Boys' First Halloween

Steve's parents bought them charming little jack-o-lantern outfits. My parents bought them mini pumpkins, on which I drew some faces. So, courtesy of their grandparents, we bring you a very Jack and Henry Halloween...

Jack is unsure about his pumpkin, Henry chills with his:

Jack decides he may enjoy his pumpkin after all, Henry still chillin':

Jack doing an impression of his pumpkin, Henry has somehow become even more chill with his:

Jack returns to uncertainty, Henry is... well... fine with it all:

The Loveridge Grandparents also got fantastic little skeleton shirts for the boys. They were quite the attraction on our evening walk to the market.

My favorite comment, from a college-age woman: "that is the cutest thing I have ever seen!" I don't think we did her accompanying boyfriend any favors with our general adorableness. I mean, she's not wrong, though...

The skele-shirts also glow in the dark!

Awesomeness.

Sharky

Sharky died earlier this month from age-related complications. He was at least seven years old, but likely much older.

We took Sharky in after the young man who was his original owner died of a heart attack and the young man's parents asked the local rabbit rescue to help find the bunny a home. Sharky (formerly Ari) couldn't be adopted out through the standard channels because... well... he would bite people if he didn't like what they were doing. He needed a highly experienced and tolerant rabbit family who would just let him be himself, so the rescue's director called me. We took stewardship of the little guy seriously and gave the opinionated rabbit as good a home as we possibly could.

Pictures of him from our last family photoshoot:

Steve cobbles the family pictures together in photoshop since our rabbits don't all get along, so I'm sitting on the couch in an attempt to convince Sharky to stay in the proper part of the shot. I'm in an apron to keep rabbit fur off of my clothes for the later picture that had me and Steve in it.

At the end, Sharky was blind in both eyes and arthritic, but a tough little dude who continued his existence as if nothing was wrong. He was a funny little bunny and is greatly missed.

Weeks 11 and 12

Steve and I are so, so tired. Some nights the boys only get up once, some nights it's every three hours. Some nights they wake up smiley and happy, some nights we're jolted out of bed by screaming cries. The boys definitely react to each other, so if one is up, they're both up... meaning Steve and I are both always on duty. But that being said, we really adore our boys.

The last gasp of summer weather finds them in their beach jumpers (Henry in foreground, Jack in background):

The boys hang out on the couch (Henry on left, Jack on right):

A nice morning nap:

The boys' first road trip was a weekend visit to the Sacramento area to visit some of Steve's family.

The boys sleeping in their car seats:

Henry:

 Jack:

Unfortunately that last picture was taken during the only brief moment that Jack slept on that long drive. Jack seems to be one of those rare babies who doesn't like being in his car seat and is not soothed by the vehicle's motion. We think he doesn't like being restrained. I had to cram myself between the two car seats to attempt to calm him as we drove. It was enough of a problem that we've decided to try taking the train to Southern California for Christmas... at least on the train we can hold him and he doesn't have to be strapped in the whole time. We're getting one of the little bedrooms on the train so the boys won't be as exposed to other passengers during flu season and other passengers won't have to be exposed to them when they inevitably start crying. Anyway, back to Sacramento...

Uncle Ed and Cousin Tim with Jack (perhaps Jack remembers Cousin Tim from Tim's visit way back in August? Jack definitely engaged with him quite a bit):

Uncle Lee feeds Henry while they watch the game (Henry likes TV and is generally very interested in lights):

Previewing their Halloween outfits from Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge, it's Jack-o-Lantern and Skele-Henry!

Jack being sweet and engaging, Henry being so relaxed he's sinking into Grandma:

Jack begins to fuss, but manages to calm enough for a pretty good picture:

We love the Halloween outfits...  more of those to come...

My parents visit their grandbabies (and allow Steve and me to get some work done around the house)...

Grandma Pool with Henry on lap, Jack in pillow (quick, take the picture while everybody's calm!):

Henry in Grandma Pool's lap at the dinner table:

 

Grandpa Pool reads to Henry:

Grandpa Pool feeds Jack:

Jack hanging out on Grandpa Pool:

(sticking out his tongue in response to me doing so)

Henry sleeping on Grandpa Pool:

Jack smiling in Grandma Pool's lap:

Henry practicing sitting up on the kitchen table with Grandpa Pool:

The boys do their best to not be photogenic during a rare opportunity to take a family picture (Steve with Jack, me with Henry):

The boys are staying awake for longer stretches during the day, so we're involving them in more family activities, including joining us at the dinner table, which they seem to enjoy.

Pictures of Henry...

Thinking a little about maybe smiling:

Creeping toward that smile:

Yay, happy Henry!

More typical contemplative Henry:

Henry tends to stare neutrally at us anytime we try to take pictures of him (seriously, he's smiling and playing, phone comes out to take a picture and his face immediately goes blank), so we have fewer ones with different expressions to post. But he's keenly interested in everything around him and is a chill, cuddly little guy.

Pictures of Jack...

I think he's going for a "hang loose" gesture:

Unimpressed with Mom cajoling him to smile:

"Helping" Dad scan documents into the computer:

Selfies with Mom:

Enjoying the bunny lovie Uncle Jim and Aunt Brooke gave him:  

Happy boy:

Watching Colbert's show with Daddy:

Jack seems to suffer pretty terribly from heartburn and though medication prescribed by the boys' pediatrician helps him a great deal, he still has a tough time. But when not in pain (or overtired, or bored...) he's an extremely sweet, interactive little boy. 

Weeks 9 and 10

The boys are beginning to smile more, getting stronger, and beginning to grab toys. Henry was 11 lbs 4 oz and Jack was 11 lbs 14 oz at their two-month checkup. They are growing well and healthy. They are at once frustrating and wonderful.

I attempt to work on my continuing professional education while the boys nap (Jack in pillow, Henry on me):

Henry and I play with my phone (selfie time!):

Henry chillin' in the twin pillow:

The boys are amused by me (Jack in foreground, Henry in background):

Playing with Daddy on the blanket Aunt Tiffany made for them (Henry in blue, Jack in yellow):

Visitors! Aunt Gail with a momentarily stationary Jack:

Uncle Eric with a sleepy Henry:

The boys taking their afternoon nap (Henry in foreground, Jack in background):

Reading time! They seemed to like the pictures (Jack on left, Henry on right):

They were less interested in election mail:

Henry made his opinion clear:

I pretend to sleep in a (successful) attempt to get an overtired and fussy Jack to nap:

My life, pinned down by babies:

I wish I had more time to write, but as it is I'm typing this one-handed while rocking Henry. I love these boys, but I really wish we could have had them one at a time. Taking care of two babies at once is incredibly difficult. I feel guilty every day that they so rarely get undivided attention. But we're making it work... one day at a time.

That isn't to say that there aren't great moments. Today I held Henry, standing inside our open back door, watching him watch his very first rain. Last night, I awoke at three in the morning to the boys happily cooing at each other, and was greeted with big smiles when I went to check on them. If only Steve and I never needed to sleep...