The Cohen Quartet

Cohen Vacation - Day 2 (Seaworld)

2011-07-25T21:10:00.009-05:00

For the second day of our vacation, we headed across the street to SeaWorld. Yes, the resort (Hill Country Hyatt) is across the highway from SeaWorld.

We started out early, and got there just as the park opened. We knew it was going to be a hot day, like always in Texas, so we broke out the sunscreen immediately.

After a quick potty check, we were off to the Sesame Street themed Bay of Play.

It was a good low-key ice breaker. We saw a show with the characters, and then the girls got to meet a few.

We met...The Count, Rosita, Abby, Grover, Cookie, Zoe, and Cookie. Good stuff.

Ellie and Zoe did a jig.

We got to meet our hero.

Abby and Gabby snuggled.

The girls spent a lot of time in the stroller (so glad we brought it) being chauffeured between the attractions.

Of course, we saw Shamu.

All in all, it was a great day. Some tips we thought we'd share (some we used, some we wished we knew)...

Bring sunscreen, and use it.
Bring a stroller if the kids are going to slow you down.
Don't buy the All Day food wristbands if you've got little kids. No need.
Do bring some food to the park (smuggle it in your bag). We had some snacks in a white plastic bag next to a white plastic bag with sunscreen. It blended in nicely. (We got lucky. It was unplanned.)
Use the food when you're sitting in your seats for a show. You're usually at a show about 30-15 minutes prior to it starting. This is a great time to have a snack.
If you need to buy a drink (frozen or otherwise), get the kids souvenir cup. It's cheap, and the refills are only $0.99.

I'm sure there's more, but that's it for now.

We wrapped up the day with dinner, story time, and s'mores.

Princess storytime. Ellie said that she wasn't a real princess, because there wasn't a crown. Gabby disagreed.

Yummy!

We love this place (Hill Country Hyatt).

Here's a link to the rest of the photos!

San Antonio Trip - Day 1 - A success

2011-07-24T21:48:00.013-05:00

At the Alamo.

So...we've had a lot going on lately. Tried to take a trip to CA with Gabby and Ellie, (Babci and Papa were going to watch Maggie and Ben for 6 days) but some medical issues w/Maggie caused us to cancel the vacation.

Now...we're trying to recapture a little mini-break with Gabby and Ellie. Looked at local Austin hotels/destinations, but after doing some research decided to head to the Hill Country Hyatt in San Antonio. Day 1: Alamo and Riverwalk; Day 2: Sea World; Day 3: Morning at the resort then TBD/head back home.

Managed to leave the house on time around 9:30. Spent late morning touring the Alamo.

In front of the Alamo Memorial.

Giant Live Oak on the Alamo Grounds.

Then lunch at Joe's Crab Shack on the Riverwalk.

Then off to the Hill Country Hyatt. We checked-in, walked around to see the grounds, played a little tetherball, then put on our swimsuits (or "bathing soups" as Ben calls them) and headed toward pool. Took a detour for ice cream sundaes, then off to the pool. After a little bit of figuring out which inner tube/floatie combo worked best for Ellie (turns out two-floatie-come-no-tube worked best), we hit the "lazy river" for at least an hour or so. Even took a little break to build sand castles on the little mini beach. After that, washed up the girls, and headed to dinner where Ellie started getting very tired as 7:00 came and went. Ellie chose not to go to bed (*surprise*) so we all watched a great Exotic Animal family show out on the lawn at 7:30 (sloths, and macaws,and tarantulas, oh my), then a horse-drawn carriage ride around the golf course, followed by roasting marshwallows and making smores. As we headed back to the room at 9:00 (well past their 8:00 bedtime), Gabby excitedly remarked "This is my favorite place in Texas!"

We got the girls into bed and were singing bedtime songs. Ellie could barely keep her eyes open but commented that she couldn't sleep. We laughed and asked why, and Ellie said, "I can't sleep because there's just so much fun!" A great day all around!

Needless to say...they both soon fell asleep.

Hopefully they won't be too tuckered out for SeaWorld tomorrow!

Ellie's Recital

2011-06-04T16:51:00.001-05:00

From Ellie's Recital 2011

Gabby finishes Kindergarten!

2011-06-04T14:38:00.003-05:00

It's official. Our big girl has completed Kindergarten. Check out first and last day photos... She's growig like a weed!

Potty? Did someone say potty?

2011-05-22T00:11:00.003-05:00

Yes. They both did. Today, Maggie and Ben both asked to go potty and then went potty.
"Wonder twin powers activate."

"Form of a poop!"

"Form of Pee!"

Love those munchkins.

Skiing at Keystone Colorado

2011-03-06T20:24:00.003-06:00

Last weekend, Gabby went skiing in Colorado with Babci, Papa, Yaneev, Jay, Donna, and her dad. We had a great time, and here are some photos!

2011 02 - Keystone Ski Trip

83rd Annual Zilker Kite Festival

2011-03-06T15:05:00.002-06:00

Well, the wind came 1 day early, but the sun came right on time. I know these photos don't look like a "Kite" festival, but trust me - it was.

2011 03 - 83rd Annual Zilker Kite Festival

Gabby lost her first tooth today!

2011-02-22T21:51:00.000-06:00

Gabby's tooth has been wiggly for weeks! It finally fell out today!

Dining al Fresco

2011-02-22T21:35:00.000-06:00

I love that our first outdoor dinner this year was on February 21st!
Yay Texas!

Skater Boy

2011-02-22T21:30:00.000-06:00

Check out our cutie. At the park a couple weeks ago.

Gabby & Ellie's Party!

2011-02-19T22:21:00.000-06:00

We had a great time at the party today...enjoy the photos!

Gabby & Ellie's Party 2011

Sister love

2011-01-12T22:32:00.000-06:00

Overheard on the monitor early last Saturday morning...

Ellie: (sadly) "I can't find my ducky. I can't find my ducky." (ducky = her blankie/lovey)
Gabby: "Ellie, you can come into my bed. I'll be your lovey."

Auntie Rae strikes again!!!

2010-12-22T08:09:00.003-06:00

After a great visit with Auntie Rae, she hit us again with 2 more Bilibos. Craziness ensues.

