The Twin Invasion

Long Time No Post

2008-02-24T13:14:00.010-05:00

So, it's been a long time since we've posted! My apologies! This blog was originally Gene's creation but it has been long lost and forgotten, I think. Poor blog.

I have actually started my own blog and wanted to point you to it, if interested. I'll try to do a better job at regularly posting pictures of the kids and life in general. I know so many of our family and friends live far from us and we don't see you often, so the blog was a nice way to keep everyone updated.

So, you're probably wondering, why the new blog? Ever since the twins were born I have wanted to do baby books for them. Unfortunately, I'm not really the "craft" type person. And, the idea of buying all of the paper, embellishments, glue and cutting equipment seemed daunting, and expensive. Plus, I just didn't see myself wanting to pull everything out each time to work on a page and then cleaning it all up after I'm done. I would visit scrapbooking stores trying to motivate myself to take the plunge, but it never happened.

So, last year I decide to look into what's called digital scrapbooking. It's definitely more my speed. Everything is done on the computer so there is no mess to clean up and if you make a mistake or want to change something on your layout, there's an undo key! No undo keys when you're working on paper scrapbooking! So, I found software to use and started playing! I have quickly become addicted.

There is a whole world of digital scrapbooking that exists on the net. Tons of digital scrapbooking stores and designers, creative teams, galleries, etc. So, I started exploring, posting my layouts on galleries and participating in forums. And now, I am working for three different designers on their creative team (CT). Basically, a CT is a group of individuals who work for a designer creating layouts with their products. You have access to all of their designs for free and in return, create layouts with their products and post them to online galleries - hence - avertising for the designer.

So, blogs showing off your galleries and layouts are the norm and encouraged and with being on three CTs, I thought I should start one of my own. It won't be set up as this one is, meaning you won't get an email every time there is a post. But, feel free to visit because I'll be updating it regularly! You can find it here: Oh My Stars

2 Year Pictures

2007-04-23T13:58:00.000-04:00

We took Olivia and Eugene to have their 2 year pictures done on Saturday. Luckily for them (and us), we won't be going back for more photos until, at the earliest, December for Christmas portraits.

Needless to say, trying to get two two year old toddlers to pose, smile and look at the camera at the same time is next to impossible. And, as you can see from the photos below, it was impossible for this particular shoot! Not only did none of the above happen, we also had bouts of crying and temper tantrums throughout, as well.

Probably the most comical of the entire event was to see me, Gene and the photographer making complete fools of ourselves, pulling out all the stops just to get the smiles to appear. I think Gene and I were as exhausted as the twins after it was all said and done. However, despite the work, I think we got some pretty good shots in the end.

And here are a few shots of the temper tantrums in progress... :)

Second Year Montage

2007-04-12T15:51:00.000-04:00

Make an on-line slide show at onetruemedia.com

Happy Birthday!

2007-04-11T23:32:00.000-04:00

Happy 2nd Birthday Eugene and Olivia!! I still can't believe it's been two years! I'll be back tomorrow with more pictures!

What a difference a year makes!

2007-03-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

We had our first big snow of the winter on February 13th and Eugene and Olivia loved every minute of it! Last winter, we really only had one big snowfall as well and unfortunately, the twins didn't feel quite the same about the snow. They were only 8 months old at the time and I bundled them up in their huge snowsuits and plopped them in the snow.

They hated it (as seen in the pictures below) ...

This winter, was a different story, however...

Oh what a difference a year makes!

PEE-PEE ON THE POTTY!

2007-01-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

PEE-PEE ON THE POTTY! PEE-PEE ON THE POTTY! HAPPY NEW YEAR! EUGENE WENT PEE-PEE ON THE POTTY!

Christmas 2006

2006-12-29T23:15:00.000-05:00

Christmas this year was very special for us as it was the first Christmas celebrated in our new home. It was also the first Christmas that Eugene and Olivia were old enough to enjoy opening and receiving presents.

Every year we have my entire family and Gene's family over to our house for Christmas Eve. This year was no different. The thing that has become quite different, however, is that we went from a large family gathering with no little ones to having four little ones present within the span of a year. My two closest cousins each had a child of their own within six months of the twins being born. Lindsay is six months older than the twins and Mason is six months younger.

Here are some shots of all of the munchkins opening their gifts...

Lindsay (in the green) and Mason (in the stripes)...

Here are some pics of Eugene and Olivia opening their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Eugene is opening his most favorite gift of all... Dusty the Vacuum (who he affectionately calls "The Mower"). He's been obsessed with Mommy's "Mower" so we thought he should have one of his own.
Olivia got twin (boy/girl, of course) babies and a stroller to push them in from Santa. I don't think she really cares about the babies but loves to push the stroller around the house right along side her brother with his "mower".
And what toddler would be complete without their very own Doctor kit?

Now that Christmas is over, the twins have spent the week keeping very busy with their new toys. And Mommy has been kept busy trying to reorganize the playroom to make room for all of the new toys!
Olivia modeling some of the new accessories that she got from Oma and Grandpa. This girl LOVES to play dress up!
And of course looking your best (right down to the Elmo slippers) is a necessity for cooking dinner in your new kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa!
And Eugene is still "mowing"...
All of this playing sure can make you tired. Breaks are necessary from time to time!
And what day would be complete without a little bathtub art before bed?? This is one of the shots that will have to be saved to embarrass them when they're older!

Eugene and Olivia: 20 months

2006-12-28T23:52:00.000-05:00

It's been quite a while since we've provided an update on the twins. Many of our friends and family have been asking for a posting so I thought I should take advantage of this Christmas break and get to work.

Eugene and Olivia turned 20 months old on December 11th. It's hard to believe that TWO is right around the corner. They've transformed from babies to toddlers virtually overnight. It's hard to believe how fast our little ones are growing up. I now see a little boy and little girl when I look at them.

Their relationship with each other seems to have transformed overnight as well. They went from basically ignoring each other for the first year of their lives to becoming playmates. It must be really cool to be a twin and have a built in buddy. They chase each other around the house and laugh all day long. They truly love each other.

