Cupcake at the Symphony, and Napping with Twins

Since Aunt Kimi is here to help us for two weeks, Jackie and Erika had time to attend the tiny tots concert at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle just like old times.

That's a very large cupcake btw.

Aunt Kimi manages to feed and burp both twins nearly constantly and remains semi-alert as seen here.

After a hard day enduring countless re-orgs at work, daddy does not have the capability to remain conscious for long. A brief power nap is enjoyed by all.

Grandma Kathy's tour of duty completed

Aunt Kimi shows up just in time.

May 2008 completed

Sleep is important... But if you have a newborn (or two), you know that they are not concerned about other people getting any. You sleep when you can.


Unless you are a toddler, then you hate sleep. Because you might miss something.


There are lots of things to do, like smell three different scented soaps while dressed as a fairy princess playing the electric guitar.
If the Wetzel parents have any sanity a year from now, it will be a miracle.

First night at home

A lot of sleeping! Not much crying!


Yes, I already violated the saftey warnings of the baby swing, but they slept 90 minutes like this, so that's a win.

Hospital visits!

Aunty Jayne and grandma Gladdy


"uncle" Andy and "aunt grandma" Jayne


Daddy showing proper swaddle technique with thumbs being sucked.


Grandma Kathy arrives just in time to help us check out of the hospital!

Catherine Jayne and Miranda Kimberly

Can you tell the difference? Does the hat give it away? yes, or no? Explain your answer.
Twin A: 7lbs; 19.5in.
Twin B: 7lbs; 4oz 19in.

Day 1

Cross-Roads with the Hanleys plus a bonus: lizard lovin.

Today was our last trip to Cross-Roads mall in Bellevue, WA as a family of three.

Erika is certainly willing to teach her new sisters the ins and outs of mall living. First of all, why ride the mechanical horse when you can study it's inner-workings thanks to a transparent box?

Here we are with the Hanleys enjoying mall-time goodness.

And for something completely different, since we are having such nice weather, Erika and I (Jason) are spending a lot of time in the yard. After watering the herbs and checking for aphids we found some Northern Alligator Lizards! The one on the bottom has only a stump for a tail since it must have released, or autotomized, it when escaping a preditor. Ask Erika about it and she will speak on this topic enthusiastically. We'll look for a batch of baby lizards around the fall.

T minus 5 days

Preparations are underway for arrival of the twins. Erika is watering our herb garden on the side of our house.
Here we see what 12 pounds of babies in mommy looks like. Jackie is holding up very well all things considered.
It should be fun....

Enjoying a lovely beverage

This Saturday, it was a bit rainy. So we did a lot of shopping, and now that I (Jason) have a camera phone, I can capture photos whenever I want. Like, for example, when I want to document Erika's introduction to Starbucks.

No, it is not a caffeinated beverage. She is enjoying a steamed milk with whipped cream. How she can eat like she does and stay under 30lbs is beyond me, but there you have it.

Mid-April Whatnot

This weekend we were very busy. We are now less than a month until the twins appear, so there is a lot to do. A lot of shopping and a lot of organization. It does not help that we are having a bit of freakishly cold weather! it was down to the 30s!

Still, Erika's pal, Carter, celebrated his 3rd birthday today, so we had fun at his party.

Erika's other friend, Takara, is also at this party. She likes to dress in layers and is not bound by mere convention.

The Astronomy phase is still in force. We do not even watch cartoons or anything on weekend mornings. We learn about the Cosmos. Grandpa Keith was kind enough to send us a telescope, with which her stuffed cat, Molbaxter, is sharing an intimate moment, and the DVD series, The Universe, which has lots of cosmic eye-candy. Here Erika studies the rings of Saturn and announces that they may be made of chocolate. This is probably my fault for joking around. You never know what she is picking up. I almost had her believing that ovalteen is a number that comes right after 18, but then I realized that what I think is funny, she may take as fact. I'll try to be more careful!

