1/2 a year

Ryan and Alyna are now 6 months old... and it's been quite an amazing adventure so far. I can't imagine my life without them, and don't want to. Barry and I both feel very blessed to have 2 healthy, beautiful children. They are both over 25 inches and close to 15 lbs. It may be small for the age, but they are growing steadily.

Ryan makes all kinds of faces and sound effects while playing.

Alyna is very sociable and would much rather play with someone than play by herself.

We've had several good nights in a row. Bedtime is between 7:15 and 7:30, the dream feed is at around 10:15, and they don't need to eat again until between 6 and 7 am. One or both of them usually needs calming down again around 4 or 5 am, but we haven't been changing their diapers. We do give Ryan his pacifier when he can't settle down, but he has been much better about not needing it all the time. We don't give it to him when he just wants to play with it.

They are starting to like some of the 6 month plus toys that they got for Christmas, especially the jungle toy with balls. We still have to hold them next to it because they can't sit balanced on their own for very long, and definitely topple over when they reach for things. They love to be held standing in front of the monkey to play with it's arms. You balance balls in both its hands, and if you remove the ball in his right hand the other ball falls off, rolls down a ramp, and plays loud songs that get easily stuck in your head. They know how it works and never have reached for the ball that is supposed to fall off.

They are working very hard on learning to crawl. They are very good at spinning circles on their belly, and can usually work their way toward a toy they want. The problem is that they get frustrated doing it for too long especially close to nap time. One of these days they'll figure out how to pick their belly off the floor and then they will be into everything. I think it's time to baby proof the house.

Alyna is doing much better eating solid food. Last night she ate her whole container of applesauce that Aunt Jess was feeding her, and then she finished Ryan's container of carrots. Mommy didn't even think she liked carrots. So now she eats bananas, peaches, apples, pears, and carrots.

Ryan has loved everything we've tried with him except squash, but we'll try it again some day. He eats a whole container at every meal except when he's not feeling well (like last night).

Our dog Henrey is really good with Ryan and Alyna and lets them pet him until they start pulling his ears. He never nips or licks them, he will just walk away if they start annoying him. Ryan and Alyna both love it when Henrey comes up to them. They smile and reach out for him all the time.

Uncle Joel and Aunt Jess came here to visit for a couple days this week. They brought their springer spaniel puppy Emma with them, and she and Henrey wore each other out playing. I now think we could manage having 2 dogs around as long as it wasn't a puppy I have to train. Emma still nips a little too much to be safe around the babies.