Gabby in 15 words

2010-12-12T22:05:00.001-06:00

Basia and I were asked by her teacher to describe why Gabby is a gift to us. We brainstormed these words...

bright/confident
witty
loving
sweet
thoughtful
generous
leader
mature
stylish
identity
sensitive
strong-willed
motivated/driven

Kids in Costumes!

2010-11-02T13:54:00.002-05:00

Click below for some pictures from our Halloween gathering last Saturday.

Halloween Kids Party 10-30-10

Sweet sisters

2010-11-02T09:25:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I checked on Gabby and Ellie before I went to bed. A couple hours earlier, I had put them to bed in their own separate beds, as usual. (Ellie usually sleeps in the bed on the left with the blue bed rail). When I looked at Ellie's bed, I panicked momentarily, because I didn't see her, then I looked over to Gabby's bed, and found this.

(It only looks bright because of the flash). I moved Ellie back to her bed and she slept right through it. In the morning I asked Ellie why she moved to Gabby's bed, and she said she had been scared, so she went to Gabby's bed. How sweet is that!

In the Big Bath!

2010-11-01T21:24:00.001-05:00

Maggie and Ben had their first bath together in the big tub last week.

It was a big hit!

Halloween Shirt Day!

2010-10-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

Mallrats.

2010-10-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

Here's a little clip of the mallrats.

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Gabby's Haircut

2010-10-07T14:57:00.000-05:00

Before...

...and after!

Ellie's Haircut

2010-10-07T14:53:00.001-05:00

Before:

After (6 inches shorter):

The September Album

2010-09-06T20:57:00.001-05:00

Here's a start...

2010 09

They're walking!!

2010-09-05T20:28:00.001-05:00

Enjoy the videos...

2010 09 - Walking!!

Gabby's First Day of Kindergarten (part 2 at school)

2010-08-24T21:45:00.003-05:00

Gabby's First Day of School (part 1 - leaving home)

2010-08-24T20:53:00.003-05:00

Gabby's a Kindergartener

2010-08-24T11:17:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Jennifer for sharing these photos so fast (ours are still on the camera).

Congrats to Luke and Gabby!

A new Cohen Totem

2010-08-22T02:02:00.000-05:00

At Springwoods park...

Surgery Pics (and more)

2010-08-17T21:15:00.004-05:00

So...Maggie and Ben got their ear tubes a few weeks ago. They had their follow-up last week and everything looks good. Here are a few pics from the surgical center. They were just so cute in their little green hospital gowns!

Getting Ear Tubes

Here are some more albums as well, with pictures from our summer in Austin, as well as from Joe, Gabby, and Ellie's trip to DC.

2010.06 DC Trip

2010 07

2010 08

Our first ear tubes X 2

2010-07-22T06:17:00.001-05:00

We're at the surgical center and it is 6 in the morning. "Why," you may wonder. Both the babies have had too many ear infections, and haven't been responding to the full spectrum of meds. So here we are...

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Maggie and Ben's One Year Photo Shoot

2010-06-26T19:36:00.002-05:00

Here are a sampling of pics from our photo shoot today. Thanks to Auntie Marta for her help...wouldn't have been able to do it without her!

Click on the picture to view the album:

Maggie and Ben's One Year Photo Shoot

Ben's First Haircut

2010-06-26T19:04:00.002-05:00

June 19th, 2010

Daddy took Ben for his first haircut.

Before and After:

Happy Birthday Babies!

2010-06-20T23:18:00.003-05:00

Maggie and Ben turned one today! Happy Fathers' Day to Joe.

We had a low-key weekend. Celebrated the birthday with some friends last night, low-key day today..Gabby and Ellie took Joe to the movies today for Fathers Day and we all spent some time at the pool this afternoon.

Click below for pictures and video!

Happy First Birthday, Maggie and Ben!

Gabby's Recital - 2010

2010-06-12T15:43:00.001-05:00

Gabby did awesome, and was beautiful. Check it out!!

Rockstar Benji

2010-06-11T20:12:00.001-05:00

Chillin'

2010-06-11T20:12:00.000-05:00

Because I was scared.

2010-06-10T20:33:00.003-05:00

So the big girls usually are left in there room with the lights out by 7:30 in the evening. More often than not, they talk and talk until after 8pm. This evening, we decided to get them to bed at a "reasonable" time so we left them around 7:15. It is now just after 8:30, and I heard them talking. I went up there to find...

both girls in the same bed...under the covers... I asked why. Ellie said, "because I was scared."

precious.

One little, two little, three little ladies...

2010-06-04T23:18:00.003-05:00

Enjoy the photo below. Updates: Maggie is cruising, Benji's crawling and holding himself up standing, Ellie's jumping off beds, and Gabby's riding a bike.

From 2010 06

And now for a video:

From 2010 05

Our angel fairy...

From 2010 05

Finally, some May photos!

2010-05-23T23:11:00.003-05:00

Enjoy these photos from May, including a day in the park, Gabby's pre-K graduation, and the twins turn 11 months!

It's been too too long...

2010-05-22T22:56:00.003-05:00

Hey folks. Yeah, we're still around. It has been a while since we updated y'all with a post. So on the tails of Gabby's Pre-K Graduation, enjoy these photos from April.

I'll try to post May pictures soon.

Smiley Babies

2010-02-26T12:28:00.003-06:00

Enjoying the gorgeous Austin day last Sunday!

Click below for a few more pics of the kids from that beautiful day:

2010-02

Gabby & Ellie's Combo Birthday Bash

2010-02-21T21:39:00.010-06:00

Since Ellie has never had a b-day party, and since Gabby has been asking to invite all her friends from school over (literally for years now), we decided to have one combo b-day party for the girls, and to let Gabby invite school friends, too.

Of course, those of you who know us well know that Joe and I already have a few Austin social circles of our own, and that almost every friend we have in Austin has at least 2 kids ages 5-and-under. And...the rule at daycare is that if you give out invites in class, you need to invite the entire class! So...we knew we had the potential for a large gathering on our hands. We've hosted large parties in the past, but that was in the pre-baby-twins era. We decided to outsource this time around.

