Loving in the month of Love

Just a thanks to all my family for their continued help with the twins. I know they love it too, but their help is giving me those very needed extra pair of hands lately as well as little breathers that have kept me afloat. The babies are getting more and more active, yet they're still pretty dependent. I'm really looking forward to when they can sit upright on their own. I'm thinking they'll enjoy playing and discovering more both with each other and on their own that way.

Cammy found the Super Bowl to be quite boring apparently

But she definitely isn't bored when it comes to eating lately. Yesterday she ate ALL her rice cereal and most all her bottle. Maybe she's trying to catch up with her brother who keeps outpacing her and growing even bigger these days!

A new favorite thing we've discovered: Bumbo Time! Their necks are getting stronger and they last a little longer each day in their chairs.

As you can tell from their Bumbo picture, Cam and Cole are becoming even more aware of each other. Being twins, I know they were always aware of each other and need each other for their ultimate comfort. But lately you can really see their bond starting to form in all kinds of ways. When they're being held in separate areas by different people they will spot each other and look at each other. Cam likes to sit in her chair and watch Cole play in the Exersaucer. When kicking around on the floor they will grab, pull and tug on each other for play. One will roll over on their tummy to watch the other--or they will both turn on their tummies to face each other. No matter what the situation, whenever they're looking at each other they really stare and study the other's face and actions.

...And then one of them cries, then the other decides they're upset, and I scramble to find the next activity to make them smile so cute again! Or we all just give in and fuss for a little bit. Somehow we always end up with me acting a fool, making strange noises, and ultimately singing along to the Love Channel or some other crazy made up song. Glad there are no hidden cameras around here.

I promise no babies were harmed during the taking of this picture. Rolling out of our chairs in a matter of seconds is becoming the norm around here. Whether I strap them in or not--it doesn't matter, they still wiggle out in less than 5 seconds. To avoid trapped limbs and an even worse uncompromising position, it's actually better if I don't strap them in.?? Here's an action shot of Cole demonstrating the gymnastics that go on around here now. It's usually a roll over in the chair then a scoot down to the knees. They are then either kneeling in front of the chair or have safely landed on the ground by the time I get over to them (while trying to make bottles usually) 5 seconds later. To them this is hilarious, fun, and they each have a big smile on their face when I make it over to retrieve them.??

Seriously though, I am scared of busted heads so I'm trying to get in the habit better of putting them in their crib when I make bottles now. So far they haven't wrangled themselves out of there yet. Since they no longer want to just sit in their chairs anymore, I really really really hope they learn to sit upright on their own sooner than later!

5 Months!

The Twins are 5 months old today! I'm so excited for them to keep growing up but I'm also a little sentimental about it too. A little more independence will be nice though. I think. I'll probably be eating my words a few months from now when I can't keep track of two crawling babies.

Lately unless they are constantly stimulated by me or another person, they are fussing and unhappy. I went to read about it in my "What to Expect the First Year" book and here are some exact lines:

(Introduction to the 4 month chapter) "Someone's all smiles this month--and as a result, chances are you'll be, too. Your infant is just entering what might be considered the golden age of babyhood"

(Introduction to the 5 month chapter) "Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, they do."

I'm waiting for those sentences to really ring true here...

Now I sound horrible. They're awesome, adorable, I love them to pieces beyond words. But they're either super super happy--or super super fussy. Rarely is there an in between. The happy moments are priceless and give me butterflies in my tummy because I love my life so much now. But the equal amount of fussy times are beginning to take a toll. As a result, Matt and I are trying to figure out how to adjust. I think we feel like we've lost control of our lives--these precious twins control us now and we've got to figure out how to find that controlled balance. Welcome to parenthood, right?! Do parents ever successfully find that balance? Please share with me how!

The glass really is half full here despite my whining. I think I'm getting better at asking for help and it's amazing how fast I can get some things accomplished when I have a couple times in the day when their naps overlap for about 10 minutes. (They rarely sleep at the same time during the day anymore. Just when one drifts off to sleep, the other loudly wakes up soon after!) Knock on wood, they sleep really well during the night. I'll happily take that over weird nap schedules and other crazy moments during the day!

Last week Camryn got to be so fussy during the days and evenings and just can't seem to get settled. Then the back of her neck got angry red and scaly. It grew quickly up her head so we went to the doctor yesterday. It's just eczema. I'm glad it's not some kind of reaction rash. The doctor told me her fussiness is due to teething issues and that her skin might be itchy and uncomfortable to her. We'll get that cleared up now! Funny that the moment we got into the room at the doctor's and she got down to her diaper, she turned into the happy, cute Cammy girl we love so much.

Cam is ready to play (so is Mario--he drops off his toys by them in the hopes they'll play fetch with him) but Cole wants to stay sleeping despite Camryn's wake up attempts on him.

We love this picture of Cole during one of his first Exersaucer experiences. Again, I can't get enough of his facial expressions! He lasts a good couple minutes in here so far. We'll keep at it, I can't wait for him to get a little bigger and his upper body to get a little stronger--I see lots of good times in his future with these great toys!