B & K (or Ben & Ken as our friend Erin likes to call them :-) ) are more alert, responsive and ever so cute! They will "talk" to you for a long time and it really doesn't take much to make them smile or even full on giggle (almost . . . it starts out as a silent deep smile, but then the sounds come afterwards). They LOVE to go for walks around the neighborhood (just like big "brother" Tabasco) . . . they are normally wide-eyed and checking it all out -- although they aren't too fond of the hats we make them wear, but it is for their own protection! They haven't really noticed each other yet, but they don't fuss nearly as much when we put them down next to each other . . . I try to have them do tummy time or lay on their backs on the couch next to each other in the evenings so they start to like hanging out together. Since they were never in the same crib (as often multiple babies are) I want to make sure they still have that closeness. They are sleeping much better -- they have actually gone "through the night" from 8:30p - 7:30a most of this week (sometimes pacifiers need to be replaced during the night, but with no feedings I'm technically calling it STTN!). Both B & K have very good head control now and will follow things -- and people -- with their eyes around the room and into the next. They haven't really mastered holding on to things -- other than mommy & Becca's hair and whatever necklace I have on that day -- but we're working on it. They seem more interested in the little toys / items hanging from their rocking chairs, swings and car seats and get excited when these items make noise or play music. It is so fun to watch them try to figure it out (and I can tell they really want to figure how to make the noise come back when it stops).
Bennett -- aka Benny & the Jets, Frog, B-man, Buddy-Buddy, Boonini -- is such a sweetie! He will put his "smooth moves" on any lady around (and he often practices with Tim, too, just to make sure he is doing it right). We call him a FROG because he often sleeps in his swing/boppy/carseat with his legs folded up like a frog, 25% of his wardrobe has frogs on it and he loves to stick his tongue out. He is really into licking things -- his bib, hand, shirt, your shoulder if you are holding him, etc. It is too funny! He gets soooooo excited when one of us comes into his room to rescue him from the crib . . . he'll wave his hands and kick his legs in joy and give us the biggest smile ever. He HATES to be alone . . . if you leave the room for a second instant tears will appear and it will turn into a full-on cry fest if you don't return quickly. We've learned in order to get anything done, we must move his swing/boppy/carseat, etc. so that he can see us at all times. Then he is happy! He still needs to be swaddled -- SUPER TIGHT -- to sleep at night and I really hope to start weaning him from this in the very near future. Mainly because he is Houdini and can break out of his velcro swaddleme blanket, no matter HOW tight / snug / secure we get it. Honestly, this is what wakes him up at night (somehow breaking free) and once we re-swaddle him he goes right back to sleep. I may need to just take one weekend and suffer through some real lack of sleep (and major crying, I'm sure) to get him used to sleeping with his arms out. He has quite a temper when he is mad -- turning bright red and crying so hard that he almost forgets to breathe -- but as soon as you pick him up it as if nothing happened. Not sure where he gets this from . . .
Kendyll -- aka Kendy, Miss Social, Banana, Chickie-Monkey and Chunky Monkey -- is definitely our more independent baby. She is ready to be on the move already . . . when placed on the floor she uses her "thunder thighs" (as we lovingly call them) to scoot herself around in a circle. She does not like to sit on your lap -- she would much prefer to be standing so she can get a better view of what is going on in the world. She is our big-time talker -- the other night she was sitting in her boppy on the couch talking back to the Channel 10 weatherman Chris Bradley. Seriously, she was blabbing away at him for a good 5 minutes -- I wish I would have gotten it on tape! She will also carry on full conversations with her "heartbeat" crib bear at night / in the morning and any other item you stick in front of her. She still shrieks at the top of her lungs (blood curling shrieks) when she is hungry, mad or tired and she has somehow taught her brother how to squeal loudly, too, because Bennett has just started to do this as well (lovely). She is easily aggravated (or I should say, quick to tell you when she doesn't like something), but she can easily be calmed with a pacifier. She has BIG blue/gray eyes that can melt your heart and some of the funniest facial expressions! She does not like to be swaddled anymore -- she prefers to have her arms free (although we do still wrap her up from the waist down). She has recently started to "make out" with her hand . . . seriously, it almost looks a little bit naughty. She will kiss, lick and suck the daylights out of the back of her hand -- she much prefers to do this instead of sucking on the pacifier at times as well. Again, something I need to capture on video because it is really funny. She, like, goes into a zone once she finds her hand -- true love! :-p
All in all, life has become much easier over the last few weeks. The evening fussiness is starting to dwindle (I won't say we are totally out of the woods on this one, but we're getting there) and we have become pros at being out & about with them (even me by myself!). I think this is going to be the best baby stage -- we are sleeping more & they are less fussy, yet they aren't mobile and they will still sleep in their swings. I have a feeling what is lurking for us around the corner -- teething, crawling, awake more & needing to be entertained every second of the day -- will bring on a whole new set of challenges. So we're going to try to enjoy it while we can. Plus it is summer -- yay for being able to be out doors and go places!!!
B & K will be at the doctor's office on Monday, so look for an update on weights, etc. next week. Thanks again, to everyone for your love, support, thoughts and many gifts! And thanks for continuing to read the blog . . . I still can't believe I've kept it up this long!! ;-)
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