Everyone's getting bigger

It's hard to believe that 14 months ago today I was staring down at these incredibly small babies. They were so tine it seemed like I could hold them in one hand. But, as they often do, my babies have grown and grown.

Ella continues to lead the pack in the development department, most notably in walking — but she is also ahead in the tooth count. I've lost track of how many she has now, but its got to be at least 8 and she can really tear into stuff now. She has even figured out how to use her bottom teeth as a sort of bottle opener to pry the lid off the baby snacks we buy.


(Look at those chompers)

Saxon still prefers to crawl, but with some help from big sister Amanda, he is taking a few tentative steps. We're (Callie and I) aren't in any big hurry for him to walk though. We figure he'll do it when he's ready and we enjoy having our baby boy be little for a while longer.


(Doesn't he look happy?)

One area where Saxon is ahead of Ella is in hair growth. As you can see in the picture above his hair had grown so much it was getting into his eyes. This led to Saxon's first hair cutting experience. It was quick and painless, Callie just did a few snips across the front to keep things out of his eyes. I think it makes him look even less like a baby and more like a little boy. Where does the time go?

Although she is about eight months early for it, Ella has already begun to figure out the terrible twos temper tantrum. If I am too busy to pick her up she will remind me of what is most important by laying on the floor, arching her back and screaming until she is red in the face. It is VERY LOUD and mostly heartbreaking because I know all she really wants is to be held. I am, however, having scary visions of my future where I will be in an aisle at Wal-Mart with her doing the same thing.

Fortunately, my babies are still very happy for the most part. Callie and I have worked hard as parents to make these babies — and all of our children — feel loved. I think it shows in their attitudes.


(More often then not, our babies look like this)

And it's not just the babies who are growing up before my eyes. Nick and Amanda are flourishing. We are homeschooling this year and it has been an adventure for everyone. But the kids are learning lots of new things and are doing it without any of the drama that comes along with middle school. It is so incredibly nice to have to hear about fights in the halls and who is "dating" who. We are able to focus on our studies and give them each the attention they need where they need it.

And the best part for Nick and Amanda? They get to play with Saxon and Ella on their recess! Okay, maybe they wouldn't say its the best, but the twinfants certainly enjoy it.


(Here we are in Concordia waiting for the fall festival parade to start.)

Summertime summertime

How time flies. After getting into the habit of posting weekly, I've let another month slip by and what an eventful month it has been.

On an epically tragic note, we mourned the loss of baby Brooklynn, one of Saxon and Ella's nieces. Her three months were far too short and her death has left a mark on us that will not soon fade.

But life is for the living, and with the twinfants there is no time to wallow in sorrow. One of the biggest developments in the last month is that Ella has become a walker.


(Ella is off and moving on "two wheels")

Although Saxon was the first to crawl, Ella has moved ahead. Although she isn't the most graceful creature, she certainly has gotten the hang of bipedalism lately. She is also tipping the scales at more than 21 pounds.

At his 1-year check up Saxon was a tad over 16 pounds and the nurse practitioner wanted to see him again six weeks later for another weigh in. They wanted him to gain about 8 ounces in that time. I am pleased to report that when we went back he was up to 17 pounds 11.5 ounces, a gain of well over a pound!

He's still a lightweight, but he's got a good appetite and is generally healthy and happy.

With summer drawing to a close, we made our way to the lake once more for an adventure filled weekend. We got a late start, arrived in a downpour and discovered our campsite was flooded. After we changed campgrounds, we parked the trailer in the dark and tried to dry out.


(Saxon and Nick are both anxious to drive dad's van.)

We awoke to a sunny day and headed even further south for a glorious day of Gospel music at Silver Dollar City. Although there was a brief shower that soaked my boots, the weather was pretty mild and a good time was had by nearly all. (Amanda wanted to spend more time on rides and less hearing music.)

I believe Saxon may become an evangelical minister. Whenever the music would play he would get into it with his entire body. He pumped his arms, kicked his legs and sang along at the top of his voice. -- And those who have heard the little man know that this is quite loud.


(How many coin op cars do they have at the dam? A lot!)

