Saturday Night Live!

Yes indeed, it is Saturday night in the Eden house where were are partying the night away listening to music online, watching our fake fireplace, and playing with numerous objects that rattle, crinkle, and squeak.

I would like to share a couple pictures that reflect a frequent occurrence in our daily lives:)

First pic is Dad and Lucy (mom dressed her); second pic is of Dad and Stella (guess who dressed her??)

Skype video calls make me feel Old!

So let me preface this with the fact that I love Skpe.

That doesn't mean that it still doesn't make me feel a bit old.

Now of course, according to many, I am not old (at least to anyone older than me). However, it is truly insane to be living in this time. My generation of X and Y (of which I am a lovely blend based on which periodical you read) is experiencing one of the greatest technological evolutions of all time- or at least up through this point in time.

I remember buying our first computer at some point in the 80s. An IBM with the infamous black screen and green letters. I remember being really excited in elementary school for computer lab when we got to play the Oregon Trail on the Apple.

I remember typing my first paper in high school on the word processor.

And I remember using the computer lab at school and envying my roommate for having her own. I don't remember using the Internet until I was in college when email had a newly-minted and grand place in my life.

Now, in our cozy Charm City rowhome, in the possession of 6 laptops- some working, some not- we ponder the old days.

OK, well maybe not so much ponder as look back in awe and how so much can change in so short of time.

I remember thinking (when I was young) that cars could not have been invented yet when my parents were kids because they were soooo old. And now, at 32 with my first children, I recognize how I feel in life, and the fact that my mother was also 32 when she had her first child-me. The speed of time is relative to age. And >age the >time goes by.

So this rant was supposed to lead into a conversation about Skype. I am pretty sure I invented the concept of Skype when I was 8, so its unfortunate that someone stole my idea. :)

Skype video calls enables long-distance relationships to thrive as they never had the chance to before! Its great to feel like we are all in the same room and it makes the country seem a bit smaller when trying to connect with family.

Emotionally satisfying-yes; family bonding- yes; some occasional technical difficulties- yes... see below! Will post shortly...

A study in linguistics: Spooky Stella

So this is what happens when Daddy tests out funny laughs on his daughter:)

Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop: They are moving!! All over the place!!

It was literally one day... it happened... I had the girls on their play mat on the floor in the nursery. I went to the bathroom. When I returned a minute later... Stella was officially under the bed. No worries! Her head was sticking out and she was playing with a sock! She had moved a good 4 feet are her own--- not yet, mama thinks!!

Two days later Lucy shimmyed her way over to the tv stand and took the Play Station off the shelf and started pondering the meaning of a Grand Theft Auto video game as she tasted the package. And keep in mind, this all happened within 20 seconds.

Mom and Dad's first all-night out!

Dave and I got an entire night out on January 28th! My work was having their annual party and we stayed over night in a hotel! Grandma and Opa were in town from Minnesota and watched the girls from 5Pm to 1PM the next day- very nice of them!

It was a great break away, but of course we were very happy to see our daughters once we got back!

Baby Teeth... are sharp!

Lucy's first tooth started popping through her lower gums in mid January, and as of last week I notice Stella's are now coming in as well!

They have been doing massive amounts of drooling, really for a couple months now, so I knew those porcelain babies were going to come in soon!

Lucy bit me once and i firmly said "no", stopped feeding, and then resumed a moment later. She has not bit since. Stella on the other hand, has bit several times. Each time, I have been tandem-feeding, so I did not want to verbally say "no"- I actually tried, but Lucy thought I was talking to her too.


Grandma Karin mentioned that she used to flick her boys' cheeks. I tried this with Stella, but everything I do just makes her laugh! And then of course I laugh too.

I have done some research. The expert concensus appears to be:

• Unlatch, but make sure to use your pinky finger in between her mouth and you, otherwise you could put yourself in more pain
• When unlatching use a firm "no" or "Do not bite Mommy" and do not re-feed immediately, wait a minute and if it keeps happening up to ten.
• Make sure you are calm- if you shriek or push your baby away at the first feeling of teeth, you will likely frighten her and possibly put her on a nursing strike.
• If the biting happens early you can either massage or use a warm cloth to speed up the let-down (someone massaging your shoulders helps too!), or feed her solids (if she is at the stage) first
• If biting happens at the end because of sleepiness, release the latch before she falls to sleep.

New Foods and Birthdays: 6 months and 29 years!

Last week, we celebrated two birthday events! Lucy and Stella hit their 6 month mark and Dave turned 29!

Dave and I were able to go out for a bit since my parents are in town. We went to the Gin Mill in Canton for drinks and dinner; I felt pretty lame when I was completely exhausted after an hour of being out! I was pretty excited about the "cake" I made him as well. I thought it was very Baltimore-appropriate; and it only took 3 hours to make and decorate! (argh)

The girls have been doing new things exponentially these days. They are both saying mamamama (who knows if they know what that means, but I like to think they do!). They have been very aware of each other, especially when one has a toy that the other thinks looks interesting.

We started introducing some solid foods as well. We gave each of them a pea-sized amount of mushed up banana on their birthday. They seemed excited to open their mouths, but once it hit their tongues, they both had this look of disgust- and it ended up all over their clothes. A few days later we tried applesauce with the same result. We have not done rice cereal yet, but that will be next!