So, the Hogglets are tucked at home, and Darren and I are off to Miami, where we hope to enjoy the town, but joke that all we will do is sleep. Grandpa John initiated this idea with the comment "I think we could do it for a week before they are walking and can get away from us". Darren's caveat, "somewhere domestic with multiple flights back a day in case we need to get home". My part: a 5 page list, and emergency diaper bag, and a few days of pre-training.
As I'm sitting on the plane, I don't have exact weights but... The girls are hovering just below 15 pounds, and Mac around 18.5. They haven't had a significant weight gain recently but I attribute that to all the extra moving!!!
Mac- Started crawling just 2 weeks ago, and still doesn't seem totally sure about it. He is more of a lumberer and I like to call him my little pachyderm for his elephant like approach. He's been working on his 5th tooth for a few days and is certainly the most sensitive to the teething. He's a happy boy and quite the cuddler. In fact, I don't think he would ever cry if I could just figure out a way to hold his heft all day. He does quite a few things that his sisters don't. He actively explores how his toys work, spinning the spinners, flipping the lids and successfully puts the balls into the toys with purpose. He loves a game of catch, and will sit and throw back and forth with excitement. His favorite food is sweet potatoes and he will eat most things, but doesn't have the shovel his food in approach that the girls do. He's also mastered the cause and effect skill of dropping things off his tray... Sneakily taking the piece of broccoli to the side and dropping to the floor. He remains the most cautious when I try to get him to taste new things, but eventually gives in. He tells us he is done drinking by pursing his lips together and nothing can break through. He has 3 "tricks" that he will initiate and imitate, 2 solidly, one new... Sniffing and clicking his tongue he does with ease, and he has recently started doing fishy kissy faces, which are heart melting.
When someone comes to visit or enters the room, he always reaches out a hand in greeting, claiming his role as "ambassador of peace". If he wakes up at night, which is rare, he usually sleeps til 7, he will only go back to sleep if he is taken out of his room and given a little bottle in the living room before going back to bed. He will cry if you try him in the rocker in his room. He has a little lovey that he gently sucks on, almost just rubs his lips over... A soft taggy blanket that we inherited from Lalah. I'm sure I'll regret that we only have one of these, but it's true what it says "thank heavens for little boys"
Brushing his teeth
Post black beans
Chilling on the couch
Paisley continues to be a dynamic little mover. Her favorite food is black beans, but she also eats almost anything. She will taste anything on my plate, and expects me to share everything. She had one night of sleeping through the night after a late night (for them) snack of fried rice while the grown ups ate their take out. So, obviously, I fed it to her for the next two nights with no success. Sleep is still in chunks, with at least 2 if not 3 wake ups... Going to start working on that AFTER vacation. She doesn't have a lovey, and has a hard time self soothing. She will cuddle up and sleep on our chest, a habit the other two have given up. This may be part of why she still isn't sleeping through, as Darren and I are hesitant to give up that snuggle time too. She's a great crawler, pulls to stand with ease and will let go if she forgets and is holding something in her hands. Her two favorite things to do are "the dishes" standing at her toy kitchen she likes to move the things around all while talking and gesturing. I'm pretty sure that this may be her first attempt at pretend play, as she had seen me for hours on end washing bottles, dishes and trays... And playing in the toy house with her sister, opening and closing the doors and chasing each other around. She's a bit of an imp and knows when she's is about to get caught. The one "off limits" area for playtime is the bathroom, due to its sharp corners and tiles everywhere. Well, we sometimes forget the door, and she will hustle in there quick as can be, pull to stand up on the toilet and then "hoot" until I come find her and tell her to get down. She finds our "tough" voice hysterical and smiles and gives you a sparkly eye whenever you try and reprimand her... We are in trouble. At home, she is the most engaging and comfortable, exploring all over the house and constantly chattering. But when we leaves the house, she tends to get shy for a little bit. But once she's warmed up, she is a flirt! Due to her increased flexibility about sleep, she got to take a day journey with me to fly to Texas for baby gabes christening. She flirted and chirped at the people all throught the airport and would be not be ignored by our seat mates. We lucked out and had a whole row on the way, and a middle seat open on the way back. It was a wonderful day as she played with her cousins and was passed through the arms of aunts, uncles, grandparents, graunts and gruncles.
She's adjusted herself to a one nap schedule. Which, as a future choice, I'm really looking forward to, but as a current choice means that someone is basically sleeping off and on between 9am and 4pm.
She alternates between being the most "baby" like and the most independent. She loves a good hug on your hip, and contentedly will all sit for quite a while.
Cuddling cousin Marian
Catherine keeps receiving the comment "I think she has changed the most". She's an active lil squirt, long and lanky. She's overcome a lot of her "stiffness" and can do a fair job of being held on your hip. She's crawling all over with paisley and even alternates into a bear crawl to avoid her bony knees on the hardwood floors.
She is a VORACIOUS eater. Will go for anything on her plate, but had a special ability to really put down some roast chicken. She will try anything and has learned from paisley the art of begging off of mommys plate. She only has 2 teeth, but can gum her food down with the best of them. She sleeps through the night and has a fuzzy blanket lovey, that when sighted immediately gets snuggles and she pops her thumb in her mouth.
She loves the expandable tunnel, and chooses a variety of toys to play with out of the toy boxes. She is the biggest thief around. If Mac or Paisley have a toy that they are loving, she feels the need to have it too. Quickly attempting to snatch it away. Mac has started fighting back, a change from his previous behavior where he would throw the toy away when he saw her making a beeline for him.
She's the most social outside of the house, smiles at everyone. At our first music class a few weeks ago, she was the only one of the three to crawl to the middle of the circle to get an instrument and then crawled herself right into another mothers lap.
Her hair is growing in fine and blond. She has a perfect lil whirl in the back, and continues to have the one very long hair by the bottom that she has had since her hospital days.
During meal time, she is trying to sign for more, and will do some other basic imitation.
She's quick to want to be picked up, and just as quick to want to be put down. And will fuss if you don't greet her when you walk through the door.
Stuck with paisley
Catherine got to visit Sibley heart center this week for her 1 year follow up from her PDA... End result, don't come back. :)
They all three maintain their temperament as happy babies :). We have started teeth brushing at night, which they all love. The other big news is that big brother Zachary has moved in with us to save some money and work locally, and they love seeing him and being the recepient of his snuggles and attention...
Zachary's birthday breakfast
The luxury of all 3 finally holding their bottles!
Take care, and see you next month!
