Cameron Park Zoo

I forgot to post the photos from our fun day at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. I have been hearing about it for some time but we have never ventured up there. Funny, we drive through Waco all the time and have never stopped. There are actually quite a few things that I'd like to do there including another zoo visit.

Now Batting #99

Zach had his first game on Monday night. His team this year are the Aggies, which as you can imagine is painful for most UT parents and therefore you don't hear too many yells for "Go Aggies" but more individual name calling.

The game was great fun and I have no doubt that at some point during the season we will be asked to provide Zach's birth certificate. You can see from the photo of him at 3rd that he looks like Andre the Giant out there amongst the other players. One inning he played pitcher and it was 3 up, 3 down as all three batters just hit right back at Zach and his teammate Wes made all three catches at first. It seemed a bit unfair but it is Spring Ball in Texas and t-ball or not people take this stuff seriously.

A few other comments about the photos I included below. First, check out his size as mentioned above. This kid is huge and most likely why most people think I have two sets of twins. Second, check out Zach warming up to hit. This is t-ball but obviously he has been to one too many Voodoo games and is working on his timing. And then there are his action shots from short stop including one with his buddy Griffin at second base. Since we basically have the same team from the fall including the same great coaches, it is great to see the kids building on all that they worked on that season and doing fabulous things like getting outs at 2nd base and getting the relay from the outfield.

This is no doubt going to be a fun season with the Aggies.

sleep obsessed

I am sleep obsessed. I remember being poop obsessed with JT: was he pooping enough, too much, is green an ok color, is the consistency too thick, too thin. With Zach I was food obsessed: is he eating enough, why is he always nursing, why won't he eat baby food. Now it is sleep, all facets of sleeping. How to get the chickens to nap, how to get them to nap at the same time, get them to bed earlier, how many hours did they sleep during the night, why do they love sleeping in their car seats so dang much, and my true sleep obsession, how the chickens move in their crib at night.

I want to take photos but I am worried that it will wake them but basically here it is (and it isn't as exciting when I write it as it is to witness it or so I think but please bear in mind I am up alone anywhere between the hours of 1 am to 5 am so it takes little to fascinate me). It all starts with putting them to sleep in the same direction to start the night. Inevitably they both go through this odd kicking, churning routine that involves getting comfortable and locating their fists (they seem to be trying to work out with hand and fingers to suck and right now just use the entire fist). Then at some point in the night (at least 8 times out of 10) Lizard will wake first and when I go in to get her she is in a completely different location; upside down, sideways, at an angle, etc. Kit Kat will either be moved or in her starting position. Once Lizzie is finished I put her back down and she goes through her same routine. I usually then let Kat sleep until she wants to nurse (as opposed to waking her immediately like I did for the first 6 weeks or so). Now here is where it gets fun. When Kat does wake, I swear to the almighty powers that she will be in the same position that Lizzie was when she woke. I keep telling Rick in hopes that it will spur him to want to witness but so far I am the only one who has seen this crazy twin phenomenon.

Other than sleeping well. The girls are good. They hit 10 weeks this week and we celebrated with a trip to the Waco Zoo. The trip was really for the boys who are on spring break this week. The chickens two week check-up went well. They both are doing fine although the pediatrician didn't seem too thrilled about their weight, which along with a discussion on some of the spit-up and weird eating/spitting up episodes we are having led him to think they have acid reflux. One friend told me her pediatrician said 90% of "colic" cases are really acid reflux. Anywho, we opted to try rice cereal in formula and breast milk first and not get on the medicine but earlier this week after a frustrating day with Lizzie, I had Rick request a prescription. We've been on it for 3 days now and I can't say I notice a huge difference (except where their diapers are concerned) but most people say it takes about 3 or more days for the medicine to make a difference.

I leave you with a chicken photo. The boys both have their first games coming up, JT has a tourney this weekend and Zach has his first game on Monday night. I promise some photos.

And for the record, the boys are sleeping well. I am sleeping well but not walking well as I broke a toe during a late night feeding. I swear the couch jumped in front of me.

the other kids

I haven't forgotten that I have two other kids in this house. We have been silly busy with school projects, birthday parties, and baseball. This Saturday was super busy with JT competing in an academic competition (it was oral reading of poetry, which I am more than happy to talk about it you call), a baseball fundraiser garage sale, baseball practice, and two baseball scrimmages.

Below are some shots of JT pitching this weekend. He walked one guy and then made a double play when a line drive came back at him (he caught it) and then got the runner who had left first.

The shots of Zach are from the Texas shoe box parade. This was Zach's first big school project and for a kid that is usually a bit lackadaisical about school, he tackled this with great gusto and time management (JT tends to do a bit of last minute work). The project is to create a shoe box that represents Texas (they've been studying Texas history) and then they walk through the school to show everyone.

JT has his big presentation tonight for his gifted program. Students had to research and then develop a presentation on a career that interests them. JT selected baseball historian. The librarian made sure parents were not involved so I am eager to see what he has tonight. I know it involves a costume, a power point presentation, a quiz, and lots of accessories to decorate his table.

two months

I thought for sure I would remember to post about the girls hitting the big 2 month mark but then again, I thought I was going to accomplish 100s of crafting and other activities while on maternity leave.

So here is a shot of the girls in a position that I prefer.

The chickens are doing well. They are getting more interactive each day, which the boys are enjoying. We go in  next week for their two week check-up so I will provide some specifics on their weight and all the goodness once that is over.

Here are some shots of Lizzie in her torture device aka harness. During her first exam at the hospital the pediatrician thought he felt some clicking in her hip. Twins, girls, and breach babies have a higher tendency to develop hip dysplasia. It is common and easily fixed with the harness. We have been spending time at an orthopedic surgeons. It is a funny process. We had ultrasounds on both girls, went to ortho, who said he doesn't feel anything but the utlrasound images make it look like something in there but he thinks she is fine but should still wear the harness. Obviously when you have a professional seem less than sure about the need for a harness, it makes it hard to want to put your baby in the harness. Both girls go back in tomorrow for more ultrasounds with the doctor watching this time so we will know whether the harness can be tossed or if we have to be better about her wearing it.