Primigravada Page

Primigravida

(twins!)

Page

This File Under Construction

Last update: 18 February 1999.

Welcome to my page devoted to our twins (after their birth).

For information about Judith's pregnancy and the first few weeks after the twins birth, please go to this homepage for those pictures and text.
For information about the first year with the twins, please go to this homepage for those pictures and text.

For an enormous (500 kb) studio portrait of the girls, click on its thumbnail below. (Don't say I didn't warn you about the size!)

Each year I've prepared a custom calendar with a collage of the more interesting shots from the prior calendar year. I've placed the enormous files here:
From 1997: 342 kb
From 1998: 361 kb

Image fun:

The following page was added 20 August 1998.

Image fun is a page which magnifies a portion of the image that the mouse sits over. You do NOT hold down a mouse key. It takes a little while for the images to load and the magnifier to respond, so be patient and enjoy! Let me know if you want to see other images this way.

I'm placing the news in reverse chronological order to make it easier to spot, especially since I rarely have time to update this page. I put all the pictures prior to the birth on a separate page (see above) to give our readers faster loading.

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RECENT NEWS

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******************* 18 February updates *****************
Some news:
Karen continues to say many words, and has quite good elocution. She can imitate sounds quite well on the first try.
The biggest concern we have recently is that some nights she will wake up (always within 5 minutes of 2:50 am) and scream and flail inconsolably. While the timing, about 5 1/2 hours after she falls asleep is not quite consistent, everything else is consistent with what is called "night terrors" or "sleep terrors". She is actually asleep when this happens (it has happened a half dozen times now). She will not quiet down until she finally wakes herself up (after 10-15 minutes of screaming for mommy and daddy, etc.) The inability to help, the lateness of the hour, these make the situation difficult for us to handle.

Anna is finally starting to say a few words. Her pronounciation is so terrible as to make most words unrecognizable. For example "doll" is "duh", "door" is "duhr", etc. However, the words she has said longest are well done ("mom-mee" and "dad-dee"). Sometimes she surprises, yesterday she said "saucer" properly on the first try.
One of Anna's new skills is to sense when she is about to poop. Unfortunately, she has the less than charming habit of pushing her diaper down just a second or two before doing the poop. This does not make our life easier....

Here are some pictures of the girls taken at a local photo studio...

******************* 11 February updates *****************
Some news:
Sorry it has taken so long to update this page! Since there are already a lot of pictures here, I have created another page with miscellaneous shots. These include: Christmas photos with "santa", bedtime rituals, meal disasters, etc. There are even a few of me. So, go to the link below!

Some pictures at 16-20 months

-- under construction!!!

Karen says lots and lots of words. We stopped counting after two dozen. Her favorite sounds to vocalize end in a "hard K" (like the start of her name) Examples include: book, sock, duck, clock, and milk. (Each enunciated as if having 2 distinct syllables.) She also likes "i" words such as: eye, bye, and hi. She also has learned to say "poop-ie, poop-ie" and pat between her legs. She may be becoming aware of bowel movements, or, she has found that she gets attention that way. (Both girls favor undressing, completely, as a scheme to get attention.)
Anna is starting to use a few words, like: eye (as she pokes you or herself in the eye), up (as in pick me up -- which she learnt from her sister).

Writing of speaking... We find ourselves saying these things a lot:
"Leave your ___ ON!" (shoes, socks, clothes, diaper!)
"Thank you, but mommy doesn't need a pacifier."
"No...YOU eat that!"
"Karen, we don't chew on books"
"Anna, don't climb on the ___ " (TV, Dresser, Table, child-gate, etc.)
"SIT!"
"You have a poop-ie?"
"I can't carry you around, I have to do things... OK?... Alright, just for a little while..."
"Its time for a joy ride!"
"That's your sister's"
"Karen, come here. Karen, come here! Karen! come HERE! (etc.)"

******************* 2 November updates *****************
Some news:

I and the physical therapist had noticed that occasionally Karen seemed to stare zombie-like for a period of a few minutes. It was possible that she just felt like ignoring her surroundings, but it might also be a petit mal. To investigate, we had a test performed.
On 3 November we took Karen into Sacramento for an EEG. This involved sticking 24 electrodes to her head and chest. We were instructed to deprive her of sleep so that she would more easily submit to this procedure. Needless to say, a major tantrum was precipitated. It took almost half an hour to stick them all on. Karen would keep trying to pull them off, etc. Perhaps it was exhaustion, perhaps it was the ether used to dry the electrode glue. Eventually she fell asleep and the test was successfully run.
A week later we spoke with the pediatric neurologist who said that Karen's EEG was normal.

I have intended to post recent pictures for some time. I finally got a few scanned in from the past 6 months. Since this page is getting a bit long, I have created a separate web page with those pictures (thumbnails) displayed.

Some pictures at 16-18 months

along with a few from 13 months.

******************* 2 November updates *****************

What follows are not poems. I am not trying to write some kind of "cute" prose either. I just felt like writing in a different style. Here are two samples of life with "the girls" at 18 months.

