At 5 months, we decided to ease the girls into their first solids. As most do, we started with basic rice cereal. Olive’s facial response was hilarious. Although her face is the ultimate grimace, I don’t think she so much hated it, as was completely taken aback by something so new.

I currently do not have my cameras, so was only able to get a capture on Owen’s iphone. Nico didn’t seem as surprised. More videos and/or photos to come, as well as photos of grandma Kathy, Aunt Jessica, and Uncle Erik’s visit.

With a little trepidation, I am returning to work after a six month maternity leave. Nico and Olive are five months old, and it does feel a little early. I want to work even though I wish I had more time to spend with them before returning. I’d prefer to benefit from the type of maternity leave that Canada or Western European countries offer (8 months – 2 years) in order to have more time to bond (but alas, I won’t beat a dead horse by complaining again about American conservative “family values”). From what I’ve read, there is a positive correlation between a mother working and happiness and “success” in children later in life. My own mother was a stay-at-home mom, and while she did a wonderful job and I’m lucky to have had her undivided attention, I think she might have been even happier with a career outside the home. Although it would have been nice to take Nico and Olive’s first year or two of life off, it might have meant uprooting and moving, and putting myself at risk for difficulty reentering the work force (and giving up child care help, which keeps me sane!).

Owen and I have managed to work out a great solution, and I really think Nico and Olive are in good hands (and may even benefit by spending time with their care givers). Gladis and Norma will be splitting the time, taking care of them and teaching them Spanish. Both women came highly recommended by other twin families in my group and are wonderful with the girls, who seem to love them. I share their time with two other families of twin infants and toddlers. Thankfully, Yahoo granted me a 4 day work week! I will also work from home one or two additional days a week, allowing me to breast feed and see them throughout the day. Owen is working from home 2 days a week also, so it’s really working out well for us.

In many ways, I am longing to return to work. I have a good job. I am returning to a new office (that we’re sharing with the Flickr folks) in San Francisco, and I have a private mother’s room right across from my desk where I can pump. As far as I know, I’m the only woman who will be using it on the floor. My team (Yahoo Video) has been decimated recently, so it’s really only me, and the two great guys I work with, Randall and Stephen. We are now the tiniest team, responsible for content on video.yahoo.com, pitching video to yahoo.com, and programming branded pages and partnerships like the butterfinger comedy network and animal fun (the site that I initially developed!).