Happy 2006!

In honor of the New Year, here are some gratuitous cute baby photos . . .

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Katherine and Caroline!

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Not Quite Ready for the National Touring Group . . .

The art of Chinese Acrobatics has it's roots in Chinese Cultural History as far back as 2,500 years ago.

Chinese Acrobats are well known for their dexterity and balance, as they contort their bodies into amazing positions while balancing plates, bowls and cups on long sticks.

Chinese Acrobats
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********

Somehow, though she was born in California, U.S.A., Katherine has become aware of her Chinese heritage.

For the past few weeks, she has developed the habit of craning her neck upward at extreme angles, in order to see what's behind her. She will do it while sitting, she will do it while being held, she will do it while laying in her crib.

Katherine Practicing Her Chinese Acrobatics
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I know what you are thinking -- "Why don't you turn her so she can face whatever she's trying to look at?"

Position means nothing to Katherine. No matter which way you face her, she will always try to look at whatever is directly behind her!

Next week, we will start to let her practice with bowls and plates on her head . . .

What's That Behind Me?
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Eeyore on Steroids

For Christmas, the girls got this Eeyore hand puppet.

Now Playing, Two Nights Only in the Lava Lounge: Eeyore!
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Being a fan of Disney cartoons and A.A. Milne's books, I know Eeyore as the gloomy donkey from Winnie the Pooh stories. So of course, when I portrayed Eeyore to the girls, I gave them a faithful representation of the gloomy, sardonic donkey.

It would be an understatement to say that the girls were not interested one bit in a gloomy sock puppet.

I was tempted to put Eeyore aside forever, and move on to something else more likely to amuse my girls for a few minutes.

However, for some reason, I decided to stick with Eeyore -- with some modifications.

Throwing away the historical incarnation of Eeyore's character, my Eeyore hand puppet became a singing, dancing donkey.

The girls LOVED him. They squealed and laughed out loud as Eeyore performed song and dance routines to all the latest nursery rhymes for them.

However, I soon ran out of nursery rhymes.

I needed a new song, one that could last a long time.

Thus, Terri entered the room to see Eeyore dancing and singing, "75 bottles of beer on the wall, 75 bottles of beer . . . "

"What are you doing?" asked Terri.

"Nothing," I replied. "But Eeyore is singing and dancing for the girls. Look, they love him!"

"Great," said Terri. "The kids love a donkey on steroids singing about beer."

Yep, those are my girls!

Daycare

The girls started day care this week. It's been harder for Mom & Dad than it has been for the girls.

Last week the girls went part-time for three days just to get used to the environment. Yesterday the girls did a half day all on their own, and today they did a full day by themselves.

David drops them off and picks them up. The ratio in the day care is no more than one teacher for every four babies. The girls are in the "infant" room, which is all babies before they can walk. Babies who learn to walk graduate to the "toddler" room, and then on to the 2 year old room, etc., etc.

The girls love day care! They have not cried much since getting there, and they seem to enjoy the new environment and looking at all the other babies.

Sorry, no photos -- in his haste to get out the door, Daddy forgot to take his camera to the day care!

The Holiday Spirit

A few nights ago, I spent 30 minutes with Caroline in front of our Christmas tree, while she examined in great detail every light, ornament, and present under the tree. She was enthralled.

A great first Christmas!

Caroline's First Christmas Tree
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Home for the Holidays

Where are we?
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This has been a busy week.

Over the past weekend, the Lim Family moved back to their home, which had been undergoing a "Twin Facelift" over the past six months.

We added a large family room, a master bedroom, an extra bathroom, an office, and a laundry room to accommodate the 100% increase in our family size.

The past week after work, we've been taking care of the kids while simultaneously trying to unpack boxes and boxes of clothes, kitchen supplies, books -- you name it!

Through it all, the girls have been great.

Being only four and a half months old, I'm not even sure they realize they've moved to a new house. All their toys are the same, and we were sure to keep their routine as normal as possible. Thus, same feeding time, same crib, even in the same positions in the new bedroom!

