Springing into Reading

Our boys love books, and this makes their folks very happy. Books are gateways to knowledge even for babies too young to read. Experts say babies know important things about language literally from the time they are born, and they learn a great deal about language before they can ever say a word. Numerous studies confirm that reading to infants not only boosts their speech and language development, but overall intelligence as well. Both boys enjoy bringing us books to read. Benji especially delights in being held and listening to our voices as we read to him. His left index finger will follow text and point to objects. Trey Davey is especially observant, watching how you hold a book properly, how you trace your finger over the words you read and turn pages right to left. We know that when we read to our boys, we are setting the stage for their lifetime of literacy.

Hog Heaven

This is one sweet ride. It belongs to my cousin Levi, and he let me sit on it for this photo. Honestly, my feet don’t even touch the peddles yet, but it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to ride this baby to look cool; all you have to do is pose with it, and the magic is made. It caught my eye immediately when I entered Uncle Steve’s family room. Parked over in the corner like a panther stalking its prey, this baby is lean and mean and built for speed. It comes with a full package of electronics, all the buttons and whistles to keep you busy when parked, but I bet I’ll forget all about those toys when my legs are long enough to pump those power peddles. When that happens, you can call me the wind.

Adventures in Babysitting

Sickness has overstayed its welcome at our house this winter. Colds, flus, viruses, infections, and allergies have all somehow found their way into our home. One point of contact we know to avoid is the church nursery, but we missed going to church. Fortunately, Owensboro Christian Church offers a Saturday night service and the Edds Grands offered to watch the boys for a couple of hours. It was about halfway through the service when we heard the tornado sirens warning. Daddy Dave slipped out of the sanctuary and called home, where he learned that his family was safe watching the weather news in the basement. Relieved, he slipped back inside for a sermon, ironically about weathering the storms of life.

California Care Packages

On two separate occasions, we received surprises in the mail. Each was a big package postmarked all the way from California. The note attached explained that Aunt Susan and Cousin Tyler were cleaning out closets and Tyler wanted to send some of his old toys, books and puzzles to his little cousins. It was hard to control the boy’s excitement. They had gained some experience opening gifts in December during their birthday and Christmas celebrations, so they appreciated the significance of the new toys in the box. Mommy assessed each item and allowed the age appropriate toys to join the others upstairs and held back the ones better suited for them later. All the Tyler toys have received much attention, especially the puzzles. These were our first puzzles and designed for hands just our size.

Are you not hungry?

It was time to draw a line in the sand, or in this case baby food. Mommy had had enough. The boys were rejecting their lunch, turning their face away from the spoon and fussing with each bite. We had learned from previous experience to hide the fruit because once they saw the sweet desert that was all they wanted. On this day, the fruit was hidden and they still were acting finicky. The tipping point came for Mommy when both boys began blowing raspberries and laughing. Sometimes they would do this with a mouth full of baby food and spray Mommy’s white sweater with their lunch. That was a game breaker for Sandy, who pronounced the end of lunch for our twins. Not coincidentally, both boys found their appetite and manners by suppertime.

Our New Trailer

This is our new trailer. It’s 10 feet long and tilts for loading. Daddy bought it for hauling things that he used to haul in his old rusty pickup truck. Yesterday when he sold the pickup, Mommy danced a jig. She was happy to see the ugly old thing go. Daddy also sold his Jeep. After we bought the minivan we didn’t need the Jeep anymore. So now we just have two cars; the minivan and Mommy’s Volkswagen Beetle. We keep the bug for economy. Daddy put a hitch on the minivan and we drove to Waverly, Kentucky to pick up the new trailer. He talked about buying a newer pickup, but a trailer was much less expensive and doesn’t have to be licensed or insured like another vehicle. Now with this trailer, we can take all our toys with us where ever we go (just kidding grandma).

Xylophone Solo Time

The xylophone has become Trey Davey’s new favorite toy and first musical instrument. At every opportunity, he’s pulling out a xylophone and hammering on it. We have two xylophones. The one pictured on the right is his favorite. It’s a wooden model that we bought at a garage sale. The one on the left was a gift from Cousin Tyler and is much older and better in my opinion. All eight metal keys ring beautifully in tune. We are delighted that both boys love music. At this point it looks like Trey Davey may be our musician and Benji our dancer.

Tenth State – Ohio

On March 14 we had dinner in Ohio on our way from Indianapolis, Indiana to Newport, Kentucky. This was the tenth state the boys have visited in their short 15 month lives. Born in Kentucky, their first out-of state trip was an afternoon ride through the Indiana countryside when they were just 10 weeks old. At five months we traveled through Tennessee and Georgia to visit the Roe Grands in Florida. A month later we visited Great Aunt Roberta and Uncle John in Alabama. Then, on our way to Kansas City in August, we drove through Illinois to Missouri and made a special run over the border to add Kansas to our list. The rate of nine states in nine months was staggering. This tenth state addition came after a six month gap, and no new states visits are on the horizon, but maybe a few are just beyond.

