A half birthday.

Good thing this Periodical is only, well, periodical, because it's been awhile.

Saturday was C&D's half-birthday. "You've mean we've lived like this for six months?" Matt and I asked each other.

C&D celebrated by taking some short and erratic naps while the lawn got mowed (thanks, Dad!) and diapers folded. We bought my parents dinner (and some sanity) after we decided the babies and their parents needed a brisk walk at the Galleria. After our walk we ate at Shanghai Joe's. SJ's is like our version of Cheers; you know, "where everybody knows your name." It's fresh, fast, and veggie-friendly, so we eat there whenever we find ourselves walking fussy babies in the evening.

The SJ's routine is this: Matt and I take our trays of food to the back of the restaurant, where it is quiet. We each hold a baby in our laps--or in our wraps--while we eat. I usually hold David and Matt, Carmen. David is usually content to look around. Carmen slides the plastic tray and plate around the table while Matt chases his food with his fork. When the babies get bored we hand them a fortune cookie still in its wrapper. They squish the cellophane and bite it, listening to the crinkle. After a few minutes of this, the babies are bored again, so we switch or feed someone while we eat the last of our meal.

Saturday, Carmen sat on my lap, bent over her cookie. I had nearly finished my three-entree special before I realized Carmen had been busily and quietly slumped over her cookie for several minutes. When I slipped it out of her mouth I realized she had torn the wrapper, and turned the cookie inside into mush. Her fortune was partially dissolved in the center. When she noticed that I was not about to return her tasty cookie, she complained noisily. Regardless of what the fortune said, it seems she knows that solid foods are in her future.

On Sunday we celebrated six months by trying out our Kelty packs. The babies liked riding up there, although they are still a little too small for them, yet.


Monday we visited our gastroenterologist. He agreed with my assessment of Carmen's food sensitivity and allergy issues. He also agreed that given my history of food allergies, our approach (slow introduction, low-allergenic foods first, no jarred baby-goop or other processed foods) was the best for both C&D. We did some specific antibody tests to measure her risk against a few of the more major allergens, and now have a good doctor to consult if we run into any more problems.

Tuesday we visited IKEA to buy our half-birthday presents: cups. David is ready, and Carmen is almost ready to use them.

Last week he grabbed my mug to take a drink at my water, and enjoyed sipping from it. So cup-shopping we went. Finding a narrow-lipped cup without blinking lights, shocking colors, or insulation (too keep tap water tepid?) was pretty tricky. I think a couple of short shot glasses would be ideal, actually, because they are small and well-suited for chubby hands, but I couldn't find any unbreakable shot glasses online. I should sell them and start an anti- ugly-sippy movement.

Friday was our six-month checkup. Carmen weighed in at 18 lbs. 1 oz., and 26.5"” while David weighed in at 17 lbs. 13 oz. and 26.5."” From the moment he walked into the exam room, David laughed and laughed at the doctor and set a good tone for the visit. Was it his loud voice? His Mr. Potato Head scrubs? We wonder; David has gotten much more serious these days and doesnÂ’t laugh as readily as his increasingly silly sister, who seems ready to laugh at just about anything. David is all about big, gummy smiles instead. I love those smiles. We asked the doctor to space out the remainder of the vaccinations so we go back in a couple of weeks to get the rest. While after some additional research we now feel somewhat regretful that we got some of the shots at all, now that we started we might as well finish the series.

The biggest change that we've enjoyed watching in the twins this week is their increasing awareness of each other. David truly likes Carmen. When they are together on the floor, he rolls, wiggles and scoots toward her until he can find a hand, a shirt-tail, or a knee to squeeze and nibble. He thinks she's wonderful. Carmen smiles back, and pats his head or squeezes his ears.