Don't get me wrong, fights (especially over toys) happen several times a day. But, they're short lived and the laughing and playing resumes just as quickly as it stopped.

They are learning and developing at such a rapid rate right now, too. I'm amazed everyday at what they know and have learned. Olivia surprised me this week by counting to 15. I never even knew she could count to three, let alone fifteen! They're doing really well with their language development as well. At last count (which was when they were 18 months), Eugene had 60 words and Olivia had 30 words. That was two months ago and I've now completely lost count. They are both also saying small sentences of three to four words. Now that the communication barrier is coming down and they can tell us what they want, it makes life so much easier for everyone.

Here are a few pictures that we had taken two weeks ago:

Our New Home

2006-12-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

If you've been wondering where we've been lately, we can sum it up in one word: MOVING. We moved into our brand new house last month! The idea of moving came up just about as quickly as the move itself.

Our old house, which was Gene's Grandmother's house, had been our first home. We love that house and were very sad to leave. It's a great house for a couple or single occupant but with only two bedrooms upstairs, it was not ideal for our expanded family. Plus, it's on a very busy street and the traffic made me nervous with the twins becoming more and more active and adventurous every day. So, we started house hunting in September, signed a contract on the house in October and moved in over Veteran's Day weekend in November.

The house we bought was just finished the week we moved in. It's in phase one of a new development about a mile from our old house. The development is slated to have about 100 homes by the time it is finished. We absolutely love the neighborhood and the house and are very much looking forward to Eugene and Olivia growing up here.

Our good friends, Mike and Brooke, moved in across the street the same weekend we moved. It's so great to now call them neighbors. The rest of the neighbors we've met so far have been very welcoming and we're looking forward to getting to know everyone a bit better once the weather is nicer and everyone is spending more time outside.

Here's the house when we saw it for the first time in September:

Here's the house on our last visit before signing the papers. The grass was coming in well at this point.

And finally, here's the house about three weeks ago after moving in and putting up some Christmas lights.

There's nothing like balancing unpacking an entire house while trying to decorate and prepare for Christmas. Needless to say, the Heyman clan is exhausted and thankful that we're finally settled in our new home!

Summer Update Part I - Memorial Day Weekend

2006-08-01T22:30:00.000-04:00

This is the first of a series of posts to catch you all up on our busy summer.

Memorial Day weekend was a big weekend for us this year. It was our first year attending the annual East Coast Twinstuff Picnic and Sesame Place Day. Twinstuff http://twinstuff.com/ is a message board for twin parents. I found the site about two months prior to delivering the twins and it was a huge help to me after they were born. During those first few overwhelming months as a new mom of twins, the advice and information that I found on that site (along w/ my best friend, Heather, who is also a twin mom), was priceless. I'm still a regular visitor to the site and am still able to find helpful advice as my twins get older and move onto new stages with new challenges. Only now, I'm able to provide advice as well!

Twinstuff members from the east coast get together every year for a picnic and a day at Sesame Place http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame/pa/index.aspx. It's a chance for all of the Moms (and Dads) who post regularly to the site to get together 'in person'. And, it's so much fun to see so many sets of twins together in one place. The picnic was held at a park in a suburb of Philly and there were probably 40 adults and close to 20 sets of twins in attendance. Gene and I had decided to bring along the super play yard as a way to contain Eugene and Olivia once we got to the party. Turned out that most everyone else who had very young twins had the same idea. The great thing about these play yards is that they all link together. So, we ended up with one huge play pen for all of the little ones! After the party, we drove to our friend's (Heather and Guy) house for dinner and to spend the night. They were going to be joining us the next day at Sesame Place and since the picnic ended up being so close to their home, it worked out perfectly! They have twin girls (as mentioned above) and while we've always been great friends, being parents to twins has brought us all even closer. It's a great tie that we have and even though our get togethers are now a lot more chaotic, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Here's a shot of both sets of twins going for a wagon ride in Heather and Guy's backyard. If you look closely, you can see that Carly and Sydney are enjoying it a lot more than Olivia and Eugene. We spent Sunday at Sesame Place. This was Eugene and Olivia's first trip to an amusement park. Even though they were too young for most of the rides, they still loved it. What one year old wouldn't love a park filled with Elmo and all of his friends!

Here's Olivia and Eugene ready to head into the park. Don't they look excited? At least they're dressed the part in their Elmo outfits! As I mentioned above, most of the rides and activities were for kids a bit older than 13 months. But, Big Birds Birdhouse was a hit! They spent about an hour climbing around on the blocks and the best part for Mom and Dad was that it was in the shade! We had a great time and are planning to go back next year. The twins will be a year older and will hopefully be able to do a bit more at the park. Regardless of the activity level, Olivia didn't make it out of the park before falling asleep in her stroller. I guess we pushed naptime back a bit too far! Further evidence that nap time was pushed a bit too far! The kids spent Memorial Day relaxing in their new blow-up pool (compliments of Aunt Julie)! What a perfect way to end a long, holiday weekend!

Poor Farley

2006-07-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been way too long since our last post. Gene and I have been a bit lazy in the blogging department. We are WAY behind on our updates of the kids and have been enjoying a busy summer. I promise to be back soon with updates. I've got quite a few lined up. However, this one was so darn cute - it couldn't wait!

To say Olivia and Eugene love our dog, Farley, would be an understatement. I think Eugene's first smile and laugh as a baby was at Farley and not Mom or Dad! They think he is quite funny and get a kick out of him doing something as simple as scratching his ear. However, they also get a kick out of teasing him with food. Olivia learned this fun little past time from her brother and we caught her in action last night. Poor Farley.

1st Year Montage

2006-05-24T09:02:00.000-04:00

Over the first year that Olivia and Eugene have been here with us, we have taken hundreds of pictures. I have the very best intentions of doing scrapbooks for each but haven't started the first page or even bought the necessary supplies! So, I thought I should do something useful with at least a fraction of our pictures and create a montage of their first year.

Be sure to turn on your speakers and have about five minutes to spare!

