some more pics

These were taken on the 21st

Benjamin exercising with Great-Grandma

Boys playing with the psychedelic play thingy

now for actual pictures...

Benjamin

Zev

... and Benamin

... and Zev

... and all together now

a much delayed (small) update

The boys have been growing well and continue to become (somewhat) more interactive.  Ben makes more of a determined effort to communicate - by repeating "hi" when he is in the mood.  Zev mostly luxuriates in having less stomach pain these days.  Both are clearly more fascinated with toys, especially the ones that move and make noises.  I think I qualify.

Now, I know y'all want more pictures...but right now the camera battery is completely discharged.  The battery is getting juice, and in the mean time - here are three recent captures from Alla's cell phone.

Ben: "This lying next to each other thing is weird..."
Zev: "Who cares, bro, we gonna be on TV!"

Ben: "Hey!  I know you, bro!"
Zev: "Dude, that stain on your pants better be milk!"

Ben: "Oh, snap.  Mom, tell me that wasn't in the shot...  Was it?"
Zev: "You see who I'm dealin' with here?"

a progress report, a few pictures

Another week has passed successfully, thank G-D.  The boys are gaining weight well and continue to improve their tracking and smiling capabilities.  The whole spending-time-in-the-play-pen-on-the-stomach thing is not too popular with them, but it will grow on 'em.  Zev's gut continues to behave like that of his father, mostly, i.e. he's not having a great time of it.  It seems to be getting better, slowly.  Or maybe it is wishful thinking at this point.  The definitive news is the complete defeat of the red burn marks on both butts, mainly, we think, due to liberal application of A+D ointment (where is my endorsement deal, darn it?)

Ben with Aunt Olya, our amazing nanny

Zev with daddy

the boys with daddy

and again

... and again.  Zev is smiling, now that both him and his bro established that the right person is holding them.  Benjamin is still not sure.

Grandpa Tolya with Zev, two days later.  no verification needed here.

Ben, not sure at all about the play pen.  This picture has been modified to reduce the vampiric appearance of the werebaby. 

the two month checkup and vaccinations; us vs the stroller, round 5

Pediatrician visit on Monday went very well.  The boys were pronounced pretty much perfectly healthy, responding well, and growing well.  Interestingly, they even manage to grow differently.  Zev is 11 ounces heavier, while Beresh is 3/4 of an inch taller.  Both tracked the light very well, lifted their heads, and Ben even attempted to talk to our pediatrician.  We were told to make sure they spend enough time each day on their tummies, basically trying to do push-ups.  I am figuring, sit-ups and splits will be next.

A (rather shaky) video of Ben, allegedly saying something to mom.  I'm staying outta this one.

The other objective of the visit was a series of vaccinations (two shots and a drink each).  The only thing I can say about the shots is that they ain't got nothin' on the whole circumcision experience.  The boys complained at being poked as expected, but pacifiers soaked in sugar water did the trick.

Once we got home, we settled in for the next two-three days and braced for impact.  The feedings varied.  The 4-8 pm time frame on Monday was not fun at all, especially for Zev.  Once we caved and gave the boys acetaminophen, they were OK.  The night time went smoother.  Tuesday and today the boys are a touch fussier than usual, but nothing major so far.

Misha with Zev, on Sunday 8/7

The final round against the stroller has taken place.  With the arrival of the correct adapters from the Netherlands, the stroller was finally wrestled into submission.  On Monday the boys rode around the hospital like kings.  At least two different people complimented us on the stroller first, and then on the passengers.

Finally!

Also from Monday:

"I am Ben, I am a very scary red eyed baby!"

Calm red eyed baby

"My scary brother is watching over me, so I can take a nap."

the long awaited pictures

Zev, sleeping thoughtfully.  7/30

Great-grandma Lena with Ben, around 7/24

Ben resting, 7/25

Mom with Zev.  Proudly wearing results of a successful burp.  7/27

Grandma Rita with Zev, 8/2

Zev sleeping on dad, around 8/2

Mom and Zev, 8/1

It appears Benjamin has been a bit camera-shy lately.  We will rectify that.

another sorta birthday

It has been brought to my attention that no posts have appeared for some time.  Well, today is a perfectly fine day to fix that - another bogus milestone, two months.  (look - in two weeks is it ten weeks - birthday! in two more - three months - birthday! do you see where this is going?  G-D willing we make it to 5 months, also known as 20 weeks - double birthday!)

Both of the boys are well over 10 lb now, and continuing to gain.  They track with their eyes consistently and reports of them smiling at people are getting to be consistent, although I do remain skeptical at the deliberate nature of the smiles.  Over the previous week or so Zev added a new weapon to his arsenal - a piercing squeal / shriek.  This weapon is particularly effective in close quarters, against a nearby ear.  Mercifully, he does not use the weapon often.  The boys have also shown occasional fondness for the hip-hop style of wearing diapers, i.e. wiggling around until even a decently tight diaper is worn *way* low in the back.  This will become relevant later.  I hope the whole 'diaper gangsta' fad is just a phase and they grow out of it soon.

Yesterday, during Shabbat dinner, Ben had a historic event - he met his first pretty girl (that he was not related to).  An adorable 8 year old girl repeatedly called both boys 'cute' and asked to hold Ben.  Zev, I believe, was busy hogging attention via a gassy stomach.  Benjamin was a gentleman, i.e. he managed to not poop or vomit on the girl.

Every time I think that the poop subject matter has exhausted itself, I am proven wrong.  Few days ago during a night feeding Ben and I had an event that can only be described as "severe loss of containment".  I should preface this by saying that the yellow-green rule (let a pooping baby poop) has been discarded due to the (literally) acidic affects of poop on skin.  It has been replaced by the "respond and contain" principle.  Onward.  During a night feeding I received tell-tale olfactory and auditory indications that we had a pooping event.  No big deal, usually.  This time, however, it was coupled with a diaper worn super-low.  Well, you can imagine.  In mere two minutes that it has taken Ben to pause in his meal so I could respond, the damage was done.  What should have been in the diaper was in the shirt.  Which acted as a strainer, as Ben's weight pressed and refined the fertilizer.  The liquid filtered though the shirt, further filtered through the blanked, and the pure, refined essence of poop was deposited onto the crutch of yours truly.
Not to be outdone, Zev responded a mere couple of days later.  On Friday Alla and I managed a trip to the gym between feedings (go us!) as the nanny watched the boys.  When we got back, we found her cleaning the diaper basket in the downstairs bathroom.  She greeted us by saying "they had a problem."  The boys were fine.  The room was also fine - by then.  Evidently, during a diaper change, Zev waited patiently for the opportune moment of being diaperless and fired all calibers.  There were no human casualties, but material damage was substantial.  We were told he got two walls, the surface he was on, everything on it, and the floor.  The ceiling, I believe, was safe.

ye, ye - pictures are coming.  hang on.