First time going to a restaurant!

I know, I know...we're a little late doing this. But, it's a little difficult to take two infants out sometimes.

While Eric was gone this week for his last interview, my Grandma, mom and I went out to lunch at the original Garcia's. We drew lots of attention (the boys can't help it, they really are that cute!), but did great! I was nervous when we sat down as we were seated next to a table that looked to be having a lunch meeting.

The boys sat like big boys in the high chairs. They had toys to play with and puffs to eat. This helped some, but they enjoyed looking around at all the activity going on. All the employees had to come meet the boys and the boys loved the attention. Good thing Carter didn't have one of his 'stranger anxiety' spells.

Here is Brandt and Carter looking like big boys!
Carter was being lovey. He gave mom and then Mamaw a kiss! Brandt was trying to grab my enchilada

Brandt tuckered out after lunch. Thanks, Mom and Mamaw, for a wonderful afternoon!

The boys at 8 months

This past month the boys have continued to become more mobile. These little guys are the scootin' kings! I have no idea what I'm going to do when they are crawling!

Also, the boys...

• Have recently learned how to get on all fours and rock forward and back. It won't be long before they are crawling!
• Have almost dropped their late afternoon nap. Some days they still need it, but for the most part, they are able to stay up and eat dinner with us.
• Are gumming up food well now. We give them puffs to eat while we eat dinner when they join us. We just love having them eat dinner with us! They have improved in picking up the little puffs with their fingers. They get so excited when they manage to get a puff in their mouth.
• Have started to use a sippy cup. Both have figured out how to use the cups; however, during dinner, they usually end up on the ground. The boys are getting really good at grabbing things and throwing them
• Have become better at sitting up. They still topple over, but can sit for quite awhile.
• Carter has learned how to cry for attention. If I walk past him and he sees me, he'll cry for attention. I'm learning to not be conditioned by my pre-toddler!
• Carter has also continued to have stranger anxiety. It has gotten worse this month. The boys always get attention when we go out. It's like people just can't NOT stop me when they see twins. Anyway, when people stop me to see them, he will let out these blood curdling cries.
• Lastly, my favorite new thing: they've learned how to give kisses! This is the greatest thing in the world!! The boys will grab my face and stick their mouth on me. They are the best thing!

Impending Match Day

Goodness! I haven't blogged about Eric and his schooling in awhile.

Eric is winding down his fourth (and last!) year of medical school. He just finished his last interview for the allopathic (MD for those non medical jargin speaking people) residency match. He has applied to anesthesiology programs. Eric knew in his first year of medical school that is what he wanted to specialize in. Now he has to rank the residency programs with his preference and submit his rank order list in February for the Match.

Most of the family is quite familiar with the Match process by now. If anyone is interested in how it works, go to this wikipedia link and read the "Match" section. It's a good explanation of how the process works. In short, the residency programs rank their applicants and the applicants rank the programs. An algorithm is then used to match applicants with their "best match" program. I think it's a stupid process myself, but then again, I guess it works!

Match Day for the allopathic programs is on March 19th. This has definitely been THE most stressful part of medical thus far. First year exams, second year studying for boards, third year rotations...none of these even remotely compare to the stress of the Match. It's as if Match Day defines Eric's medical career...it's so stressful! Therefore, I have added a countdown ticker on the right. Everyone can count down until Match Day with us! On March 19, we will know where we are going in June.

It was hard to find a picture of Eric in his scrubs. This one was when we were in IL in Oct. Isn't he so cute??!!

Tonight at dinner...

Auntie Laura, this one's for you!

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it! I finished the PF Chang's Half Marathon!!!! It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, but in the end, it was incredibly rewarding and so much fun!

A week before the race, I ran and averaged a 10 minute mile. I'd been having a bout of plantar fasciitis, but I got new shoes after Christmas which fixed the problem. In my last long run, I felt great so I was pumped for the race.