Create your own video at One True Media

The Birthday Party

2006-04-24T23:08:00.000-04:00

We had Olivia and Eugene's birthday party on April 8th at our house. It went really well other than the weather wasn't as nice as we had hoped. We had about 28 adults and 16 kids so it was a fairly packed house. The twins did great and didn't seem overwhelmed at all by the number of people there.

It was a busy day and of course I didn't feel like I had much of an opportunity to visit with everyone - but isn't that what always happens when you're the host? They both seemed to love their birthday cake and I got some good shots of them both with icing all over their faces (see below). Olivia actually ended up getting it in her ears!

On a side note and I guess good timing on this one, I ended up getting the stomach flu as the last of our guests were leaving. Unfortunately for some of our guests (ten of our guests to be exact), they would be getting the same virus over the next few days. I'm sure they didn't expect to be getting the stomach flu as their party favor! :)

Now on to the pictures...

The Spread

The Gifts

The Elmo Cake

Olivia playing with her friend, Reagan (they were born 8 days apart!)

My best friend, Heather, with her twin girls, Carly and Sydney

More of our friends and family

Gene enjoying the pizza

Olivia and Eugene's Grandpa and Great Grandma (Gene's Dad and Grandmother)

And last but not least... the Birthday Girl

And the Birthday Boy

I thought I'd end with a video clip of just how much Eugene loved his first Birthday cake! (just click the play button)

Our First Year

2006-04-23T21:12:00.000-04:00

Well, since my husband has been slacking a bit with the posts, I thought I would take over for a while. Unfortunately for me, however, I have some large shoes to fill. I definitely don't have the story telling ability that he does!

As you all know, Olivia and Eugene turned one year old about two weeks ago and I thought that this milestone deserved a little more attention on the blog (along with a few pictures since many of you have not seen them in a long time)! I'm still having a hard time believing that they are actually a year old. Time certainly flies by when you're having fun... or are too busy to notice that the days turn into months.

And now to sum up our first year with the twins... where to begin? I guess I can start off by saying that, without a doubt, this has been most amazing year of my life! I have never been pushed to, at least what felt like, my physical and mental limits (especially in those early months) but I've also never felt such love.

I never could've known, before Olivia and Eugene arrived, just how much I would love these two incredible, little individuals. As much as people try to tell you what it's like when you become a parent, you never truly understand it until you become one yourself.

Don't get me wrong, though, this first year hasn't been all roses and happy days. There have been plenty of tears and frustration. Tempers have been lost on occasion (not by me, of course) and wits have reached their ends.

I've also learned more about myself and my abilities in this year than I ever could've imagined. I've learned that:

30 minutes of solid sleep can refill your "tanks" enough to make it thru at least several hours of diaper changes and feedings.
4-5 hours of sleep actually feels like 8 hours used to feel prior to the twins arrival.
I can accomplish more in their 2 hour nap than I used to accomplish in an entire day.
Having two babies and two parents shows you the true meaning of team work.
A bouncy seat will get you thru just about anything - eating dinner, folding laundry, etc.
I could bounce a bouncy seat while doing just about anything - blow drying my hair, wrapping presents - you name it!
Having two babies actually feels like the work of three because even though your workload is doubled - you're tapping into the same supply of patience and energy. Just because you've run out of both on the first kid doesn't mean you get to refill for the second one (this last lesson actually comes from a fellow twin Daddy).

But on a serious note, the biggest thing I've learned is what a true blessing my twins are to me and to each other. I love that they have each other and I love watching them bond more and more everyday. I'm so proud to be their Mommy and can not imagine life without them!

Happy Birthday!

2006-04-11T09:36:00.000-04:00

Today is Eugene and Olivia's first birthday. Happy birthday kids!

On Saturday we had a birthday party for them. After all of the pizza and cake and presents, we had a champagne toast. Tracy thanked our family and friends for all of their support.

"I can't believe we survived their first year," she said.

"Be careful what you say," I told her. "Their birthday is on Tuesday. Everything could fall apart by then."

We really couldn't have done it without the support of all of our friends and family. Thanks everyone!

Eugene

2006-03-09T15:36:00.000-05:00

And we can't leave Eugene out. Here he is coming straight out of a nap. If only I woke up looking that good.

Olivia

2006-03-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

I don't even know what to say about this picture-aside from Olivia looking cute. I'll leave it up to you to comment. By the way, it looks like someone whacked Elmo the way he's laying back there.

A Year of Blogging

2006-02-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

I noticed recently that the Twin Invasion archives begin and end with the month of February. It's been a year since I began blogging about our life as twin parents, or, as it started, twin parents-to-be.

Every day I am amazed at where we are and where we've been, with only a tiny portion of it making its way here on this blog.

What began as a means of updating family and friends, over the past year has yielded relationships with other twin parents who share experiences, many the same, some completely different.

I've enjoyed being able to poke fun at my wife. Thanks, dear, for your good humor. And I've enjoyed sharing it with you all. Thank you for being out there. It wouldn't be much fun if I knew nobody was reading it:)

At least I assume you're reading this. Hello?...Is anyone out there?

Pictures

2006-02-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

Tracy has been harassing me to get some new pictures out on the blog.

I said to her, "You're a contributor. Why don't you do it?"

So, anyway. Here's some recent pics of the kids we thought you'd enjoy.

Eugene and Olivia on their first Christmas morning.

All of the photos are relatively recent. The one above is from their 9 month birthday on Jan 11, 2005.

I don't know how it happens, but did you notice Olivia always ends up on the left?

Sleepwalking Weirdo: Part II

2006-01-13T12:07:00.000-05:00

The following account is real. These are actual events, retold to the best of my ability, and with my wife's help.

I am not making this up.

**************************************************

Tracy and Gene's bedroom - 12:20 a.m. All is quiet. Moonlight streams through the windows. Olivia and Little Eugene are sleeping in their bedroom across the hall. Tracy sits up in bed and nudges Gene.

[Tracy] "Eugene, wake up."
[Gene] "hmm..." (sleepy)
[Tracy] "Eugene, where are the babies?"
[Gene] "hmm?...I don't know."
[Tracy] "Are the babies in bed with us?"