We seriously considered the "bounce-house party" route. We've had a great time at those parties and Gabby loves them. The problem was that Ellie's not yet really into the bounce-house scene, and it didn't seem fair to her that her first real party would revolve around something she's still a bit too young for. We looked into lots of other options, but in the end, we ended up going with the fantastic playground in our neighborhood. February in Austin is generally pretty mild, but we weren't crazy, so we rented out the new community center function hall adjacent to our community playground.

Also...Gabby mentioned that she wanted a "Finding Nemo" theme. Not sure where she got the idea, but aqua and orange balloons and paper goods, along with some Nemo character stuff and "deep sea" themed party favors was all easy enough. Ellie didn't seem to care at all about a theme, and honestly, Joe and I were just so excited that they didn't request Disney Princesses, that we just went with it.

Starting 10 days before the party, I repeatedly checked the weather, and the the forecast for party day was fantastic. High 50's in the AM and sunny. A couple days before, the forecast changed to high 50's and partly cloudy, but we were still excited that the kids would get to use the playground.

Unfortunately, we woke on Saturday to rain. Lots of it. So...thank goodness for the hall. We ended up with close to 70 guests (about 35 of them in the baby to preschooler set). We moved all the tables and chairs over to one side of the room and the kids spent a good amount of time just running around. Then they invented a game where they ran across the room and crashed onto the floor, repeatedly. Didn't look like much fun to me, but they thought it was hilarious. See the video for proof!

2010 Birthday Party - VIDEO

There was coloring, but that got old quick. So...we improvised with a few kid party games. "Duck, duck, goose" was a hit. (Ellie was later heard recounting to her Bobie on the phone, "I went in a circle, and said 'Duck.' And I only touched the kids gently. Then I said 'goose' and someone chased me around until I got back to my spot." I guess she got it)! Then "Hokey Pokey", "Chicken Dance" and a not completely successful round of "Hot Potato." (Ellie and I picked out these cool "potatoes." They were squishy, light up, hairy monster thingies, and none of the kids wanted to pass them)!

Joe then got out a broomstick and our wonderful friend Jen helped lead a rousing round of limbo. I was amazed at how long the kids' attention lasted for this one. The attention span of the average 3-5 year old is not very long!

We also had a pinata...but nowhere to hang it inside. Instead, we put put it on a quilt on the floor and let the kids smack it around down there. Not extremely successful, but Joe helped Gabby smash it once everyone had had a turn, and nobody cared how we did it once I ripped it open and sprinkled the kiddos with candy!

We sang Happy B-day while waiting for the delinquent pizza delivery, then had pizza and cakes, and I think overall it was a great success.

I can't believe our baby Gabby is already FIVE! And sweet little Ellie will be THREE next Monday. Wow, they grow up fast.

Click below for more pictures:

2010 Birthday Party

Sitting!

2010-01-31T22:54:00.003-06:00

Well...I think we can finally say that both babies are now officially sitting. They spent a while sitting together and playing this afternoon. So cute!

In other milestones, Maggie became mobile last week while we were in Massachusetts. She can now roll across a room in less than 30 seconds! At this rate, I'm not sure she'll ever choose to crawl, because she's a master roller. Ben has started to swivel on his tummy and can do a 360, but for the time being we can still find him wherever we left him.

Ben's First Haircut

2010-01-31T22:39:00.003-06:00

Before:

And After:

Good-bye spiky poof. You will be missed!

The Flower Girls!

2010-01-24T19:11:00.007-06:00

Gabby and Ellie were fantastic flower girls last weekend for Auntie Marta and Uncle Devin's wedding. The wedding was right during Ellie's nap-time, but she stepped up to the challenge, and both girls were stupendous. They walked right down the aisle as they were supposed to (barely bothered by the fact that the ring bearer ahead of them gave up only 4 pews down).

They stayed nice and quiet during the ceremony and were extremely patient for the 90 minutes afterward that we stayed in the church for formal pictures.

Enjoy the pics!

Playing in the Snow

2010-01-22T22:59:00.004-06:00

We're up in Massachusetts for Marta's Wedding. Thought we'd post some photos of the big girls in the snow!

Just a picture

2009-12-04T19:23:00.000-06:00

Just a cute picture of the babies from a couple weeks ago. Enjoy!

It was a good day

2009-11-22T22:51:00.003-06:00

Today was a good day. We both showered, in the morning. We all ate breakfast, together, at the table. We hustled and got out the door in time for portraits, with Chris too. See photos below. We all napped. Awesome. Later, while I had the girls with me at Gabby's last soccer game of the season, Basia was doing an HEB run, and the babies cooperarted with her. Then tonight, we had a frined come by and help us put the kids to bed. And we went out on a date/shopping trip.

It was a good day. I like good days.

Pictures from portraits, and soccer.

Enjoy!

Halloween!

2009-11-21T16:39:00.001-06:00

Click on this picture below to see the entire album!

Halloween 2009

Ellie doesn't poop on princesses

2009-10-24T22:32:00.001-05:00

Let me explain. Ellie has some pullups and panties with princesses on them. She's pretty much potty-trained now. It wasn't much of a production. We didn't push it. She was ready. What a big girl!

Gabby's 1st Soccer Game

2009-10-24T16:27:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday, Gabby had her first organized sports activity - Soccer! She had a great time, and played really well for someone who's never played or watched a game. There were a few injuries, though. She got a headbutt with a boy on the field, and after the game she tumbled down the big hill... It's at the end of the photo album. The tumble gave her some burrs in her clothes. We ended up driving home with Gabby in her panties, shinguards and sneakers...quite the event!

Gabby's 1st Soccer Game - 2009.10.18

Gabby knows things about roles

2009-10-16T19:10:00.003-05:00

Let me start with some context. We have the flu. It started with Gabby last Thursday, Ellie on Saturday, Basia on Tuesday, and me on Thursday. Anyway, I've been craving and needing a little bit extra sleep. Well, Gabby hasn't been too keen on the idea of NOT waking us up with a request at 6am.

Tonight, I reiterated to her that I am sick, and I am tired, and for me to have the energy to take care of her and the rest of the brood tomorrow, I need rest. So please do not wake me up early.

Her reply:

"Dad, you're a grown-up and I'm a kid. Deal with it."

"Good night, Gabby."

Ugh.

October photos

2009-10-09T09:59:00.002-05:00

More photos...with captions. Click picture below to see the album!