Sunday was spent shopping and playing on the Bagnell Dam strip. Ice cream, skee ball and Lake of the Ozarks T-shirts; what more do you need?

The return trip proved to be just as exciting as about a dozen deer took turns trying to be hit by our van. One did succeed in colliding with our trailer, leaving a nice dent in the front corner. Fortunately, the damage is cosmetic and not structural.

So how did you spend you summer vacation?

Another dam trip

Summer is about vacations and it seems like there are a lot of them going on around our house lately.

We've been to Silver Dollar City and Branson. Nick spent time in St. Louis. Amanda went to Milwaukee. Now Nick and Amanda are visiting their grandparents in South Dakota. Callie and I took Nick and the twinfants to the Lake of the Ozarks.

In a move that surprised me last week, we had Sara and Kristeena in town from Milwaukee and Callie took the whole lot them, including Tyler and Lindsay for an overnight to Lake of the Ozarks. As the trip was midweek, I stayed behind to work, but from the looks of the pictures it was a good time.


(Applying sunscreen can be a hair-raising experience!)

I got a call from them on the way down and had to look up some driving directions, but they found the campsite and set up the trailer before heading to the lake for a swim. The following day was spent having a blast at Bagnell Dam. I can't say I would have like to spend the night in the trailer with all those kids, but I do like the strip.


(Ella never turns down ice cream.)

So just how big was the crowd? Well, this group shot leaves out Sara and Callie:

(I think the Jimmy Buffet store needs a bigger cut-out.)

I've got great babies

In case anyone was interested in knowing who has the best babies in the world, it's me. Okay, that may be going a bit too far, but I think I've got two of the better ones that's for sure.

We're fighting ear infections again this week, (ear tubes may be in our future)but these babies are still about the sweetest things you could ever see.


(Saxon flashes his best grin)

The last year has been an incredibly difficult one filled with many trials and tribulations, but at the end of the day I get to come home to enthusiastic smiles and big hugs from my precious little ones.


(Ella's sensitive skin gets a bit splotchy, but she smiles through it)

As the babies get older, things are getting easier. The twinfants are also becoming regular members of the family and are taking a more active part in more and more of the things we do.

Last weekend we decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks. Tyler was off with his girlfriend and Amanda is still visiting the Milwaukee relatives so it was just Nick, Saxon, Ella, Callie and me.


(Saxon is already a pick-up man)

While they are still too small for bumper boats or go-karts, the babies were big enough to ride the quarter cars in front of the Dogpatch Arcade. Last year, they had to be held because they were still too small to sit up on their own.


(Saxon has his own opinion about Ella's driving skills)

It was a short trip since we didn't leave Marshall until early afternoon. But it was just long enough to unwind and spend a little money. Good times, good times.

They say it's your birthday...

"Saxon Ezekiel was born first, a few minutes after 4 p.m. on Friday, July 18. His sister, Ella Mae followed moments later. Both of them cried and started breathing "room air" right away, although Ella stopped and had to have assistance for the first 12 hours or so. Saxon tipped the scales at 3 pounds 7 ounces and was 16.5 inches long. Ella was the bigger of the two, weighing in at 4 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 18.75 inches long."

That's a quote from my first post in this blog, added to the World Wide Web on July 24, 2008. Here we are one year later and it's time to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TWINFANTS!


My life has changed in such profound and indescribable ways. Because I came into parenthood kind of sideways, I had the pleasure of taking a child to their first day of kindergarten and seeing another graduate high school before I knew the joy of holding your baby for the first time.

And now that the twinfants are older and able to show their emotions, there is no feeling on Earth like that compares to the love I see in Ella's face when she looks at me or in Saxon's entire body when he gives me a full-force hug. It's intoxicating.


(Saxon has a go at his personal birthday cake.)

For their special day we loaded up two cars and headed south to see the family in Buckhorn, bringing along the family from Milwaukee as well. It was nice to visit with folks we hadn't seen in a while and to give some of them their first chance to meet Ella and Saxon.


(Ella shows everyone how cake is supposed to be eaten.)

To say that Ella and Saxon made out like Christmas in July would be an understatement and a special thank you goes out to everyone who contributed gifts for the babies. Our house has been a chorus of beeps, whistles, chirps and other assorted noises. The noise can be a bit distracting, but the twinfants are happy as can be.


(Better than the presents, Ella and Saxon spent their birthday surrounded by family.)

Happy Birthday USA!

What a memorable 4th of July weekend! After the van tried to kill itself (okay so it was really just a bad thermostat, but it still ruined my Thursday) we were able to hitch up the new camping trailer and head out for beautiful Branson, Missouri.

With our newly-minted season passes in hand, we made our way to Silver Dollar City and hit a few rides and took in a show. We hadn't been since the 4th of July weekend of 2004, so some things had changed a bit. Of course with SDC, some things never change.


(Bomb-pops are red, white and delicious!)

The twinfants did wonderfully well during the trip down to Branson and were great inside the park. Ella and Saxon have very different personalities though. We saw a percussion show (similar to the Broadway production Stomp) and Saxon didn't like it at first. He jumped around a bit before he finally decided to watch. Ella, of course, was fascinated. How could she not be? The performers were all guys. The show proved to be too much for the sweet chub-a-lub, however, and before it was over she was snoozing in daddy's arms.

After our day at the park we went back to the camper and grilled some delicious steaks for dinner. Then we kicked back and watched "Twister" via cable on our TV. I've got to say this trailer camping sure is different from the tent camping I grew up with.


(Saxon makes sure the root beer float spoon is clean.)

Saturday morning, Amanda and I ditched the slow-crowd and dashed back to SDC. The park was actually about 1/2 a mile from the campground so it didn't take too long to get there. Traveling light we were able to hit most of the roller coasters before we had to leave for lunch at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.

Once again the twinfants were great. They loved the food and the show held their attention well enough for mommy and daddy to eat some too. We were in the North section, but our team lost the battle that day. Despite losing to the Rebs, we had a really good time.

After the show, we headed back to SDC — with the whole crew this time. With precious little time left before the park closed we hit a ride or two and then made our way to the amphitheater for the Great American Country show. Ella was in heaven. There were signing cowboys, funnel cakes and potato chips. This time, it was Saxon's turn to take a nap.

With the 4th of July drawing to a close, we went back to the camper for a final nights rest. We could hear fireworks, but didn't see them.

On Sunday, Amanda's birthday, we woke up and broke camp. With the trailer in tow, we started for home with a slight detour to Bass Pro Shop. Saxon had a ball in the camping section. He crawled all over trying out out barbecues and camp chairs. Ella was more interested in watching the fishes.

We made good time coming back and got to Marshall around 8 p.m. Which gave us just enough time to unhitch the trailer, stretch out legs, change some diapers and load back into the van. We hit Concordia just before 9 p.m. set up our lawn chairs and hit the Boy Scouts ice cream stand.

We enjoyed a treat of bomb-cicle pops and root beer floats before the Concordia Civic Club set off a 20 minute fireworks display. The babies liked the fireworks, but they REALLY liked the treats.

So what did you do on the 4th?

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time before these pictures were taken. In the old days, I guess, a person had to wait until their first date before these type of pictures saw the light of day. Ah... the Internet.

And without further ado:



Bath time right now is a pretty simple affair. About three inches of water, six to eight inches of bubble foam, some water proof toys and a couple of babies thrown in for good measure.



The twinfants actually like baths in the tub much more than the sink. Here they have room to move around and they can play with their toys. So far we a rubber duck, a plastic ball, a toy snake and a plastic cup. I think some boats may be on the birthday list.



I'm not sure how other parents of babies decide when to have baths. I usually use a washcloth or diaper wipes to clean them, but sometimes -- particularly after a meal with some sort of sauce -- its just a whole lot easier to run a bath and let them play.

Saxon does cute things

In the 11 months or so since he was born, Saxon has posed for approximately 15,000 photos. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but he has been a well-photographed baby.

Culling through all of those photos, I have come to conclusion that he just does really cute stuff.


(Like most guys, he hogs the remote)


(He has a great way of eating cake.)


(He even does cute things in his sleep!)

