Let us go then, you and I

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Nine Months Old

We finally got some bath pictures! We started giving the girls baths together just a couple weeks ago, and they love it. They've always loved bathtime, but of course, having Sister in the bath makes splashing and clambering around the tub more fun. They're eager to stand at the side of the tub--a prime position for slips and bad falls. I remember now Josiah's repeated efforts to do the same thing, and here we are trying to train the little sisters not to stand up in the tub.

Lydia finally cut her first tooth on Thursday (Nov. 14). It's the bottom right incisor. She's also started doing a real crawl instead of her arm-over-arm army crawl. Her method sometimes involves the left leg stuck straight out and used to leverage the push forward, though--it's funny to watch. Both girls are fast! When they see something they want, they make a beeline for it--usually together, which means they often end up with a little jealous tussle.

Lydia with her tongue out, as usual

I'm not sure what induced Lydia to make that funny face. Maybe she stuck her nose in the water?

Abby

Lydia

Lydia on the left, Abby up close on the right

Abby

Nine-month-old girls! Lydia on the left, Abby on the right

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Oh Girls

At almost nine months, the girls are getting more confident in cruising the furniture, and both have momentarily stood alone without support. A few times I've caught Lydia contemplating a transfer from chair to chair that would require a step or two--and she's almost tried it, but decided against it last-minute.

Abby has two cute teeth peeping up from her bottom gum, but Lydia has yet to cut one! I think she's working on it, though--she was extra-cranky last week, and had some hard nights. Daytime naps have been tough for several weeks. It seems one girl always wakes up about 30 minutes into a nap and then wakes the other with her crying. After that, they're both wide awake and refuse to fall back asleep . . . but they don't get enough sleep initially, so they're also crankier. I'm praying for wisdom to figure out the sleep thing better!

Lydia and Abby still adore Josiah and love to play with each other, though they usually prefer to be close to me, too. They follow me into the kitchen when I'm cooking, and now I have to watch closely so they don't get into cupboards or the dishwasher. I let them play in the lid drawer, but that only keeps them occupied for so long.

Stranger anxiety has kicked in these past few weeks. They obviously prefer Jeremy and me, and Uncle Justin is the only other man than Daddy they'll willingly go to. We kept them out of nursery at church this week, since the week before they just gave everyone grief with their constant crying. They're also very scared of dogs--especially small ones, like Lola the Chihuahua whom Josiah played with all evening when we went to dinner at some friends' house last Saturday.

Abby

Lydia with "Cowboy," Josiah's toy horse

Funny-face

She's still the girl who sticks out her tongue

Sweethearts playing with horses

She also likes to wrinkle up her nose and sniff

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Play All Day

Have I told you how much fun these girls are?!

Lydia with the dog in her mouth

Abby

Lydia

Lydia would rather chew on the bag than smile at the camera

Look at those curls!

Abby ready to attack the camera

Sweet smiling Abby sitting on Lydia's lap

Monday, November 11, 2013

Gone Fishin'

Josiah and I both love these cool fall mornings. When I put the girls down for their morning nap, we head outside to fulfill several purposes--having fun, changing the scene, getting out little boy energy, and keeping the house quiet for sleeping babes. Birthday parties with bucketfuls of sand-cake (mixed with rocks and flowers) feature largely into Josiah's pretend-play outside. He likes to sing Happy Birthday to Mama and 'Siah, and he gives me the smaller bucket, reserving the largest cake for himself. These birthday parties take careful preparation and planning, and he's always changing the location around the yard.

Other than birthday parties, Josiah also likes to ride his little trike (or have me push him around on his bigger bike), play frisbee, kick the soccer ball, hit baseballs, hide from or shoot lions, help water the garden, dig, collect sticks, draw with chalk . . . the options are numerous out-of-doors! Lately, though, he's been fishing.

Fishing involves important gear: a bucket, a stick, and a plastic container for a hat.

The other day we poked leaves with our sticks and pretended they were fish. He had great fun collecting lots of leaves in his red bucket.

That plastic container kept coming off, but Josiah persevered in replacing it each time. He was determined to wear it through the entire fishing trip!

The fisherman in action!

Look--a fish!

Dangling his line and feet off the bridge.

Lately Josiah has really enjoyed the Beatrix Potter stories. I warned him that a beetle might come tweak his toe like it did Jeremy Fisher's if he left his feet dangling in the water! He loves pretending to be various characters from these stories--Jeremy Fisher, Hunca Munca, Chippy Hackee, Timmy Tiptoes. (And I love hearing him say their names--especially "Hunca Munca" and "Chippy Hackee." Tonight on the changing table he was Chippy Hackee. As Jeremy changed his diaper, Josiah said, "Chippy Hackee bites!" [this is quoting the story] and then demonstrated to--and on--Jeremy.)

Ah--he's just so cute and fun!

Checking out his catch

Digging for worms

"'C'mon, Mama!" he says often, wanting me to follow him to the next spot and the next episode of pretend. Soon after fishing he and I were Davey and Teddy (from the old Davey and Goliath TV shows) flying a kite!