4 weeks and still going

Adjustment. Bringing two new lives into a crowded home, especially one that hasn't seen anyone new for 5 and a half years and has reached an equilibrium, can really shake things up. We have witnessed our pets be more needy or more independent depending on the day. Both of the dogs have really perfected their "poor me" looks, Ty especially. They know there are two new beings here who take a lot of our time. Ty spends a fair amount of time moping on his bed or in the living room. Zoey spends even more of her time under Laura Jane's heels. She is also a lot more alert as to things going on in and around the house. The Border Collie in her causes her to pace more. She is constantly trying to keep tabs on all 5 of us now.

The cats have also become more vocal in their desire for attention. Both Max and Tabor will climb up trying to get attention when we are eating. Tabor has really come out of his shell even letting LilliAnne pet him on occasion (desparate times call for desparate measures!). Tucker enjoys that the bedroom door is open a lot more and the big bed is available for napping. He often spends large portions of the day lounging on our bed or sitting in our open window. Lucie, on the other hand, has decided she doesn't need us as much. She still greats us, but up until the last couple of days, she didn't try climbing into our laps. Prior to the babies coming, she was Queen Lap Kitty.

LilliAnne is doing her best to be helpful, but is also struggling with the loss of attention. Up until now, she had our attention whenever she needed it. Now she is learning that sometimes we both have to give the babies attention at the same time (usually during feedings and diaper changes). That is a hard change for her.

On the flip side though, she has been a big helper and loves holding the babies and giving them kisses on the forehead. She tries to get them to smile (we don't have the heart to tell her that's a couple of months away still).

LilliAnne finished two weeks of swim lessons at the local country club where she learned to dive, swim with her face in the water, hold her breath appropriately and swim under water, and learned to float and kick, amongst other things. Bath time has now turned into practice swimming time. :-)

Laura Jane and I are both working on getting by on 2 hour naps. On occassion we'll alternate sleeping through a feeding so one of us can get a little more rest, but because we only have 2 bedrooms, we still wake up during the feedings. It is amazing what the body can do though on naps.

We have been blessed with help and meals from family and friends over the last couple of months. It's a fact that we'd be pretty hungry and wiped out without it. It certainly takes a village.

A special thanks to Ann Appel for the photos of Wesley and Talitha. She has many more here. http://theviewthrumylens.smugmug.com/Portraits/Randall-Family/18127284_B2tXkM#1391355501_FxbSpdh
(password "Twins")