It really is great to be back home in time for the Holidays -- Merry Christmas to All!

Happy Holidays!
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Mommy & Caroline Enjoying the Remodeled House!
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One small step . . .

It wasn't the moon landing.

It wasn't the discovery of fire.

It wasn't the invention of the wheel.

But for a first time Dad, it was pretty exciting.

Caroline held her bottle by herself for the very first time tonight.

She held the bottle for about 5 seconds before it tumbled out of her hands.

We weren't fast enough to capture the moment on camera, but here's the post-game celebration:

Daddy & Caroline Celebrating Caroline Holding Her First Bottle (Notice Daddy is WAY More Excited!)
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The Mirror of Enilorac

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, young Harry Potter spends hours in front of a magical mirror, The Mirror of Erised, which shows viewers their deepest heart's desires.

The Mirror or Erised
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Caroline has her own magic mirror, The Mirror of Enilorac . . .

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Four months old is when the experts say babies become really self-aware.

Well, Caroline is definitely self aware in front of The Mirror of Enilorac.

The Mirror of Enilorac is our bathroom closet mirror. Caroline loves to look at herself in it.

If she's fussy, take her to The Mirror of Enilorac.

If she's crying, take her to The Mirror of Enilorac.

If she's bored, take her to The Mirror of Enilorac.

Missing Mommy? You got it -- The Mirror of Enilorac.

Once in front of the mirror, Caroline sees no less than her heart's desire -- herself!

She smiles. She laughs. She looks up at you as if to say, "Am I good looking, or what?"

Coming from a four month-old, such self-indulgence is adorable. Not to mention that it entertains Caroline and gives Mommy and Daddy a few precious minutes of peace and quiet.

And what better magic is there than that?

Caroline & Daddy In Front Of The Mirror of Enilorac
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The Best Magic Is A Happy Baby!
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There's no place like home . . .

This is a week of big changes for the Lim Family.

We are already into the heart of the Holiday Season, the girls having attended their first Holiday Party last night.

But in a little less than one week, we will hopefully be moving back to our home.

For those of you who didn't know, when we found out we were having twins, Terri and I embarked on an ambitious (or foolhardy?) plan to do a major remodel of our house.

We had been living in a small two bedroom, one bathroom house.

But when we saw our first ultrasound confirming twins, we knew: "We need a bigger house!"

So since August, our house has been torn apart and rebuilt, to add a third bedroom, an office, a large den, a laundry room, and an expanded kitchen.

The good news is that the house is nearing completion, and so by next week this time, we will hopefully be back in our house!

The Girls Visiting the Home Remodel Site
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A Mother Nose

People say that Mothers are more attuned to the needs of their babies than Fathers.

Sure, Dad's love their kids, take care of them, help provide for them. But there's no denying there is a certain bond Mom's have with their children.

Terri, for example, has a keen sense of the needs and wants of the twins that I just don't have, as much as I love them.

Terri's sense of smell for the girls is a good example.

The following is a true account of what happened this weekend:

*****************************

[The scene: David is sitting on the couch with Caroline, watching a football game.]

Faaart!

David: Whew! Baby, did you fart?

[David checks diaper. Nothing.]

David: All clean!

[Caroline grimaces]

Faaart! Faart! Faart!

David: Wow, baby, what did you eat for lunch?

[David keeps watching the football game.]

[Terri walks into the room. She's at least 15 feet from David and Caroline.]

Terri: What's that smell? Did Caroline poop?

David: No, I just checked her diaper. She's fine. She's just farting.

Terri: Are you sure? I smell something.

David: I don't smell anything.

[Note: David is HOLDING Caroline. Terri is still a good 10 feet away.]

Terri: Baby, did you poop?

[Caroline looks up at Terri and smiles]

[Terri smells diaper.]

Terri: She did poop, can't you smell it?

David: No, she smells fine.

