another log awaited update

Ben watches TV

Me and Zev face to face, Nov 6th 2011

Zev the flower child

Zev laughing Nov 10th

Serious Ben is looking very grown up Nov 10th

Same day, reading time

For their five month birthday the boys received gifts from the family, including awesome balloons from the Boston grandparents.  Mom got lots of flowers.  But from their parents the boys received a very special gift - the parents left them for a night, for the first time.  We escaped to a nearby resort for both mental and physical recuperation, while three generations of Mann/Men/Baldetskaya women took care of the boys.  The boys, I suspect, were a lot less anxious about the whole thing than anyone else.

Having our day of freedom, Alla and I arrived at the resort to be treated to a bottle of champagne (thank you - you know who you are!) plus whatever goodies we brought with us.  But better still - a hot tub in our room. A drink and a lunch later we headed to our respective procedures (facial for Alla, soak for me).  We got back to the room, ate some, drank some, hot-tub-ed some, lounged some more.  And were asleep by 10:30 pm like a pair of old kakers.

With the time change, we were up by 6:30.  I talked Alla out of calling the house immediately.  We read some more, but by 7:30 Alla would no longer be contained.  In short sequence, Alla's mom and sister reported that the night went just fine up until the point when two idiots woke them up at 7:30 on a Sunday.  We went for breakfast.

sleep training, round 1

After much deliberation and a couple of rough nights, it was decided that it is time for sleep training.  The trial went reasonably well - Zev cried for 5 minutes, then for 10, then fell asleep without a sound.  The biggest victim was Mom, who chewed on her nails non-stop.

The next night we braced ourselves, prepared, and decided to do it proper.  Mom started us well, having managed to let Zev cry for a few minutes after the 6:30 meal.  I do believe she even has some nails left.

For the actual training Mom was banished over to Vika's house for what I was hoping (in vain) would be a decent night's sleep.  Equipped with instructions, several texts from Mom, and a repeated promise to kill me if I hurt the children, I settled in for the night.  Our friend and sitter Shawna came over to help and promised to stick with the program, also contrary to her nature.

The evening started with Zev waking up at 22:55 and demanding his meal loudly.  It took a few minutes to get organized (plastic ware was in the kitchen), which improved Zev disposition not one bit.  Per instructions, both boys had their diapers changed before the meal, which clearly did not help matters either.  In an attempt to provide speedier service I offered room temperature formula, which was rejected by both customers, leading to yet another bout of complaining about the service.  Clearly, I was not getting a tip.  To make matters worse, it took me a bit to realize that the plastic ware was not washed.  The night started rather ominously.
Finally, 8 wasted ounces of formula and minutes later, the food was offered in an acceptable way.  The boys ate.  Ben, in his usual fashion, went straight to sleep.  Zev complained about being put into the bed, and we were off.
Strictly per instructions, I comforted Zev and left.  The timer was set for 5 minutes and I settled in to wait.  To my surprise, in two minutes Zev was asleep.  And that, pretty much was the story for the night.  Ben slept straight through.  Zev woke at 3:30, ate some formula, cried for two more minutes and went to sleep again.  The story repeated around 6am, which was getting close to the actual wake up time.  By 6:15 mom (who hardly slept) was back and I was off to work.

Right now Alla is asleep.  Rita (Alla's mom) and I are getting ready to feed.  Everyone is pumped (OK, let me rephrase - we are all less anxious that we should be) for the second night of sleep training.  I really hope it goes as well as last night.  Because if it doesn't - well, I hope it does...

more October pictures

excited about a trip  10/15/11

Zev is happy to be going too 10/15/11

Zev practicing sitting (with some assistance) 10/17/11

Ben on a walk 10/26/11

October pics

Side by side, in the jungle.  10/3/11

Ben, ready for a walk.  10/6/11

Zev is ready too, in his own fashion.  10/6/11

Standing by for Bjorn load... 10/6/11

... and upclose

Ben loaded

Zev asleep, at his favorite place...

final few pics from September

All of these were taken on the 30th

Ben in a swing

Another night vision Ben.  Those red eyes must come in handy...

Smiling Ben

Zevi and the elephant

a few more pictures from late September

These were taken around 9/26

Ben big eyes

Night vision Ben

Zev, chilling

4 months; Yom Kippur

The boys turned 4 months recently.  For their "birthday" they got their vaccine injections, which made for formidable few days.  Naturally, Saturday was Yom Kippur which yours truly was observing.  The day was the first time I spent a significant portion of a day with the kids.  The boys too were observing Yom Kippur, after a fashion - they refused to eat normally, sleep normally, which naturally did not improve their tempters.  The combination of the fast with the kids acting up was memorable - certainly enough to make this one Jew wish he was at a temple.

