We are five months old today!!!

I swear...I wait and wait for a smile from Lucas, but he refuses to smile for the camera...he smiles all the time, just not for the camera. Meanwhile, Liliana LOVES to ham it up for the camera! Five months old!!! Congrats kiddies!



Below is a cute video of Lucas and Liliana relaxing on the quilt. They are starting to recognize each other and reach out for each other...too cute!




And yesterday the sun FINALLY came out..it was a gorgeous day. I took the kids for a walk to Saugatuck Island. It's such a cute place. A friend from work lives there. It's right on the border of Norwalk and Westport (but in Westport) and it has such a beachy town feel to it..like Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. Such a cute place. It was a long walk and after a long day Felix was gracious enough to come pick us up in the Subaru so I didn't have to push the stroller back 4 miles to our house...thanks babe!

Getting to know you....

So we have started "introducing" the twins to each other. We think they were always "aware" of the other, but now they are beginning to realize that the other is actually another being and not just some object always taking up room next to them. Some cute pics from recent interactions...

They both turn at the sound of their names so it makes it so much easier to take pictures!

Seems she likes it better solo!

And finally, here is an video of Liliana trying to roll over. She is trying so hard these days...it's going to happen any day now. But until then, it is a little comical to watch. Enjoy!

Why not Tri?

Well, I did it...I completed my first triathlon of the series. Those of you who know me, know that pre-babies, Felix and were very into the whole triathlon thing. We weren't super competitive (if only with each other) but we raced to stay in shape and stay fit. Last summer was the first summer in 5 years that I did not compete. Obviously, due to my pregnancy, it wasn't a good idea. So I decided that getting back into the race scene was a great way to get this baby weight off of me. I am not one for dieting..never have been. The best way for me to get back in shape has always been old fashioned hard work outs. That's it. So anyway, Jen (my college roomate) and I signed up to do this tri in her home town of Wilbraham, MA. Felix watched the kids for the whole weekend and I made a nice trip of it (thanks babe!). Below are some pics before the race.

Jen and I before the race...

Jen with her Dad and brother Dan. These three did the tri as a relay team..each person did a different leg.

The pond where we swam. The swim is always the easiest part for me. But unfortunately for me, the swim is the least significant leg in any triathlon. It's the shortest and the bike is what really counts. Apparently, there were a lot of people who were taken out of the water and could not finish. I missed that somehow.

The transition area...where you pick up your bike after the swim and where you drop if off before the run.

All four of us before the race.

By no means was this my best race. It was the shortest I had done and my longest time by far. But my goals were different this year. I just wanted to finish. Jen and I compete again in three weeks. She is coming down to Norwalk and we will do one right here at the beach. Jen and I will both be doing the whole race solo that time. Time to keep training. I got 20 stubborn pounds that won't come off...but heck, I think I earned my Domino's tonight! Lol!

Feeding time!

Well, at the last doctors visit, we were told to try and start the twins on some rice cereal. They have been taking rice (just a little) in their bottles for a while now. This was more to get them used to the spoon...and as I am learning, it will be a bit of a transition for them. They are a little small for their highchairs, but feeding them is so messy so this is the best place. The chairs have a nice harness system to keep them in, and there is a barrier between their legs so they can't slip out.

All smiles before we start...I think she thought she was getting a bottle...

Lucas had just woken up..I don't think he knew what was going on...

The feeding with the spoon is a little frustrating for them. They think it is a bottle and try to drink that way but obviously it is not and so they get confused and frustrated, as witnessed by Liliana here...

So, I think tomorrow we will try a time not so close to their regular feeding time. If they are too hungry, then they get too frustrated.

Another big day!

Today we went into the city to see some of Felix's family. Here is Felix, his mom, and Felix's cousin's daughters, Elena and Carolina.

Flavia, Felix's cousin and her two girls.

Carolina's birthday is coming up, so we celebrated and had a cake for her.

Liliana hamming it up..Lucas was sleeping through all of this...so no pics of him!

Peek-a-boo!

Carolina thoroughly enjoying her moment!

Afterward, we stopped by Felix's uncles house to see some more family. Pictured below are Felix's mother, Felix, Glen (Maria's son), Manolito (Tito's son and Felix's cousin), Manolito's daughter, Tito (Felix's uncle) and Maria (Tito's daughter and Felix's cousin)..got all that?