[David goes and checks Caroline's diaper in the changing room.]

David: All be darned! Hey, Terri! Caroline took a HUGE poop!

Terri: [Tactfully says nothing to ignorant husband.]

Mommy & The Girls
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Mommy & Katherine
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It's a Wonderful Time of the Year

This time of the year is really special for me.  For one thing, David’s birthday is so close to Thanksgiving and I love celebrating Christmas and all its festivities.  However, December now marks an especially memorable time of the year for our family.  

Last December we found out we were pregnant.  We heard the good news a week before Christmas and decided to wait until Christmas to tell our families.  Everyone was very excited.  

A few days after Christmas we went to the doctor’s office to confirm the pregnancy.  David and I looked at the ultrasound monitor in bewilderment.  

What were those two things on the monitor we asked?  “Two heartbeats…you’re having twins!” replied our nurse practitioner.  

David and I were silent and quite frankly stunned.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  I couldn’t believe it.  I’ve wanted to become a mother for as long as I can remember and my dream was coming true.  

Katherine and Caroline were 3 millimeters long then.  Now they’re 24 ¾ inches and 23 ¾ inches respectively now.  

It’s a wonderful time of the year.  Happy Holidays.  

Four Months Old!

Katherine and Caroline are four months old today.

Sometimes it's hard for me to tell how much they've grown because I see them everyday, and they still look so small, but when I look at photos of them at birth compared to now -- Wow!

The girls had their four-month doctor's check-up and shots yesterday. Everything is looking good, and we are thankful the girls are doing so well.

Katherine is now 11 pounds, 15 ounces. She is 24 3/4 inches long.

Caroline weighs in at 11 pounds even, and is 23 3/4 inches long.

Here's a before and after shot to give you an idea of how quickly these girls are growing. I see it, and I can hardly believe it!

Caroline & Katherine at four DAYS old.
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Caroline & Katherine at four MONTHS old.
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Please Let Them Be Bruins!

This is football rivalry week.

UCLA versus USC.

Bruins versus Trojans.

The battle for Los Angeles.

Good versus Evil.

The fate of the universe hangs in the balance.

And although I swore before they were born that I would not get my children involved with my obsession for all things UCLA, what can I say?

I lied.

I've been walking around the house all week humming the UCLA Fight Song to the girls. (Click here to have a listen)

When I talk to the girls this week, I talk to them about the game -- How will my Bruins slow down Reggie Bush? Can our offense really score against the defending National Champions?

Of course, I'm not the only parent to channel my sports obsession through my babies (See "Twin Invasion").

And believe it or not, the girls have actually tempered my obsession a bit, just like other parents (See, "Savage Stories"). This was the first time since I've been a Bruin that I did not fly down to Los Angeles to watch UCLA play live at the Rose Bowl.

I didn't go to ANY college football games live, for that matter (the girls were born right at the start of the season!) And when I watch the games on T.V., I don't yell *quite* as loud as I used to when there is a bad play! :-)

But still, I can't help but feel a twinge of guilt when I dress my girls in their UCLA outfits, then place them in their crib under their UCLA mobile that plays the UCLA Fight Song, as they lay next to their UCLA Bruin Teddy Bear.

Terri offered this sobering thought: "You know, what if they decide to go to USC for college?"

I thought about that for a minute before I replied.

"I refuse to believe that I will fail that badly in my performance as a parent!"

Go Bruins! Beat 'SC!

The Final Result of a Father's Obsession. GO BRUINS!
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Roadtrip: Thanksgiving Weekend

Like the rest of America this past weekend, Katherine and Caroline hit the road for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Their destination: Los Angeles with Mommy and Daddy to visit David's family.

The trip was approximately 700 miles roundtrip, all in the family car. By far, this was the longest roadtrip for the girls thus far.

A view of the equipment used to cloth, feed, and comfort 14 week-old twins:

A photo of the equipment packed for the roadtrip to Los Angeles. Lewis and Clark packed less gear for their cross-continent expedition!
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Some creative packing by Daddy, and everything was in the car early Thursday (Nov. 24) morning, and the family was off.

