Wrestling babies

It's been a five month roller coaster since Harris and Ben arrived back at our snug flat. The easiest way to convey how cute they are, and how quickly they have grown, is to skimp on words and just populate the blog with photos. Apologies if you are still on dial-up.
Since their arrival, family (and some friends) have stopped by to grapple with the babies. Few realise that, if the boys tag in together, it can be impossible to subdue them...







Great Grandparents, wise with experience, realise the danger in waking a sleeping baby, let alone two.

Proud father attempts casual look while being pinned to a chair
Equally proud but stranded mother perfects juggling using her superior powers of concentration







Gransey, lacking confidence in the groovy but angular pose of Pops, determines whether she could safely hold both babies at once


Uncles James and Matt succumb to the babies potent mind control trick, so powerful it can turn the most taciturn face into that of a smiling yokel.




Aunty Tanya similarly afflicted by a double dose of baby mind control

Finally, great Aunt Susan, with the deft touch of a professional baby whisperer, keeps her composure for the camera.









Stay tuned for the next installment, promising less about the hangers on and more about the babies.

In the beginning...

..there was much waiting (about 38 weeks)






, then some more waiting (about 10 hours)



then some pushing (about 3 hours)


and then some exhaustion (8 days and counting).






Harris Wilton Coubrough arrived at 7.45pm on the 11 day of January, 2008 weighing 3.18kg (7lbs for you oldtimers). He assumed a look of concern, possibly worried for the welfare of his brother, but this soon turned to a more satisfied grin.












Benjamin Sampson Coubrough arrived 11 minutes later, weighing 2.66 kg (5 '14), clearly relieved to have found a place with more room to move.





Over the next six days, we inhabited a suite at Wellington Hospital's maternity ward, trying to snatch sleep in between feeding and nappy changes, and learning that no one has all the answers when it comes to soothing upset babies. None the less, the midwifery care was excellent and if it wasn't for the oppressively hot conditions, when the midafternoon sun beamed into our room, and the generally noisy environment (which, if we're honest, we also contributed to), we may still be there.















Now we are home, we continue to search for meaning in our sons facial features. Is that face indicative of someone troubling over a pooey/wet nappy, some wind, starvation, sleep deprivation or high level calculus problems? Usually we find out, but sometimes we don't.

At the moment, we are savouring the small victories - a nappy that prevents a complete clothing change, a speedy feed (<=1/2 hour) and sleeps greater than 2 hours. Everyone is well which is all we could hope for, and our arrival home has been made much easier with numerous and extraordinary offers of support, well wishes, gifts and home cooking. Thanks to you all (!!!) and apologies if we have not caught up with you since their arrival. As we establish a better understanding of their behaviour patterns and our capacity for fatigue, we hope to show our dear wee chappies off some more.