The Anna has no clothes

Anna will not wear clothes.
Autumn is here and winter is coming. But,
Anna will not wear clothes.
A bad case of diaper rash. But,
That was 2 weeks ago. Still:
Anna will not wear clothes.
The diaper goes on, the diaper comes off.
We put it on backwards, But
Anna is very smart, the diaper comes off.
When the clothes get too close, (say, within 2 feet)
Her 2 little feet thrash, her back it does arch,
The clothes are kicked off, to lie in a heap.
Anna will not wear clothes.
Two adults, both with graduate degrees,
Cajole, bribe, struggle mightily, and still
Anna will not wear clothes.
Alas, distracted or overpowered, Anna gives in
Anna is wearing her clothes... but
She is also wearing a square mouth!

What is a "square mouth" you ask? This is Anna in a full-blown cry. Corners of the mouth pulled down so her open mouth forms a square. Tongue flat but quivering rapidly. A bold, sound emitted for all to hear: "I am not happy!" Oh well. Welcome to my morning rituals.

The Clingons have Landed

No, that is not a typo.
Yes, Star Trek fans have their Klingons.
We, have a Karen who clings on.
She is really quite sweet, it is so hard to resist.
She picks up a book and follows you around.
She grasps your leg like a tourniquet.
It is the age when babies want you to hold them.
Yes, I love to hold you. But,
I have to eat supper (or breakfast) and
for that I need at least one free hand.
She collapses to the floor in melodramatic tantrum.
Her screams directed into the carpet.
Are you hurt? I pick her up,
Like switching off a light, suddenly she is happy!
I feel guilty. (It is working!)
I have to go to work...
She collapses to the floor in melodramatic tantrum...
I feel guilty. (It is working!)
My feelings are complex. I am glad she feels
Connected to me. I don't know how long that will last.
But, I have responsibilities too.
Too many "buts" in this life.
And now Anna immitates her sister...
Two "Clingons" have arrived. Help!

******************* 27 October updates *****************
The twins turned 18 (months) two days ago. They had their 18-month checkup with the pediatrician today.
Anna: Height of 31 5/8 inches; weight of 22 lbs. (approx. the 35^th percentile.
Karen: Height of 31 3/4 inches; weight of 22 lbs 14 oz 40^th percentile.
It feels like they weigh much more! Maybe I am getting too old to lift them all the time....

The girls, especially Karen, are becoming quite talkative. Most of the vocalizations are nonsense. Sometimes they are a bit tiresome, as when they have a screaming contest (to see who can scream loudest and highest). Why? Who knows? They enjoy doing it!!
Karen can say things like "cack-a" for cracker and both girls can say "dad-ee" and "mom-mam" (sometimes: "mom-mom-mom..."). "Balll" used to be Karen's favorite word, now it is "da-da" (which means 'I want that!').

Neither one sleeps well at night. It may be the stuffy noses they have had for the past month. Today we started antibiotics, since the problem had not changed in weeks. If they sleep, maybe we can all sleep....
They don't like to nap. So, they get about 8-10 hrs sleep each day. That is far less than the 12+ hrs for most kids their age. I think we could do better by scheduling time for them in an area without much to stimulate them. Otherwise, they bug each other, and thereby stay awake until exhausted.

Where are the pictures?!? I have still been taking many pictures, it is just an issue of the time needed to scan them and then post them. It is on my list of things to do....

******************* 11 September updates *****************

Happy birthday to Judith today!

I am taking my lunch hour to add a few more images and some information about "the girls." We have finally been able to get Mommy & the girls out of the house ....
In the past week they both have begun to use real words in the correct way. These words include: da-da, momma, ball, bird, and HI! They have also been using a number of signs for book, flower, and especially MORE! Actually, they generalized the meaning to be I WANT...! They use the I WANT ____ (the thing I am thinking of dad)! sign a lot! And when you can't figure out what is wanted, they make the gesture more vigorously! They also use the gesture for things you don't want them to have ... like plastic bags, etc.

Speaking of speaking... we find ourselves saying the oddest things. Here are some illustrations:
"No, I don't want oatmeal and butter rubbed in my hair."
"Leave mommy's glasses on.."
"Karen, please get your finger out of Anna's nose."
"Anna! leave your diaper on!"
"No thank you, daddy doesn't want your pacifier..." (spoken while the object is rammed into your face)

Here are some (thumbnail) pictures:
A visit to the Yolo County Fair (feeding the goats in the petting zoo):

A picnic at the (Marin County) Rouge et Noir French Cheese factory:
Karen =>
Anna =>

******************* 10 August updates *****************

I've been very busy with farm and UCD chores, so I am only now getting some pictures from June and July posted below. These are thumbnails. Click on the small pictures to get larger ones, much larger in some cases.

"We enjoy our meals ...

But we especially enjoy our sucking on string ...

We enjoy when mommy and daddy read us a book, though mostly we just love to grab at the book ... and put it in our mouths...

We love engineering projects, such as breaking down our crib...

We love playing on the floor." Anna likes mirrors and Karen, well, likes (?) poking her own eye...

Anna likes to look at herself very close in the mirror...

While Karen is endlessly fascinated by her "belly button!"