Nov. 24, 2005 (Thursday) - Thanksgiving Day

Many friends have told us that babies actually travel well before six months of age, and they were right!

The girls for the most part fell asleep throughout the six hour car ride to Los Angeles.

We only needed to stop once to change and feed the girls.

Caroline got a little fussy towards the end of the trip, but overall both girls slept almost the entire time.

Thanksgiving was at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

The girls were not so into the food, but enjoyed being fussed over by their older cousin, Lauren:

Katherine on Thanksgiving with Cousin Lauren
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Nov. 25, 2005 (Friday) - Christmas Shopping

The girls were awakened early Friday morning for that time-honored tradition: The day-after-Thanksgiving shopping rush!

It was hard to tell who was more excited about waking up early -- Mommy or the girls.

David took this photo of Terri and the girls outside Target (and "yes" that is fog, not L.A. smog!):

First Shopping Trip with Mommy
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Friday was also David's birthday, so the family celebrated with some pumpkin and apple pie!

The Lim Family celebrate Daddy's birthday
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Nov. 26, 2005 (Saturday) - Date Night!

The girl's got a chance to meet their cousin Ryan for the first time (David's sister's youngest son):

The girls meet cousin Ryan -- seven weeks their senior
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But the big news for Saturday was that Terri and David left the girls with Grandma and Grandpa for the afternoon and went on their first date since the girls were born!

For three hours in the afternoon, Terri and David walked the mall without a stroller, a diaper bag, or ANYTHING. They also caught a movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". David was so excited, he spent $10 on popcorn and soda, and didn't even complain about the price!

For any first time parents reading this -- if a well-meaning family member offers to give you some "down time" -- TAKE IT!

Nov. 27, 2005 (Sunday) - Red Egg & Ginger Party

Katherine and Caroline had their "official" Red Egg & Ginger Party.

Some of you will recall that on their one-month birthday, we had a small Red Egg and Ginger Celebration for the girls at our house (see "Red Egg & Ginger Party", September 4, 2005).

This was the real party -- over 150 family and friends gathered at a Chinese restaurant to eat and celebrate Katherine and Caroline.

The girls slept through most of the party, but everyone had a nice time.

Katherine & Caroline's Red Egg & Ginger Party
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Katherine & Caroline's with Proud Grandparents & Friends
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Katherine & Caroline's with David & Terri's Friends
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Gifts for Katherine & Caroline
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Nov. 27, 2005 (Monday) - Heading Home

On Monday, we headed home. The girls, again, slept through most of the trip, with only a bit of crying in the home stretch.

Here's Caroline, looking forward to heading home:

Caroline in Los Angeles
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Baby Bjorn Haiku

Katherine and Caroline love their Baby Bjorn.

For those non-parent readers, the Baby Bjorn is a pouch-like devise which allows you to carry your baby on your chest, while keeping your arms free to eat cake, work a T.V. remote, or type a blog!

Katherine with Mommy in Baby Bjorn
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When the girls were first born, we had a "knockoff" carrier.

Similar to the Baby Bjorn, but definitely NOT the Baby Bjorn.

The girls hated it.

It had hard plastic clips that the girls would bang their head into, and it wasn't very secure.

So Terri's sister found us a good deal on two Baby Bjorns. We put the girls into them, and have never looked back.

In homage to the Baby Bjorn, I present you -- "BABY BJORN HAIKU"

BABY BJORN HAIKU

**Haiku: A traditional form of Japanese poetry, a traditional haiku consists of a pattern of approximately 5, 7, and 5 paragraph on separate lines. The haiku does not traditionally rhyme.

Swedish carrier,
Keeps baby secure and safe;
Looking all around.

Snug fitting holder;
Caroline sleeps on my chest;
You are a Godsend!

Fussy Katherine
Wants to watch the world go by;
Safely strapped to Dad.

