Christmas Day

Well, it isn't what we had planned, but it is turning into a great Christmas anyway. Our trip to Spokane was not possible due to the SNOW. My brother Kevin is also stuck in Seattle, so he came over for some holiday cheer. Grandma and Grandpa T are missing us this Christmas in snowy Spokane. We are not normally in Seattle for Christmas so we are able to see folks we usually would not see. Today we enjoyed a nice visit from my Uncle Carl and cousin Shanti (we missed you Sienna, but I am sure you are having a balmy Australian Christmas!) Tomorrow we head to Portland to visit Dave's sister Karen and her family. Our first overnight trip! I am already thinking about everything we need to bring....
The streets are slushy but should be OK down to Portland (also hit by what the local news is calling "December Storm!")

Nate & Ella suit up for their first snow

As you may have heard or be experiencing first-hand, it is snowing LIKE CRAZY in Seattle. Ten years here and I can't remember this much snow. Today Nate and Ella got to use the snowsuits Grandma T. got them (thanks Grandma T.) We're bummed that our drive to Grandma and Grandpa T.'s for Christmas is almost certainly off due to the weather at the pass and in Spokane. But we're ready to hunker down and have the babies' first Christmas here. Be safe everyone!

Nate Dogg & El-Train

Though we usually refer to the babies by their regular names of Nate and Ella, a few nicknames have come up over the first few months as you might imagine. In addition to Nate Dogg and El-Train:

COLLECTIVE: The bugs, the babes

NATE: Nate the Great, Nater, Nat-o, Mister Mister, Beep & Sleepy Beep Beep (from a hat he wore as a newborn) Buddy, Lil' Guy, Lil' Dude, Senor Poopy Butt

ELLA: El, Ellie, Lil' El, Ms. El, 'Roo, Woodstock, Mouse, Peep, Sleepy Peep Peep, Lil' Missy

Karin, which ones have I missed?

Trimming the tree to Wham!

A holiday video ...



Karin thinks her voice sounds funny in the background.

While Daddy is away...

The twins were playing on Daddy's side of the bed today. It was all fun and games until Ella spit up. Sorry Dave.

Yay, no more DC!

Not that I don't love DC...it is a fun city. I have traveled there every winter for the past 4 years to visit my dear friend Kym, but law school is over and Kym, Aaron and Lucas are back. Nate and Ella have loved meeting their cousin Lucas. Here is Nate (in his "lil dude" bib) with Aaron and Lucas.



Michelle, don't worry, we will get back to DC!

Ella and Nate meet S. Claus

Ho ho ho! Ella and Nate got into the Christmas spirit on Monday with their first Santa meeting. Karin took them up to Northgate along with friend Sara and her daughter, Lila. Nate and Ella did fine, and Santa said he was glad Nate didn't throw up on him.

Thanksgiving Night

Dave, Karin, Nate and Ella enjoyed the twins' first Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma and Grandpa T., Uncle Colin, Aunt Erin and Uncle Kevin. Aunt Erin and Uncle Colin were super hosts, with Aunt Erin preparing an amazing Thanksgiving meal, mmmmmm.

Here the twins enjoy some grandparent cuddle time:

Photos from Aunt Mary's visit

Dave's sister Mary meets Nate:




And here is Mary with a sleepy Ella:

A birthday video for Aunt Mary ...

Take 1


Take 2

Happy Thanksgiving!

The twins turned 3 months old yesterday. Today they are celebrating their first Thanksgiving. Ella was smily this morning:


Nate enjoyed a big Thanksgiving bottle, played in the activity gym for about an hour and then fell fast asleep:


Coming soon: Pictures of Aunt Mary's visit!

Baptized!

Much more to come, but here are a couple of pictures from Nate and Ella's baptism this past Sunday. Both were taken by my brother-in-law Ron. It was a terrific day and we appreciate all your thoughts and prayers!

This may be my favorite picture of Ella so far:


Dave holds white-suit-clad Nate:

Gonzaga 80, Idaho 46

Nate donned some Gonzaga gear for tonight's game against Idaho. He slept through the game. So did Idaho.

Video from Aunt Julie visit, plus an Ella/Ron Video I've been meaning to post ...