Hoosier Hold’em

Ok cousins, you’ve seen the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournaments on TV. Well, I’ve invented my own game which I call Levi’s Hoosier Hold’em. Here’s how it works; each of you takes a hand full of puffs. Then, instead of chips, you anti up wooden alphabet blocks. When the bets are in you eat two puffs. Next, you can raise your bet, check or fold. Once the bets are in, you eat two more puffs. Then you do another round of betting. The first one who runs out of puffs looses the game and the winner takes the pot. Once you win all the blocks, you win the tournament. Good luck both players and begin.

Gator Dance

Aunt Susan bought this singing Alligator for our family’s “Dirty Santa” game this Christmas, and Daddy Dave was the eventual recipient. When his button is pushed, the realistic-looking reptile dances and sings "Later, Alligator", the iconic 1950’s rock and roll song. Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry tapped several popular contemporary catch-phrases to pen this 1955 classic. He originally recorded it under the name “Bobby Charles” with limited success. Not until Bill Haley & The Comets released their more light-hearted version and feature it in their 1956 musical film “Rock Around The Clock” did the song enter the national consciousness. Now well over a half-century old, the tune still inspires children of all ages to dance.

Out with the new; In with the old

This old high chair has been a good one. Aunt Susan, Aunt Kristin and Mommy all used it when they where babies. It was one of the first items Grandma and Granddad Roe gave us after they learned we were on the way. Mommy and Daddy’s Bible study group later gave them a pair of brand new, matching high chairs as baby gifts, so this old friend has been collecting dust in the basement. Davey has been sick all week and I think I caught his bug yesterday. Shortly after dinner last night I puked massively all over myself, the floor and especially the chair. It was a three-meal hurl. Mommy wrapped me in a towel and then carried me to the sink for a bath. Daddy took the new chair outside and washed it with a water hose. He then recovered this one from the basement until the other dries. I think I like it better.

Kentucky Born a Century Apart

One hundred years before we were born, our great-grandfather, Carl Henry Roe, was born in this house in Dayton, Kentucky in 1907. His father, Robert Harrison Roe, had migrated here from Mason County, Kentucky where he met Grace Mae Dewitt of Cincinnati, Ohio. The couple married in 1902 and settled into this Fifth Street home to start a family. They later moved to the county and owned a dairy farm. After a devastating barn fire in the 1920’s, the Roe family worked their way west in search of greater opportunity eventually settling in Southern California. Granddaddy, Jim Roe, and later our Mommy, Sandy, were both born in California. Granddaddy moved his family east to Kansas City and mommy later migrated further east back to Kentucky, where we were born in 2007.

A Tail of Two Species

Pictured here is an American Cool Cat in the wild. One can clearly identify the American variety by its red and white striped breast and blue-jeaned bottom. Two schools of thought exist pertaining to this cub’s true bloodline. Paternal experts identify this example as a Wildcat native to the Kentucky region. Though domesticated, this animal can demonstrate extreme aggression and cunning in athletic pursuits. They naturally prey on Cardinals found in the Louisville area. Maternal scholars challenge this proposition, arguing the striped tail clearly identifies this cub’s pedigree to be a Tiger species indigenous to the Missouri State. Similar to the Wildcat in domestication and athletic prowess, but this cat prefers the taste of Kansas plains Jay Hawks. This debate is likely to continue until the cub is fully grown and shows a clear preference.

Blog #500 plus one

Since blog #500 fell on St. Patrick’s Day, we decided to mark this noteworthy milestone one day afterwards. This seems fitting for a project that is by design approached simply one day at a time. It has been said that you can’t eat an elephant all at once, that it must be eaten one bite at a time. Big projects are like that, and this blog is no exception. If fact, had we conceived the scope of this exercise, one can only speculate if we would have been too intimidated to begin. But now updating the blog has become just one of the household chores like the laundry or dishes. For us, our family and friends, its value appreciates daily. We trust one day our twins will appreciate the efforts we make, and the occasional indignities we suffer in order to get them both looking and smiling at the camera.

When Irish Eyes Are Tearing

Like we sometimes do, we’ve been thinking about this photo for some time. Props are always good, and Sandy purchased these hats several weeks ago. When I saw these t-shirts last week, I couldn’t resist buying them too. So we had our props and just needed the photo. Normally we would have taken it this weekend, but we were on the road to Indianapolis and Maysville. On our way home, Trey Davey developed what we thought was a cold. He developed a fever, watery eyes and a runny nose. We skipped the photo shoot yesterday, so today was the day. It turned out pretty well in spite of how bad Davey felt. After lunch we went to the doctor’s office and found that Trey had pink eye and some infection in both ears. Dr. Neel prescribed some medicine which helped our baby feel better this evening.