By Sunday things were back to normal, more or less.  The kids actually had a great night, with Ben setting another personal record - sleeping from 11:30pm to 6am.  Zev still got mom to wake up and comfort him, but he is getting better about this too.  During the day today I finally got to see the boys in good tempters.  They played, talked to me, and showed their changing characters.  In a complete reversal, Zev, when fed and dry, is quite and contemplative, while Ben wants to run everywhere and learn everything immediately.  Ben is also more tolerant of technology - he actually was upset that he had to face away from the TV during one of the feedings (that just landed him upstairs where he ate without a fuss).  Zev likes to stare at the TV too, though he switches his attention happily.  The only other thing of note is that the boys have enthusiastically started their boxing training - I work with them on some combinations a few minutes a day and mom teaches them that punching balloons is fun.  There is no way this can possibly backfire, right?

I will continue to try to post pictures in chronological order.  I am still behind, but such is life.  Please stay tuned.

Ben outside the house

Zev having a good time

The boys are getting ready to go for a ride

another progress report

It has indeed been good three weeks since the last update.  Much has changed.  The boys now sometimes go entire seven hours at night without eating (Ben more so than Zev).  Ben also recently switched to sleeping unswaddled, in a sack of sorts.

The psychedelic-colored toy gym thingy no longer freaks the boys out.  They are starting to grasp at things somewhat and, when in the mood, talk back in their own language.  The differences persists as well.  Ben continues to prefer the bottle and poop once a day.  Zev continues to prefer the breast (does he ever) and poop pretty much every other meal.  Zev also learned that if he refuses the bottle long enough, mom will come and feed him, at least a little.  It mostly works well, unless it is 11pm and daddy is hell-bent on letting mommy sleep through the feeding.  In which case the boob thing is just not happening.  On a memorable occasion Zev took about 35 minutes to eat an ounce and a half (just enough not to feel hungry), fighting me all the way.  Just as I was ready to put him down hungry and go bang my head against a nearby reinforced wall, Zev said "ah, f@ck it" and sucked down another two ounces in ninety seconds.

9/6, the boys with mom and grandma Lina

9/8 fed, content Zev after breastfeeding

9/9 together

9/9 Zev: "eat?  we gonna eat?"

9/12 Ben, looking rather grown up.

9/12 Zev, about to be fed.  The boy sure knows what he likes.

9/12 Ben laughing

It should also be noted that on some days the boys switch roles, just to keep everyone on their toes.  Ben, who by know has a reputation for a calm demeanor, may choose to spend the day being very active and particular in what he likes - namely, being held and held upright only.  He might also choose to fuss and not eat during the 11pm meal - just to keep daddy entertained.  Zev, on the other hand, often gets into an introspective mood and prefers to observe the world calmly during the day, and chooses the night to process and share his impressions.

The boys continue to enjoy trips around the neighborhood in the stroller and have recently been introduced to "baby bjorns" which they seem to enjoy - in their own way.  Ben - to watch what goes one around him and Zev - to sleep calmly, not too far from his favorite food source.

the long weekend

Tomorrow the boys are three months.  More importantly, they had a great time over the long weekend.  The boys had a visit from the Boston grandparents.  The said grandparents were delighted to take part in all activities, comparing how things changed since the first two weeks.  This time around the boys were clearly more responsive, much more willing to "talk", especially Benjamin, who is more than happy to hold up his end of a conversation.  Zev is not in a talkative mood quite as often, but is also willing to communicate at the right time.  The boys are also discovering mirrors and lights (both readily available at one of their changing locations).

Besides being more talkative, the boys are now better at tracking people and sounds, at least sometimes turning head towards the speaker.  They continue to be fascinated by moving and singing toys, but level of attention seems to be increasing nicely.

The boys also had a great park outing where they saw (and were seen by) lots of friends.

Before I am asked - our camera is out on assignment currently.  However, the Boston grandparents had a camera with them, as did some of the friends at the park, so please be patient - the pictures are coming.  Also, enjoy the videos in the previous post.  I learned that posting video as videos actually works better than telling the blog that they are pictures.  Which happen to be large and moving.  Go figure.

two videos, attempt 2