Baby cries and cries;
Strap on the Baby Bjorn.
Baby falls asleep!

Caroline Sleeping in Baby Bjorn
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It's All Relative

Being a mother of twin babies is no easy task. People constantly stop me on the streets and comment about how difficult it must be to care for twins.  Common remarks I hear are “double trouble” and “wow, it must be a lot of work.”  

I often reply with a smile and brief comment such as “it’s a double blessing” or “it’s a lot of fun.”

Becoming a parent has been a rite of passage.  Life is no longer just about David and me and what do we want to do for dinner or for fun.  Suddenly, we’re grown ups.  

We have real responsibilities; Katherine and Caroline are counting on us to be mature and make the right decisions.  This is from the woman who still likes to eat cookies and ice cream as an entrée.  

However, David and I aren’t just parents.  We’re parents of twins.  We have entered a special fraternity of parents of multiples.  It’s a “by invitation only” fraternity.  

Strangers will introduce themselves and tell us that they are twins also.  Instantly, we find that these “strangers” are fellow fraternity members.  We’ll see other parents of twins at the mall or supermarket and give each other a nod and a smile.  How were we so lucky to be extended this invitation?  

David and I recently went to a Halloween party for other parents of multiples.  At these events, our Suburban of strollers (a double tandem Snap N Go) is no longer such an anomaly.  

In fact, we saw a stroller for triplets. “Wow,” we said “three babies!”  So you see, I feel extremely fortunate that David and I aren’t outnumbered.  Compared to parents of triplets or quadruplets we’re actually in a good position.  

Imagine if we had a toddler or other children in addition to our twins!  Some days, I’m just exhausted caring for Katherine and Caroline.  Last Wednesday was one of those days.  I said to David “we just never get a break,” but then I think about single parents, parents whose spouses travel for work or are in the military overseas.  These parents never get a break.  At least we have family close by who help us.  

So, yes, having twins is a lot of work but it’s all relative.  

Caroline's Calisthenics

Nobody ever told me that when I became a father, I would also become a football coach.

You see, in order to encourage proper development of neck and back muscles, and to improve coordination in general, the experts recommend "tummy time" for babies at least a few minutes every day.

Thus, every day during the week, Terri will have the girls on their stomachs. During the weekend, I try to give their girls their "tummy time" while playing with them.

The first few times I did "tummy time", I carefully placed each girl on their stomach, then sat there passively and watched.

The girls would invariably cry.

Like any first time father, I would break down and pick them up.

As the weeks have gone by, however, and the girls have gotten stronger, "tummy time" has become more fun.

First, I realized that the girls will not break if I flip them over onto their backs (much like flipping a turtle onto it's back).

The girls, in fact, being bigger now, actually enjoy getting flipped over.

Far from crying when they are put on their stomachs, they seem to enjoy the challenge.

They stretch their legs and arms, lift their heads, and grunt continuously.

And far from being the passive observer, I now encourage them in the spirit of football coaches everywhere.

While lying on my stomach myself (so I can look at them in the eye, on their level), I shout encouragement:

"Lift that head!"

"Get that head up 45 degrees! Hold it! Hold it!"

"Way to go [Katherine]/[Caroline]! You're doing great!"

"Who's the Baby? You're the Baby!"

And today, all my coaching paid off.

Call it the Super Bowl of "tummy time".

Caroline rolled over. From her stomach onto her back.

All by herself.

If someone could have poured Gatorade over me, I couldn't have been prouder.

And just to prove it was no fluke, I had her do it three more times. And I took pictures:

Play-By-Play of Caroline's SportsCenter Moment
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I also got a post-roll interview from the victorious Baby. Take a listen below. I think you'll agree she's quite modest (it sounds like she's crying, but she's actually babbling):

If my alma mater, the UCLA Bruins, puts in half the effort Caroline put in tonight in two weeks against arch-rival USC, we've got a shot to beat those Trojans!! Go Bruins!

