Various things

Dane is going back to work.

He's been at home with the boys since they were born -- cooking, cleaning, feeding, diapering, playing, and generally being a dynamo of domesticity. He's also been providing us with a trickle of extra income by doing freelance writing during the babies' naps and in the evenings. As Tristan and Duncan have gotten older, he has had less time to work and the days at home have become simultaneously easier (fewer feedings) and harder (solid food, more awake time, teething, and generally increased demands for individual attention). Gradually, the hard parts were starting to dominate. So, the past few weeks have been a jumble of us figuring out whether and when and where Dane should go to work outside the house -- and how the babies would be cared for if he did it.

With four of us to consider, the whole process was surprisingly complicated. But everything is settled now, for the near-term at least. Dane starts his new job next Monday, and the babies start daycare full time. We'll see how it goes.

My mom flew to California to help us while we were sorting all of this out. So, Duncan and Tristan have been going about their business quite happily in the midst of all of the job interviews, daycare visits, house re-organization, and general fretting about the future. They've been impressing us with new tricks (drinking from sippy cups and from open Nalgene bottles), playing with lots of new toys, and visiting with their Memé. Duncan completed his course of antibiotics and was given a clean bill of health by the orthopedists. Tristan discovered that Duncan's leg makes a good teething toy, but his head doesn't. They both learned to eat pears and green beans and rice. And since we had extra hands and nice weather, both boys got to dip their toes in the pool and the hot tub for the first time, too.

My mom went home on Tuesday, so we're on our own again now -- seven months into this crazy whirlwind year! Wish us luck. :-)