Category Archives: Gabriel

Uncivilized Heathens

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This is what Stephen and I have been calling the twins lately. They seriously act like untamed animals much of the time. Miss Shawn and Miss Heather say, “Oh, that’s just boys.” But I don’t recall Houston ever being such a crazy beast.

One theory is that it’s because there’s two of them. When one starts to act up, the other’s competitive nature kicks into full gear, and he must outdo his brother’s antics and/or screeches. Although, sometimes it’s just one heathen (usually Gabriel) causing the trouble. Another possibility is that because I often have them sequestered in their room, they behave in such a wild manner to get my attention.

However, their lack of civility persists when I’m playing with them on the floor, when they’re hanging out with the family in their pack-n-play, when we’re working with them in the living room, when we’re holding them, when we play in the back yard, and when I’m feeding them, so that’s probably a bum theory.

An adorable, yet oftentimes mischievous squinchy-eyed grin is Gabriel’s favorite expression these days.

They have made some improvements, though. For instance, their spitting during meal time has all but disappeared, and they’ve gotten much better about not pulling hair and earrings. Yet every advancement seems to be replaced by another brute behavior, such as Gabriel’s hard-fought battles during virtually every single diaper change — not a fun thing to deal with considering that he is one tenacious little boy, who delights in sticking his hands in doo-doo.

Another one of the twins’ favorite acts of rebellion is opening their dresser drawers and pulling out all the clothes — not a fun thing to fix repeatedly throughout the day, especially considering that the clean apparel often land in puddles of puke, adding to Mommy’s already significant laundry load.

I’m sure our efforts to quell such misbehaviors will eventually pay off. But for the time being, my hands are just overwhelmingly full. That is why there are barely any photos from November (click the photo of Zeke below to view the few moments I was able to capture). In the midst of intermittent household chaos, I simply didn’t have the time to snap the millions of cute shots that my darling kids offer up throughout the day.

SpongeBob SquarePants & Stephen Ezekiel: Separated @ birth?!?!?

I know one day when the boys are men, Stephen and I will reflect back on this time, laugh and say to ourselves, “I’m not sure how we did it, but those sure were the glory days.” Granny’s great, great Grandma Hettie said it best: “When they’re little, they’re under your feet. When they’re grown, they’re on your heart.”

Yep, things are challenging now, but at least I know where all my youngins are: safe and sound here at home with me. I can’t even imagine the anxiety parents feel when worrying about where their adolescents, tweens and teens are, what they’re doing and with whom they’re doing it. Guess I better get ready ’cause it’ll be here before we know it, and I’ll be pining for the barbarian-baby days!

A few recent twin highlights:

  • The boys finally started sleeping in separate cribs in late November and are loving the extra space. (Thanks to Miss Shawn for lending us Dixie’s old crib.)
  • Gabriel’s walking really took off over Thanksgiving at Granny’s house and improves by leaps and bounds every day.
  • It sounded like Gabriel said “Heather” today when she was here helping out.
  • Zeke enjoys waiving. In fact, he waived to Heather through the window when she left, and it even sounded like he said “bye.”

Houston, giving his version of a “thumbs up,” settles in for potty time w/ some reading material.

Houston is currently into:

  • Knock-knock jokes;
  • Building blocks;
  • Mr. Potato Head;
  • Helping Mommy unload the dishwasher and load the washing machine;
  • Playing peek-a-boo with Gabriel and Zeke;
  • The shows “Super Why,” Pingu” and the “Iron Man” cartoon;
  • His beloved Ho-Ho blanket;
  • Christmas DVDs “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer;”
  • Occasionally beating up brothers;
  • Doing pretty much anything with Daddy;
  • And, of course, giving Mommy a hard time.

Unfortunately, Houston is no longer into using the potty. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

A Playful Petting-Zoo Party

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The boys attended a birthday party for a six year old at our neighbors’ house in early November, but this was not your average kids affair.

Cowboy Houston takes Toby the horse for a trot around our neighbors’ front yard.

This soiree featured a petting zoo with donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks, ferrets, gerbils, pigs, llamas, hedgehogs, snakes and turtles, as well as horseback rides. Houston had such a good time feeding the cool animals that he almost passed up riding the horse.

Granny holds up an apprehensive Zeke so he can get a closer look at the ducks.

I decided to hop up on Toby for a whirl around the yard, thinking that if Houston saw geezer Mommy riding horseback, he might be willing to do the same. And he did — twice, in fact — and was pretty darn fearless about the whole riding-a-gargantuan-animal thing. It was a proud moment.

Gabriel likes petting the fuzzy bunny better than the prickly hedgehog.

Even though it was a cold, dreary day, Gabriel and Zeke got to partake in some of the furry fun before Granny and Daddy took them home for warmth and a nap. They didn’t appreciate the farm animals as much as big brother, but the twins’ interests are usually piqued over any kind of hubbub, which this petting-zoo party definitely was.

Granny teaches Houston how to feed the animals without losing a finger.

To check out all the pics from the boys attending Alyssa’s birthday party, click the above photo of Houston feeding this very hungry llama and all the jealous goats looking on.

Tricks or Treats

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“A person should choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality,” states Lucy in the 1966 TV classic “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

Your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man is excited about the prospect of filling his bag w/ lots of yummy candy.

Ignoring her advice, we went for costumes that embraced our children’s quirky natures and hopeful spirits. And what could represent the wonderment of this anything-is-possible stage of their lives more than super heroes?!

Daddy, Granny and I took out all the boys for “tricks or treats,” as the Peanuts kids call the Halloween custom, while “Grumpy Ghose” (what Houston named Grumps in his spooky attire) handed out candy at our house. The twins lasted for about a 1/2 hour of fun, and Houston and all his pals begged for candy just shy of two hours.

“I still don’t get why Mommy keeps putting this crazy outfit on me,” thinks Gabriel the Hulk.

Our neighborhood was packed with children and families, and we visited many festive houses, including one that featured a homemade graveyard with a real, live Grim Reaper guarding the dead and pointing kids toward the door. After getting used to Grumps in costume earlier in the evening, Houston wasn’t frightened by any of our neighbors scare tactics.

What he did have trouble with was keeping up with his candy bag. He kept inadvertently leaving it in people’s yards or on their sidewalks or in the road or in Mr. Trey’s wagon. Houston was having such a ball just being Spider-Man and hanging out with friends that, honestly, candy was his last concern. It took a team effort by everyone in our posse to help that boy retain possession of his bag.

“I’m just starting to walk, but w/ the help of my trusty Super Man cape, one day I’ll fly,” says Zeke.

And being that Houston’s diet doesn’t include much candy and that it takes him about 30 minutes to methodically eat one fun-size chocolate bar, I suppose it wouldn’t have been a big deal if he had returned home from trick-or-treating completely empty-handed.

He only consumed a pittance of the yummy edibles once we arrived home and did so at an extremely leisurely pace … what a contrasting attitude to most other kids (and adults) on Halloween. Like Daddy and I say, he is one unique little dude!

This 4-year-old Dorothy guides & instructs Houston in the proper ways of trick-or-treating.

Click the above photo of a serious and attentive Spidey and his pal, Maddie, to view all the cute pics from Halloween 2009.

Twin walking update: Daddy and I agree that 11/13 is the date that Zeke officially started walking. And yesterday, Gabriel took 4-5 consecutive steps toward Daddy — the greatest solo distance he has completed thus far. Keep up the good work, boys!