October 2-4, 2009

Three Months!

2009-10-08T13:25:00.001-05:00

We tried to have a little photo shoot on September 20th, the twins' three month birthday. We took lots and lots of pictures, but didn't manage to get a single one with them both looking happily at the camera. Here are a few of the best shots we got. Enjoy!

Three Month Pictures

Gabby's Musical Ear

2009-09-06T20:47:00.003-05:00

Every evening at bedtime, we get Gabby and Ellie ready for bed, then read two books, talk about their day, sing two songs, and tuck them in. We have a repertoire of regular lullaby-type songs to choose from, as well as some random favorites, but Gabby's most frequent request is, "I want a new song," to which I usually reply, "I don't have any more new songs." Occasionally I come up with something we haven't sung in a while or even something I've never sung to her (often from the deep dark recesses of my musical mind...songs from Girl Scout campfires, junior high chorus or high school drama club, maybe a Beatles tune, etc).

Tonight I offered up Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." First Gabby corrected me on the order of the verses. I still think I was right, but went along with her on that one. Then I got to the verse that says: "I see skies of blue, and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night." Gabby grumpily stopped me and said, "that isn't right mama...it's ...'The Dogs Say Goodnight!'" It took me a second to figure out that "the dark sacred night" sounds like "the dogs say goodnight." Even contextually, it's not a bad fit. After arguing with my 4 1/2 year old about it for a minute, I gave in and sang it her way (it was already well past bedtime). The best part is that when I told Joe, he actually took Gabby's side. He busted out the iPod, and sure enough, it does sound a bit like Gabby's version!

It also reminded us of a few other Gabby music-isms.

1. A couple weeks ago Gabby told us they danced to a new song in her dance class. She said someone asked who was singing it and the teacher said she didn't know. Gabby told us that she let everyone know that it was Louis Armstrong.

2. Today there was a Tom Waits song on the radio. Gabby asked if it was Louis Armstrong. Close...just another guy with a deep gravelly voice.

3. And just so you know that Gabby listens to current music as well, the other day she heard "You Belong with Me" on the radio. She told us that it was the same girl who sings the "Romeo and Juliet" song. (aka "Love Story" by Taylor Swift).

4. She can also recognize the voices of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keb Mo', and Bob Marley!

Nice job Gabs! Now let's expand those musical horizons!

The Cohen Quartet, Ellie turns 2 1/2, and other pictures

2009-09-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

Click the pic below below to view the album!

2009 09

End of August Pictures

2009-09-05T08:46:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures! Click the picture below to view the whole album.

Enjoy!

8-22 to 8-31-09

How do you get bitten by a snake?

2009-08-21T21:41:00.004-05:00

Gabby's teacher distributed a piece of paper with the words, "I want to know..."

Gabby drew a few snakes, then on her own wrote this...

"HAW DOO YU BITN BY SYNACHE"

From Bitten by a snake

Awesome, I tell you. This was the day after her teacher tells us that she's the only one in her class that thinks to draw on the back of a piece of paper, before asking for more paper. It's the little things...

Oh, I've ogt one more recent Gabby story. Now, I wasn't there, but to have her tell it...it goes like this...

I asked, "How'd you get one of Lukey's birthday cupcakes, when you aren't even in his class?"

Gabby's answer: "Well, I heard from Miss Haley, Lukey's teacher, that he was having cupcakes, so I asked her if she could save me one. Then later I got the cupcake from her class, and went to Ellie's class to eat it. I sat next to Ellie and Kyla."

"Gabby, why'd you go to Ellie's class?"

"If I went back to my class, my firends would've wanted one."

"Didn't Ellie want one?"

Ellie says, "I ate a crumb!"

I think my girls run that school.

A brownie story

2009-08-21T21:35:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week, one of Basia's stroller strides friends brought over dinner. With the scrumptious meal, she also sent a brownie cake. The girls loved it for a few days. And I quote...

"Daddy, who brought us the brown playdoh?" as Ellie smooshed the brownie on the table into a patty with a palm print.

"Look, Daddy. I make circles!" as Ellie used her carrots to punch out circles in her brownie patty.

Did I mention the brownies were very moist and delicious?

UH OH!!!

2009-08-21T21:21:00.003-05:00

Click below to see an interesting video...

The collage incident

...boy did Gabby get a lecture that day!

Two Months!

2009-08-21T20:44:00.004-05:00

Maggie and Ben had their two month birthday yesterday. It was just an ordinary day here, but it's hard to believe that two months have already gone by since their birth.

Today they had their two month check-up. Ben weighed in at 9 lbs. 14 oz. which was 10th percentile for his age, but 50th percentile adjusted for his prematurity. Maggie weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz, which was also 10th percentile for her age, but 50th percentile adjusted for her prematurity. (Note: The percentiles differ for girls and boys). They're doing well on all counts and are now up to date on their vaccinations. On a parenting side-note, we tried EMLA cream to numb them before their shots, and the pediatrician also gave them sugar-water, both proven to help with the pain, and I think it did. Now that we have the cream, I'll use it for all their vaccinations...I figure it can't hurt!

In other news...we're getting a teeny bit more sleep these days. I'm afraid to talk about it for risk of jinxing myself, but it helps to remind me that we will get more sleep in the future (some day). Before this week, we were lucky to get two consecutive hours of sleep, and often only two times per night. Nine weeks of 3-5 hours of broken sleep per night is TOUGH!

And here are some pictures from the first half of August. Click the pictures below to view the two albums.

Early August 2009

8-3-09 to 8-16-09

End of July pictures

2009-08-03T08:45:00.002-05:00

More pics from the end of July. Click the picture below to see them all:

July 30 - 31

Six Weeks!

2009-08-01T19:20:00.003-05:00

Maggie and Ben are six weeks old today...and we are six weeks worth of exhausted!

They had a weight check on Thursday and they're now both officially over 7 lbs. Maggie weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and Ben at 7 lbs. 14 oz. (He's pretty consistently been 10 oz. heavier than his sister at every weight check). They've now surpassed Gabby's birth weight of 6 lbs. 13 oz. but are not yet near Ellie's chubby birth weight of 8 lbs. 5 oz. Because of their successful weight gain, we've finally been released from waking them up every three hours to eat, and can now feed them on demand. The first night on the new program they taunted us by waking up every 2.5 hours to feed, but last night they did much better and graced us with a couple of 4 hour stretches, which means we got to sleep for close to 3 consecutive hours for the first time in 6 weeks. Woo hoo!