Anna likes to imitate the grown ups. She likes trying on various shoes that she finds, such as Jane's sandals...

The big news is that Karen is now walking!

It has been a long and gradual development, but she can take a few steps, regain her balance, take a few more steps. She still relies on nearby objects, which sometimes includes her sister, pulling them both down! And, when she's in a hurry she crawls, very fast.

The vocalizations have recently changed, too. Both are making sounds that are more like actual words. Frequent vowel sounds occur as well. Can real words be arriving soon?

They understand many of our words. We have been teaching them a few signs, as well. For many months I have used a sign for "look at a book" which Anna immitates in a funny variation. (I hold my palms together then open them, palms up, the way a book opens. Anna can't rotate her arms that well, so she holds her palms up and open and closes her fists.) Judith took them to a research lab on campus where they tried to teach them signs for "mouse" "flower" and "more". Of these, "more" has been useful, especially when serving them food.

The girls had their 15 month appointment 2 weeks ago, and the data is:
Anna: 20 lbs 5 oz, and 30 7/8 inches
Karen: 21 lbs 6 oz, and 31 inches.
Karen's weight is slightly below the norm, while Anna's is well below the norm (25%). The heights are close to the norm. The pediatrician is not worried about Anna's weight since she is so active, constantly moving. Lately, we have been calling her "Road runner" as a pet name. (We call Karen "Snookie" from the sound of her intense pacifier use.)

******************** 7 July updates ***********

And now, a few words from Karen:

Hi! My da-da said I could include some words on the web page with my sister.
I can understand many more words than I can say. When I talk, my mommy says that I speak like a Star Trek Klingon. My favorite words are DA! and doi-doi-doi! I also have a super cute giggle, and, when I want attention, I have a very loud scream-cry. A favorite game is to hold a blanket over my head; da-da always says "Where's Karen?"; then I pull it off and da-da says "Peek-a-boo!". I always find that wildly funny.
My favorite activity is blanket diving: I crawl over to a blanket, then dive head-first into it and roll around, often wrapping the blanket around me. Another favorite thing is to pull the hairs on da-da's legs and arms, especially while he is trying to eat. Da-da is always stacking things; but I make sure nothing stays stacked. So, I knock over the stack, or toss the items behind me. I also like to chew or suck on any shoelace, string, or similarly-shaped object I can find. While everything goes in my mouth (including wooden armrests on furniture) I really like stringy objects.
Twice a week we go to a place where I get to play with other toys, sometimes with other children. Mommy calls it my therapy session. There is always someone poking me or making me stand and do stuff. Anna is lucky, noone bugs her at the session. Last time, mommy brought home a cart for me to push while standing up. I don't get it. Why does everyone want me to stand up? They keep wanting me to do that walking thing... that takes too much work! But... I really do like pushing that cart, especially since mommy and da-da get so excited when I do it.
I love to eat in the high chair. But mommy and da-da always rush me. I like to play a bit before I eat: drop things over the edge, turn the sip cup upside down (recently I learned to shake it upside down, boy, does that make a mess!)
Speaking of Anna, she is my best friend but she also bugs me. She always hogs mommy when she nurses, and she pulls on my hair and feet when I nurse.
Bye for now! Karen.

And now, a few words from Anna:

Hi! My da-da said I could include some words on the web page with my sister.
I can understand many more words than I can say. My da-da must be really dumb. He is always saying things like "Where is the big green ball?" . So, I have to point to it for him. Sometimes I go and bring it over to him. He gets real excited about this, he must be nuts. I have a giggle-bellow when I laugh, and, when I want attention, I have a very loud cranky-cry which is often punctuated with bursts of other loud sounds.
My favorite activity is walking: I walk constantly, da-da calls me a perpetual motion machine. I have a big room I can walk around in, but they keep these gates closed at each end. Why won't they let me walk outside? When Beth and Shelley come over, then we get to go up and down stairs, walk down to the barn (and see the sheep), and other fun things. Another favorite thing is to stare in a mirror. I usually hold it up against my nose. Did you know that walking with a mirror held up to your face is kinda hard? I also like to pull the hairs on da-da's legs and arms, especially while he is trying to eat; pulling off mommy's glasses and pulling her hair from behind is also loads of fun. Twice a week we go to a place where I get to play with other toys, sometimes with other children. Mommy calls it Karen's therapy session. While someone pokes her I get to do all kinds of mischief by myself. Last time, mommy brought home a cart to push while standing up, like all the toys here, it must be for me, though they always want Karen to play with it.
I love it when its time to eat in the high chair. Then I get to make a big mess. I like to drop things over the edge when I'm done: sip cup, bowls, crackers, anything... even when I'm not done. I used to get cow's milk, but it makes my tummy ache.
Speaking of Karen, she is my best friend but she also bugs me. She always hogs mommy when she nurses, and she pulls on my hair and feet when I nurse.
See ya later! Anna

******************** 21 May updates ***********

Here's a switch, how about more pictures and fewer words!
Basically, I'm trying to complete this whole revision in less than half an hour (and it is not going well!).

O.K. How about some quick small pictures from the recent birthday party. (These are not thumbnails, sorry, problem with the scanner settings.)