And then there were four
So it turns out that I have a perfectly good reason that I won’t be able to make Leaguefest this year.
Or, more accurately, I have two of them.
A short while ago, the Better Half and I were approached about the prospect of adopting newborn twin boys. After some hemming and hawing and much discussion about How This Might Work, we decided to proceed with placement of these two little fellows. Having arrived ever so slightly underdone, they spent varying amounts of extra time in the hospital before coming home.
But home they are! Though a few legal formalities remain, the Better Half, the Critter, the Squirrel and I are happy to add Pip and Squeak to our family. (Or rather, the Better Half, the Critter and I are. The Squirrel is still trying to wrap her head around why there are non-her infants at large in our house. The Critter could not possibly be more tickled at having two new baby brothers.) I shall, when referring to them collectively, be calling them the Swarm.
So, yeah. Leaguest, despite being held in a relatively close city wherein my best friend can be found, is a non-starter this year. I hope you will accept my excuse.
Three infants at once? You’re a better man than I am (in yet another way.)Report
Irish triplets! Wonderful! Congratulations!Report
Heh. The last guess most people would make seeing my youngest kids would be Irish.Report
Congratulations! I only know you from your online OP’s and comments, but all four of those kids and the better half sound like really lucky people.Report
Awesome. Congratulations.Report
Congrats and my sincere admiration. Y’all are doing a good thing and they are lucky kids.
That said, as I gaze at my three little ones (two still in diapers), it strikes me that *four* represents a level of insanity that makes anti-vax conspiracy theorists look downright reasonable. Good luck dude, you are going to need it.Report
I’m the third of four. Zazzy has discussed having four (she was the first of three). I have discussed running away.Report
Here is what I will say as a twin:
Don’t dress them alike.Report
You and Lee are twins? As a teacher of twins, I agree.Report
Yes.Report
I’m better looking of course.Report
I dissent.Report
Our schools never put us in the same class except 11th grade chemistry.Report
How about band, 12th grade Pre-Calc and Comp Lit and 11th grade English?Report
Rest assured, we have no such intention.Report
Also four children under 5? and mainly under 3? You are certifiably insane!Report
It is the way of the adopters. Start saving for college now though.Report
Start saving for college now though.
Man, what a buzz killer.Report
Its the way of the lawyers to be a buzz-killer. One must follow one’s calling.Report
DUDE!!!! CONGRATS! THAT’S AWESOME! CRAZY, BUT AWESOME!Report
totes crazotes but contgratatotes!Report
Congratulations! I weep for your sleep schedule, though.Report
Four? You sir, are a brave man!
Congrats!Report
How do you come up with your kid’s nicknames?Report
congratulations. i think i’ll take a nap, read a book and go out for a quiet dinner in your honor.Report
Congrats! With three brothers and two dads, you daughter will be more well versed in boys and men than a lot of her peers! If we adopt a #2 and #3 we well have to talk to you about your agency!Report
Replying generally:
1) Thanks to all for the good wishes and congratulations. They are deeply and sincerely appreciated.
2) Nobody has a greater sense of how truly bananas we must be than I do.
3) Family Dinner #1 has gone well. So, y’know… that’s one horse ridden.
4) Critter’s nickname comes from a beloved movie wherein a madcap “adoption” takes place; it is the nickname I had in mind for a child from the moment I considered being a parent. Squirrel’s comes from “vaguely wild-life related nickname for a small creature.” Pip and Squeak sprang immediately to mind, particularly given that Squeak most certainly does.Report
Ah. I thought you were just giving your kid’s rodent, a class of mammal that I happen to find cute*, associated nick-names.
*Can’t beat lemurs and pandas though. The fox is still number one for best looking mammal.Report
He tried naked mole rat with the first kid, but it didn’t go over well.Report
The best of reasons, and congratulations to all six of you!Report
Congrats! My parents had my three oldest siblings in as many years. You’ll work it out. Of course that’s about ALL you’ll be doing for awhile…Report
Oh my. Blessings. Many, many blessings.
Congratulations, Doc, Better Half, Critter, and Squirrel, for the exponential growth of love in your hearts. And Pip and Squeak, for having the good sense to find family so fine.
I think a baby shower is in order. How does one go about organizing an on-line baby shower?Report
Congratulations! So happy for you and your family. As the father of twin toddlers, good luck! (For the record, best advice I got was to join the local mothers of twins association (maybe the name needs some work…)–at least in Boston they have terrific tag sales, and two of everything adds up quick!)Report
Casa Saunders will be enjoyably quiet again.
In about eighteen years. Until then, bedlam.
Totes congrats & you guys are nuts. In a good way.Report
Congratulations on your expanding family!
Hopefully Pip and Squeak settle down nicely and start sleeping through the night as soon as possible, and that Squirrel comes to love her little brothers as much as they’ll love annoying the hell out of her when they’re older!
I think it’s awesome Critter is happy for more kids! (My brother hated me when I was born.)
A busy house is a happy house!Report
Oh. My. Gosh.
Congratulations. I had no idea. You will be missed at leaguefest.Report
Hooray! Lucky kids and lucky you!Report
Well, congrats on your most excellent developments, sir!Report
You’re out of your mind. Congratulations, find your sleep where you can.Report
Congratulations!!!
You, sir, are a far braver soul than I. I attribute this to your lack of interest in most things sports-related. I simply cannot imagine having any more than two – and I only have the one. With two, you at least can choose between playing man-to-man defense and zone. Once you have three, you can only play zone. But four? You’re going to constantly be trying to defend a fast break. For, like, the next 12-15 years.Report
I enjoy that you note his lack of sports interests and proceed to use a rather complicated sports analogy.
When I realized that Mayo’s due date (and eventual birthday… like his father, he’s very punctual) would coincide with the Final Four, I attempted to talk to the OB/GYN about it.
It did not go well.Report
Heh – I was suggesting that it was his ignorance of that particular analogy that allows him to go through with something requiring as much courage as this.Report
I’ll just add my vacation-delayed public congratulations here, because I already conveyed my sincerest, not-at-all-tardy ones in private.Report
Congratulations, and congratulations particularly to your children, who have a family now! 🙂Report