5 Months Old

Now five months old, the boys have begun acquiring new skills at a somewhat alarming rate. Though far from crawling, they drag and scoot themselves around on their playmat pretty regularly. They have not quite achieved sitting up unaided, but they're getting closer every day.

We've started trying to get them on more of a schedule with mostly positive results. Times vary slightly, but they're taking three (short) naps a day and doing pretty well at night (usually up only once in about twelve hours for food). Putting twins down for a nap at the same time feels a bit reminiscent of that old "whack-a-mole" game. One loses their pacifier, one needs a little comfort pat, and so on, back and forth and back and forth...

I also believe they're learning to communicate with each other.

Comforting each other? (Jack left, Henry right)

Complaining about/conspiring against me and Steve? (Henry left, Jack right)

Enjoying Dad playing with their feet (Henry left, Jack right):

Hanging out with their stuffed animal pals (Jack with alien, Henry with Mingo):

Refusing to nap unless they're both on Mom (Jack in blue, Henry in green):

Typical stomach time, Henry complains bitterly and face-plants, Jack happily interacts with a toy:

Henry glares at us after we relent and turn him over:

Exhausted Steve lays on the floor with the boys, shielding Jack's head from Henry's flailing: 

Jack

Jack has started to get with the program more and not throw massive fits every time he goes down to sleep, so that's a huge improvement. His stomach problems persist and make him obviously uncomfortable, but hopefully we'll get through the worst of it in the next month or so. He's vomiting a lot (not simple spit-up, happens hours after eating and contains partially digested food and stomach acid, poor dude) but we know it'd be worse without the meds. At least he can sleep at night. He continues to be very strong, but somewhat lacking in flexibility and finesse in his movements.

Ah, mornings. Perhaps I should never brush my hair; I think it's a good look.

Jack, ready for action:

Jack studies Mingo's wing:

Jack is very keen on catching the little fish attached to his playmat. Staring it down:

Henry

Henry has been developing his motor skills at a startlingly rapid pace. 

Continuing his attempts to hold his own bottle:

He's learned to curl up in a manner than reminds me very much of a pill bug, allowing him to move himself around pretty effectively. He can now remove his socks and attempts to put his foot in his mouth.

Henry demonstrates sock removal technique: 

We're trying to teach him to put his own pacifier back in so we don't have to keep getting up to do it in the middle of the night. He can do it... sometimes. One of his successes:

He's highly interested in food and tries to grab for our meals (and cries when we don't share... no, baby, you may not have Mommy's meatball sub). Steve has started feeding him some rice cereal, which he seems to enjoy.

First feeding:

Second feeding, eagerly anticipating the next bite:

Henry has also become quite predatory...

... attacking bibs...

... and hands.

And, no, he's not teething yet. Just developing a taste for human flesh. I guess everyone needs a hobby.

Henry stuffed full of food and looking for his next target:

Relaxing with Mingo:

Helping Dad play the GameCube's Legend of Zelda Wind Waker (he also tries to grab the controller, and thinks watching Daddy's hands move on it as highly entertaining):

Big smiles:

Let's Cuttle!