"I don't have a free hand," is what Noam said to Eema about three months ago, when asked to retrieve a pacifier from the shelf nearby. At the time, Eema was holding Akiva in her arms and balancing Hillel on her lap. Noam was reading books. "No, Eema," said Noam, and calmly explained, "I don't have a free hand."
Gee, wonder where he got that from.
"I don't have a free hand," is also the reason there have been no blog posts for the past four months. Or a free minute. Or some spare energy. You get the idea.
In fact, if it were not for Melissa (wonderful babysitter who takes pictures of our children even though we don't) and Hannah (roommate emeritus who has the skill and patience to set up blogs) we wouldn't even be posting now. Four months is only sort of enough time to adjust to the idea of twins, but not entirely to the reality of two needy infants.
But here we are, vacationing (that might not really be the right word) in East Hampton ("Grandma's other house," as Noam calls it), and determined to post some pictures of our children (though not necessarily of us. If we had a dollar for every time someone has told us how exhausted we look, we would be able to afford a lot more child care).
So here are some of the things you may have missed in the last few months:
Hillel (L) and Akiva (R), at just under three weeks old - ready to leave the NICU!
Noam with his Daddy, at his first Princeton event - apple picking in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah.
For the most part, Noam has been enjoying life. Though he missed Israel a lot when we first got back here, and we think he still remembers and misses his friends there, he is happy to be seeing a lot of his extended family. Of course, there has been the minor issue of his two new brothers. Of whom Noam occasionally says, "Eema, I want to squish him." But he also hugs them, brings them pacifiers, and sings and dances to entertain them and make them laugh when they are crying. For their part, Akiva and Hillel watch him adoringly (except when he squishes them).
Akiva (R) and Hillel (L), at about 6 weeks old. This is when they were still small enough to curl up together in the same bouncy seat. And to answer the question on everyone's lips, yes, we can tell them apart. At least, Eema can. Usually. When her eyes are all the way open. Daddy can too, at least a solid fifty percent of the time. As for Noam, the attempt to distinguish seems beneath him.
"Noam, who is this?"
"Hillel!"
"No, it's Akiva."
"Yeah, 'Kiva."
(i.e. Leave me alone. Who told you to bring home two anyway?!)
So here are some of the things you may have missed in the last few months:
Hillel (L) and Akiva (R), at just under three weeks old - ready to leave the NICU!
Noam with his Daddy, at his first Princeton event - apple picking in anticipation of Rosh Hashanah.
For the most part, Noam has been enjoying life. Though he missed Israel a lot when we first got back here, and we think he still remembers and misses his friends there, he is happy to be seeing a lot of his extended family. Of course, there has been the minor issue of his two new brothers. Of whom Noam occasionally says, "Eema, I want to squish him." But he also hugs them, brings them pacifiers, and sings and dances to entertain them and make them laugh when they are crying. For their part, Akiva and Hillel watch him adoringly (except when he squishes them).
Akiva (R) and Hillel (L), at about 6 weeks old. This is when they were still small enough to curl up together in the same bouncy seat. And to answer the question on everyone's lips, yes, we can tell them apart. At least, Eema can. Usually. When her eyes are all the way open. Daddy can too, at least a solid fifty percent of the time. As for Noam, the attempt to distinguish seems beneath him."Noam, who is this?"
"Hillel!"
"No, it's Akiva."
"Yeah, 'Kiva."
(i.e. Leave me alone. Who told you to bring home two anyway?!)
Hillel (L) and Akiva (R) at two months. Have we mentioned the size difference between them? It remains the easiest way to tell them apart.
Hillel, four months old, looking goofy. Big, huge smiles are his specialty.
Akiva, also four months, but a bit more serious.
One of the FEW times (I promise!) that I have had the urge to dress them the same. It just worked out...and come on, you know it's cute! But no, we do not usually dress them the same, and yes, we do know that they are two separate individuals. Yes, their personalities are very different. Actually, we have come to the conclusion that people who consistently dress their twins the same - or who make it a point to always dress them differently - just have way too much time on their hands. Our babies are spit-up artists, meaning that they change outfits so frequently that all matchingness is fleetingness.Okay, more soon!
