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Sincere apologies to those of who come back to this blog often in hopes of something new, and have been disappointed.  David pointed out to me last night that it’s been a month since we last posted.  Sorry about that.  It has truly been a busy time, and I hope you’ll forgive us.  Please enjoy the following updates.  I’ve included lots of photos.

We haven’t heard anything recently about Jordan.  My brother reported a week or so ago that the Shahbaz family is keeping on keepin’ on, adjusting to their new normal.  And at this point, no news is good news.  Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  Jordan’s treatment is far from complete…

We had a beautiful holiday season with friends and family, capped off by a New Year’s Day wedding on the beach here in San Diego.  My sister Gwen married her sweetheart David Vigil in an intimate ceremony followed by a fun family dinner.  The festivities were graced by, quite possibly, the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.  We wish Gwen and David all the very best, and eternal marital bliss.

Mr. and Mrs. Gwen and David Vigil

A kiss at sunset

Meanwhile, our boys have gotten bigger, more mobile, and ever more interesting.  It’s so fun to watch them develop into little people.  They have started expressing preferences about food and toys and when they want to be left alone and when they want to be picked up.  They now give us kisses – the open-mouthed slobbery kind.  They love to stand on their legs, supported, of course, and Jesse has started cruising a bit.  Jesse has also almost mastered crawling.  Noah could if he wanted to, but he just doesn’t seem interested.  I think he much prefers it when other people do his bidding and he doesn’t have to expend any effort.  Which is how I know he’s his father’s son.  Both Noah and Jesse talk a lot, and the sounds change all the time.  Currently, they are into “Da – da – da – da – da.”  I don’t think it’s intentional, especially because in our house, David goes by “Abba.”  But it’s adorable.  Oh, and, did I mention BIG?  David weighed them the other day — Noah was 25 pounds, and Jesse was 24.  These are unscientific figures, but still!  They’ll be 9 months next week, and they are outgrowing their 12-month clothing.  I’m not complaining though, because they are making my arms really buff.

San Diego in the wintertime - life is hard.

With cousin Nadia the day after Gwen's wedding - and Jesse guilty of trying to steal Nadia's pacifier.

First time sitting up in the Costco cart

Oh, circles of neglect - we bless thee.

Hi mama!

May I help you?

Play time - Jesse likes to roll around and try to knock Noah over.

Happy New Year everyone!  Much love to all.

David’s Uncle Avi and Aunt Chana from Israel came for a quick visit, and it has been so delightful! They’ve done some sightseeing in San Diego and Los Angeles, and we’ve also just enjoyed lots of time laying low together at the house. Chana is a tremendous chef, and has cooked us fantastic meals, and Avi is wonderful with the boys – he sings to them and plays with them and it makes my heart glad.  But apart from all the good food and help, it has just been such a treat to catch up and visit.  Last weekend, our cousin Eileen and her man Jonathon Groner joined us as well – and all 8 of us enjoyed a quiet and lovely Shabbat.

Eileen and Jonathan have gone home already, and Chana and Avi leave us in just a few days to head back to Israel. We’ve really enjoyed the visit and are grateful they came.  We will miss them!

We send all our love to all our family in Israel. We miss you and love you all.

The boys are 4 months old, and yesterday, we went to their 4-month pediatric appointment.  They both weighed in at over 16 pounds, and 2 feet tall!  Big, healthy, bouncing baby boys.  I KNEW they felt heavy.    In celebration (or maybe because they didn’t feel good after the vaccine shots), they slept through the night – from 8:30 pm until almost 7 am!!  There is light at the end of the tunnel…

The photos below were taken by our cousin Eileen while she was visiting last weekend. Thanks, Eileen!

Jesse is checking you out!

Noah and his chubby cheeks

I’d like to take a moment on this momentous occasion to say publicly just how incredible a father my sweet  husband David really is.  Please forgive the gush that must inevitably follow…

I’ve rarely seen children handled so gently, patiently, and lovingly.  These boys are incredibly fortunate to have David as their role model, and they couldn’t do better than to grow up to be like him.

Thank you David, for being such an amazing father and husband, and perhaps most importantly, such an extremely good man.  Your commitment, sensitivity, integrity, and passion are unmatched, and my awe for you grows each day as more of who you are is revealed to me.  I love you the most, and although they don’t know it yet, so do your boys.

Happy Father’s Day, Abba!

I suppose I can muster a smirk for Abba

I love you Abba!

This Father's Day celebrating is so exhausting

We’ve managed to keep Noah and Jesse alive for 8 weeks, as of today.   Yay!   And (so far), David and I are surviving, too.  We’ve been without consistent help for 8 days now…only 4 to go before Grandma Susan and Grandpa Rick return to help for the rest of the summer, and it honestly couldn’t come soon enough.  We’re exhausted.  Thankfully, the boys have been pretty well-behaved, and are sleeping better and crying less.  I can only imagine how exhausted we’d be if Jesse were being as fussy as usual…

A big shout-out to Natalie Schiller, Esther Northrup, and Uncle Timmy who helped us so much this last weekend, and allowed David and me to get some sleep (and a shower).  THANK YOU!  It really does take a village.

I can’t believe how much these little boys have grown and changed in 8 weeks.  They’ve gained weight (Jesse no longer has any semblance of a neck…just folds and folds of skin and fat), they’ve started focusing their eyes, they’re smiling and cooing.  They’re already showing these sweet little personalities, and I can’t wait to see how they continue to develop.  They are really entertaining, and I know they’re only going to get more fun.  Once I get some sleep…

We’ve been trying to get their dimply smiles on camera, and here’s what we got.  We didn’t capture them completely, but you get the idea.  Pretty adorable, in my biased opinion.

Guess what's in my diaper!

He's not ALWAYS crying...

I know I'm cute. You're welcome.

So – tomorrow is the big day.  Babies – meet world.  World – meet babies.  Let’s look back at the last 9 months, and then review some important pregnancy-related stats and details.

And now, for some important facts and figures…

Estimated date of conception:  August 6, 2008
Doctor’s official due date:  April 30, 2009
Date of scheduled C-section:  April 23, 2009
Number of babies made:  2
Weeks pregnant at delivery:  39
Final belly circumference – no joke:  54 inches
Total weight gained:  73 pounds
Approximate number of doctor’s appointments prior to surgery:  14
Number of ultrasounds prior to surgery:  3
Number of half-marathons run while pregnant:  1

It’s been a ride.  I couldn’t have asked for a smoother pregnancy.  We are blessed that all of us have been so healthy throughout.  I can’t say I enjoyed being pregnant…I’m definitely looking forward to being done.  But I’m proud of the boys for hanging in there for the duration.  Now begins the fun part, right?

David will update the blog tomorrow with pictures and details, once we have them.  Surgery is scheduled for 3 pm Pacific – we welcome your thoughts and prayers!

WOW! We can’t believe how generous our family and friends have been. For the past few weeks you’ve all been sending us package after package loaded with clothing, hand-me downs (big fan), a stroller, high chairs, and lots of everyday essentials including the less than glamorous poop pail, aka Diaper Caddie. Rachel and I are overwhelmed by your generosity and love.

We are now officially ready for these babies to be born. Okay, that’s not true at all. We’re officially equipped with what we need to care for the babies once they are born. We have all of the clothing we need for the first year and the items left on the Amazon baby registry are in the “nice to have” category. My family in Israel is planning on getting us the car seats.

With everything that you’ve done for Baby A and Baby B, I’m beginning to wonder if you might not love them more than I do. Hmmm.