Gene begins to wake up, realizing what's happening.

[Gene] "Tracy, the babies are in their room. Go back to sleep."
[Tracy] "You mean the babies aren't in bed with us?"
[Gene] "No, they are not." (annoyed)
[Tracy] "Well, if they aren't in bed with us, then why did you tell me you didn't know when I first asked you? Hmm?" (accusingly)

Gene sits up in bed and looks at Tracy.

[Gene] "Maybe because I was asleep? (mildly annoyed) Tracy, you're having a dream. Go back to sleep." (somewhat understanding)

Tracy begins poking her hands under Gene's body.

[Gene] "Stop that! (loud whisper) Do you think I'm hiding the babies from you? You are having a dream. Go back to sleep." (very annoyed)

Tracy rolls over without another word. Gene lays back down to sleep.

Ten minutes pass. Gene wakes up to see Tracy looking under his side of the bed.

[Gene] "Tracy, what are you doing?" (matter-of-fact)
[Tracy] "Nothing." (nonchalant)

Tracy walks to her dresser and puts a shirt on, pretending that's the reason she got up. Gene watches as Tracy stands, hands on her dresser, slowly stepping out of her dream and back to reality. An understanding smile from Gene and Tracy, embarrassed, slips back in bed.

Sleepwalking Weirdo

2006-01-03T19:20:00.000-05:00

The other day I read this blog post about co-sleeping. Co-sleeping, for those of you who don't know, is when parents let their children sleep in bed with them. I think the reason is mainly to get the kids to sleep through the night. I don't know, because we don't do it. The kids have slept pretty well on their own. Besides, it's kind of icky. But, that's not the point.

The point is it reminded me of a dream I had the night before. Actually, I was sleepwalking. But I dreamt about co-sleeping. It was kind of like a co-sleepwalk.

In the middle of the night I got out of bed to use the bathroom. When I came back I left the bedroom door open. Tracy asked me to close the door.

"In a minute, honey. We have to put Little Eugene back in his crib," I told her.

"What are you talking about?" she asked me. "He is in his crib."

"No, come on. Hand him over. He's not sleeping in our bed anymore," was my reply.

"Eugene, our son has never slept in our bed. You are having a dream. Go back to bed." she told me.

"What?" I said with a pause, finally coming to. I slumped back into bed.

The next day I e-mailed Tracy to apologize for waking her up the night before. This was her reply:

Hi Eugene. Actually, you woke me up three times last night thinking there were babies in the bed. The first two times it was Olivia and then the last time (when you got up to go to the bathroom), you thought Eugene was in bed with us. I couldn't believe it - especially since you were up and walking around! :) I think we have switched roles!!

Love you,
Tracy

This really was a role reversal. You see, Tracy used to do this on a regular basis. For months after the babies were born, she'd sit up in the middle of the night and start shoving me out of bed. Then she'd frantically feel around on the covers trying to find the baby, who wasn't there. Being that she was a new mother, I tried to understand. But between you and me, I always thought it was a little weird.

Now I'm the weirdo.

Add that to my list of groups I previously thought only others belonged to:

Idiot Drivers
Unfit Parents

and today...

Sleepwalking Weirdos

The Difference Between Parents and Grandparents

2005-12-23T09:40:00.000-05:00

The other night Tracy's parents came over to see the grandkids. Tracy and I had been trying to feed the kids their solid food dinner, and it wasn't going well.

"Eugene," Tracy sternly told our son, "I can't get the spoon in there when you close your mouth."

"See?" she said to me with exasperation, pointing at Little Eugene with the spoon. "He's closing his mouth before I get the spoon all the way in. Half the food goes in his mouth, half the food gets all over his face!"

"I know," I told her. "He's been doing that for the past couple of days. It's driving me crazy, too."

"Here, look at Olivia," I said to Tracy, as food dripped down her face and on her bib. "I can get the spoon in there fine, but the food gets pushed out again because Olivia keeps sticking her tongue out!" I exhaled deeply in frustration.

Just then Ed and Aleene arrived. I asked them if they would you like to feed the kids some dinner. They eagerly said yes, each taking a seat in front of one of the kids. We were ready for a break, and quickly got out of the way.

"Have fun!" I said sarcastically, content to watch someone else get frustrated for a while. But, that's exactly what they did. They smiled and made goo-goo faces, which these previously uncooperative children reciprocated. The feeding continued.

"Oh, look Ed! Olivia keeps sticking her tongue out and it's getting food all over her face," my mother-in-law said with a laugh.

"Look, look," she said laughing. "She's doing it again!"

"You're just as bad as your brother," my father-in-law playfully told his granddaughter. "He keeps closing his mouth before I can get the spoon in!"

Aleene looked over and laughed. "He's got food all over the place!" she said.

This went on and on. Tracy and I stared in bewilderment. We eventually looked at each other.

"Isn't this the same behavior that we were pulling our hair out over just ten minutes ago?" I asked my wife.

"I think it is," Tracy told me.

"So, what's the difference?" I asked her.

"I guess it's the difference between parents and grandparents," she said.

Unnecessary Parental Competitiveness

2005-12-12T11:45:00.000-05:00

I know all parents are proud of their children. And I don't mean to brag. But, I must say, my son is really advanced.

Eugene has just gotten his seventh tooth. That's right. He has seven teeth! The boy is barely 8 months old, and he's out-pacing kids twice his age.

Now, I understand some children are dentally challenged. Parents, don't worry if your 1 year old is still working on his first top tooth. Every child develops at their own pace. They will eventually end up with the same number of teeth.

My kid just happens to be kicking your kid's butt!

SOLID FOOD WARNING!

2005-12-10T22:26:00.000-05:00

* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - WARNING! *

To all parents introducing solid foods to your children: WARNING! Beech-Nut Stage 2 Prunes may have unanticipated effects on your children and your children's clothing, as well as anything they happen to be sitting upon.

Beech-Nut Stage 2 Prunes are not just a step above Plums. The laxative effect of Beech-Nut Stage 2 Prunes is markedly enhanced.