Aside from the weight checks we can tell they're growing well because of the clothes they're going through. We've already packed away all the preemie outfits, and Ben's now starting to outgrow the newborn sizes in length (although there's still plenty of room in girth), so we're now on to 0-3 month outfits in Ben sizes, and I imagine Maggie will be close behind in another week or so.

The one thing that I didn't expect is that although it has officially been the hottest July on record here in Austin, we've really got to keep these little munchkins bundled up. On doctor's orders, they're always in full on sleepers and hats, and we usually have them swaddled up as well (unless, of course, they're actually outside in the 100 degree weather, which only happens for very short stints between air conditioned comfort). As soon as we unswaddle them, their hands and noses get cold. I guess that's what happens when you don't yet have any fat to keep you warm! So much for all the adorable newborn summer outfits I have that were never worn!!!

In other news, "Babci," my mom has been in town this week. My sister Marta has been helping us out all summer, but this week she's on vacation, so my mom came to help out instead. She's been a great help with all four kids, and her own twin experience (my little sisters are fraternal twins, for any readers who were unaware) has been helpful. She will be missed (especially in the late evening hours when she's been helping with the babies and in the early morning hours when she's been helping with Gabby and Ellie)!!!

On Thursday we celebrated Joe's birthday, and I'll need to post a picture of his new T-shirt which proclaims him "World's Best Daddy according to Gabby, Ellie, Maggie, Ben!"

That's all for now. Pictures to follow as soon as we can get around to uploading them!

We get by with a little help from our friends

2009-07-25T14:03:00.001-05:00

Things here are busy as usual. Maggie and Ben celebrated their one month birthday on July 20th. They're putting on weight and Ben has now surpassed the seven-pound mark with his sister close behind.

We'd had some setbacks in the past week or two (flat tire on one car, break-in on the other car, colds and conjunctivitis in the house, courtesy of daycare), but we're getting through it all and are all doing well.

Many, many thanks to the wonderful friends who have sent us cards and gifts, brought us dinners, volunteered hours of "baby-holding" time, and entertained the "big girls" with playdates and other fun. This adventure would be much more difficult without you all!

Pictures - July 16th to 24th

2009-07-25T13:55:00.003-05:00

Click the picture below to see the album (with captions).

7-16 to 7-24

The Cohen Kids - July 7th to 14th

2009-07-16T16:49:00.003-05:00

Click the photo below for more pictures!

7-7 to 7-15-09

3 Weeks Old

2009-07-11T22:08:00.002-05:00

The twins are 3 weeks... photos coming.

Last night we overheard Gabby and Ellie chatting after bedtime.

Gabby: Do you want a cookie?
Ellie: ya.
G: A really big cookie?
E: ya.
G: Well, you know what happens if you eat too much food, right?
E: I get a tummy ache.
G: A really really bad tummyache. Then you need to go to the hospital. There they will cut open your tummy with scissors, then give you 100 shots.

It was at that point, we intervened. Gabby is going to scare that little munchkin.

More Pictures - July 2nd to 6th

2009-07-06T17:03:00.003-05:00

Sorry the blog updates are not regular or consistent, but we've got our hands full around here these days!!!

Babci and Papa came to visit this Fourth of July weekend. Rochelle and Bob also came to Austin (from Boston) to visit Marta and Sara and came up to our place to hang out on the 4th as well.

Enjoy some more pictures...click on the picture below to see the album!

7-2 to 7-6-09

Pictures - June 27 - 30

2009-07-06T15:35:00.001-05:00

Some pictures. Click the picture below for the full album:

Pictures 6-27 to 6-30-09

Happy Independence Day

2009-07-04T15:25:00.002-05:00

My parents are in town for the weekend. This morning my Mom, "Babci" asked Gabby if she knew what Independence Day was all about. Joe and I were in the other room, and I figured she'd have no idea since we hadn't talked about it at all. Instead, she boldly answered, "It's about freedom." Then Babci asked Gabby, and what does that mean, to which Gabby responded, "Well, the King and Queen were in charge, and people couldn't do what they wanted to do, so when they got freedom, they could do what they wanted, and that's what we're celebrating."

Pretty astute response for a four-year-old! Joe and I looked at each other in shock...I guess they're actually teaching her something at daycare!

Two Week Check-Up

2009-07-04T15:20:00.002-05:00

Maggie and Ben had their two week check-up yesterday. Ben had put on 7 oz, bringing him up to a whopping 5 lbs 11 oz and Maggie had put on 5 oz, bringing her up to 5 lbs even. Yes...they are still little bitty babies. After a visit with the lactation consultant we got some strategies for keeping the babies awake for feedings, and for supplementing them so they'll fatten up a little and gain strength. Right now, it takes all their energy to feed, and they often fall asleep while they're eating. The goal is for them to put on at least an ounce per day for the next few weeks, so that's what our task is for this week. We'll weigh-in again next Friday. Aside from that, they're both healthy, and doing well. They're both sweet and cuddly, and remarkably strong for their tiny size. Also, Gabby was also happy to see that they've both lost their umbilical stumps and now have "normal belly buttons." :)

Pictures to follow soon!

1 week old!

2009-06-27T19:48:00.003-05:00

Well, the twins are 1 week old today. I have to say that we had a pretty good rhythm going by Friday afternoon. We'd worked out the requirements to sleep, feed, pump, clean, and prepare for all of the above. However, as the weekend hit we introduced to unpredictable variables into the mix. Let's call them Element G and Element E. The new elements produced a sense of anxiousness and need for additional rules and boundaries. However, the Elements did also provide much love and genuine tendency for nurture.

Anyway, the girls, twins, and wife are sleeping now. It's not yet 8pm here. I'm going down shortly. Enjoy the new pictures and video.

