Learning fast!

Wow!  I can't believe how quickly the boys are picking up new skills.  They are beginning to imitate me, which is so fun!

Jack was really trying to move today.  No actual crawling, but he is trying to figure out ways to move.

Ben is crawling backwards very well.  

I am excited for this weekend!  Mike will hopefully get to see the boys on the move!

Almost crawling!!!

Well, to start, the boys love bath time!

Jack left

Today, both boys crawled backward, meaning they are stronger in their upper bodies and haven't figured out how to push forward with their legs yet.

Jack

Ben

We had nice weather and a Groupon for some weekend fun!  We got lots of props for bringing twins to a winery.  Ben and daddy left.

Here's what most evenings look like in our house.  We play with the boys on the floor until they are sleepy.  Jack left. 

7 months old!

Time is flying by!  The boys are 7 months old already!

Jack is a very determined little boy.  He can focus on one thing for a long time, trying over and over to pick up a ball that keeps rolling just out of his reach or stretching further and further for his favorite toys, which are two plastic music notes.  He likes to play with a spoon or listen to music while eating.  He loves carrots and broccoli and any fruit that is not too tart.  He will roll over with purpose some days, and is not at all interested in rolling on other days.  He has become quite a balanced sitter, but is still prone to dramatic face plants, so we done leave him sitting unattended.  He is calm even when tired/cranky, and has been known to just close his eyes and fall asleep if he is overtired.  He has a really bad diaper rash that we can't get rid of, but we have some new recommendations from our pediatrician that will hopefully bring him some relief.  He seems to prefer his left hand very strongly, going cross body reaching with his left hand when we put things on his right side.  His laugh is used sparingly, but when he laughs, you can't help but laugh too, it's a contagious kind of giggle.

Ben is a loud and talkative little boy.  He will shout with glee when he is happy.  When he wants to be held, he will look at you and open his arms wide while opening and closing his fists, which I think is how he is misinterpreting the sign for milk.  (Side story, we have been trying to introduce some sign language, starting with milk and eat.  When we give them a bottle of milk, we show them the sign for milk and say the word milk.  BUT, we also are also picking them up and holding them at the time, so I think Ben is using the sign for milk when he wants to be held.  Impressive that they are attempting to sign at all...).  Ben's favorite toys include things that make loud noises when he shakes them and a large yellow leaf shaped, liquid filled teether.  He likes to try to feed himself with his spoon.  He used to take his spoon in his left hand, but he now likes to take the spoon with his left hand and transfers it to his right hand.  He seems to use both hands equally as well.  He loves going for rides on his toy fire truck, the faster the better.

With Daddy on a snowy Monday in March!  Jack on left

Our new inflatable bat tub.  Ben on left

Jack demonstrating his infectious laugh

A bit blurry, but Ben likes to stick out his tongue a lot lately.  Jack went through a tongue phase too, but when he was only a few months old:)

Feeling sentimental

I dug out their preemie clothes yesterday.  I want to save all their outfits from their monthly pics.  I can't believe they ever actually fit into these clothes!

People say they grow up fast.  That is so true.  I will be giving my boys extra hugs today.  I am glad they are growing so well.  The newborn days were extremely difficult and I don't want to relive that again, but your mind starts to erase the hard parts so quickly.  I want to go back in time and snuggle with my tiny newborns again!  I love my boys so much!

6 months old!

I can't believe my babies are 6 months old already.  The days sometimes seem endless, but when I think about it, I can't believe 6 months have passed already.  Jack and Ben's Pop turns 75 years old today...what a day to share!

Pop with his 9th and 10th grandchildren.  Jack on left.

As for me, it's hard to believe that it's been 6 month since I gave birth to two babies.  I have two sons! They are amazing, adorable, and full of love for their parents!  Mike is an amazing dad and I feel so blessed to have my wonderful family!

I grew two babies at once!

But not to take anything away from them on their special day...

Jack

16lbs 9 oz

25 inches

Likes to lay on his back, arch his back and kick his legs, doing what we call "the butt scoot"

Likes to eat, but doesn't get messy

Smiles with his tongue sticking out

Has a fuzzy head

Jack at 6 months!

Ben

16 lbs 8.5 oz

25 inches

Likes to grab his toes

Likes to hold his own spoon when he eats, therefore, a lot of food gets on his face, neck, clothes, hands, high chair, floor, and on mommy. 

Smiles at everyone

Has a half smile sometimes

Ben at 6 months showing his half smile

Jack

Ben

Brothers!

Jack with his tongue smile:)

Ben looking studious!

Too cute for words!

Ben and that adorable half smile

Jack being so sweet!

How to tell Jack and Ben apart

I thought this might make an interesting post for those who don't get to see the boys often and for those who are just curious about identical twins.  Finally, at 6 months, I feel like I can easily tell them apart at a glance.  Well, at least when in person.  Pictures make it harder to tell the boys apart, but we rarely dress them completely alike, so I can use clues to guess who is who in most pictures.  As I have been blogging, I usually note who is who by noting who is on the left in the picture.

Here are some of the differences...

Ben has a few small red birthmarks on the back of his head, just inside his hairline.

Jack has no birthmarks on the back of his head.

Jack's hair stands up...we affectionately call him our "fuzzy head."

Ban's hair does not stand up as much.

Ben's right eye is all blue.

Jack's right eye has a golden/brownish spot at about 5 o'clock near the pupil.  It looks like a yellow glare in this picture.

Jack has a birthmark on his left hip.

Ben has no birthmarks on his hip.

Because Jack's hair is usually sticking straight up, his hair often appears lighter in photos.  Ben's hairline looks more prominent/darker, I think for the same reason.

They "default" to different positions.  I am sure this will change.  Right now, Ben loves grabbing his toes and Jack loves flailing his arms and legs around like crazy.

Well, they're awake from their nap...back to business for mommy:)

Sleep!

Both boys have been sleeping well lately.  Which means mom and dad are sleeping well...sleeping better at least.  At this point, I am programmed to wake up in the middle of the night, crying baby or not.  Two night ago, I awoke to look at the clock, expecting to see 1:00 or so...it was 5:15.  Hallelujah! My little peanuts will be six months old soon!  Wow!

Other updates...

I ran a 5k on New Years Day thanks to my new running friend and fellow stroller pusher!

Holding Ben, Jack was sleeping:)

Our New Years babies...Ben

And Jack!

Visit from the boys' favorite cousin/Godmother!

Daddy and Ben

During the first "Polar Vortex," we got stir crazy and turned to jogging stroller into a sled!

Despite the frigid temps, the boys snoozed happily in the stroller!

Ben on left...  The boys are cuties!  I had to retire those pjs. They are wearing 12 month stuff!!!

Who's who?