For parents who decide to feed their children Beech-Nut Stage 2 Prunes, proper site preparation is recommended. Begin with plastic sheeting covering surfaces 3 to 4 feet in all directions. Two baby lengths is a good rule of thumb.

For yourself, wear old clothing, perhaps something you've used for painting. For the children who don't really have "old" clothes, dress them in something they've nearly out grown. Be prepared to throw away all clothing.

Have a bucket of warm, soapy water on hand. Keep a ready supply of clean, fresh rags. As a final note, Febreze Fabric Refresher will help minimize any aromas lingering in affected areas.

Twin Confusion

2005-11-30T19:44:00.000-05:00

I am forever amazed at how little people know about babies - twins in particular. Sure, not everyone has twins. And I admit I didn't know much about babies before I had them. But how is it that some among us lack the most basic baby knowledge?

Boys have boy haircuts and wear clothes with trucks on them. Their clothes will often be blue, but they will assuredly not be pink. Girls wear pink and their clothes have flowers on them. A girl could be mistaken for a boy when the girl hasn't grown more hair than the boy sitting next to her. However, any pink is a clear indication of a girl.

When you're out with babies, people, especially older women, feel free to stop you to talk to you. I suppose this happens to anyone with a newborn, but the excitement doubles when they see it's twins.

"Oh my! Two babies!" someone will exclaim. "Are they twins?" the person asks.

"Yes, yes they are," I tell them.

"Oh, how adorable," they say smiling at the children. "Two boys?" they ask.

"No, one boy, one girl," I answer.

"How sweet," they'll say. "My niece had twins. Are yours identical?"

Now, I thought it was common knowledge that identical twins are the identical sex. I mean, I knew this way before I had twins. But, you would not believe how often I am asked this question.

"No, ma'am. They're not identical," I'll say. "Actually they have different fathers."

[blank stare]

[pause for effect]

"Just kidding," I say.

A Typical Day

2005-11-29T14:35:00.000-05:00

Aunt Julie recently baby-sat the twins for a day. Tracy wrote up a schedule to help her sister, so I thought I would post this little insight to a typical day.

Eugene and Olivia's Schedule

8:00am - Wake Up and diaper change. I usually put PBS on the TV and bring whoever is changed first downstairs. I put them in the Exersaucerer to watch TV until I finish changing the other one.

8:15-8:30 - Feed bottles. Eugene and Olivia both get 7 ounce bottles.

9:30 - Solids. I usually put them in the high chairs but feel free to use the booster seats that are in the spare bedroom. I feed them cereal (use the oatmeal today) and a fruit. I split a jar of the fruit between the two of them and then each of them get 1/4 cup of the dry cereal mixed with formula. You can also put water in the sippy cups for them if you'd like.

10:30 or 10:45 - Nap time. This is an estimate. I like them to be up by 12:30 and not to nap more than 2 hours. So, if they can't make it any later than 10:30, go ahead and put them down. If they look like they could stay up longer, they can stay up but no later than 11:00. They are usually ready for a nap by 10:30 or so.

12:30 - Wake from nap and diaper changes. I usually put on PBS again for the same routine.

12:45-1:00 - Feed bottles. Eugene gets 7 ounces and Olivia gets 6 ounces.

3:15 or 3:30 - Nap time.

4:30 - Wake from nap and diaper changes.

4:45-5:00 - Feed bottles. Eugene and Olivia get 7 ounces.

5:15 - Mommy's home!! (smiley face)

Notes: Olivia has had a tough time with naps lately. She had a hard time falling asleep and will usually cry for a bit. The morning nap goes better than the afternoon nap. I would let her fuss/cry for at least 15 minutes because she will usually fall asleep on her own. But, after 15 minutes you can go up and rock her if necessary. That will usually do the trick.

Halloween

2005-11-09T10:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween! Sorry the photos are a little late. Did you think we would let the kid's first Halloween go by without dressing them in goofy costumes? Of course not. That would be irresponsible parenting. Eugene's first girlfriend will need to know that he was a turtle for Halloween. Olivia was a stunning pink leopard.

The twins enjoyed the night on the porch with us, as we handed out candy to the neighborhood kids. It quickly became apparent that we had too much candy, so I started handing out two pieces to everyone. Word spread fast, and soon kids were coming up asking if we were the "Two Piece" house. I hope that reputation doesn't carry over to next year.

Baptism

2005-10-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Eugene were recently baptized at our church. This photo was taken at home because we left church right after the baptism, and before the end of the service.

Apparently Olivia read the part in the Bible that tells us to sing to God, because as soon as the congregation started singing, she joined right in and kept on going.

Many thanks to our Pastor Jim Gilchrist. Thanks also to our Second Presbyterian Church Elder (and friend), Beth Coolidge, for standing with us at the baptism.

Stats & Habits

2005-10-06T14:15:00.000-04:00

Things are changing so fast. It seems that the kids pick up and lose habits faster than we can record them. So Tracy came up with a list of their Stats and Habits at 6 months old. Our thanks to fellow twin bloggers the Curlettos for the inspiration behind this posting.

Eugene Francis IV
 AKA: Little Man, Mr. Man, Big Burrito, Biggie Boy, The Biggest of the Biggies (this name applies to both children), The Doer
 Known For: smiles that light up his entire face, loud belly laughs, sweaty feet, a bit of a temper when tired or hungry (along w/ a high pitched squeal), rolling over at night to sleep on his belly, sitting on his own for short periods, and smiling and laughing at our dog Farley (along with everyone else he meets).
 Recent Milestones: eating solids twice a day, rolling over, standing (w/ balancing assistance from Mom or Dad) and two bottom teeth!
 Favorite Toy/Game: Lamaze Clutch Cube and his Aquarium Bouncy Seat
 Weight: 18lbs

Olivia Louise
 AKA: Peaches Cheeks, Livi Lou, Sweet Burrito, Biggie Girl, The Biggest of the Biggies, The Thinker
 Known For: big cheeks, a laid back personality (most of the time anyway), extremely long big toes, a laugh that sounds like a cough, intently studying all of her toys, and her shy girl smile..
 Recent Milestones: eating solids twice a day, rolling over, standing (w/ balancing assistance from Mom or Dad), her own version of crawling (face down like a plow), sitting on her own for short periods, and one bottom tooth!
 Favorite Toy/Game: her pink crinkle butterfly, playing Biggie Girl (a game made up by Grandpa Butterworth)
 Weight: 16lbs

NFL Week 1

2005-09-12T16:14:00.000-04:00

Second year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans yesterday, bringing his regular season record to 14-0. A perfect 158.3 passer rating silenced critics who predicted a sophomore slump for the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

His achievement Sunday was with the help of a deep Steelers receiving corps. Pro Bowl wide receiver Hines Ward, who recently signed a new five year contract with the Steelers, caught 2 passes for 25 yards.