U --- C --- L --- A ---- UCLA, Beat 'SC!
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Milestones

Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming o'er the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep, in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.

- William Blake

Katherine & Caroline at Week 14
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Overheard in the Lim household this morning at 6:00 A.M.:

David: Did you wake up to feed the kids last night?

Terri: No. Did you?

David: No.

[Pause]

[Sound of David and Terri jumping out of bed]

[Terri and David peering into the crib]

[Girls are sleeping peacefully]

Terri: I guess they slept throught the night.

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Four magic words parents long to hear from the first week of birth:

SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT

Last night was the first night in 15 weeks we've slept six hours straight.

Woo-Hoo!!!

Daddy Catching A Nap With The Girls
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Social Butterflies

This weekend is a rare non-busy weekend for the girls.

The last three weekends have taken the girls to a wedding, a bar-b-que, dinner at their Aunt Cindy's, a Red Egg and Ginger Party, and a baby shower for my friends, Lance and Candise.

Katherine & Caroline Socializing at Lance & Candise's Baby Shower
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Next weekend, of course, is Thanksgiving, with numerous family gatherings and many, many dinners.

So this weekend, Terri and I are looking forward spending some quiet time at home with the girls.

Mommy & Katherine Out on the Town!
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That's not to say, however, that the girls don't like going out -- quite the opposite. They are social butterflies, even at 15 weeks!

Katherine, in particular, loves to be out and about. She will stay awake and look around quietly, taking everything in.

Caroline is also quiet when she's out socially, but she tends to be a bit more shy, and will often close her eyes, or look away when things get too "busy" for her. If she really gets freaked out, she will often just fall asleep!

Daddy, Caroline, and a Beer.
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The Horror, The Horror . . .

I've taken the latest step in my evolution as a parent.

Last night, I didn't get very much sleep -- which in itself is nothing new.

It's the reason WHY I didn't sleep well.

You see, I've entered a strange, wonderful, and horrific world known to all parents.

A world filled with Muppets, Wiggles, Barney, and Sesame Street, to name a few.

A world where your babies respond well to one CD from one of the above groups.

And so to keep them happy, you play that CD because it makes them laugh.

Because, when all else fails, it stops the crying, and gives you precious minutes of peace and quiet.

Music Calms the Sleeping Babies
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You play that CD.

Over.

And over.

And over again.

And then the songs get burned into your head.

Over.

And over.

And over again.

ALL NIGHT!

It's 6:00 a.m. in the morning, and I swear I haven't been able to get one song out of my head since midnight!

They say misery loves company, so sing with me now . . .

Click here:

Oh, I've got five people in my family.
And there's not one of them I'd swap.
There is a sister, and two brothers,
And a Mother, and a Pop (that's me).
Oh, five is such a pretty number!
I'm awfully glad that I've . . .
Five people in my family
One, two, three, four, five.
One . . .
Two . . .
Three . . .
Four . . .
FIVE!

(Repeat)

Daddy's Got Muppets On the Brain

Politics and Baby Talk

Tonight is election night in California.

I want my girls to be well-versed in current events and relevant social issues, so from time to time, I'll talk to them about various issues.

Here's a real discussion I had with Katherine the other night (and if you think I'm joking, you're not a parent!):

Daddy: "Katherine, what do you think of the new Supreme Court Nominee, Samuel Alito?"

Katherine: [Blank stare]

Katherine Listening to Daddy's Political Rantings

Daddy: "Some say that he's a conservative ideologue, while others say he'll follow the precedent set by past Court cases. What are your thoughts?"

Katherine: [Waves her arms in the air, hitting herself in the eye]

Daddy: "There are those who say the Constitution is a 'living, breathing document' to be interpreted in the context of relevant social issues of our time. Others argue a 'strict interpretation' to the Constitution, reading only what the Founding Fathers would have placed into the document. What do you think?"

Katherine: [Sneezes in my face]

Daddy: "I agree. I'd support any candidate who can provide you a cleaner, drier diaper."

