I'm sure they'll hate me later in life for this one, but their little bare butts are too cute to pass up the opportunity!
We've spent the last four days with my sister Elise and her two kids, Blake (almost 3) and Asher (14 months). It's a good thing that the weather has been so nice lately because we've spent the better part of every day on the back porch playing with toys! Here are a couple shots of what we're been up to... more to come since we're spending the next five days with them in Michigan!
For some reason, I have been thinking lately that I want to get their DNA tested to see if they are identical or fraternal twins. My chart at the OBs office says that they are identical... but I have a hard time believing that because I think it's easy to tell them apart. Without clothes or paci colors to help, can you tell who is who?
It was practically overnight that the boys became more confident at sitting. Eli used to throw his head back and straighten out so he'd end up laying down and Owen would lean forward so much that he was practically bent in half. Now they can reach for toys and sit up straight again and hold onto things with both hands because they don't need to steady themselves as much. Granted, as soon as I snapped this shot they both fell face first into the water... but hey, no one ever learns anything without a couple bumps and bruises!
While most babies learn to smile for the camera, very few can master the 'deer in the headlights for the camera' as well as Eli (top) and Owen (middle).
We gave the boys their first bath in the real tub tonight and they really seemed to enjoy it. I think they felt a lot safer laying on the towel in the water than they ever do in the infant bathtub where they can easily squirm and fall off the edge of the slope. They were both really calm the whole time and didn't cry at all - which is huge progress from how bath time usually goes! I know you don't need to bathe infants every day, but for as smoothly as this went, we might just incorporate it into the nightly routine. Plus, they're just so darn cute in the tub together!
Uh oh, Eli just got word that it's bath time. Maybe someday he'll like it, but for now, not so much!
For the full story behind this picture, click here. I feel like this is the first 'artistic' picture I've succeeded in taking so far. I like the focus/blurring effect.
Until they can support themselves a little more, carrying both babies at the same time will prove to be a bit of a challenge... especially getting them both out of the crib at the same time. I managed to scoop them both up this morning, but I'm sure it wasn't all that comfortable for any of us!
It seems like the boys inch closer to each other while they are sleeping. We put them into bed on opposite sides and little by little their heads get closer together. When we checked on them, their heads were touching - and it ended up being the longest nap they had taken yet!
Bath time! Eli (top) had a rough time with the bath. We made the water warm enough, but he's such a skinny little guy that it's tough to get a handle on him, making the bath take a little longer, which he didn't appreciate. Owen (bottom) had a better time, probably because we were a little more efficient with him. He didn't make a sound until we pulled him out of the water to dry him off. I'm sure they'll both end up liking the bath, but for now, we'll just have to be a little faster.