20 Weeks

2005-09-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Eugene are 20 weeks old. Wardrobe compliments of the Wilsons.

Twins Again?

2005-08-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

Those of you who have been following the Twin Invasion may recall a post about last August when Tracy and I came home from the beach to find two large mushrooms growing in the yard. It was shortly thereafter that we found out we were expecting twins. Well, this August the mushrooms came back.

"Hey Tracy, look at that," I said. "Two mushrooms are growing in the yard just like last year."

"Wow, that's weird," Tracy said. "Maybe I'm pregnant with twins again," she laughed.

"Ha...wait, that's not funny." I said. "There's no way you could be pregnant again, is there?" I asked.

"No, I don't think so," she said unconvincingly.

"You don't think so?" I asked trying to remain calm. "Either you definitely could, or you definitely could not be pregnant. Which is it?" I demanded.

"I am definitely probably not pregnant," she said.

"Honey!" I exclaimed. "Definitely and probably do not belong in the same sentence!"

"Well, honey, anything is possible." she calmly said.

Just for the record,Tracy is not pregnant. She was just having a little fun with me and the new mushrooms in the yard. Unfortunately, that was not the end of the "fun" for me. A week later a group of three mushrooms sprouted nearby. Then, after that, another half dozen shot up. We practically have a mushroom farm going. As long as it remains mushrooms, it's o.k. with me. We just don't need a baby farm here.

Shopping With Dad

2005-08-08T13:15:00.000-04:00

It is important that Tracy and I not become house-bound while taking care of these children. We need to begin exposing them early to the richness and diversity of the world that we live in. What better place to start than Bass Pro Shops?

16 Weeks

2005-08-01T12:55:00.000-04:00

"Mom, do we have to wear these outfits?"

Lessons for a New Dad

2005-07-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

Every week brings a new lesson. Like the lesson of bath day. This is a hard-and-fast rule that cannot be broken. It doesn't matter if the kids are dirty. They get bathed every two days.

The way I see it, their heads and tails get cleaned at every feeding and diaper change. The rest of their bodies are covered, for the most part. And it's not as if they have really messy activities. They aren't helping me dig the new sidewalk. But, if it's bath day, they get a bath, dammit.

I've also had an expansion of my vocabulary with words like "binkie" and "onesie" and "poopy". These are not just fun new words. They also have meaning. Take, for example, the word "sleeper". This refers to the gown that the kids sleep in. One afternoon Little Eugene and I met Tracy at the pediatrician's office. She was surprised that he was still in his sleeper.

"Has he been in his sleeper all day?" she asked.

"Well, yeah," I said.

"Eugene, sleepers are only for sleeping!" she whispered as her eyes scanned the waiting room, hoping no one overheard. "This is so embarrassing," she said.

"He sleeps most of the day anyway," I said. "You know if I didn't have to come down here to meet you, I'd still be in my pajamas, too."

"Eugene, you have a lot to learn," Tracy said.

"I guess I do, honey," I said.

Thanks, Dave

2005-07-22T12:12:00.000-04:00

Our friend Dave is coming home next week from his tour in Iraq. Dave hasn't seen his 14 month old daughter Landyn since he left in January. His Dad is a helicopter pilot who departed Sunday for 5 months of training followed by a year long tour in Kosovo. To Dave and his family, and to everyone serving our country, thank you for your service and sacrifice. We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

14 Weeks

2005-07-18T11:48:00.000-04:00

Today the twins are 14 weeks old. This was the best picture I could get of them.

Really, Eugene is happy in all of the photos. It's Olivia who can't seem to stay happy. For some reason she has been less content lately. It's as if they have switched roles. I think I'll start calling them George and Elaine. It really is a Bizarro World here in Twinland.

P.S. The babies and I managed to make it through our first days at home together without burning the house down. More on that later.

Still with the Tongue

2005-07-12T21:38:00.000-04:00

I'm trying my best to break Olivia of the sticking-out-the-tongue habit, but her mother has a lot of influence over her.

Mr. Mom

2005-07-09T18:07:00.000-04:00

This was a sad week for Tracy. It marked the end of maternity leave and the return to work part-time. I will be working part-time also, so that someone is always home with the kids. I don't know if this is a comfort to Tracy or not. She called home from work four times on Wednesday to see how I was doing.

"How am I doing?" I asked. "Do you think I'm going to have a breakdown?"

"Well...no, not really," she said.

Tracy won't admit it, but she has this paranoid fantasy about what will happen when I stay home with the kids. It goes something like this:

The answering machine at home picks up.

"Hello Eugene," Tracy says worriedly. "Just calling to check on you. I haven't heard from you all day. I wish you would call me back."

I don't get her messages because I am out golfing all morning. Not all day, just the morning. The kids won't sleep all day.

When I get home I head straight to the fridge for a beer. I need to fortify myself to handle the kids for the rest of the day. This is why I don't hear her calls in the afternoon. By one o'clock I'm passed out on the couch in my underwear.

That's where Tracy comes home to find me. The children are on the floor, crying in dirty diapers. The room is littered with empty Budweiser cans. There is violence and nudity on the television. Sharp objects are within reach. And, at the moment she walks in the back door, the neighbors and our pastor come knocking on the front door.