We're Home

2009-06-25T10:16:00.002-05:00

Well, we finally got discharged from the hospital at 3PM yesterday, and it's been quite a whirlwind ever since. We got home, unpacked the babies and our bags, then it was time for Joe to pick Gabby and Ellie up from daycare. The big sisters were very excited to see Maggie and Ben again, but Ellie was maybe a bit too eager, given that she's come down with a summer cold, with a very runny nose and nasty cough. Not great for sharing with your newborn preemie baby sister and brother. So...we did our best to temper her enthusiasm, for the time being, until she's back to 100%.

The big girls did well last night with the minor adjustments to their routine. For example, Mommy couldn't walk up the stairs to tuck them in, so we read stories downstairs on the couch, (until Maggie was wailing so loud, that her cries for feeding could no longer be ignored. For such a little munchkin, Maggie's got quite a set of lungs)!

The big girls slept through the night, but the babies apparently aren't quite acclimated to their new environment yet. We're hoping that Maggie's attempts to prove to us that she has colic will be unfounded after a few more nights, but last night was a rough one. Ben's a bit quieter, and calmed a bit sooner, but the 8PM -1AM stretch, was no picnic, and I'm pretty sure that Gabby and Ellie were the only people that got any sleep during that 5 hour period! After 1AM, we did better, thankfully.

Right now Joe's taking the babies on their first stroll. They were a bit jaundiced when we were discharged yesterday (although totally in the safe zone), so our pedi advised some time outside in the mornings, with some indirect sunlight, to help with that.

Tomorrow we head back to the pediatrician (and to the lactation consultant) for our first post-hospital doctor visit. Today, we're just trying to unpack, and figure out some sort of semblance of a routine! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and congratulations!

Ben's faces

2009-06-24T11:45:00.002-05:00

Here's a quick clip of Ben's faces...while he's sleeping. Enjoy!

From Maggie & Ben are Born III

Day 3 in the Hospital

2009-06-23T18:34:00.003-05:00

We've been here for only a few days, but I feel like it's been a long long time. We've been through so much is three very very very long days. The days have truly blurred. We've been with about 20 nurses (no exaggeration), some named, some nameless. Been updated on stats and status countless time about countless things. And have been given a more than expected amount of conflicting information and advice.

With all that said, we are very grateful for the health of our babies. And I am grateful for all the breastfeeding practice Gabby and Ellie have given Basia in order to prepare for the twins. Basia is doing great. Feeding in tandem, pumping for supplements. I am very proud.

Ok enough of the reflective stuff...here's what you came for... more pictures and video. Enjoy!! Click the slideshow to access the web album.

Reunited, and it feels so good

2009-06-22T18:15:00.002-05:00

From Maggie & Ben are Born

Maggie came out of the NICU today. Freedom at last. Having her in the room means we save an hour every 3hours with tandem feeding. Yay! Plus the twins get to share a bassinet. Bonus.

More photos, and an update!

2009-06-22T07:40:00.003-05:00

It's a new day today. Not that we'd know it. Last night was full of activity...as is the days. With Maggie in the NICU across the hospital, and Ben in the room - we've been shuttling between the NICU and the nursery and the room, with the occasional visit from a doctor, consultant, or specialist - we've been busy. So we offer our apologies to anyone that may have tried to reach us on the phone, and missed us.

An update on Mags: Maggie came off all assistance devices last night around 2am. No more IV, no more Oxygen, and no more heater. The fine folks at the NICU are observing her, and will hopefully send her to our room this afternoon.

Benji: Ben's been doing well. It's hard to remember sometimes that even though he is the bigger of the two, he's still small. Therefore, he is under close scrutiny as well - to get and maintain his weight, feeding, expelling, etc.

We've added more photos and videos to the online album here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jcohen22/MaggieBenAreBorn?authkey=Gv1sRgCPbKi-mswcytdw

Maggie and Ben are Here!!!

2009-06-21T21:17:00.003-05:00

From Maggie & Ben are Born

We want to share the news that Margaret "Maggie" and Benjamin "Ben" Cohen were born yesterday. (Still not 100% on the middle names...will let you know). I started having contractions mid-day yesterday which were increasing in frequency and intensity, so we we talked to my OB and headed to the hospital for the C-section that we had been planning, just a week earlier than planned. I was exactly 36 weeks pregnant yesterday.

Maggie was born first at 6:21PM and weighed 5 lb. 4.9 oz. and was 18 1/2 inches long. Ben was born at 6:23PM, weighed 5 lb. 14 oz. and was 19 inches long. Maggie has been in the NICU for observation b/c she wasn't getting quite enough air when she was first born, but she's doing great now. Joe has spent some time with her and I will finally be able to go see her shortly. If all goes well, she'll be in our room by this evening. Ben is doing very well, and has been with us all night.

They both have a full head of hair, although Maggie's is longer. Maggie reminds us of Gabby as a newborn, and Ben looks more like Ellie did.

I'm doing pretty well. The C-section recovery is a little more painful than I was anticipating, but I've already been on my feet once, and my night nurse said I'm doing great!

Night 3... Going strong

2009-06-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

Well, this morning the girls slept til about 6:30am. Not too shabby.

At bedtime tonight, I had the two of them in their beds by 7:05 and they were quiet by 7:30. Ahh...success. Should I be knocking on wood?

Night 2... Not too bad

2009-06-08T20:33:00.002-05:00

Basia had a book club event tonight, so I put the girls to bed solo. Not bad. After a lot of dancing to the Beatles, hairbrushing (with B before she left), and pajamas, I read a couple of books to the girls in G's bed.

Ellie didn't sit still, as usual. She ran around and decided to show us her new skill...jumping. She grabbed her 5-6 in. stool and proceeded to continually launch herself to the narration of, "Look!! Ellie jumpin'!"

Anyway, after the books I rocked Ellie while rubbing Gabby's back, while singing them 4 songs. Then I placed Ellie in the crib, and Gabby in the bed. Gabby wanted to feel the fan, so I sprinkled some water on her legs. That was 7:05pm. By 7:25pm, they had stopped chatting, and have been silent since. Let's see how tomorrow morning goes. I'll keep y'all posted.

The morning after

2009-06-08T12:28:00.002-05:00

Around 5:45 this morning, we heard Gabby on the monitor chatting with Ellie. Huh?? Apparently, she saw she was up, and gave Ellie the day's clothes and turned on the lights. I put Ellie back to bed, and instructed Gabby to hang in the playroom. Ellie slept another 45 mins.

