Hello again!

I don't know how often I am going to be able to blog, but, I made my blog public again, and lets hope the previous novelty wore off and it can remain that way as I have missed sharing my pictures and family fun with my friends who do not have a blogger account to log in. Also, I must be a mild exhibitionist because its just not as much fun to blog from a closet. :-)

We had these professional portraits taken two weeks ago. Tilly and Lucas are now 20 months old, and Ewan and Rowan are 8 months. Having pictures taken with four *babies* is very hard. Tilly, for instance, is suspicious of people who try and make her laugh with Alien Teddy Bears and fans. Lucas wants to dance. Ewan is perfect and could sit and be photographed all day- if you are smiling at him, he loves you! And little Rowan is only photogenic until its time for a nap, and then he has little meltdowns and has to have his tiny thumb pried from his mouth.

Well- whats new? Tilly now talks in full sentences although they are sometimes silly and don't make much sense. Last night at dinner she said this "Dada Boogie banana look banana". Because Duane offered Lucas some banana on the table. She calls Lucas "Boogie".

Lucas knows his colors and is experimenting with pouting and whining. Ugh. THAT is very tedious. He has the face of an angel, yet he can snarl up his lips and furrow his brow and look like a troll- minus the purple hair. I have this horror now that its what *I* look like when I am angry since he and I have the same facial features and the propensity to make similar expressions. Its funny how your children can teach you about yourself as I now try to avoid furrowing when I am angry.

Ewan has been sitting since he was 5.5 months old, but has no desire to move. He likes to sit with some toys and a book and will entertain himself forever this way, looking up and smiling now and then for the effect of cuteness.

Rowan is crawling and all over the place but not really sitting exactly. He props himself up on his hip for balance and slowly is becoming more and more upright so thats his "sitting" I suppose. He also says "Mama", "Dada" and "Baba" and has since he was 6 months old, but he doesn't know what these objects are or that they necessarily have any special significance other than he is exercising his vocal cords.

The big twins consolidated their naps and take only one a day now, which means my formerly wonderful TWO 2 hour blocks each day while they were all sleeping at once now only consists of a one hour overlap between times one set goes down before the other set gets up. This I have not parted with in a ladylike fashion. For two weeks I protested and laid them all down at the same time as usual and insisted they all sleep or at least pretend to sleep. Lucas and Tilly would toss toys from their crib and jump up and down the first hour, then sleep half an hour then jump up and down some more and wake up grouchy and angry. But, I still did not immediately succumb to the loss of my precious 2 hour blocks of "me time"- which was used for exercising and a bath. Then, for the second nap time where I would get an ADDITIONAL two hour break to do laundry, Lucas and Matilda would have a party that would end with poopie diapers and paci tossing and screams of distress. Finally I decided to consolidate and Lucas and Tilly now take one 3 hour nap a day and wake up rested and happy and ready for their lunch. I no longer bathe. I just can't get it into the schedule. I normally collapse for an hour and sleep until I hear Ewan and Rowan waking up. If Duane gets home early I take a bath then, if not, I sleep in my own filth until time will afford it. :-P

Its time for everyone to get up- so more soon... I hope!