8 (and a half) Months!

The basket is getting a little too small for these guys.

May have to start using the armchair for pix instead of the basket.

This post is two weeks late - which just goes to show you what a tornado we live in. It is a good tornado - not like the kind that destroys everything you have, but the kind that spins the hands of the clock faster than you can embrace. 

In milestones this month, Sam sits on his own like a champion - but August is still a little wobbly. Both babies have said their first words  - "Dada" (of course...) and they said it one day apart. It was very cute. They love to hold hands when they can, especially during mealtimes. 

Sam reaching out to hold August's hand during lunch.

Miss August has really developed a cult following with her flirty little crescent moon-eyed smile. She is so close to crawling - I don't realize how you can be that close and not actually move. Personally, I think she's just milking it because we watch her every move when she is on the ground just waiting with bated breath for her to enter this next phase of her infancy. She has four teeth - a little too grown-up for my liking, and she eats like a horse. She is still a little thing- dainty and fairly-like, but man can she CHOW! She eats easily two to three times as much as her very robust brother. It doesn't make much sense, but it's fun to watch. She is very alert and looks around with her tiny little neck and perfectly round head - Matt calls her "Periscope Head."

Mr. Sam has learned to love splashing in the water. He likes his baths and is still tolerating his helmet really well. He will have it off pretty soon and is right on track with the progress the doctor expected. My favorite new trait of his are his "inspections." He takes an object (might be a princess doll shoe, a blanket, a spoon) and he holds it closely, slowly turning it to view every angle. You'd think he was a gemologist appraising the Hope Diamond. It is absolutely adorable.  

  

Sam isn't crazy about eating his solid foods (though you couldn't tell by looking at him,) but one of his favorite snacks are his socks. We simply can't keep them out of his mouth. Sam also really likes to dance, alone or with a partner - he doesn't seem to have a preference. He's really good at doing "the worm."

I got brave and decided to let the twins paint for the first time - of course I knew it would be messy, so they painted in the buff. This also lets you see Sam's Rubenesque form in its full glory.

Hard at work.

While August appears to feel a great sense of accomplishment, her brother is in need of a bra.

The babies had their first family vacation this month - a trip to St. George with our friends. They were so good in the car, and went on their first hike! It was cold and their little cheeks got windburned which made them look even more like dolls but I felt bad for their chappy skin. We hiked down into the lava tubes in Snow Canyon and August eventually fell asleep on my back in the backpack.

Mr. Sammy ready for a hike.

Looking up out of the lava tubes at the fam.

Poor August, passed out.

On the "Claire front" she continues to struggle with her age. She's not sure if she's still a preschooler who wants a blankie and a stuffie, or if she wants to be grown-up, dressed to the nines, and ready for action. It's kind of like living with a schizophrenic - super fascinating. Here is a photographic depiction to illustrate her internal struggle.