Finn Garrett, 3 1/2 weeks

Today we will hear a bit about Finn. Tomorrow, Kai will be featured.
Finn is the less rowdy of the twins. He went to work with his daddy this week and didn't mind hanging out in Daddy's office for an afternoon. He got to look out over historic downtown Nacogdoches and have his diaper changed on a conference table! Daddy's gallery guards and office assistant got to coo and whisper at him while he was sleeping on the coffee table. He is taking between 3 1/2 and 4 oz. at meal times, likes his pacifier at nap time, and is a pretty relaxed little dude.

Finn holding his own.

Bath time with Daddy.

Easter weekend pictures

Kai and Finn got to meet their Louisiana grandparents this past weekend. Sarah's folks drove up from Baton Rouge (a 5+ hour trip) to stay the weekend with us. We had brunch at Shelley's Cafe & Bakery on Saturday in celebration of Fred and Prue's 56th wedding anniversary. This was Kai and Finn's first official outing to a public place. (We won't count their visit to Mexico Lindo, a Mexican food joint in a Mobil gas station truck stop south of town, last Wednesday when their parents were desperate for some decent Mexican food at 4 o'clock in the afternoon!)
PawPaw and Nana Tuton hang'n out with Kai and Finn

Easter weekend also came with a surprise package from the Cutler grandparents. Grandmother Cutler made the boys chamois bunny rabbits like their dad had when he was little. Christian's original bunny was given to him by his Aunt Mary and created from a Winnie-The-Pooh "Kanga" pattern by McCall's.

Granddad Cutler and Christian nap with bunny on the living room floor

Sleeping with bunnies

Niche market

We are discovering the uniqueness of twins daily. It's fun, for the most part. Fielding the calls from Wrigley's has been interesting. Unfortunately we have to tell them that we're pretty sure the boys are not identical.

I love the cards we have recently received from friends and family. Greeting cards for twins must be a rare find. There is some very creative editing to the cards we've received!

Niche market

Updates and quilts

The boys are into their third week in the world and doing fine. They had a second doctor's visit on Wednesday and are progressing well. I didn't know that newborns lose weight in the first week(s) of life. Both boys lost nearly 7 ounces in the past two weeks and then gained it back. As of Wednesday, Kai, born 7 ounces smaller than Finn, surpassed his own birth weight by an ounce and a half. Hooray for Kai! Additionally, Finn lost his umbilical cord stump on Wednesday. Kai lost his last Sunday or Monday. We put them on ebay. Just kidding! I think I like the word "nub" or "bit" better than stump. Pirates have stumps. Trees can meet an unfortunate end and become a stump. An umbilical cord should become a nub.

The boys received a surprise visit from Chris Talbot, SFA professor of photography, while Sarah was in Lufkin, TX at Target. Yes, we have to drive to another city to go to a Target. Chris brought two of the most beautiful blankets to the boys. His wife Rebecca quilted them for Kai and Finn. They have a photography theme to them... they are positive and negative: blue on white and white on blue. They are the perfect size for the boys' cribs.

Thank you Chris and Rebecca.

Art shows and look-a-likes

Scenes from Texas National 2009

Texas National is our annual juried art competition and exhibition at the SFA art galleries. This is the 15th anniversary of the show, and my juror was Mel Chin. Thankfully, my folks were in town to help with the boys. This gave me the opportunity to attend the opening reception, dinners, breakfast, lecture, and film screening that I spent months planning, and it gave Sarah the opportunity to join me!

Since my parents were only here for the twins' birthday nearly two weeks ago, they loved spending quality time with the boys. Sarah's folks are coming this Easter weekend for 3-4 days. They haven't yet seen Kai and Finn nor have they seen Nacogdoches. It will be fun to have them here. Sarah's dad likes to be useful and active, so I may have some help with the yard as long as the weather cooperates!

Here's a picture my mother brought to us this past weekend. Finn looks a lot his old man doesn't he?
Spittin' image

Sleepless in Nacogdoches

Monkey see, monkey doo doo

There is no way of sugar coating this blog entry. This entry is about poop. The boys have been holding back on their #2s for a few days now. From all of our reading, this is normal. Babies can poo every diaper change, every day, or every few days. We got worried after the third pooless day and called Dr. Huggin's office. The nurse recommended the old baby-thermometer-in-the-pooper trick. It worked for Kai this evening and the books were right... "prepare for the mother load." We're still waiting for Finn's contribution to this new-parent experience.

5am lightning and bottles

Early morning feeding and an approaching storm

Sarah at the boys' crib just before the rain

Firsts

Kai and Finn had a few firsts on Sunday and Monday. Sunday they received their first baths. That was an adventure! Babies hate naked! On Monday, Kai and Finn saw Dr. Huggins for their first checkup. They passed with flying colors but, once again, babies hate naked. Mom and Dad learned a little something on Monday, too. Bring a diaper bag and supplies. We just packed up the boys in their car seats and headed out for the appointment. Luckily, Kai and Finn had clean diapers when they were examined. We blame momnesia or new-parentnesia, a.k.a. sleep deprivation!

Finn's bath

Kai's bath

Weekend reassurance

A visit from the boys' Aunt Elisabeth and Cousin Lee Amber this weekend was enormously helpful to us, putting our new-parent anxieties at ease. We're so appreciative of their visit, and the boys definitely enjoyed it, too!
Finn and Aunt Elisabeth

Cousin Lee Amber and the boys

A moment for coffee and blogging

We're home. Our first night with the boys was last night, and oh what a doozie that was! This is gonna be some kind'a ride. I've found that I can "function" on 3 hours of sleep, though it's the morning after, before a shower and coffee, that is tough. I think we're doing ok. Sarah and I pulled a lot of all-nighters in college or grad school for a few projects, term papers or art exhibits, and I remember caffeine and alcohol were very beneficial. We're not to that point yet. Here's a moment of peace from this morning:

March 25, 2009

2:03 p.m. Kai Hewett Cutler, 5lbs 7oz, 16-1/2" long



2:13 p.m. Finn Garrett Cutler, 5lbs 15oz, 17" long



Mother and boys are doing great. We all get to go home on Friday. More news soon. -C.

Someone owes Christian $20!

We had our 35-week appointment today and received some surprising news... we'll be meeting our little sprouts tomorrow!! We've been instructed to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. for an induction. It's now 11 p.m. on Tuesday night, and both Christian and I are scrambling around trying to get a few last-minute things done. We'll keep you posted!

Scant 35

Sarah's a day or two from 35 weeks. I'm bettin' we have a couple boys in the next 7 to 12 days. $20. Who's in?

34 weeks and 5 days

Aunt Mary and Uncle Bud know style!

Super socks!
Are these not the cutest/coolest little socks ever?! I have always said that socks are the most under utilized accessory a man can wear. The little Cutler sprouts are gonna be style'n. Daddy's already jealous! Thank you Aunt Mary and Uncle Bud for the care package for mama and twins!