Here are a couple of videos from the visit of Aunt Julie ...

Julie & Ella:


Julie & Nate (sorry it is sideways):


And here's a video of Ella and Ron from last month that is fun:

Nate and Ella Meet Aunt Julie

Dave's sister Julie is in town, visiting from California. Last night she helped us take care of the babies and the adults ate Thai takeout. Mmmmmm ... Thai.

Here are a couple shots, more to come:

Baptism prep class

Here's Ella on her way out the door to church, with baptism for her and Nate coming up soon. Note the hoodie (starting to get cold up here).

Both she and Nate slept through most of it ...

Mr. Smiles

Our lil' witch!

Little Ella in her witch hat.

Happy Halloween!

Today we went to our 2 month Dr. appt. Nate is now a whooping 11lbs, 5oz and Ella is weighing in at 8lbs 10oz. Both are doing great and have almost doubled their birth weights! We also got our first round of vaccines today. :( This is what Nate has to say about that.

Shopping with Lila

Here is our friend Lila pushing the twins through JCrew. Yes, I am back to my regular trips to UVillage. You'll find us there!

A visit from Grandpa T. and more October pics ...

Grandpa T. recently made the drive from Spokane to get some quality Nate-and-Ella time:



While sporting the "Baby Coug" onesie he got from Grandpa T., Nate contemplates Washington State's 69-0 loss to USC:


Many of the Seattle U. baby boom participants attended a Halloween party on Oct. 25, including Chris, Lilly, Althea, Kian, Megan, Elliott, Karin, Ella and Nate:


Ella catches some Z's on Daddy:

Halloween Time

Dave and I LOVE Halloween. Hopefully our kids will too! Here they are in the Halloween PJs Aunt Karen got them.

Play date

Last week Nate and Ella had a great time playing with their friend Lilly O'Claire. Lilly is five months older and was very excited to sit in Dave's big Man Chair with the twins.

A few fun pics from recent days ...

Karin took this ... I think I'll have to get a print and a frame for my desk!


Here we see Ella reacting to Nate's latest joke. Nate takes after his father, who takes after his father ...


Daddy time:


Is it just me, or does this look like the back of a '70s British rock album cover?

A visit with Aunt Jayne, Aunt Karen, Uncle Ron and Cousin Jess

Things got a little hectic this past week, so I'm a bit late with these. But here are a few pictures from a recent visit!

Jayne meets Ella:


Jayne snuggles with Nate:


Nate reacquaints with cousin Jess:


Nate with Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron:


Ella with Uncle Ron:

Membership has it's benefits

Seattle has quite the twins community. Dave and I have joined NSFOM (North Seattle Families of Multiples) and are looking forward to meeting new people and their families. Today one of the members came over with a complete homemade meal for Dave and I - so nice not to have to worry about dinner tonight! Later this month we are going to a NSFOM Halloween party. (Do note this party starts at 10:00am on a Saturday...this is our new life!)
I have got myself convinced Dave Matthews is a member of NSFOM. After all, he lives in North Seattle and has twins! We'll see if he shows up at the Halloween party (or on my doorstep with a casserole!)

6 weeks old today

A visit from Lila and Sara

Today the twins met their slightly older (by about 17 months) friend, Lila Claire. Lila is the daughter of Dave and Karin's friends, Sara and Don. Lila loved pushing Nate in the swing!

Nate & Ella Gain Weight

Nate and Ella had another weigh-in today. Nate is up to 8 pounds, six ounces. Ella is now 6-3! In other news, Nate peed on a medical assistant and made her scream. I mean, c'mon. Act like you've been there!

One Month Old

The twins are one month old today! Hard to believe! Tomorrow is also their 40 week due date. Today we went for a nice long walk since it was a beautiful day in Seattle. Highlights included stops at Starbucks and Volunteer Park. They even got solicited to buy a copy of Real Change for the first time!

Nate and Ella Meet Cousin Jess

We're a bit late posting this, but cousin Jessica (Dave's niece) popped in from Portland last Saturday, while her mom Karen was here. Here, she snuggles with each new little one:





And here's a shot of Aunt Karen with Nate: