Well, Santa Claus made his first appearance at Clan Dillingham this Christmas. “Ho Ho” didn’t go overboard, bringing Houston only a few choice toys. Couple that with awesome gifts from grandparents and other close relatives, though, and Houston Lee still made out like a champ.

Houston takes it all in on Christmas morning 2008.

The twins had a doc appointment on 12/29/08. Zeke measured 19 3/4″ long and weighed 9 lbs., 1 1/2 oz., and Gabriel was 20 1/4″ long and weighed 9 lbs., 7 ounces. Yep, my preemie boys are catching up with their term competition rather nicely!  

Zeke observes Houston’s gift opening from the sidelines.

Here are a few other notables: 

• 12/30/08 — Stephen and Rebecca celebrate their 10-year anniversary of meeting (en route to see Phish in NYC for New Year’s Eve 1998)
• 1/3/09 — Both Gabriel and Zeke smile for the first time
• 1/6/09 — Houston successfully drinks from a straw for the first time 

The “Three Amigos” don their Cincinnati Reds hats.

Everyone at Clan Dillingham (minus Gabriel, who must have an immune system made of steel) is either getting over or currently battling a nasty cold. It has been a rough week and and a half or so, but luckily, good health is making a comeback here at the homestead.

Gabriel rests after a long, but fun-filled Christmas day!

Click the top photo of Houston to view all the Christmas 2008 – Part 1 pics and the above photo of Gabriel to check out the Christmas 2008 – Part 2 photos. Happy New Year everyone!

“The zoo” is how Stephen and I refer to our house these days. With three babies in diapers, two aging cats and another cat who thinks he’s a dog, things are always a tad on the wild side around Clan Dillingham.

 A happy mama w/ all her boys.

Houston — who I sometimes call Taz, since he’s often rowdy like the lovable Looney Tunes character — is dealing much better with the recent additions to our family. There’s now more love and less malice in his general actions toward Gabriel and Zeke (i.e., less intentional poking in the twins’ faces and rough pulling of their limbs). In fact, I think Houston is really digging the boys now, although his excitement sometimes gets the best of him. We still must constantly monitor and say “gentle” and “easy” so that he won’t accidentally hurt his brothers in his zest to be near them, but we are making improvements. For instance, I rarely have to restrain Houston in his pack-n-play anymore during his brothers’ near constant feedings — one less step in the process for me and he’s a much happier toddler to boot.

Yes, Houston really sleeps this way.

Gabriel and Zeke are growing quite well. I have officially retired some of their smaller newborn onesies and their newborn diapers aren’t swallowing their bums anymore. Gabriel is still bigger than Zeke, which is one good way to tell them apart. Another way is their eyes: Gabriel has especially almond-shaped eyes, kind of Asian inspired. And since Gabe has more girth than his twin brother, we, of course, call him Buddha boy on occasion. As you can see in the photos below, the boys look to have red hair. I see it clear as day, particularly when the sun catches their heads through the window, but Stephen doesn’t believe it to be the case. He says that the odds are against the red gene, but that certainly wouldn’t be the first time Gabriel and Zeke have defied the odds.

Zeke does tai chi in his sleep.

We’re all excited for Christmas. This will be the first year that we celebrate here at Clan Dillingham, instead of traveling to one of the grandparents’ homes. We don’t have a big tree this year, but I did decorate our small fake tree to the hilt, as well as adorn our mantle with festive paraphernalia, hang all our beautiful needlepoint stockings and display our lovely nativity scene. Granny took Houston to see Santa at the mall. He thought “Ho Ho” was pretty cool, but he wouldn’t sit in Santa’s lap. Despite the dis, Santa still plans on bringing Houston a few nice toys.

Gabriel strikes a pose for the camera.

Click the above photo of Gabe to see all the December – Part 1 pics and click the very top photo of me with the boys to see a few more recent shots in the December – Part 2 album. From all of us here at Clan Dillingham, we wish you a safe and blessed Christmas!