Alesia and I met up with an old friend, Melissa, and started the race together. I was keeping up with these seasoned runners (both have run full marathons) until somewhere around mile 4 when my toes started to go numb. It was so aggravating! I stopped and loosened my shoes in hopes it would help my feet. Unfortunately, it only got worse. It felt like my feet were stumps and there was a rock under the balls of my feet. Needless to say, my time slowed substantially and I finished in 2:32. Not exactly the 2:10 I was estimating, but I'll take it! Alesia was so sweet and and stayed with me the entire race.

Here Alesia and I are on the shuttle bus from the finish line to the start line. It was VERY early.

Alesia getting ready for the race.

Here I am!
Here we are after the race. We got a nice cop who was volunteering from Santa Barbara to take our picture.
The crowds were INSANE. There were 30,000 people who ran the full and half races. Of that, 22,000 ran the half marathon.

This was right when we got back home. Had to take a pic with the bambinos!

I am so glad I ran the race. Melissa told me I was going to get addicted to them and I think I might be. The feeling around mile 9 that I was really going to finish was so great. I still can't believe that after everything that has happened this year-- having twins, almost dying a few times, learning how to raise the boys--I finished 13.1 miles!

PF Chang's Half Marathon

This Sunday, I will run the PF Chang's Rock n Roll half marathon. Last March, our friends, Kent and Alesia, were visiting and Alesia and I planned to run this race together. I've been wanting to run it for years and since I was pregnant and fairly certain going back to work was out of the question, I thought it would be the perfect motivator to get back into shape.

It has been fun to take the boys running with me. It's been our "thing" we do 3 to 4 times a week. I bundle up the chicos and they have a good time looking out at the desert and riding over bumps.

I'm excited to finally run (and hopefully finish!) the race, but it has been therapeutic for me to train and prepare for. For some reason, it just means a lot to me to complete the 13.1 mile run after all the events of this past year.

If anyone is bored on Sunday, you can track my progress. I'll wear a chip that will track me. You can go to this link and look me up by my name. The race I'm running is the first one listed in the drop down box.

If I'm not progressing, I'll probably be at a drink station, taking a potty break, sitting down for a few minutes, etc. Ha! Ha! See you on the flip side!

***Under Construction***

I've been wanting to redo our blog for awhile as the blue and green scheme has been a little boring. Please bare with me as the blog might be a work in process for a bit.

So far, I'm liking it more. The decorations on the side are a little reminiscent of our wedding:)

The best of friends

During Christmas Palooza (that's what Eric called it because we had something to do every day of that week), we caught the boys holding hands while we were changing them. Aaaww!

I snapped this photo as we were rushing out the door to go to my parent's open house. I thought the boys looked really cute in their preppy sweater vests.

The boys at 7 months old

The boys turned 7 months old almost two weeks ago. Maybe if I don't acknowledge this birthday it didn't really happen?? :)

Carter

• likes to chew on this socks
• has learned how to blow zerberts and blow his food everywhere
• has learned how to throw tantrums when he wants attention
• likes to steal his brother's Nuk (pacifier)
• has exhibited stranger anxiety
• is getting around quite well by rolling over
• loves the remote
• has begun eating real solids. He tried macaroni with noodles and whole peas and did well, but seemed confused why there was "stuff" in his foood
• loves watching Baby Einstein movies
• can hold his bottle all by himself
• likes to hold onto my necklace
  

Brandt

• likes to play with his feet...especially during mealtime
• cut three teeth at once this month and only got a little cranky
• learned how to take off his diaper
• is basically mobile. He scoots around everywhere now
• likes to chew on his brother
• shows no interest in holding his own bottle
• likes to pull hair and eye glasses
• thinks it's really funny when Daddy pretends to eat his hand
• likes to sit up in his bouncy chair
• has begun eating real solids. He also tried macaroni with noodles and whole peas and did great
• loves watching the cats
• can sit by himself for a few seconds
• knows how to scream because Daddy taught him!
  

Carter's new skill