"That's just ridiculous," I tell her. "You know I don't drink Budweiser."

"Well...," she said.

First (second?) Trip to the Beach

2005-07-07T14:33:00.000-04:00

The kids had a wonderful first trip to the beach over the 4th of July weekend. The water was warm, the sun was shining, the fireworks went off at all hours of the night. It was great! No, seriously. We had a fantastic time.

There were a few "non-residents" who thought it would be "fun" to set off "half-sticks of dynamite" at midnight. That was not fantastic. But every other part was. Even the three hour car ride down there.

Bad Manners

2005-06-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

"Young Lady, it is not polite to stick out your tongue."
Olivia has a habit of doing this. She must have learned it from her mother.

11 Weeks

2005-06-29T11:49:00.000-04:00

The twins 11 week birthday was this past Monday.

Lookahere, Young Sportsman

2005-06-24T23:00:00.000-04:00

"Lookahere, young sportsman. That-there's the kitchen area where Ma and Pa chow down. Over there's the TV, two hours a day maximum, either educational or football so's you don't ruin your appreciation of the finer things. This-here's the divan, for sociahzin' and relaxin' with the family unit. Yessir, many's the day we sat there and said wouldn't it be nice to have a youngster here to share our thoughts and feelin's."- H. I. McDunnough
Ed finaly got to see the kids dressed for the outdoors in their camouflage onsies.

Update

2005-06-14T18:57:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. I'm sorry it has been so long since the last posting. We've been, um, busy. So much has happened over the last couple of months. Where do I begin?

Saturday was the twins two month birthday. They keep on growing and eating and making dirty diapers - all things good newborns should do. They are both over 11 lbs. now. Tracy is taking them to the pediatrician today where they are due for some shots. BREAKING NEWS: Tracy is reporting that Eugene and Olivia made it through their shots o.k. They got four shots a piece - two in each leg.

Sunday night Tracy and I ventured out to dinner for the first time with Eugene and Olivia. We picked a kid-friendly place with a lot of background noise. Taking a deep breath, we entered the restaurant fully prepared to rush a screaming kid out to the parking lot in the middle of dinner. Amazingly, Eugene and Olivia slept through it all. We watched as other parents ran their screaming kids out to the parking lot. One day, we'll get to experience that joy.

The kids are mostly sleeping through the night now (5-6 hours). It's usually Eugene who wakes up first. I think Olivia would keep on sleeping if we let her. Overall, she's more easy going and less fussy. Even her crying seems soft and quiet. Eugene, on the other hand, lacks that softer, quieter side. That's not to say he doesn't have good moments. He can sit quietly and stare around the room for long periods of time. He just requires a different level of interaction when he's in one of his spastic moods. Much like a Labrador retriever craves aggressive petting from its owner, Eugene prefers a high level of activity when rocking, swinging and strolling.

Our first family road trip is coming up soon. Over Independence Day weekend we're heading down to Dad's shack at the beach. It's a three hour drive, which is about the amount of time in between feedings. I foresee the car ride being its own adventure.

Dinner Time

2005-05-16T20:46:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Eugene

2005-05-02T22:19:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Eugene

Meet Olivia & Eugene

2005-04-24T23:23:00.000-04:00

(editors note: This posting is another video file. It's about 4.5 MB in size.)

Welcome Home

2005-04-19T22:12:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Eugene have made it home. Eugene came home last Friday, and Olivia was released on Sunday.

It was nice to have them both home before the week began. Driving to Harrisburg twice a day to see them was tiring.

Compared to others we had it easy. We met a couple in the NICU who were finally bringing their daughter home. She weighed 2.5 lbs. when she was born at 30 weeks, and she spent 32 days at the hospital. Dad said he was so excited that he couldn't sleep the night before!

They Have Arrived!

2005-04-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

These are the first pictures we could get of Eugene and Olivia. He's on the left and she's on the right.

These photos were taken in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. They started life in the NICU right after birth as a precaution, because they are technically premature. But, less than 24 hours later they left the NICU and spent the day with us in our room.

Right now they are back in the NICU where Olivia is being treated for jaundice. They are feeding well, however, and we expect them to come home soon.

Presenting Eugene & Olivia

2005-04-11T15:54:00.000-04:00

Waiting...

2005-04-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

On Our Way!

2005-04-11T03:06:00.000-04:00

Four Feet

2005-04-06T22:43:00.000-04:00

(editors note: This posting's photo is a link to a video file. It's about 1.5 MB in size, so it may take a minute to load. Also, be sure to have your speakers on.)

The words "four feet" can mean many different things when you are expecting twins.

Tracy and I have four feet between the two of us. Sometimes they don't seem like enough to get us around to do all of the things we need to do in preparation for the babies.

Speaking of the babies, when we see them in an ultrasound, their feet are usually up at their heads. It won't be long until those four feet are under them and they're running around.

Then there are times during a twin pregnancy when the words four feet have a more dimensional meaning... Watch the video to see what I mean.

Nursery Final Draft

2005-04-03T22:15:00.000-04:00

Here is the finished nursery. It is completely done. The pictures are hung, the clothes are washed and put away, the diapers are stockpiled. All we need now are some babies.

If it were up to Tracy, we'd have them today. 36 weeks is considered full term for twins. This past Friday she hit 35 weeks.

I told Tracy it would be really convenient for me if she went into labor early Saturday. We could shoot for having these babies between, say, 8 a.m. and noon. That would give us most of Saturday and all day Sunday to rest. Then we could be home in time for me to be at work Monday morning. She told me she'd see what she could do.

Deep in Thought

2005-03-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

I wonder what Tracy is thinking?

Maybe she's thinking, "How crazy would it be if these babies came on Easter?"

Maybe she's thinking, "Mmm...Easter dinner..."

She's probably just thinking, "These babies better not come during Easter dinner." There is a lot of deep thinking going on around here lately.

Latest Ultrasounds

2005-03-27T14:19:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest ultrasound pictures taken March 23. These are some of the best pictures we've seen of their faces.

The boy's chin looks a little lumpy, but that is supposedly just the imaging machine. The girl held her right hand over her eye the whole time. It made her look a little cranky. I wonder if we have a drama queen on our hands.

