Developing laughter

My mum and dad discovered just how funny both of our babies find head shaking today. I don't know quite what it is about it, but they get a deep laugh going. Adorable.

Off to work

Today was the long-awaited trip to College to show off the Baby Babers to our work colleagues.


Chris and the babies had a great time. Sophie, in particular, beamed at everybody and even though Matthew was a little under the weather with a virus, he made new friends. Happily, Chris teamed up with Nina and her six-month old son Nicholas (or Little Johnny as I prefer to call him) for a stroll round the park and the offices. Lots of fun, but exhausting for Chris, who conked out on the bed when we got home while feeding Sophie.

Here's a photo of Nicholas. Cute too!

Anything Matthew can do...

Sophie might not be able to do better, but she's doing her best to keep up. She can certainly sit up straight and hold her head up far more effectively than a couple of weeks ago. She's a couple of pounds lighter than Matthew and has always been in his shadow physically, but maybe it's because she's a girl, maybe it's because she's more laid back, but she's getting there in her own sweet time.

Yodel-ay-ee-heeeeeeeeeeeeeee

My God, has Sophie found her singing voice or what? Overnight she discovered she could do what Matthew's been doing for about three weeks now, only an octave higher. Sing like a canary! Sometimes it's a bit like the noise a cat makes when you tread on it. Sometimes it's a little like whale music. It depends on her mood really - she sings when she's happy and grumpy. Or maybe it's because somebody's stolen her clothes...



Mum and Dad are in for a shock when they turn up later this week!

Whooops a daisy

Matthew has discovered the joys of rolling over. Chris says he rolled from his front to his back four times today. Something to do I suppose.

NCT chez nous

Today was Chris' turn to host our NCT group's afternoon coffee. A bit of a low turnout, which was handy given that our house is on the small side, but the sun was out so a picnic was in order.

Jabs again

Third and final round of jabs and blood samples today. Unsurprisingly, there was much screaming. Surprisingly, most of it came from Sophie. Chris' Mum and quite audible from the top of the garden. Matthew, for his part, often holds his breath before letting out a yell. Apparently the doctor hadn't seen a baby hold their breath for so long before. That's my boy.

Matthew celebrated the whole event by sucking his thumb for the first time.

Here's Nona and Sophie sleeping off the trauma...

I can do it Daddy...

Fist in mouth? No problem!







My brother's a nut...

Where's Momma?

Behind you!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Toys'R'Us

We've got quite a lot of toys for the bubbas, but they are only now reaching out for them and responding to them clearly when we wobble them in their faces.









Don't ask.

Must be doing something right

Sophie and Matthew were weighed again. Matthew's up to 6.9kg, Sophie's up to 5.8kg. In old money, Matthew's now 1 stone 1 pound and Sophie's not far behind. No wonder my biceps are growing week by week.


When they sleep, they grow...

Watching football - position 3

My GOD you've got a funny face Dad!

Guaranteed sleep inducer

With their colds upon them, both babies are sleeping much more irregularly than usual and are sometimes difficult to persuade to have their daytime naps. I ended up driving Sophie around the neighbourhood at 4am a day or so ago to lull her to sleep, and Chris pops them into her sling to do the same thing during the day. Both techniques send them fast asleep, though there's no guarantee they'll stay under for long...

Here's Matthew spark out. All we have to do now is peel him out and drop him in the cot without waking him. Not easy.

Magnetic eyes

You know those portrait paintings where the eyes appear to follow you round the room? Well, both bubbas flick their gaze to your face as soon as you enter the room now, and follow you hawkishly as you move about. Grinning if you look at them. Deadpan if you don't.


Big bubba is watching you.

Giggles galore

She may have a cold, but today Sophie discovered how to giggle!

Aaaatchoooooooooooooo

Well it had to happen, of course. Sophie and Matthew have caught their first colds and are sniffling through the day. Chris has also caught it, somewhat worse than the babies for some reason. So, first taste of calpol and saline drips up the conk. All part of life's rich pageant!

Here's Matthew with his first runny nose.

Matthew adopts the cobra position

Pop Matthew on his front these days and he'll raise his head and arch his back more than ever. Quite a little yoga boy. Here they both are enjoying themselves in the garden...

The joy of books

Sophie had a great time smiling at her books today, especially the smiley faces.



Matthew? Well Grandma's so comfortable it would be a sin not to have a nap on her...

Sophie

For no reason, other than she's my favourite daughter, here are a few recent snaps of Sophie.

If it fits...

or even if it doesn't, try and get it in your mouth and bite as hard as you can. Wish I had teeth...

Watching football - position 2

Hands

Over the past few weeks, both Baby Babers have become very fond of their hands. Sophie began a week or two earlier than Matthew, but they both now clasp their hands in front of them when they feed, suck them heavily when hungry and they have started reaching out for objects. Definitely a new phase underway now.

Here's Sophie fondling Mr Panda.

Laughter!

Not only do Sophie and Matthew beam at both Chris and myself, now they chuckle and laugh too. This is maybe the answer to my question about having babies when we already had cats. Cats can't laugh.