5 Months Old Today!!

First Born: Parker Jay
Milestones over the last month: Holding his own bottle, attempting solid foods, smiling and giggling with his twin brother
Parker is our charmer. One smile from him and it will melt you. He's going to be a heart breaker. Who am I kidding? He already is.
Parker is also our mellow baby. He seems so content to just watch the world around him. When he plays with toys, it looks like he is truely thinking about the toy and contemplating how it works. His favorite activity right now is play-mat time and trying to catch the bright colored dangle-toys hanging above him. He remains quite happy with bottle feedings and is uninterested in solid foods at this point. In fact, the occasional solid food can often cause quite a bit of discontentment.

Second Born: Braden Paul
Milestones over the last month: Rolling over from stomach to back, eating solid foods, and a constant stream of talk/chatter
Braden is all about action. Moving, shaking, squawking, and squealing... Go, go, go. He's even a noisy sleeper! Snores and snorts louder than either Ben or I! Braden always wants to be standing (even though he still needs a little help balancing). His favorite toys by far, are the jumpers. He also loves the exerciser saucers. Ben and I both think that Braden will walk before he crawls. Braden has also made the jump to solid foods. He loves bananas!

Mom and Dad
Milestones over the last month: Back to work for me, more trips scheduled for Ben, first time sickness/colds, and more sleep in general
With the exception of working several days in August, I was able to get back to work on a regular basis just after Labor Day. I am now working part-time, and I have been able to adjust my schedule to work on just Thursdays and Fridays. This would not be possible without the help of Ben's Mom, Kathe, who watches the boys while I am at work. I drop them off on Wednesday afternoon/evening and Ben picks them up after work on Friday. This allows me some much needed adult interaction time. Plus, the price of two infants in daycare would be too difficult for Ben and I right now.
We could not be more thankful for the time that Grandma Kathe is able to spend with the boys. Every time I enter Kathe's home, it just affirms my feelings. She has made her home into an infant's dream come true. A nursery filled with cribs and cradles, jumpers and swings, bouncy chairs and exerciser saucers. She reads countless stories and sings endless songs. She plays peek-a-boo and pat-the-cake over and over again. The boys are all smiles when it's time to spend time with Grandma Kathe! As I parent, I don't think I could feel more confident our childcare situation.