Preparing for Arrival

2005-03-21T19:33:00.000-05:00

There is much to do, and little time to do it.

Our kitchen has been turned into a Bottle Sterilization Center. The garage is a staging area where we exchange large, baby-related items (eg. car seats, high chairs, strollers) for junk in the house that we no longer need that takes up too much room.

I know we're making progress because we're starting to see more baby stuff in the house and more household junk in the garage. I think we'll have a yard sale next week.

Still More Progress

2005-03-09T21:15:00.000-05:00

My, how things have grown. This picture was taken on March 7th. The babies are now probably just over 4lbs. each.

The doctor said one of the reasons Tracy was having contractions was that both babies add up to about one regular pregnancy. The uterus just doesn't know the difference.

Hospital Tour

2005-03-06T22:21:00.000-05:00

In January, Tracy and I had the flu and missed our tour of the hospital Labor and Delivery wing. No need to reschedule! Last week we got to see it firsthand.

Tracy was having contractions, and was admitted for preterm labor. Fortunately, she responded well to the medication, and spent only one night in the hospital. She's home now and on bedrest untill the babies get here.

Based on the way they were kicking this morning, it almost seems like they want to come really soon. I'd prefer they wait about a month.

Bab(ies) Shower

2005-03-06T20:50:00.000-05:00

Tracy had a wonderful time at her shower. Thank you to everyone who came, and thank you for the many gifts. I showed up at the end to snap a few pictures and say hi. It was great to see all of the friends and family who came out to support Tracy.

Cake

2005-03-02T20:08:00.000-05:00

Tracy had her baby shower this past Saturday. Tracy's mom and my mom put a lot of work into making it a nice occasion. Here's a picture of the cake.

Tracy All Smiles

2005-02-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

See what I mean? The smile just keeps on going.

Nursery in Progress

2005-02-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

Here's a look at the nursery in progress. Six months ago it was filled with tools and scrap materials from our bedroom remodeling project. It has come a long way.

Tracy's dad and her uncle helped me paint the room. The valance and one of the bed skirts were made by her mother. The cradle was made years ago by her neighbor George. One of the two dressers was donated by my dad. And they were both painted by a friend's father. It has really been a community project.

Special Purpose

2005-02-21T13:52:00.000-05:00

With this photo we got visual confirmation that Baby A was a boy. The cursor is pointing to his "special purpose".

Prior to this we had to rely on the recollection of the ultrasound technician. Originally, we were not going to find out the sexes.

Finding out the sexes of your children for the first time when they are born seemed to me to be one of those great surprises worth waiting for. My wife (and her mother, and my mother, and everyone else in the family) had the opinion that it was better to know beforehand, so the proper planning could take place, especially since it was twins. So I gave in.

Tracy called the technician, and asked her to write the sexes on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. I picked up the envelope and we went out to dinner and opened it up. It was still a nice surprise.

Relaxin' with the Dog: Part II

2005-02-21T10:05:00.000-05:00

Another option for relaxing is to just stay in bed. You run the risk, however, of your husband harrassing you with the camera.

Relaxin' with the Dog

2005-02-21T09:51:00.000-05:00

At times it becomes necessary to put your feet up and air out the belly.

More Progress

2005-02-20T22:11:00.000-05:00

And the weeks go on...and the belly grows. Tracy's smile has not diminished one bit, although I have noticed more groans when she gets up and moves around. The doctor told her that January would be her last good month. It is becoming quite a load to carry around.

Farley Baxter

2005-02-20T21:31:00.000-05:00

This is our dog Farley. We've had him since our first year of marriage five years ago.

I think he senses that something is afoot. He is a very needy dog. By that I mean he needs attention. So, while we prepare the nursery and receive gifts, Farley gets less and less attention. I think that's why he chewed up Tracy's cell phone. He's a good dog, though (so my wife would say).

He is very good with children. We'll just have to remember to pay attention to him when the babies arrive.

Uncle Jimmy?

2005-02-20T17:06:00.000-05:00

My dad and my grandma both think this ultrasound looks like my uncle Jimmy. It's Baby A, the boy, so I guess it's possible.

Gene & Tracy

2005-02-20T13:31:00.000-05:00

Here we are at a farewell party for our friend Dave who was heading to Iraq. I found it hard to keep my hands off of Tracy's stomach. I guess I just like to show off my pregnant wife.

Ultrasounds

2005-02-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

Most of the ultrasounds before this one didn't show us much. Here we really got to see what looked like babies. I got a feeling during this appointment that Baby A was a boy. I think it was the next appointment where we found out for sure...one boy, one girl.

Tracy's dad was probably the most excited to find out. Tracy is the oldest of 3 girls. When they were growing up even the dog was a girl. So, he was happy to know there was a boy. Besides, camouflage onesies from the Cabela's catalog are made for boys and girls. The girl's has a frill around the behind, so he had to know.

Tracking the Progress

2005-02-20T12:41:00.000-05:00

I began trying to photo-document everything. We'd been trying to conceive for a long time, so we were pretty excited when it happened. I wanted to get profile shots to show Tracy's progress.

"You know this is going to last around 36 weeks," she said after the fifth photo in the first week.

I cut down the picture taking to about once a week.

Susan & Gavin's Wedding

2005-02-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

That's Tracy in front of me on the top step. Susan and Gavin had their wedding over Labor Day weekend. We found out about a week or so before that we were expecting twins. We tried to keep it hush-hush, but you know how family get-togethers are.

Twins?

2005-02-18T22:13:00.000-05:00

When we got home from the beach we found these two mushrooms in the yard. They were the only two. Not a single other mushroom grew in the yard. I guess it was a sign.

Summer Vacation

2005-02-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

Here's where it all began. This is Tracy and me. It's August 2004, and we're on our summer vacation in Delaware. We were spending a week at Dad's shack at the beach with our friends, the Wilsons.

They had their twin, eight month old daughters with them. Our whole day revolved around these two little girls. Little did we know that this was actually training for things to come...