So Cheap

I found a coupon for a free 8x10 portrait at The Picture People so since we had no plans for our last day of Spring Break, we decided to get crazy and get a professional picture of the boys for Easter. I must say I walked in there with very low expectations. I knew they wouldn't take the time and energy required to get a decent shot of them both smiling and making eye contact-especially considering the fact that we marched in there as ghetto and late as ever with our FREE coupon, snotty noses, missing shoes, dirty shirts, and a poopy diaper. I wish I were lying about at least one of those. Long story short, I was right. Not one picture showed both babies smiling and only one showed all four eyes focused on the camera. And STILL....I was in love! I don't know what it was. It was just so strange (and I guess refreshing) to see them through a stranger's eyes. If I had been by myself, I think I would have ordered every pose. Instead, we ooed and awed and packed up our little dirty family and our big free 8x10 and back home we went. And instead of ordering the CD with the printable photos, I took a picture of the picture. So cheap. Enjoy!

That big glare in the middle is not actually on the print-that's just what happens when you take a picture of a picture. Oh my God I can't stop looking at them!

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What We've Been Up To...Long

I haven't had the time to give detailed updates lately, but since it's Sunday and the boys are napping, I'll do my best to bring everyone up to date on the little ones. If you know Caleb, you know that he has had some eating "issues" since being introduced to solids at 6 months. Refer to pictures around that time if you'd like a visual. When the Early Intervention intake team (we'll discuss that later) came out they asked if he had any resistance to solid foods and asked if I would like to have a group of specialists come out to evaluate him (nutritionist, occupational therapist, and speech/language pathologist). I said yes. As most people assured me from the start, he needed none of these specialists-just time, patience, and a lot of wasted baby (and big people) food. We still have an appointment with a couple of these ladies scheduled for next week, but seeing as how over the past few days, he's consumed 20 baby wieners, a jar of baby pasta, a whole pancake, a bowl of Granny Granny's taco soup and crackers, and a jar of applesauce and oatmeal, I am well aware that I may appear to be a nutcase when meeting these ladies. Thanks, Caleb.

The other issue the Early Intervention team is addressing is gross motor skills. Both boys were evaluated but only Caleb qualified so he will be receiving physical therapy twice a month to jump-start his interest in becoming more mobile. He had his first session 2 weeks ago and it if the purpose of PT is to have your baby scream bloody murder, then it went swimmingly. At the time, he was not tolerating more than 5 minutes on his tummy...or so I thought. I was asked to put him on his tummy and then show the therapist at what point in his protest I usually gave in and changed his position. When she saw that I caved at the first whimper, she all but spanked me. Apparently, I'm a sucker. Fast forward ONE week and Caleb is now staying on his tummy for up to 20 minutes! It was really hard watching him stare at me with those watery eyes begging for me to get him out of the torturous position, but we pushed through it and after a couple of days I figured out tricks to redirect his attention. It's just tricky because if he shows NO frustration, the purpose is defeated as we want him to try to change positions himself. But push him TOO hard, and he just lies down and sucks his thumb. It's definitely been a learning experience for me as well as Caleb. At any rate, the PT was thrilled at our progress:). This week we're working on transitioning from sitting to all fours.

Braxton has been his usual playful, easy-going self. He's eating like a champ and is now 19 pounds 9 ounces! He has acquired a new facial expression that closely resembles one that I made as a little girl as well. He squints his eyes as tightly as he can and gives this wide, strained grin. I can't decide if it looks he's in pain or if it looks like he's saying "look at me...I'm smiling!..this is how a smile looks!" Whatever it is, it's as cute as it is hilarious. He's also become quite fond of jumping (while you hold him up), kicking, and break-dancing. He can spin around on his tummy and practically get across the room. I've also been working with him on whatever exercises they give me for Caleb.

Gymboree has been getting better and better as well. They got a gold star last week! Okay, they didn't actually get a gold star but their teacher commented on how much they've grown developmentally since the first class 3 weeks ago. And they were very nice to Mimi this week. We didn't even have to do the cranky baby switch off. It was a good time. The boys are just becoming more and more of a delight these days. Their two bottom teeth have popped out thus ending the multiple night wakings and general crabbiness of the previous month. Hm, maybe that's why I didn't post much during that time. Thank God that's over!

Ok, so now that I've completely bored you with every tiny detail, I'll reward you with pictures! These were taken at the zoo last weekend when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Daddy and Braxton-Daddy loves the animals. Braxton not so much.

Grandma, Caleb, Grandpa, and Braxton petting the only animal I'd let them get close to.

Caleb hammin' it up for the camera.

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by The Alpha Team

One Year Ago Today

Stevie and I tied the knot! It was also around this time 8 years ago that we started dating at Sam Houston. It's scary to think how quickly this time has passed. The picture below is our first "family" photo. The little rodent in Stevie's arms is Max the ferret. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but I hated this guy. He smelled awful, he was constantly biting me, he pooped and peed all over the house, he stole all our socks and hid them in a hole in the couch, he squirmed and squeaked and always managed to run out of the house whenever I opened the door to leave. I can't count how many times I had to get our neighbor to fish him from underneath my car. Some days I was tempted to just leaving him there. Regardless, he was our first family addition. This was also our first apartment. Actually, this was Stevie's first apartment that I somehow wiggled my way into making 'ours'. I remember telling him that I needed to stay there for a month or so as I was moving from one dorm to the next. So...fast forward 8 years and I STILL have not moved into that dorm! Go figure.

We actually shared this twin bed for about a year. If that's not love, I don't know what is.

Our new and improved family at the zoo this weekend.

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Caleb's Photo Shoot...

...did not go so well. Of course he looked as gorgeous as ever, but I was having a difficult time squeezing in close enough to get the light from the window but far enough away to actually get more than just his eye in the frame (using a lens that doesn't zoom). I'm sure you all really care,

right? Just look at the pictures-I know that's all you want.

Read More 2 comments | Posted by The Alpha Team

Why Mommy Is Never in the Pictures

I've been asked on several occasions why I am never included in the pictures of the boys. There are two reasons:

1. Because I feel much more comfortable BEHIND the camera, and

2. Because most days I am either covered in spit-up or baby food, still in my pj's or have curlers in my hair. Today-curlers.

Stevie just had to take this picture because he was convinced that I planned for us to dress as triplets. I swear it was just the first sweater I could find. The day I start dressing like my children is the day one of you can have me committed.

Read More 2 comments | Posted by The Alpha Team

Skippy-Dippy-Doo!

*Stevie has once again hi-jacked my blog. I did NOT write this. I would never misuse the word "your" as he did 7 lines below and I would never title a post Skippy-Dippy-Doo.

Braxton and Caleb attended their first Gymboree class today. They did not hate it so they will be going back every Wednesday. Anyone that would like accompany me to class is more than welcome to come, just let me know. Hurry quick to get signed up though, as the first two classes have already been reserved by this lady that I used to wait on at Collina's and the guy outside Kroger's that sells the Christmas trees.

The boys also went to the doctor today. Braxton weighs 18.5 pounds and Caleb weighs 15.7 pounds. And in case your keeping tabs, Caleb has finally gotten around to eating solids, although it appears that he doesn't yet know that he's half-black; all he wants to eat are beans and guacamole'. Ay pinche'.

Here are some new pictures: