A Fresh Start

Well, online world, it's time for a relaunch. I have sufficient time to make a post more than once a year and I've collected enough interesting stories that seem worth sharing. Oh, and I finally figured out how to alter some settings that were driving me crazy; I hope folks like the new layout better than the mess it had become!

Let me begin by providing a highly condensed tour of recent events: after moving to Toledo, Ohio, we settled into a perfectly fine rental home but quickly began itching for a home of our own. We obsessed over real estate websites, saw dozens of homes, fell in love with one only to have another offer be accepted as we were packing up to head to the real estate office to make an offer, fell in love with another only to realize it was just too small, saw dozens more and then came upon a real treasure at an incredible price:



It's not always this cold and dreary!

 I also found a job (albeit contract work, but it's for an indefinite period of time) at a great place, began to contemplate how we'll change the home to suit our tastes, took care of the boys as Amanda made a couple trips to Chicago and one to India for her work, and watched the boys grow like weeds. Seriously, they're huge now:

A few dozen other things have happened, but I think I'll leave them for future blog posts. I'm aiming for a minimum of two per week, so hopefully this place will be a little more active.

By the way, do folks have good blogs to recommend? I'm looking to expand my reading list. I'm looking for parents of twins, interesting fathers, renovation and interior decoration blogs, Toledo residents who discuss the city, and anything else folks find fun, funny and interesting. Thanks in advance!

One from the Memory Hole

I was looking through old posts and noticed a couple drafts that I never finished. Most of them were best left in the dustbin, but one brought to mind a really special memory from our birthing process and I wanted to finish it up and share it, albeit a year and some change late.

We had recently finished up with Lamaze classes. It was an interesting experience. While at times informative, neither of us would say it made a huge impact on the birth process. It did get us to ask more questions and that alone was worthwhile. Still, there was one especially funny moment. As two ardent science devotees with no real religious belief, things that smack of religion and/or spirituality can make us both a little uneasy. Amanda is considerably more sympathetic but, for me, it's as though I've wandered into a conversation where I can recognize the literal words people are speaking and get a sense of the context but I can't quite discern the meaning. While I've grown accustomed to this and keep my thoughts to myself, sometimes my cynical, sarcastic nature gets the better of me. When the Lamaze instructor directed the couples to sit quietly while the mom-to-be "focused her energies and powers," we both smiled a little at one another; the smile conveyed the years of history together and our understanding of our shared thoughts in the given situation. When the instructor started speaking in "affirming phrases" and asked the partners to likewise share affirming phrases with the mother-to-be, we tried to contain our sarcastic, cynical views and giggles. But when the instructor said something along the lines of "Feel the power emanate from within you outward," I could contain myself no longer. I leaned down and whispered my affirming phrases in my partner's ear: "Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho." Amanda could hardly contain her giggles and covered her mouth with her hand to stifle them. I did it again, this time with a little more gusto although still quite softly and, for my efforts, ended up getting elbowed right in the ribs so that the last sound came out not as a whisper but rather as a softly yelped "HO!" Neither of us could contain ourselves at that point and we giggled like schoolchildren (albeit very quietly), almost crying from holding back the desire to burst out in guttural laughter. The class ended soon after and we approached the instructor to ask a couple questions, hoping that we wouldn't be chided too horribly for behaving like bad students. The instructor answered our questions, then said that we had a "unique way of dealing with things" and that it obviously "works for you, and that's what matters." You could tell that she thought we were nuts and didn't take things too seriously, but at the same time I suddenly came to respect what she was trying to do to some degree. Those were the types of things that, if Amanda had been in labor, would have helped her through it. Sure, our actions constituted a rejection of "sharing energies" and the like, running pretty counter to new age and/or religious sensitivities, but that's how we interact with the world and that would have been comforting to her in our own odd way.

To this day when we overhear discussions of shared energies, auras, etc., I lean over and whisper those sweet words in her ear "Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho." And still to this day the result is usually a solid elbow to the ribs accompanied by a stifled yelp.

Where Has the Time Gone?

I have all but abandoned this blog. That makes me sad, really; I enjoyed the heck out of blogging. Life is hectic; time is fleeting. Finding little moments to compose something thoughtful about the beautiful but mundane moments is far tougher now than it once was. I'll leave off with a status report, at least, in the hopes that time will avail itself more often soon.
I am now a stay-at-home father while seeking employment outside of the home. We have relocated to Perrysburg, Ohio, a suburb outside of Toledo, and we have settled in nicely. The boys, now a little over 16 months old, have grown like little weeds and are beautiful, wonderful and they cause an incredible amount of havoc and chaos. Amanda's mother takes the boys twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays); the boys seem to absolutely love this time with her. This helps me keep up on housework, get in some extra job seeking time, spend a little time trying to work on my neglected thesis and generally keeps me sane.

A photo or two of the little guys is needed, I think:

I hope there are more posts to come. I keep up on reading, just not posting!

The boys laugh a bit

I wish I still had time to blog. I'm hoping to start back soon. For now, here are a couple videos to show where the boys are developmentally.

Pretty darn cute, aren't they?

GAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Twins are tough but immensely rewarding. We don't sleep...ever, it seems. The babies demand the boob constantly, changes constantly, attention constantly. I never thought I would take such joy in something so stressful. I cannot imagine doing this without the team we have. My wife and I bicker a little these days--hey, we're both running on fumes--but words cannot my overwhelming gratitude towards and admiration of her. I asked her what she would have done had she given birth to twins back in the 50s. She responded "The babies would be on formula and I would be on Valium." The love grows even as we grow ever more weary.

* * * * * * * * * *

We're preparing to move cross country (proper update on that subject next week, hopefully). The movers will be here on Monday. No, the house is not yet finished. Yes, we're both peeing our pants. So far the routine--if it can be called that--has gone something like this: start packing a box, stop when baby a cries, burp, change and swaddle baby a. Go back to packing. Cuddle baby b now fussing, feed, burp, change and swaddle baby b. Calm baby b, put it down. Baby a cries because he was disturbed by setting baby b down. Cuddle baby a. Baby a expresses desire to eat...again! Give baby a to wife for feeding while wife tries to set up utilities in new place. Burp, change, swaddle baby a. Forget where item to be packed went that was just had in hand. Pack baby a in box and swaddle picture frame. Swear. Unpack baby a, unswaddle picture frame, reswaddle baby. Trip over dog. Swear again. Ask wife what I did with item to be packed. Find item to be packed in crib, next to swaddled babies. Disturb babies while attempting to retrieve item, Make babies cry. Repeat.

Remind me never to move with brand new infants again. ;-)

And now, some cuteness:

These three are from a couple weeks ago. I especially like that Timmy & Raiden switched off on eating one another's heads.
Baby Burritos = life savers. Note the seriously cute blankets from Target.
We took a hike with them recently while we were visiting Amanda's family for their bi-annual reunion. They were quite content, even over the rough terrain.

And we end with a smile from Raiden and a sleepy expression from Timothy. See you again soon, folks!

Brought to you by the letter "Arrrrrr"

No time for a real update beyond letting folks know that the boys have gone from sleeping all the time to fussing most of the time. They're still awesome, however. Instead of some long-winded review of our lives, let me offer a couple photos. First up is a hat that is far too large on an itty bitty Raiden:

Now let's move on to a mohawk-sporting Timothy:

That's it for now. Hopefully more soon!

Flippin' Cute Kids

Hey look, a post!

The boys are two weeks old today and this is the first post I've made in about 11 days. I have no idea how people manage new multiples and a healthy blogging relationship. As such, I've obviously let the blogging slip to keep up with these beautiful boys. As far as an update goes, just know that the boys are incredibly gorgeous, my wonderful wife has been recovering perfectly and we absolutely love being parents. Now for what you've really been waiting on: photos!

These were taken in an inexpensive in-store studio on May 14th. They aren't perfect, but the subjects certainly are. Hopefully more updates are to come soon; I've tons to say now, but no time to say it. See you soon, all.

one way to keep twins happy

this blog lacks capitalization. amanda is taking a short break, so i have two babies in my lap. here's one way to keep fussy twins happy when no breasts are around:

holy cow do i ever love these guys.

this is from a conversation with amanda today in which she said the following: i don't want them to grow up. i love babies. i don't want 9 kids but i can see why someone would want nine of them because i love babies.

we had just gotten back from the store where we saw a couple with nine kids. we both decided nine kids was insane, but i had to acknowledge that my initial adversity to more than 2 (there are already too many people on this beautiful planet of ours) is already waning a bit. I know that one more pregnancy would be it, though!

so yes, we went to the store today. amanda is so bloody tough that she decided that, since she was feeling stiff and wanted to move around but the area near our house is full of hills, a trip to the store was called for. the boys slept the entire times and amanda braved it like a champ only 3 days after a c-section. my wife is pretty burly, folks, but she's also a sap. Winning combo? i think yes.

Our New Arrivals

Just a very brief update. The hospital's internet restricts access to all social media (blogs, facebook, etc.), so I've run home to let the dog out and upload a couple photos. Know that everyone is doing fabulously well and all will be coming home either tomorrow or Monday.

Timothy Lewis Reissig-Berry was born at 12:19 pm and weighs 6 lbs 2.4 oz and is 19 inches long.

Raiden Anthony Reissig-Berry was born at 12:21 pm and weight 5 lbs 8 oz and is 19 ¼ inches long.

But more importantly, photos!

Raiden

Timothy

And from just an hour ago:

And we're off...

Today's the day. In just a little over four hours, we'll meet our boys for the first time. My stomach is in knots and I couldn't be move excited.

Love to all; updates as soon as possible.