Saturday, May 29, 2010

Found on a camera

Shortly after Jenn and I started dating, I went and bought a digital camera, I think possibly as we were planning on taking a trip somewhere, and it just seemed like a thing to have. Nikon Coolpix-somethingorother, a decent 4 megapixel model that did yeoman's work taking 9 or 10 snapshots we'd take in San Antonio, California, or wherever we'd go.

By the time Jenn was about 4 or 5 months pregnant, however, I started getting it in my head that it was probably about time for a camera upgrade. Four years of technology movement had all of the sudden made the "nice pictures" look a little fuzzy and dated when compared with other digital photos you'd see. Plus like most point-and-shoot digitals, there's a bit of lag time between when you press the button and when the picture is taken, thanks to auto-focus, flash, etc. Which isn't a problem if you're taking a picture of a mountain or the Golden Gate Bridge, but does become problematic if you're trying to take a picture of, say, a black-and-white puppy who's more interested in what someone dropped on the floor than posing. Newborn's mobility is more mountain-like than puppy-like of course, but I had heard tell that this changes eventually, so off to the Internet I went. I eventually settled on a Canon DSLR model capable of taking better pictures much more quickly, and it likewise has been great. There was nothing wrong with the older model, however, so we kept it around, and it has proved useful at times. It's smaller size is advantageous, but mostly it is sometimes in the right place/right time, when you want to take a picture of something the girls are doing, but can't find the DSLR, or it's rechargeable battery is dead.

Hence, the older Nikon tends to collect a somewhat unique collection of pictures, usually over a significant length of time, as we don't always think to collect the pictures off of it in a timely manner. This morning after I put the girls down for a nap, and resolved to make a post after only a 3 month absence, I checked the Pics Temp folder on my computer, which we generally use for dumping new pictures off the camera, and what do I find but a bunch of photos from the old Nikon, that Jenn must have put on there.















Must have been when they were first learning to stand themselves up, I'm sure one of us was trying to "capture the moment".















Obviously a particularly messy eating night. I see Carrots I think, probably peas or green beans, and a hint of cereal, possibly Rice. Looks like Megan, and as you can tell, eating is Serious Business.




























Girls enjoying pizza crusts. Judging by the file dates on the pictures themselves (Aug '09) they would have been just short of a year old. Note how small they look in the high chairs.















Daddy likes yogurt. The girls like yogurt. We come to an understanding.














No idea.














And of course a more recent one.

Things have been good overall for us, if a bit harried. Seems like we've been bouncing from one sickness to another for the most part: Girls get the flu, daddy gets it, mommy gets it, girls get a cold, to daddy and mommy, etc etc. But growth and development continue at a tremendous rate. All of the sudden, items that used to be safe on a counter, are no longer. We're also slowly starting to get accustomed (both babies and parents) to life without barriers at home: For the most part we'll do pretty well when told to stay out of kitchen drawers, or to put back laundry in the basket, and go back to playing with something else without too much fussing, though of course not always. They'll get into anything and everything if they've a mind to, but at the same time, we'll often get a good 15-20 minutes of them just playing with blocks, or the princess castle, dutifully stacking towers or moving the prince figurine up and down the stairs. Vocabularies continue to expand as well, including such classics as "Up", "Help", and "Juice". I could have sworn I heard "charge" the other day when watching a basketball game as well, but it might have been "block"; I don't think they quite grasp the finer points of the NBA half-circle under the basket. Yet.

That's all for now, bye!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A Sack of Potatoes

The other night, Daddy noticed Kayla needed changed.  He picked her up, and much to her delight--tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes - a game she loves.  He paraded her through the living room, then down the hall to the bedroom.

As she was looking back at us while going backwards down the hall, still over daddy's shoulder, I asked her, "Where are you going, sack of potatoes?"  She looked up, tossed her hands up and out and said quite clearly, "I don't know!"

We didn't know she knew that phrase -- not to mention, knowing how to use it appropriately, complete with hand gesture!  If only we'd captured it on film!

Megan's L.ate Nig.ht Run

The other evening, Megan was wide awake in her crib.  Kayla was sound asleep.  In fact, Megan had tossed a pillow into Kayla's crib on top of Kayla, who slept right through it.  So I brought Megan back out to the living room to burn off some energy before trying to put her back to bed.
Boy was she awake!

