5 Fingers Five Toes

                                             

 5 months in and we’re still happy, healthy and smiling! The crazy adventure we have embarked on with our boys seems to get better and better every day. However, this month more than ever before, the boys seem so much more grown up. It is hard to explain but suddenly it’s like a light switch has gone off for them and they are no longer just little blobs with arms and legs, but little men trying to find their baby place in the world. They are expressing things they like and things they don’t. They are starting to recognize their names, not just turn to look when they hear sound. They have both figured out how to make noise to get our attention, and as soon as we look to them in response they smile as if to say, “Yes! I knew it would work!” As much as I don’t want them to grow up so fast, I LOVE the increasing connection we have and how they are engaging so much more. Michael and I have both looked at each other several times this month and either been shocked with their development, or said aloud how blessed we are. This parenting thing is pretty cool!

Both boys are now laughing, A LOT. There is NOTHING in this world more heartwarming and fun than to hear a baby just flat out cracking up. Both are also pretty ticklish, Braxton especially on his belly and his legs, and Carter on his neck. With a few tickles we can get them going pretty easily. Carter laughs like you think a baby should so cute and adorable, and Braxton squeels. It’s almost like he laughs so hard he can’t control what noises come out, so as long as its loud and a huge open mouth smile is on his face, we’re calling it laughing.  It is impossible to be in a bad mood around these two, and they literally light up our lives.

We also have some crazy teething going on these days. Anything they can get in their mouths, they are all

over. They have both found their feet this month as well, and discovered that they also make pretty good chew toys. So that’s the name of this blog, 5 fingers and Five toes, because at any given moment in this house we likely have a minimum of 5 fingers or toes crammed in one of both of their mouths. They often look like little contortionists with their limbs all tangled up, but they are happy.  Along with teething, this month we have also added the sweetest, but most wet kisses you have ever received. Carter especially offers up these goober filled loves whenever he gets close to your cheek, and more time than not manages to slip a little tongue in there too. Sometimes you will notice him arching his back and throwing his head back just so he can lay a big wet one on ya. I think he’s going to be a mama’s boy. Braxton will give kisses the same way, but he is usually too busy looking around to take the time to offer up these smooches. This kid wants you to know he loves ya, but he can’t miss a single second of what is going on around him, so his kisses are quick, wet, and usually accompanied by a slight giggle. Giggles, goobers or not, this mama can’t get enough of their loves.

Both of the Chunk-a-monks have checked off a few more accomplishments recently too. Carter finally rolled over from his tummy to his back and was so happy about it. I shouldn’t say finally as if he is late or something, Braxton just hated being on his stomach so much that he figured out how to do it at about 9 weeks. We have been encouraging Carter for weeks now and when he finally made it happen I threw a fricken party for him I was so excited. He laughed and laughed so when I turned him over to his belly again he promptly rolled and expected the same reaction. I of course obliged. Saturday, on his 5 months birthday he actually rolled from his back to his tummy too, much to both of our surprises. He wasn’t too pleased with this accomplishment though, and quickly started to scream once he realized what he had done. Both boys really could live without having to be on their tummys if I would let them. Braxton has almost made it from his back to his tummy this month as well, but he can’t seem to get his arm to come out from under his big ol’ belly, so it is a work in progress. Physically both twins are getting super strong and are scooting themselves back and kicking their legs all over the place. The days of being able to lay them on the ottoman alone are over now. We have to cram it up into the edge of the couch and use the side protector thing my Grandma made us to prevent a fall since they wiggle, turn, and scoot all over. Braxton especially also likes to be “stood up” so he can use his own muscles to push up into a standing position. Oh lordy is it going to be fun when these two become mobile. Right now my prediction is that Carter will crawl first, but I think BBoy will walk first. We’ll see if I am right.

As promised in our last blog, we have also ventured into the world of food in the last few weeks. As if the blowout diapers weren’t already bad enough, adding vegetables and fruit has only increased the surprises we are granted almost daily. Terms like green bean butt, or applesauce butt never before seemed as gross to me as they do now. Fortunately the boys are both great eaters and love their food. They sit up like such big boys in their high chairs and look so adorable with oversized bibs. So far we have tried avocado, sweet potato, green beans, squash, and applesauce. They have loved all of it but Braxton especially loves avocado, and Carter loves sweet potato. This upcoming month we get to introduce more fruits and I am excited to see what they like. Both boys eat from a spoon pretty well, but Carter has a problem with rubbing his mouth and then rubbing his eyes, and Braxton just is all over the place. Most meals end with a bath or a super thorough wipe down because we are sure to likely have something caked all the way to our ears or in our eyebrows.

Quite possibly our biggest triumph this month is a solidified sleeping schedule. Since we have added food to the boys menu, they are sleeping like champs. They are in bed asleep by 8:30-9:00ish every night, skip the 11:00 feeding they used to have, and aren’t up again until somewhere between 6:15am-7:15am the next morning. This has been amazing! Having a few more minutes of sleep in my life has made a world of difference! I just have to remember that when the boys go down, I should relax and head to bed a bit early too. It is just so tempting to get things done when we have sleeping babies. I wish I could say that our naptime schedule is as locked in as our bedtime schedule, but we’re starting to get there. The good thing is both boys really enjoy sleeping in their swings. So if we are nap deprived, or refusing a nap, I can put them in the swings and turn on the music. Within a few minutes they are usually relaxed and drifting off to sleepy town. It makes me laugh that they are getting older and now loving the swings instead of when they were super little like most babies, but I can’t complain. They also conk out in their carseats or stroller too. It’s pretty nice that when we are out and about they can catch a few zzz’s while we’re on the go.