Apparently, we were not clear on the plan. Our bad. Hopefully tomorrow morning will go better. Sorry, kids!

A Shared Future

2009-06-07T22:17:00.001-05:00

Tonight we did the deed. We inserted a crib into Gabby's room, and told Ellie, that she is now sharing the room. Gabby had no issue, and Ellie was excited. It sure is great that they get along so well. Now, I hope that the morning and overnight go well. We instructed Gabby to leave her room when she wakes up, if Ellie is sleeping, and told her she can play in the playroom. My fingers are crossed!

Well, I did it again...

2009-06-07T22:09:00.004-05:00

I've migrated back to Blogger, for our blogging needs. With all the things to do between now and when the babies arrive, I do not intend to migrate the wordpress posts back to here anytime in the near future... so if you're interested in posts from the past year and a half...head on over to http://cohenkids.wordpress.com/

Gabriella, My Ballerina

2009-06-01T00:35:00.001-05:00

Tonight was Gabby's first dance recital. she did a wonderful job...we are very proud. Enjoy the photos and video!

I think we forgot to tell y'all something...

2009-05-24T00:37:00.000-05:00

Basia's expecting twins. Boy and Girl. Due July 18. Wish us luck!

Baby got going...

2007-09-19T00:02:00.001-05:00

Well, my little baby girl is on the move. Ellie started her escapades with tummy time. This led to continual rollovers. Back and forth and back and forth...then came the rotation. She spins on her belly...but wait there's more!!!

When you remove her socks her little teensy weensy toes get some grip, then you couple those with her strong back, neck, and hands...and you've got lunging. I mean real pouncing. She throws herself forward...backward...sideways... SHE EVEN FLIPS IN THE AIR!!! Ok, she doesn't - but she could.

Well, now she's been trying to lift her bum-bum in the air too... She didn't sleep well last night, so you know what that means...

Does this count as her first crawling?

Portraits

2007-09-16T23:57:00.002-05:00

We got some portraits done today at Portrait Innovations. The girls did well - much better than expected.

And we got a CD of the photos...here's the photos album...

Our trip to New England - Part III

2007-09-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

So...here's the rest of the trip in "cliff notes":

Saturday afternoon some of our couple friends came to visit for dinner.

Sunday the girls spent all day with Babci and Papa while Joe, Cindy, and I went to Joe's cousin Curt's wedding in NJ. What a fabulous time! Here's a pic of some of their gorgeous flowers. I especially loved the sushi bar and I think Joe'd give kudos to whomever had the great idea to have a caviar bar, as well! Nancy was a gorgeous bride and everyone had a wonderful time.

We can't remember much about Monday...perhaps we were just recovering from Sunday. That night Joe dropped Gabby off at her Bobie's for a special overnight stay there, then he went to a movie and I went out for a Girls' Night with Kendra and Donna (it was so great seeing you both)!

On Tuesday, Joe, Ellie and I visited with our friends Holly and Tony and their sons Alex and Sam, while Gabby had a great time hanging out with her Bobie. That night, Joe and I went out to dinner while Babci watched the girls.

On Wednesday, Joe took Gabby to the mall to meet up with Saba, and Uncle Yoydeh and Aunt Devora who made the trip all the way from Israel for Rae's wedding. That night, we hosted some of our Taunton friends for a little BBQ and catch-up session at my parents' house.

On Thursday, Babci showed off her granddaughters and that afternoon and evening, she watched the girls again, so Joe and I could go into Boston for a big BBQ with our Randolph friends. Special thanks to Magda and Rob for hosting the event...it was so nice to see everyone!

On Friday, Joe, Bobie, and Gabby packed up and headed to Albany/Troy. I heard the ride went pretty well. That night while they were partying at Yaneev's parents' place, I was packing up all our gear.

On Saturday, Babci, Papa, Ellie and I left for Albany/Troy. It was a very long ride with lots of weird traffic for no reason, and it took us almost 5 hours to make what should have been not much more than a 3 hour trip. Ellie was not happy about it, and spent some time crying. It's so unlike her to cry, that it's extra hard to hear it, especially when there's just not much you can do about it, stuck in traffic on the highway. Once we arrived, though, she was a super-trooper for the rest of the wedding weekend.

That night, we left the girls at the hotel w/Babci and Papa while Joe and I went to a dinner at the Bennos. We had a delightful time. For the first time ever, the girls went to sleep in the same room, and later that night we joined them as well. I don't think we've ever given them enough credit...to our pleasant surprise, they did absolutely fine sharing a room. (They did it again the last night we were at Babci and Papa's, and it's great to know that we can now count on them to share a room, whenever needed).

Sunday was the big day. We did everything within our power to shift naps and meals around to best accommodate the wedding schedule. We had a little snafu when we had to wake Gabby from her nap after only an hour, and she then absolutely refused to let us put on her dress. Since we were late for pictures, I carried her across the street to the reception hall in her diaper and T-shirt, and then brought in the reinforcements (Daddy and the grandparents) to distract her enough to finally get her dressed. She tried to ruin some family pictures with crying and pouting, but we extricated her from the situation before too much damage was done, and she was on better behavior for the rest of the day. When the big moment came, Gabby was a star walking down the aisle, gently tossing rose petals, and smiling all the while. Ellie and I were also up under the chuppah, and I was amazed by how long Ellie just made googly eyes at the cantor...I think he amused her for at least 15 minutes! Gabby got antsy at the end of the ceremony, and was escorted out for the last five minutes, but everyone assured us that our girls were great, given the situation. (And we had given Auntie Rae and Uncle Yaneev fair warning that we weren't sure how well they'd be able to do up there)! Hopefully they weren't too distracting!

After the ceremony, Gabby was up to her best behavior again, and was charming guests during the cocktail hour. Special thanks to cousin Steven, who carried Gabby around for a while, so that we could introduce Ellie to the family she had never met. I left for a while to feed Ellie, and expected that Gabby would soon be calling it a night, but she was having such a great time, that we let her stay up until she could barely keep her eyes open. She had a blast at the reception, although I think she was a bit terrified by the craziness of the Horah.