Katherine: [Spits up and smiles]

I guess I shouldn't send the check off to Harvard just yet!

Caroline is a big supporter of the "full bottle" platform.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

The Traveling Circus

This past weekend was our first big test in taking the girls out for extended periods of time over the course of an entire weekend.

Terri's sister Cindy got married on Saturday, so the girls were invited to every event -- lots of parties, lots of family, lots of time away from home.

At twelve weeks old, were the girls ready for this?

More importantly, after twelve weeks of parenting, were WE ready for this?

The Traveling Circus Comes to Cindy and Eric's Wedding!

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DAY ONE: WEDDING REHEARSAL & REHEARSAL DINNER

The weekend starts early Friday afternoon.

First, a bath for each girl. Then, getting ready to take them out to the wedding rehearsal and wedding rehearsal dinner.

We pack the following for the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner:

• Double stroller
• Two car seats
• Backpack containing:
  

• Ten diapers (five "newborn" Pampers for Caroline, five "onesie" Huggies for Katherine)
• Changing pad
• Wet wipes
• Change of clothing for each child
  
• Pajamas for each child
• Three burp cloths
• Two extra receiving blankets
• Three 4 oz. "Dr. Brown" bottles
• Formula to make three 3 oz. feedings
• Two bottles of Crystal Geyser water to make formula
• Camera (to record every precious moment)
• Two plastic ziplock bags to store dirty diapers in.

I feel like I'm packing for a small army!

In addition to getting the kids ready, we get ourselves ready -- this is different then our previous outings to the mall or the local family restaurant.

This was a wedding, which means dressing nice, and looking nice!

This Ain't No Trip to the Mall -- You Gotta Look Good!

Just before we leave the house, Terri breastfeeds each girl. We are trying to time the feedings to minimize having to feed in awkward places or at awkward times -- i.e., the middle of the rehearsal.

We get to the church on time, no problem.

Terri is in the wedding party, so she goes off to take part in the rehearsal. I walk the girls around and around and around the church chapel to keep them entertained. They nap for the most part throughout the rehearsal.

The girls behave wonderfully. No crying, no fussing. No need to feed them in the church. All is well.

We head to the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner -- Cafe de la Paz in Berkeley.

Cafe de la Paz: A Nice Restaurant, But Definitely Not "Baby Friendly"

Our first encounter with a "fancy" restaurant with babies.

Surprise! The place is not very "baby friendly."

We end up carrying the stroller up about 12 stairs to get to the banquet room where the rehearsal dinner is being held.

No changing station in the bathrooms or anywhere else. We use a cushioned sofa couch (very trendy) to change the girls.

No place for Terri to breastfeed in public, so she holes up in the darkest corner she can find and disappears under a blanket.

The girls are great. No fussing, no crying. Katherine loves the whole affair and constantly is looking around, her eyes wide with all the new things to see and hear. Caroline is more subdued, but also stays quiet.

This dinner is a preview of the rest of the weekend. Well-meaning friends and family who all want to come up and touch the babies' hands, face, feet.

As a first-time Dad, I have to suppress the urge to bark out, "Have you washed your hands?" to each person who grabs the girls by their hand, or (gasp!) puts their finger on their face.

First-Time Dad Relaxing With Caroline -- Did you Wash Your Hands?!?

Still, we get home without the kids having contracted the plague.

At bedtime, the evening catches up with little Caroline. The whole evening of stimulation is too much for Caroline. She goes into "panic" mode just before bed time, screaming and crying and unable to feed.

Maybe she doesn't know how to process all that she's seen and done today.

Maybe it's a delayed reaction to all the new stimulus.

Or maybe she's just gassy!

Some extra walking, soothing, and singing by all parties in our household, and Caroline calms down and is off to sleep.

Day one of the weekend is complete, but we're just getting started.

******************************************
DAY TWO: MORNING & AFTERNOON: THE WEDDING

The second day starts early.

