Enjoying the new stage of life

So, as many of you have told us, increased lung capacity, louder cries, and more fussy periods are par for the course. Got it...now we're figuring out how we live with it! Fingers crossed, four days in to the siege and we have some coping strategies.

Exhibit 1: The swing!



We went to get a swing so the girls could have a little more rocking with a different view than our arms, since they're wanting to be in motion a lot lately. We hope later to have a second swing, but for now Elena was trying out the new contraption and was stunned by it.


Exhibit 2: The over the lap jiggle.



We've been reading "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and they talk about an old family secret in there for calming babies. Here's Steve using that tactic on Elena, and she is blissed out by the results. It calms her and Clara both right down, and they often fall asleep like this.

Exhibit 3: The snuggle.





Both girls, but especially Clara, have taken to snuggling right up into our necks. Christina today held Clara as she climbed her way (little fingers grasping all the while) up into her neck. Fun as that is, it was warm today and that position got a little warm. This is Clara with Christina in a slight adaptation of their favorite new position.

The girls take turns with us regarding who is going to be fussy; thank goodness so far they have rarely both been in bad moods at once. Today, Clara was in a great mood most of the day - here she is thrilled to be in her gym.


So, that's life as it stands now in our household - we're getting a grip, pulling together, and loving each other all the more.