She played a little, putting a bucket on her arm like a purse. She filled it with blocks and pop beads, carried it around the room, and unloaded it - only to fill it again.
But her favorite activity of the evening was playing with a towel.  She would put it over her head and run across the room.
She didn't walk, she'd run full-tilt.  I don't think she could see through it -- but she sure had no hesitation when she ran!
She even carried a basket around with her part of the time.  
She'd run at me -- flop onto my lap, then turn and run the other way. 

It was a really fun game for her -- and she came up with it all on her own!  I worried she would run into something, but she she didn't.  She just kept putting the towel back over her head, running across the room, yanking it off and grinning!
Then off she'd go again.  She'd have her arms out in front of her, like she was feeling her way -- but she seemed to know where she was going, navigating around the toys scattered across the floor.
She went back and forth between me and the tan glider several times,with the occasional detour around the rocker.
Who needs a halloween costume this year --- we can just give her a towel and call her a ghost!
She was sad when I decided it was time for her to settle down so she could go back to bed.
But she soon settled into Mommy's lap with a sippy of milk and  went to bed happy a short while later.
Nothing like a late night run through the living room to get a little one ready for bed!


Sunday, May 16, 2010

This Is How We Roll......at Dillon's Grocery!

 Megan (KU jacket) & Kayla (pink jacket)
Grandma Ruth and Mommy took the girls on a quick trip to Dillon's. It's a habit to park near a cart return -- because it's so much easier to put them from car to cart right away.  Today's cart return had one of the special car-on-the-front carts parked in it -- just waiting for the girls!
 Megan (KU jacket) & Kayla (pink jacket)
The girls had a great time, occasionally watching to see what we were putting in the cart behind them.

 Megan (KU jacket) & Kayla (pink jacket)
They were wearing seatbelts, but they were pretty loose.  They didn't try to get out, though.

 Megan (KU jacket) & Kayla (pink jacket)
Megan even managed to keep a hold on her stuffed dog the entire time -- even while driving!


 Megan (KU jacket) & Kayla (pink jacket)
Other shoppers watched and smiled.  It's not often I see two little ones in the cars.  It'll be a shame when they outgrow this cart.  It just seems to be made just for them. 

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

I See Your Sprawl and Raise You One...

Sprawled out Kayla....

Sprawled out Megan...

 (no,she didnt fall, she got there that on purpose and hung out like that a while)

Sprawled out Loki...

Twin Challenge

The girls still look very much alike.  A lot of people say if they see them together, they can tell them apart - but don't know which is which.  Some say if they only see one, it's harder.

Yes, mommy and daddy can tell them apart, even if we only see one. Although we've both been known to momentarily mistake one for the other - particularly if we only have a side or back view, but it's only momentary.



Guess who?


Twincesses Playing Together

By now it's a well known fact that the girls don't always match.
An even lesser known fact is that sometimes, they don't even match themselves!

Aunt Karen, Uncle Carl and Nathan gave the girls a Little People Castle.  (Thanks again everyone!)
They like to play with the pony that came with it, and the blue chairs.  Occasionally they play with the whole set.

Twincess Megan and Twincess Kayla with their castle.


Twincess Megan placing a flag on top, while Twincess Kayla watches.

Twincess Kayla removing said flag, while Twincess Megan watches.

Twincess Kayla, trying to close the castle door -- the hard way



Twin Tag?

First off, when I dressed them, I thought their pants and tops were both the same color. I guess I wasn't awake!

 Megan

The other night, the girls started running after each other, as if they were playing tag.  It seemed to change as to who was chasing who, and catching the other didn't appear to be the goal. 

Kayla
 They kept running between the same three points - the corner of the kitchen, around the corner into the laundry room, then out to the sliding glass door -- then back.


Megan

They would squeal delightfully as they passed each other, pushing gently to keep from running into each other.  They'd peek around the corner from the laundry room at the other before sprinting to the next point.


Kayla 

When I got the video camera out -- they decided the game was over.  I wonder who won?

 

Monday, May 03, 2010

Spontaneous Sharing

Let's watch Dora.
Okay, but I'm trying to chew on this ball.

It's hard.  Here, you try.

 
Thanks, but I like my thumb better.

Okay, let's watch Dora.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Interesting Statistic

I can't believe I'm using Wikipedia as a source.  I'm too lazy to even follow the footnote references.

According to Wikipedia, only 8% of twins are identical twins. 

I just found that to be an interesting statistic tonight.