Anyway...the wedding was awesome. The ride back to MA was uneventful, and the girls were great on our flight home.

All in all, a fabulous trip!

Our girls were gorgeous...we swear...

2007-09-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

...but unfortunately, we don't have many pictures to prove it. Gabby was a fabulous flower girl at Auntie Rae and Uncle Yaneev's wedding last Sunday, but since Joe, Ellie, and I were also involved in the ceremony, we didn't get any pictures of any of us. I snapped these two during the reception, but hopefully we'll find someone who got some better shots of Gabby and any shots of Ellie!

Gabby loved hanging out with her new friend Lyora, one of Rae's bridesmaids.

One last dance with Daddy before bedtime.

Ellie Milestones

2007-08-20T00:34:00.000-05:00

Since this is the closest thing to a babybook I've got for Ellie these days, here's an update on her milestones as of late.

1. Sleeping through the night! Ellie started soothing herself to sleep two weeks ago (with a little impetus from mom and dad), and now she's been consistently sleeping through the night...11 to 12+ hours at a time! Woo hoo! (If only Gabby would go back to sleeping through the night, we'd be a well-rested family again)!

2. Rolling. Ellie can now roll from her back to her tummy. She did it yesterday at the playground (on a blanket on the ground with me), and this morning, I left her on her back on her playmat, and a minute later she was fussing...turns out she had rolled onto her tummy and wasn't very happy about it. She started rolling from tummy to back around 4 months, but hasn't yet figured out that she can roll back and forth at her convenience.

3. Moving/Scooting. Where we put Ellie to sleep in her crib and where we pick her up in the morning have been quite different since we stopped using the Miracle Blanket two weeks ago. The other day I watched her do a 180-degree turn on her back, and then another 180 on her tummy. I tried unsuccessfully to get it on video, so you'll have to trust me that it was super cute.

4. Sitting. She'll "tripod sit" for a while now, as you've probably witnessed in our recent video, and yesterday, she went from a tripod sit, to lifting up her arms and she actually sat up unassisted for about 10 seconds before beginning to topple. She prefers to be standing whenever possible, and only requires minor balancing support from her mom or dad.

5. Daycare. Since I'll hopefully be starting work in the near future, Ellie began daycare last week. We've started her a couple hours at a time, and each day it gets better and better. Her wonderful teachers have managed to coax her to sleep in this new bright and sometimes loud environment, and she's been eating for them like a champ so far. Hopefully each day will continue to get better with less crying and more happy times!

Pictures to come soon...I haven't yet figured out how to do that on this new site!

The Girls and their Mom

2007-08-17T00:33:00.000-05:00

It's been a little bit, since we posted some pics of B and the girls...so here you go...

Gabby's Special Special Treats

2007-07-26T00:32:00.000-05:00

A few months back, B had a great idea about incentive-alignment... She created a sticker chart to track Gabby's achievements. Specifically, G gets to place a sticker on the chart for either going potty (#1 or #2), staying in bed without making a peep until it's "time to wake-up," or going to sleep at night without making a request or crying (after her full bedtime routine).

At the end of each row of stickers, Gabby receives a "special special treat." One time it was a set of three new books. One time she got to make cookies with Momma. This time she got what she refers to as "cooking things."

I'd be interested in hearing some of your ideas for "special special treats..."

Would you like small or medium fry with that?

2007-07-23T00:31:00.000-05:00

We took this picture last week. It's the first photo I can remember where Ellie is standing with Gabby. I really didn't think Gabby was twice her size, but... like the internet, pictures don't lie...

Let's welcome another new Kiddo to the list...

2007-07-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

I recently got back in touch with an old friend from my Turkey days. Turns out she had a little one around the same time as Ellie was born.

Please extend a warm welcome to Libby...

Ellie sits!! Or does she?

2007-07-23T00:29:00.000-05:00

Here you'll see Ellie trying to sit... Does she do it? Does she fall over? Does Gabby kiss her head?

You'll have to watch the video to find out!

"Do you wanna jump, Dad?"

2007-07-23T00:27:00.000-05:00

Every night, before bed, G gets the urge to dance and/or jump. For a long time, her jumps were all show and no air... But things have certainly changed. Now she's a pogo-stick...remember those? Here's a photo that she asked me to take while she was in mid-air.

"I want some socks"

2007-07-12T00:23:00.000-05:00

As anyone who has visited us around Gabby's bedtime over the past few months has experienced, we've been having some issues. I've been told it's a phase. It'll pass. Well, it sucks right now.

Here's the situation. Each night we give Gabby her complete bedtime routine... Dinner. Brush teeth. Pajamas. 2 Books. Potty. 2 Songs. Talk about her day. Music. Bed. No problem. Smooth. We give her a kiss and leave her room. Within a minute or so, she begins to cry or call for us or something. This goes on for 15 min to 90 min. Sometimes we get her her thing (whatever she requests). Sometimes we sooth her. Sometimes we simply put her back in bed. Sometimes we try to ignore her. whatever we try - DOES NOT WORK.

If this is a phase, I'm ready to move on.

A Few Ellie Photos

2007-07-12T00:10:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent Ellie Photos for y'all...

A new home...

2007-07-08T23:58:00.000-05:00

I hope y'all will understand. I've done it again...

We've moved to a new platform - wordpress. Hopefully, the move will foster a better blog in the future. For now, we're still transitioning.

The new web address is: http://cohenkids.wordpress.com/

I hope to see y'all over there!

Family Photo

2007-07-08T00:08:00.000-05:00

Family Photo - 2007.07.07, originally uploaded by jcohen22.

Well, we tried to snap a family photo this weekend. This is the best we got. Ellie is grinning, B and I are doing our best to keep our plastic smiles glistening, and Gabby is... what is Gabby doing? Pouting?

The Girls at 4 months

2007-07-08T00:07:00.000-05:00

The Girls at 4 months, originally uploaded by jcohen22.

I've heard some people say that Ellie looks like Basia, and Gabby looks like me. Other people say, that Ellie looks like a Cohen. Still others swear she looks like a Winiker. I think she resembles her Bobie. And finally, there are those that think they look alike.

Well, here's the question. there they are, side by side, at 4 months. Do they look alike? Do they bear a similarity? What do you think?