Early Spring

Erika and Takara take rest after jumping on beds at Takara's house. Erika looks strangely small in this picture, although Erika is older by 6 weeks.

T minus 40 days and 40 nights and counting...

Easter 2008

Erika and Jackie relax on the couch.


Easter egg hunt time with Kaemon and Ilene Hayatsu! An annual tradition. Note that Erika is not happy about any of this. Although she did pick up three eggs which marks the first time she at least tried to pretend to care about this event.


Thanks to Uncle Mark for introducing Erika to the giant chocolate bunny.


Erika also has babies in her tummy. They just happen to be cats, but still, you get the idea.

Jak Video, e-life

This is Erika's absolute favorite video since Jak and Daxster are characters in our favorite video game.  Someone set scenes from the game to some cool music.  Turn up the volume and start jumping on the couch until you are out of breath!

Train trip to Grandma Glady's

Grandma Glady and Erika have not seen each other for some time now, but Jackie is not in the best shape for long trips. What to do?!
Erika and I (daddy) took Amtrak from Seattle to Oregon City, Oregon all by ourselves. We stayed with grandma for only one night, but we timed it so that we could visit the same time Aunty Jayne and John were visiting as well.
Oregon City is the end point of the historical Oregon Trail, and that's what the covered-wagon-style memorial in the background is all about.

Our departure from Oregon city was delayed by a few minutes, but this gave us some time to exercise!

Here is the main terminal in Portland, OR. Erika and I had a lay-over here which was just long enough to enjoy a popsicle.

We traveled business class because I felt that we could probably indulge in the extra $50 charge for the two of us since this was our first trip.
It was so dang quiet in business class that it was like traveling in a library. Erika had a lot to say the entire time, so it was more like a library with a chatty toddler in the middle of it.

Train trip continued....

The Amtrak ride from Seattle to Oregon City takes about 4 hours. It costs under $90 for the both of us round trip. I calculated that the gas for driving would be $70, so it's a great deal! $25 each to upgrade to the business class car.

The great thing about the train is that you don't have to be buckled in. You can walk around, and go to the bathroom at any time! Also there is a dining car with tasty snacks and tables.

Sure, a lot of the scenery between Washington and Oregon is not always magnificent, but you do get to see some very interesting sites.

This red ship was actually getting filled with grain as we passed. Coming and going! We could see the grain going right in there!

The tracks skirts the southern portion of Puget Sound between Tacoma and Olympia and this was certainly the most scenic part of the trip. The winter skies are ominous, but the air was so fresh! We passed through lots of wooded areas and if you are fond of ferns and moss, this is the ride for you. Also we got to see which towns are full of people who like to collect discarded household appliances and pile them in their yard. I didn't get a photo of that! Maybe next time!

The most surprising thing about the train trip was the amazing friendliness of the Amtrak staff. They were so nice to everyone! This mode is travel is very laid-back, and every single Amtrak person acted not just like they were tolerating us (the best you can hope for on American Airlines) but they were actually happy to see us. The conductors all thought Erika was the cutest thing ever, and told us so. It was a very pleasant trip and Erika did so well, that we will certainly do this again.

Rock store, art, t-minus 64 days and counting

We (Erika and Jackie) have been exploring more of the Seattle area. Last Monday, we went to the Scratch Patch with our friends, Bethany and Takara. The Scratch Patch is a store where they buy all sorts of neat polished rocks and put them on the floor for kids (and parents) to pick their favorites. Erika and Takara had a great time and both took home a nice bag of "treasure". Here Erika shows us the foot method for sorting through rocks.



Erika has also been going to pre-school two days a week. One of her favorite things to do is painting. Here, she is showing Daddy one of her masterpieces.



Finally, the twins and I are doing well. I can't believe how big I'm getting and there is still 2 months to go. So to document my new physique and to add to the twins' pre-birth pictures, Jason took a few shots. It will make a nice before picture.

Video from Siblings Class at Evergreen Hospital