Terri is up at 6:00 a.m., and needs to be 20 miles away by 8:00 a.m. to have her makeup and hair done with the rest of the brides maids.

Terri feeds the girls at 7:00 a.m. just before she leaves. David's Dad drives her to her hair appointment at the wedding hotel.

At 10:30 a.m., David gets dressed into his suit, then proceeds to get the girls ready. Each girl is fed, burped, then changed into their "wedding" dresses -- little pink outfits picked out by Terri the night before.

The wedding is at 1:00 p.m., with a reception at 6:00 p.m. Instead of coming home after the wedding, the girls are going to hang out at the wedding hotel, closer to the reception.

Thus, the following is packed for the girls, and double checked by David just before 11:30 a.m.:

• Double stroller
• Two car seats
• Kolcraft "Travelin' Tot 4-in-1" Playpen
  
• A reloaded backpack containing:
  

• Ten diapers (five "newborn" Pampers for Caroline, five "onesie" Huggies for Katherine)
• Changing pad
• Wet wipes
• Change of clothing for each child
  
• Pajamas for each child
• Three burp cloths
• Two extra receiving blankets
• Three 4 oz. "Dr. Brown" bottles
• Formula to make three 3 oz. feedings
• Two bottles of Crystal Geyser water to make formula
• Camera (to record every precious moment)
• Two plastic ziplock bags to store dirty diapers in.

• A shopping bag filled with: ten extra diapers each for Katherine and Caroline, extra formula, extra bottles of water to make formula.
• BabyBjorn to carry babies in.
  

We head out with the girls at 11:30 a.m., and arrive at the church by 12:00 p.m.

Get the girls inside the church (which, by the way, is also not "baby friendly" -- the stroller must be lifted by hand up a set of 20 stairs), and settled in.

Katherine and Caroline are doing fine. A small crowd of family and friends come to say hello, but most are busy finding their seats or getting ready for the ceremony.

However, once the ceremony starts, and the organ music starts to play . . .

Crying.

Loud crying.

Caroline and Katherine In the Church -- BEFORE the Organ Starts to Play

First Caroline.

Then Katherine.

I pick up Caroline. My Mom takes Katherine.

I head outside with Caroline.

I try to come back in after 10 minutes. Caroline starts to cry again.

. . .

I'm told the ceremony was lovely!

******************************************
THE RECEPTION

We spend the late afternoon in the bridal suite letting the kids rest in the traveling playpen.

I learn that the Kolcraft "travelin'" playpen is poorly named. There's nothing much "travelin'" about the damn thing.

First off, it weights at least 50 pounds, and is huge. By the time I lug it from my car, up to the hotel room, and wrestle the thing together, I'm sweating all in my suit. Whoever designed this playpen could have put wheels on it!

However, the kids get some needed down time. They rest (and we rest with them) for about 2 hours.

At 6:00 pm, it's off to the reception.

The girls love it! Katherine can't stop looking around. Caroline is more subdued, but she's not crying at all.

The dinner is a traditional Chinese wedding banquet -- a nine-course meal.

I make it to about the third course.

By that time, the band has arrived, set up, and is starting to play.

LOUDLY.

As a first-time parent, I start to worry: How loud is too loud for 12 month old babies?

When we go outside to change and feed the babies after the third course, I get my answer.

My ears are ringing from the music. And if my ears are ringing, what does that mean for newborns?

Terri and I make a quick decision. Terri can't leave -- it's her sister's wedding, and she's in the bridal party.

I go. I take the girls back to the hotel room, where we hang out and wait for the reception to end.

The hotel room is not bad. I've eaten three courses, so I'm not hungry. The girls actually fall asleep after a little bit of fussiness.

By the time Terri calls me and we pack up to head home, everyone has had a pretty good time.

More importantly, we've survived our first FULL WEEKEND outing.

It felt like a traveling circus. But it was fun to experience it as a family.

In the end -- it's all about the family, isn't it?

Click on any photo for a larger view.