Happy Birthday Aunt Kristin

Mommy’s younger sister is named Kristin, and she’s a lot of fun. In the wintertime she and Uncle Wes live in a cabin on a snowy mountaintop. They use wood to heat their house and the elk will sometime walk right across their front lawn. She told us that when we come to visit her we can play with Oakley, her doggy, and Panda, her kitty. In the summertime they live in the desert and will go white water rafting through the Grand Canyon. At night they sleep outside on the ground under the stars. Maybe one day when we’re older Mommy and Daddy will take us on a rafting trip with Aunt Kristin and Uncle Wes. That would be so cool.

Going back Nine Generations

Here lies John (1754-1822) and Nancy (1762-1821) Dye. They were the Benji and Davey’s great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents. Born in Middlesex County, New Jersey, John served in the American Revolution as a private in Captain Jonathan Combs Company, 3d regiment. He married Nancy Ely on October 14, 1777 in Plainfield, New Jersey and they had nine children. The family immigrated to the territory of Kentucky County, Virginia in 1789 with six other families. In 1792, Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state. Four years later families near Orangeburg founded the Stonelick Baptist Church and dedicated a cemetery on the hill behind. The church’s first pastor, Reverend William Wood, may have married John and Nancy’s daughter, Margaret, to Jacob Roe on December 29, 1797. Our twins were born almost 210 years later. Their direct Roe family ancestors lived in Kentucky for over 130 years before moving west.

Four Generations

When Jane White married Charles Schott in 1948, she became Grandmother Karen's aunt. For the twins, she is the last of that generation. All of their great-grandparents generation are gone on both sided except for Great-Great Aunt Jane. While in Indianapolis this weekend, we went to Aunt Jane’s home for a visit. She had a bag of really fun toys unlike the ones at our house including a wooden alligator pull toy. She also had a puppy that ate biscuits from our hand. Sandy reconnected with her great-aunt five years ago when Jane traveled to Evansville for our wedding. We last saw her two years ago when Sandy was very pregnant. Everyone looks forward to our next visit.

We have a climber

After arriving home from the birthday party, we congregated briefly in the kitchen to get organized. In the flurry of activity, someone sat Benji down and someone else forgot to watch him for a minute. Noticing one twin missing, a quick search found him climbing the stairs towards his bedroom. Rather than rescuing him, we followed the escapee to see how far he could go on his own. He huffed and puffed and climbed the entire staircase. Daddy opened the door and in he went. At the top he turned and looked down at his open mouthed family. Beads of sweet glistened from his rosy cheeks, and while breathing hard this determined child smiled satisfied at his accomplishment.

Daddy Dave’s growing Birthday Party

I have been very fortunate to have had my parents present at every one of my 46 birthday celebrations. For the last seven birthdays, I’ve been blessed to have had my beautiful wife Sandy in my life and for the last two years my twin sons, Benji and Davey, joined the fun. This year we were also honored to have my wonderful in-laws here from Florida for the party. We chose The Olive Garden Restaurant for the celebration, and our party of eight was seated in the room’s center section insuring the toddlers would have plenty of people to entertain. Each birthday just gets better and better.

Just my size

Sometimes, some spaces are just too big. It can be spooky exposed out in the open like that. When I get that feeling, I find smaller spaces help me feel more secure. Little boys like getting into little spaces and playing or hiding. Benji and I have explored every square inch of the Big Blue room and found some spaces are just too small for us, like under the couch or in the megi-blocks box. But we have found a number of other places, like under the desk, or under the cribs, or beside the couch just right size for guys our size to hang out.

Read to me please

Mommy and Daddy Dave had an appointment in Nashville Tuesday, and the boys were left, literally, in the capable hands of Grandmother and Grandfather Roe. The Grands arrived Sunday from Florida for a week long visit. “Amazing” was their response to Benji and Trey Davey’s advancements since our last visit with them over New Years. Each commented that they noticed significant development in both boy’s motor skills and command recognition. When asked, the toddlers understood an object request and easily picked it up and delivered it to the adult. Likewise, both grandparents understood what each boy wanted when handed a book and patted on the knee.

What a contrast

We visited Dr. Neel’s office Monday for our 15 month check up examination. This photo taken in his waiting room really illustrates the boys’ rapid growth and advancement. In the background is a mother holding her two-week old baby girl. The infant weighs just 6 lbs, approximately the same as the boys did at their two-week visit just over a year ago. Since then the boys have grown nearly 500% heavier and 65% longer. Where we used to rock them to sleep in their baby seats while waiting to see the doctor, we now watch them walk over to the table, sit down and play quietly while waiting for their turn.

