in caring for the boys, we hadn't planned anything for our dinner.

The day after our arrival home, my sister-in-law Tiffany (first of the boys' 12 aunts and uncles to visit) and Tiffany's son Tim (first of 15 first cousins they need to meet) came into town to help us out. They did a fabulous job of caring for the boys, allowing Steve to run errands including taking me to the medical center to get follow-up labwork without having to drag the kids along.

Aunt Tiffany with Henry, Cousin Tim with Jack:

Henry plays with Aunt Tiffany:

Cousin Tim and sleeping Jack:

Uncle Lee stops in for the day to hold the boys (Jack on left, Henry on right):

My parents drove up in their RV to stay for the second half of August and first part of September to help around the house and with Steve's and my return to work after Labor Day. With their help, the transition was fairly smooth and Steve and I have settled into a reasonably comfortable routine where I work 3 1/2 hours in the morning and Steve works 4 hours in the afternoon.

Grandma Pool feeds Jack:

Grandma Pool with Jack, Grandpa Pool with Henry:

In addition to chipping in to care for the boys, my dad did a ton of gardening to keep our house from looking completely abandoned, finished Steve's house painting project (so now our house is all one color - a lovely yellow), helped Steve put up crown molding in the bedroom and kitchen, moved some display cabinets we wanted out of the kitchen, and assisted Steve in making a lot of progress on our long-unfinished bonus room stairs project. My mom spent most of her visit holding our fussy Jack, which freed us up to do other things. Steve and I were even able to go out to lunch and happy hour a couple times while my folks were here. They were fabulously generous with their time and were a huge help.

As I started to feel better, we were able to have more visitors. 

On the way driving from Oakland to their new home in San Luis Obispo, my brother and sister-in-law stopped by long enough to get a family picture from my side. 

Me with Henry, Steve with Jack, Uncle Jim, Grandma Pool, Grandpa Pool and Aunt Brooke:

Steve's friend from work Christina gets a hug from Jack (I adore this picture, so sweet):

Steve's sister Natalie and family came by for the day over Labor Day Weekend. They brought fabulous food for us, including an absolutely delicious beef soup, their amazing chicken adobo (seriously one of my all-time favorite foods) and traditional Loveridge banana oatmeal cookies. I ate way too much; it was fantastic.

Cousin Rosie holds Henry while Aunt Natalie looks on:

I demand that Uncle Richard lean into the shot with Cousin Josh and Jack:

Aunt Natalie holds Jack, Cousin Nathan holds Henry:

The kids were all great with the boys (and even helped feed them) and we look forward to all the other cousins meeting the newest additions to the family.

We know that not all of our far-flung friends and family can make it to Santa Cruz to visit. We're looking forward to making a trip to Southern California once we get this parenting of infants thing a little more figured out so the boys can meet more of their adoring public.

Five Weeks Old

Jack and Henry sleeping next to me on the couch at five weeks old. They're up to 8 lbs now, getting much stronger at holding their heads up and trying to grab things, and pass their wakeful spells studying their surroundings. Henry makes a wide variety of soft little sounds while both asleep and awake. Jack can almost roll over.

One Month

The boys turned one month old today.

Hastily taken cell phone picture of me attempting to satisfy their desire to both be held at the same time while Steve does chores around the house (Jack in one arm, Henry on lap):

Steve and I go back to work (each part-time) tomorrow, which will leave each of us doing sole parent duty for roughly four hours at a time each day. Taking care of two infants at once is challenging, and I frequently feel guilty when I have to put one down to attend to the other. But we adore them both and look forward to the day when perhaps they will play with each other instead of requiring Mom or Dad for all of their entertainment.

Arbitrary Picture Week Part 2

Because I had more cute pictures, that's why.

My boys, ready for Steve's weekly online game night with friends from Southern California:

In case you can't read them, Jack's shirt say "I'm the expansion pack" and Henry's says "Keep Calm and Game On" (thanks to Uncle Scott for Henry's shirt!).

Even unconscious, Henry is clearly ready to charge:

We received some hand-me-down clothes from work friends of Steve's, which included a little plaid shirt and "jeans" (not actually denim, but sewn to look like it). Steve agreed to put on his flannel shirt which bears the most similar pattern and the result is possibly our cutest photo shoot yet.

I mean, seriously, so cute:

So ridiculously adorable:

I can't even handle the sweetness:

Nap time on mom for Jack (with Henry close by just in case we got lonely):

Jack sleeping on my arm:

Henry snoozing on the couch:

They're sleeping in the crib reliably at night, which is fantastic. They go for 3-4 hours between feedings overnight, for which we are grateful. It takes long enough to feed, change and resettle them that we still only sleep in 2-3 hour stretches, but we realize it could be so much worse.

It's definitely a challenge to keep calm when both boys freak out and start bawling at the same time, but Steve and I are each getting better at managing both boys at once... which is good since we're both returning to work on part-time staggered schedules (so one of us will always be home) after Labor Day. I'm sure that transition will be difficult, but we just have to dive in with our fingers crossed and hope we manage alright.