More Alert

Their eating and sleeping has brought them more often opened eyes.

They're seeing and hearing and tasting their environment a little more.

And I suppose this also makes them a bit more photographable.

But they are still cute when sleeping too. Especially when they nestle.

Practical Babyness

Part of Babyness is what a baby does. This little movie is mostly what these two do.

Oath, from "Listening"

Listening
by David Ignatow

You wept in your mother's arms
and I knew that from then on
I was to forget myself.

Listening to your sobs,
I was resolved against my will
to do well by us
and so I said, without thinking,
in great panic, To do wrong
in one's own judgment,
though others thrive by it,
is the right road to blessedness.
Not to submit to error
is in itself wrong
and pride.

Standing beside you,
I took an oath
to make your life simpler
by complicating mine
and what I always thought
would happen did:
I was lifted up in joy.

Receiving

The closeup is of Audrey.

Melissa will probably cringe at herself in the other photo, but I love the view of Olivia about to receive Henry to her lap.

Grandparents

Some pictures of the reaction of the twins' grandparents.

Apparently there was no disappointment.

Interviews

Well, they are pretty one-sided. Dad tells them what they are, the kids stare back.
Still, not bad for 18 hours old.
Happy Birthday, little ones.

Announcing...

The arrival of Henry and Audrey O'Donnell Vande Berg (more middle names to come).

Born at 02:17 and 02:19 on o7/08/09.

Henry weighs 8 lbs and .5 oz, and stretches to 21 inches long.

Audrey tips the scales at 6 lbs .5 oz and is 19.25 inches long.

Both were taken out of Mommy Melissa without further ado (further than 18 hours labor) due to fever in Mom and high pulses in twins.

Welcome to the outside, little 38.2 week gestaters.
Mom and Kids are doing fine now: fevers reduced, fluids suctioned, sleep being caught up upon.

In the photos, that's Audrey at the top, followed by Henry, then the two together, alphabetic left to right.