My sweet Chub-a-lub

Ever since birth, Ella has been the larger of the two babies. Where Saxon is wiry ball of energy, Ella is my snuggly baby. Although she falls into the median range for her age, her status as the "big" baby in our house has earned her the nickname "Chub-a-lub."

I suppose as she gets older, she probably won't care much for it. But these pictures show her for happy cherub she is right now.


(Having a laugh at Tyler's graduation.)


(Savoring the taste of a Cheerio.)


(And my personal favorite: Thinking up new ways to be cute.)

Graduation time

Well, we weren't sure it was ever going to happen but Tyler did indeed graduate from High School.


(Tyler grabs the diploma before they change their mind)

The day of the ceremony was hot, but not as hot as previous years. We avoided the sun bake of the stadium and opted instead to watch from a pavilion near the snack bar. We couldn't see as well and could barely hear, but it was much better for the babies and I still got some pics of Tyler and his girlfriend on their special day.


(Amanda and Saxon have it made in the shade.)

Two of a kind

SaxonandElla, EllaandSaxon. The Babies. The Twinfants.

It seems that my youngest children are almost two halves of one entity. In truth, they are quite different. Ella is big and bossy. Saxon is skinny and feisty. Ella sucks her thumb. Saxon likes his binky.


(We still get asked "Are they twins)

But there is no denying the "twin effect." They already chatter to each other. And Ella laughs and applauds as Saxon goes off doing some silly thing or another.


(I guess with matching high chairs and walkers, it doesn't help people tell them apart.)

I can foresee them as best friends in the year's to come. Seeing the bond forming between them is really something that I think most singleton parents don't even realize they've missed out on.

Ella makes you sleepy.

While looking through my pictures of the babies, I noticed something: Ella likes to sleep with company. She does nap by herself on occasion, but when it comes to some serious slumber, she'd rather do it tandem.


(Ella and Amanda asleep in the recliner)


(Ella and Tyler asleep on the couch)


(I don't know how Saxon does it, but they sleep like this every once and a while.)

Hoppy Easter

The Easter Bunny had to bring even more baskets to the Post/Glenski household this year. I'm not sure if he borrows Santa's sleigh or what, but he probably needs to.

First, we had our bunch: Eric (and his wife Nikki), Tyler (with the addition of his girlfriend Lindsay), Nick and Amanda, plus we added Saxon and Ella. Then, as with last year, we added the Milwaukee family with Sara, Corey and Kristeena. That's a lot of candy.


(Is it the Easter Bunny? No, Saxon just wandered too close to his evil sisters.)

We skipped Easter Sunday mass this year because we had been to the epic mass the night before. I was received both the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion during the service, which followed the blessing of Callie and my marriage. It was quite a lot of blessings to lay on a person in one day, but I am now officially a member of the Catholic church.


(Amanda and Sara pose prior to the Easter parade)

The secular highlight of the holiday, though, is the annual Easter Parade in Arrow Rock. Amanda and Sara entered into the parade for the second year in a row. Like last year, they sported Easter bonnets they made themselves. This year, however, they also wore period dresses that Sara made before she came down.


(Ella tries some ice cream.)

The parade and egg hunt were a little too cold for my liking, but everyone had fun and the kids even ate ice cream at the shop on the Arrrow Rock boardwalk. Even Ella sampled the sweet stuff.

Post Photo Post!

I don't have a lot to say since my last post... It's been busy with the renovation and trying to get the house ready for Easter.

The twinfants are doing great, although we did have some boogery noses this week. This was pretty much the first time they've been sick to speak of and other than runny noses and sneezes it wasn't too bad.

But enough jabbering! Bring on the pictures! Here are some snapshots from the last week or so:


(I've been trying to get low to change the camera angle.)


(I think I got it pretty good in this one.)


(Amanda's cat had kittens and Ella thinks they're pretty neat.)


(People keep saying Saxon favors me, but I don't know that I see the resemblance)


(My camera has a close-up feature that gave me this picture of Ella.)


(And also this one of Saxon.)


(The twinfants like their high chairs.)


(Mashed tatoes are nummy!)


(Sometimes they even get some IN their mouth!)