As expected this month we also added more places to their “I have been to…” lists. The beginning of the month they started with the 4^th of July celebration here in town. Their first taste of how Independence Oregon celebrates Independence Day was filled with a parade, townies, a BBQ with our WOU family, some time with the Wynings family, and a minor no nap meltdown midway through. They were such troopers but boy did the sleep well that night. The same weekend we also took them to Lincoln City with Grandpa Jay and Grandma Shelly and Uncle Vic. Michael didn’t think it was a great idea but I convinced him to push the stroller all the way down onto the beach. Once we got to the compacted wet sand things were great, but headed back to the car Michael and Vic decided to carry not push the big jogger. Soft sand, a huge stroller, and 35lbs of babies don’t really work. I’m not sure if the boys even realized they were on the beach, but that’s ok. They managed to make it out to the Rogue again, and Carter left his mark at Venti’s in Salem when he had a major blowout all over his carseat and on his Grandma Danette’s hand. The boys even spent an evening with Daddy outside in the backyard under the sportbrella when a spatula fell into the bottom of the dishwasher and filled the house full of a melted plastic stench. I was at work and also had the dog’s leash so the 4 of them hung out in the grass until the smell died down. Michael got major daddy points for taking such good care of them that night.

We also were lucky enough to have the Sneden family come visit for a few days. From Friday afternoon until Wednesday morning we had 3 babies in the house. I AM SO GLAD I HAD TWINS! Triplets would have been insane! J However Lauren and I didn’t let the little ones change any of our plans and we were out and about every day. It just took us a little longer to get on the road. Sweet little Eliana was such a doll to have around and the boys absolutely love her! I am sure this will be just the first of many summer visits we share with them.

If they weren’t loving them all ready, this month the Jumperoo’s have been moved to the top of Braxton and Carter’s favorites list. Both boys have really gotten the hang of it and have even ventured into spinning the chair around to play with new toys that were once only behind them. Toys are really also much more interesting to them this month too. They are grabbing for everything and love to feel different textures and temperatures. We have started letting them play with plush toys more and they are having a blast. They really like their alligators we got for them on our trip to Florida last summer; although when they play with them it looks more like they are gator wrestling than anything. It’s pretty cute. I also don’t go anywhere without a bag full of toys and teethers to keep them busy with. Since the diaper bag has morphed into my purse these days, I can officially say I am a mom with everything in her purse. On the top of the list of toys Raffee (Sophie the Gifrafee) is still number one, followed up by footballs with holes in it for them to grab, and their own hands and feet.

Both kids are now recognizing, looking at, and grabbing for Dudley too. Dud is so patient with them even when they grab a hold of his hair and yank really hard. I know from experience how much that hurts but Dudley doesn’t bat an eye. He really loves his babies and its super cute to see him greet both of them individually every time he comes up. He is getting better about only kissing them on their feet (we’ve been trying to teach him that since the twins were born) but if he is given even the smallest opportunity he loves to lick them from chin to forehead. Both Braxton and Carter laugh when he does it which I am sure encourages him more.

Smiley-mc-smiley Mr. Carter continues to breeze through life pretty stinkin’ happy. All you have to do is talk to the kid and he grins. He is also now squeeling a little too and when he gets really excited he kicks his legs really fast and giggles. It has only taken 5 months, but Carter has now decided he likes a binkie. However, he also has found out how to rip it out of his mouth and play with it, and even worse rip Braxton’s out of his mouth too. Needless to say BBoy isn’t too pleased when Carter snatches his binkie for no good reason. We have overcome our treefrog battle with Carter with the help of said binkie, but now our fight is getting him to leave it in his mouth so he will sleep. I swear it is an ever changing challenge in this house, but one I wouldn’t trade the world for. Carter is really into watching TV now. More than once I have caught him all spun around with his neck all crooked so he can see the TV screen.  It’s gotta be the lights and movement he likes, but wow does he like space out. I try to make sure when we’re not watching it, the TV is off and not on in the background as much as possible. They have plenty of years to watch that thing. 5 months is too young!  And finally, this month Carter has grown a pretty full head of hair. Or what you could call full for a kid that was not long ago bald. Towards the end of the month he had accumulated enough that we realized we could “Faux-Hawk” it. He looks so grown up when his hair is done.

Unlike his brother, Braxton’s big noggin is still pretty bald. But what he lacks in hair he makes up in personality. Braxton wears his feelings on his face, and you can ALWAYS tell what sort of mood he is in. He continues to flirt with old ladies, splash in the bath, and blowout his diapers. Danielle said she is going to call him “Blowout Brax” which fits him pretty well. He has started to throw fits too, something I had hoped would not show up for quite some time. When he is done eating and you burp him, as soon as I put him back into his bear chair to burp his brother he throws a giant fit arching his back and screaming/holding his breath until his face turns red. But then when you talk to him he smiles and laughs and the world is back to normal again. I have a feeling I am going to have my hands full with this one in a few years. He is really grabbing for anything he can, and loves to sit in his highchair without the tray and “chat” with you before he gets down. He is also waking up in the morning chatting with himself. More than one occasion I have awoke to him laying on his back, staring at the ceiling fan and just jabbering away. I just wish now I knew what he was thinking. But soon enough I am sure he’ll be talking up a storm and I’ll be missing these sweet baby days.

So that’s our story for this month.  I’m still soaking up baby time and they are teaching me so much about what really is important in life. As you can read we’re all doing well and looking forward to what August has to bring for us. Hope you are all well too! We’ll be back in a month…