Twins like us only different

Yesterday morning Mom left very early to go work in the “Mothers of Multiples” rummage sale. After Daddy Dave fed us breakfast and gave us a bath, we dressed and cruised down to the sale to visit mommy. By the time we got there all the cool toys were gone and all that was left were dumb old clothes. We learned later that mommy bought us a few cool toys early before someone else could get them. While we were strolling around the clothing racks we ran into these three pretty little sisters. The two youngest were twins like us, but a little older. We’d met them once before at a restaurant, so it was nice seeing them again.

MOM’s Fund Raiser

Sandy has now joined the Mom’s organization, literally. She has become a member of “Mothers Of Multiples”. This is a support group that provides education, support and encouragement to mommies who had their children in bunches. Activities include playgroups, mom’s night out, guest speakers and rummage sales. These sales not only allow the mothers a great way to clean out their closets, but they raise funds for the organization. The one dollar admission cost goes to the club while each member keeps the proceeds from her articles sold. Today Sandy sold two-thirds of her inventory and pocketed $145 cash. This is easily the most successful sale we’ve had and the most fun.

Imagine seeing their new back teeth

Have you ever tried to photograph a toddler’s back teeth? Neutering a cheetah is easier and about as cooperative. After weeks of trying, this is the best shot we could get. If you have been reading the blog over the last few weeks you know we have been addressing the side effects of cutting more teeth. Each boy has three new molars standing proudly above the gum now, but we can’t show them to you. We verified these teeth through a scientific procedure we call baby bird feeding. Sandy will hold a spoon full of food above their heads and when they hold their heads back and open their mouths like baby birds she looks inside for any new teeth. Unfortunately, they’re too smart to allow us to photograph them in this position, so this is the best shot we have.

Birthday Benchmark Photo – 15 months

The boys are now one and a quarter years old. The rapid physical growth they experienced in their first year has gradually diminished, so we no longer felt it necessary to weigh and measure them every month. In fact, today is the first time in three months that they have been measured. Surprisingly, both boys have grown exactly one pound six ounces in the last 90 days, in spite of Benji’s 1-1/2 inch growth spurt to Davey’s ¾ inch increase. Benji weighed 26 lbs even and measured 32 ½ inches while Trey Davey tipped the scales at 26 lbs 5 oz and taped 32 ¾ inches long. For 15 month old boys, Benji ranks in the top 14% and Trey stands in the top 9%. Benji rates in the top 28% for weight and Davey in the top 24%.

Who needs Guitar Lessons?

Having never seen a music video, or a live rock band perform, or even photos of any guitar heroes, Trey Davey seems to instinctively grasp the antiestablishment attitude of this music genre. No one had to suggest the idea; he just got naked and started dancing on his own. This first guitar was a gift from our friends Lisa and Al Bell. It plays a rocking version of “Old McDonald” on loud or louder volumes. The boys can add their own guitar solo touches by pushing the green button and farm noises by pulling the blue “wammy bar”. Both boys love music and this toy has become a favorite. We hope they will continue to appreciate music and learn to embrace clothing.

Let’s Party You Boxes

Excuse me but have you seen any boxes? My brother and I are two wild and crazy guys who love to party with boxes. We chase boxes of all kinds, but especially those with big open tops. You know, we have this big blue pad where we play many games. In fact, we are playing one for our favorite games right now that we call box hunt. When we find the kind we’re looking for, we put our best moves on them. So many times, my brother and I have played this game very successfully. We live for boxy fun! Where are you boxes? Come out come out wherever you are. You too could have many good swinging times here, which you would enjoy a great deal! Hey you, boxes, don't miss out on the fun with us, because we are two wild and crazy guys!

Making the cut

Daddy Dave is not an impulsive buyer by nature, but when I saw this toy lawnmower; I just couldn’t resist. When I moved into this house almost ten years ago, I noticed my next door neighbor’s baby son Zack practicing his mowing technique on my backyard lawn with a toy lawnmower very much like this one. By the time he was eight years old, he began mowing our lawn regularly. He is now twelve and will likely leave our employment in six years when he goes off to college. Judging by our smart sons’ instant recognition and demonstration of this toy lawnmower, Zack’s replacements should be trained and ready for yard duty when the time comes.

Love Seat Levi

Cousin Levi Edds was visiting his paternal Grandparents this weekend, and they came over to visit our house this Sunday afternoon. He was a little board at first because the twins were napping but able to keep himself entertained with their toys. Trey Davey and Benji were a little cross when Daddy Dave woke them up early to come play with their cousin. Each Grand took a boy on their knee to comfort and upon seeing this Levi wanted a boy on his lap too. Davey happily slid from Grandma’s lap to Levi’s, and seeing this fun, Benji wiggled off Grandpa’s knee to climb on the love seat with the others.