Pumpkin Patch

On Wednesday, we visited the pumpkin patch that a local (well, local to my mom) church puts on as a fundraiser.  I dressed the boys up in their orange gingham overalls with smocked pumpkins.  Now, baby clothing sizes are so weird.  Right now, the boys are wearing 12 months if I want something to fit perfectly (although some 12 month things are big on James) or 18 months if I want something to be slightly big (bigger on James, since he weighs three pounds less than Bobby).  I ordered these back in the summer, so having no idea how big the boys would be, but knowing they tend to run pretty true to size, I ordered two of the 12-month size.  These particular 12-month sizes are huge, though!  I can't help wondering if they've been mislabeled and are actually size 18 month, because I've never had this brand run so big.  But all this goes to explain why Jamesie's pants are rolled up and why the tops seem so big, even on Bobby.  My sister got them pumpkin-top headbands, so they're wearing (or chewing on) those in a few shots.  The ladies working there were so nice; they were very helpful in getting smiles out of Bobby!  The boys had had their 12-month shots the day before (12-month update later), and I think he was still feeling crummy.

Meanwhile, James seems to be going through some sort of phase.  Mom thinks he's discovering that he's capable of doing way more than he realized.  I don't know about that, but he's definitely doing something - he seems sometimes to have hit the terrible twos at one.  Sometimes he just screams and screams unless he's being held.  This would be hard enough with one baby and is really not feasible for one adult with twins.  So sometimes he just has to scream.  This is fun, let me tell you.  And after a couple of nights of going to bed at a reasonable hour, he's back to going to bed late - 11:15 the last two nights.  Although, he did sleep through the night until a little after 9 this morning, so that was pretty fabulous, even if he did get a late start.

One last thing - I voted early today.  It took me maybe ten minutes, start to finish!  Of course, part of this is that I live in the boonies, but it was still much, much better than voting on election day, I would guess.  And the beauty of voting early is that, if you do happen to go somewhere with a long line, you can leave and choose a better time or place - it's not like election day, when you don't have that option.  So get out there and vote!

Ride that pumpkin, Jamesie!

Bobby is unsure about the headband.

Bobby is more interested in eating grass and sticks than in the pumpkins.

Check out the size of one of our pumpkins!

Bobby samples a pumpkin stem

Jamesie loves the pumpkin patch!

Bobby's OT

Bobby has been scheduled for his OT (occupational therapy) evaluation on Friday.  This will evaluate his sensitivity issues, hopefully making it easier for him to wear his bipap machine and get help with his apnea.  Right now, he's ok playing with the machine, but any attempts to strap the mask to his head terrify him.  Of course, we tried it with James, and he doesn't care at all about having things on his head - figures!  After the evaluation appointment, we will learn exercises we can do at home, as well as make a series of appointments for him to come in and get checked out.  This may take anywhere from days to weeks to months... I'm hoping for something on the shorter side!  And now it's time for a morning bath for the boys - gotta go!

James does a little computing - which somehow involves being halfway under our bed!

 

Seaside, FL

Over a long Columbus Day weekend, Peter, Bobby, James and I, along with our friends Ross and Steffie, went to Seaside, Florida, one of our favorite beach destinations.  Peter's mom owns a house in Seaside, so we don't have to deal with hotels or condo rentals, and Seaside is such a beautiful, relaxing place.  We have a close-by beach in Houston (Galveston), but the water's pretty warm and, well, brown.  In Seaside, you can see your feet, and watch as little schools of fish swim around and nibble on your toes.  

It was the boys' first flight, and I was terrified of long lines to check luggage and get through the family line at security, so we got there about 2 1/2 hours early - way overkill, as it turned out.  There were no lines for checking bags, and we zipped through security.  James enjoyed crawling around the airport and asking strangers for food (it was lunchtime), so we headed over to Pappas' Burgers and had some lunch.

The boys enjoy puffs at lunch in the airport.









They did pretty well on the flight.  We bought them each a seat, so Peter and Ross took James, and Steffie and I had Bobby in the row behind them.  Both boys slept most of the hour-and-a-half flight, and woke up towards the end.  I don't know about James, but Bobby felt the bumpy landing with slammed-on brakes was hilarious!  Guess that little guy's going to like roller coasters!

We tried to keep the trip relaxed.  We went to the beach a couple of times.  The first time, James thought playing in the sand was just fabulous, and Bobby wanted nothing to do with anything.  The second time, James was pretty ornery (he hadn't slept well the night before), so he was not a huge fan of anything, but Bobby loved going out pretty far into the ocean and being swirled around in the sea, as well as jumping waves.  We've got ourselves a little fish!  They also enjoyed swimming in the kiddie pool with me and Steffie, and going out to eat - they love smoked tuna dip!  Well, let's be honest, they loved pretty much any grown-up food we stuck in front of them!  Ross and Steffie went home Sunday afternoon, and we headed home Tuesday.  The flight going home was super easy for Peter - James slept the entire way!  Bobby required entertaining almost the entire flight, though, and finally fell asleep as we started to descend - of course!  All in all, though, our first trip with the boys went well, and it helped teach me what we do and don't need to do for our big upcoming trip to Disney World with the boys Veterans' Day weekend.

And now for a picture overload (I apologize for the messiness of the layout)....

James heads for the ocean

Oh!  It's a little chilly!

Mom, the water keeps hitting me!

James loves the sand!

Shot of James and the sea

James builds a castle.

Both boys' first trip to the beach - Bobby (left) is not sure.

Introducing Ross and Steffie to the Shrimp Shack

Our first family shot in Seaside

Ross with James (modeling Ross's hat)

Peter and Ross teach James about the iPad

Probably my fave - Bobby passed out, so we made him a bed in the wagon.

Peter and Ross with kindles, the boys with puffs

Headed back after lunch with a passed-out Bobber

Bobby in a lounge chair on the beach

James (under the hat) passed out in Steffie's lap

Bobby with Mommy out in the sea

Bobby loves the sea!

The boys love the wagon we rented!