The twins will get a much deserved rest tomorrow. Mami and Papi are off to the US OPEN(golf) and the twins will stay with Nana. As much as I would like to promise pictures of Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, alas the Open does not allow for any cameras, cell phones, iPods, bags or much of anything else. Bring your money, walk around and watch some golf...that's it. But sometimes it's nice to just sit back and not need to document everything. Sometimes you miss what you want to see by making sure you preserve it forever. So this picture of our tickets is the only shot you will get. Until the next post....

What a big day!

Today the twins were such troopers! First off, it was graduation day at my school so I packed the twins up and took them to school to see the graduation. They were great...did not fuss at all...although people made a big fuss over them! The picture below is a bit blurry, the light in the field house was lousy and the flash made everything so dark.

This is Caroline, one of the teachers in the math department...she was all about holding the babies!

Kalif, who graduated last year and is attending West Virginia stopped by to say hi as we watched the ceremony from the back.

Here is Charles, the student that I mentored for four years. Congratualtions Charles! He is off to Cornell TOMORROW! YIKES!

We were hot and tired after graduation. I brought the twins home, Felix and I fed them and then we packed them back up into the car and drove to New Milford. Our friends Pete and Elaine were having a housewarming party for their newly remodeled home...it was a beautiful night!

Here's their new home...

Felix, Lucas and Elaine....

Liliana and Felix on the yard swing...

At the end of it all, they were wiped out. So much attention today! They were such good sports. At no time were they fussy or did they cry. We truly are lucky to have such good babies...and TWO of them!

Finish what you start....

I promise, this will not turn into a quilting blog..but besides taking pics of the kids, quilting is the the next thing I do the most these days. Well, I finally finished it. I started this quilt in November 2007 when Aiko and I went to the fabric shop together. Since then, she has made like 17 quilts...including two for our twins...and I have let this one sit on the side. Last summer, I was determined to finish it and since I was pregnant and not doing much, I was sure I would get it done. But everytime I would start sewing, the motion from the machine would make me even more sick, so I had to put it down once again. It has been nagging me that I haven't finished it. But I finally did last night. It has lots of flaws...like many of my quilts do. I sewed the outer binding too tight and as a result, you can see the "puckered" look around the border, but hey, it's done...and I feel a whole lot better.

Lucas seemed to enjoy all the crazy colors..good for color stimulation..right? Or are they still only seeing blacks and whites at this point? Who knows!

A happy, happy boy!

Virginia Beach here we come!

Well, as many of you know, Felix and I have planned the first trip with the twins for this summer. We are headed south and will be making stops in VA beach, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We thought this would be a good trip to introduce the kids to the water...so that meant bathing suits. The trip is still a month away, but I am starting to get things together already...little bits here and there.

This pic looks just like the one above it, but I thought they actually look a little "twin-like" Maybe it is the deer in the headlights look that they both have!

And I thought this was cute. I didn't pose them this way...I swear...but while I was taking their pictures, I noticed that they were kinda holding hands...too cute!

Today I was playing with Liliana on her playmat. I was seeing if she had any inclination of rolling over. I don't know at what age kids do this, but we were having fun. In the video below, I would roll her to her side and she would do the rest. Enjoy!

Father's Day a Little Early

Due to schedules, we decided to celebrate Father's Day a little early. Despite that, I am sorry to report that there are no pictures of the fathers that were present (Felix or Pat)..oops! Any celebration is a great excuse for Carvel ice cream cake...

Now that the twins are a bit sturdier, it is a lot easier for Connie and Wendy to hold them...here is Wendy and Liliana.

Connie joined in on the fun holding Lucas.

And we don't know if they are teething or what...seems like it. There's a lot of drueling going on and incessant muching of fingers...Lucas does it all night long while he sleeps. No crying just a lot of gnawing of fingers. We'll see..time will tell.

Oh my how we've grown...

Remember when? This was taken on one of the twins first trips to the doctor....

Today I took them out with me to run a few errands....the difference is unbelievable. It just makes us realize how fast they are growing and how sadly, you don't get the time back. We are so thankful that they are healthy and thriving..couldn't ask for more!