The Babies are SIX months

Wow, here I am two years later because I want to be better about documenting the kids and their milestones and what do I see but Willows SIX month post sitting in my drafts! That's the last time I was on here. I want to write a lot more to catch up, but I may just work backwards and go with what is fresh in my mind.

Tonno got his first tooth at 5 months old! I believe thats my earliest tooth cutter. He cut the second one just says later. Temple got hers right at 6 months but the second one hasn't popped up yet. I can't wait till it does though, I think that even though it doesn't seem to be causing her any pain, it is causing her to wake up a bunch at night. She went from being my better sleeper to waking up a lot more the last few weeks. Both babies are army crawling all over, they seem to like getting off the area rug into the living room and onto the tile in particular for some reason. Temp gets WAY up on her knees and and elbows, I don't think it will be long before she crawling the traditional way. Tonno gets further at this point, but isn't up on his knees like she yet, though he's trying.

Temp is still so generous with her smiles and smiles with her eyes too, somehow. Tonno is a bit more serious and harder to get a smile from, but then, I think his fat cheeks make it harder for him! They've both tried food this week; frozen celery for teething, beet chips (what a bloody MESS!) avocado, one of them had a bite of sweet potato (Tonno I think?), potatoes and mexican rice (just Tempy) and Coconut Curry lentils. Tempy is really loving food, both via BLW and a spoon. Tonno seems to hate the flavor of anything I've tried so far, which is surprising since I thought he'd be my big eater! He LOVES his booba though and just MELTS into me when he nurses. I had a friend tell me it looks like he's making out with my boob! Spot on! Tempy just eats to get it done and then pops off usually. I'm amazed at how much her temperament reminds me of when Willow was a baby, though I dare say I think she'll end up even more laid back. Tonno is getting sooo much easier than he was, honestly, no on really liked him at first and were no afraid to say it. Poor dude! BUT now he gets plenty of attention and lots of "Oh my goodness, I LOVE him!", "He's sooo cute!" or "I'm sorry I didn't like you at first" haha.

He goes to bed when I do and doesn't like to fall asleep on his own, while Temp goes to bed, still preferring to be swaddled, around 8:00 pm. Currently, we keep one mini pack n play on either side of our bed. Temp on Chris's side, Tonno on mine. One baby will wake up and I'll nurse them in a side lying position. Sometimes I transfer them back to their bed, usually not. But then the other baby will wake up and at that point I'll transfer them. Chris always hands Tempy to me. Now Willow has been making her way to our bed once a night. We had to take her railing down since she started climbing out of her crib and we were worried she'd hurt herself. So far taking her back up to bed has worked, though I anticipate nights to come where we may just keep her with us or do the marching back to her room 100 times.

It's been HARD, like REALLY hard having twins on top of everything else we have going on. I think all of my kids are at their hardest ages currently. A senior in HS, middle schooler, 9 year old adolescent, toddler and infant twins. Some days I don't know how I'll get through. Other moments (yes, I said moments, not days!) I feel like I want to bottle it all up and for no one or nothing to ever change. Having kids so spread out and trying to meet them each where they're at has been so hard, each uniquely going through some pretty significant things right now. Some days I feel like such a failure. I barely have time for my husband. I feel really guilty about this but try to stuff it down. I just so desperately want them all to be successful and happy in life, but most importantly to serve the Lord with their heart. I want them to know how much God loves them. To really grasp that. To love others so much that it moves them daily.

More later. One of the babies is awake. Tonno of course! Ha He thinks he needs less sleep than most babies. Who am I to argue? Anyway I'd lose to a baby every time.

Willow is six months

Oh where do I begin? Sweet Willow just turned six months old, on February 2nd, to be exact. While I'm am trying to savor these early days because babies in particular grow so fast, I cannot for the life of me, get time to stand still. Oh I have moments here and there where it feels as though time has stood still, like when I breathe her in when she falls asleep in my arms, or gazes at me when I'm nursing her, but for the most part, I fully realize this is going by far too quickly. Chris and I often comment on how we couldn't have custom ordered a better baby. She really is a dream. Laid back personality, just so darn content all the time, and full of smiles. She now able to sort of scoot a big to reach toys around her, so usually when I put a blanket down for her, she'll be off of it the next time I look. She has a tooth that is JUST popping out now. I think it's bothered her a bit lately because while she fully sleeps through the night, she's been a bit of a booger to actually get her to sleep. It has been taking up to six tries lately! Naps haven't been quite as bad but similar. 

So far, Willow has still only had breastmilk, but I may cut up some food and see if she's ready to feed herself. I'm really not in a huge hurry for this because I know once I do, her poops will dramatically change and start to stink. It was also make cloth diapering not so much fun as before. I'm not sure what Willow weighs or percentiles and all that since she doesn't go the doctors, so I'll need to step on a scale and subtract her weight to get a good idea. My guess is around 18 pounds though. 

Levi and I did a little photo shoot for her in the backyard right on her half birthday, and even though she was pretty tired, she did well and I got some good shots! It's also been fun seeing the older girls engaging with Willow more. I think they are more interested because she's more interactive now, but they've both been more hands on with her for sure. Levi still gets the award for who can make her laugh the hardest and easiest though.