5 months of fun

The Hagen family of four has survived yet another month! (officially on Friday) When I think of how completely crazy I felt that first month I can definitely say it's gotten easier. However, not necessarily because of the girls. In the beginning doing my job was simply making sure they were clean and fed, they didn't require much and were pretty compliant. These days babies are rolling all over the house, sometimes demanding to be held and at other times demanding to be sprawled out on the floor. They want to play and interact, which is soo fun and also much more demanding of my time. I feel a great responsibility to teach them coordination in preparation for grabbing, eating, crawling, talking, sitting, sleeping habits...the list goes on and on. Down to the point: I'm raising 2 human beings who are starting to learn and develop- the pressure is on. However, it really is easier because I've been more adjusted these past couple months.
Currently we are in the middle of a cry-out because the girls digressed to old sleeping habits with multiple night feedings.  After too many nights getting <5 hrs of sleep I started to go crazy. I was exhausted returning from a baseball game last night (after a day at the pool), and I announced to the girls that we were going to sleep for 10 hours. I was joking, but after they finally fell asleep crying it actually ended up being 10 hours between their feedings! I felt bad hearing them cry, I'm only aiming for some healthy sleep for all of us...
We also decided to introduce the girls to food for the first time yesterday! It was fun to watch them try to figure it out.

June wasn't crazy about the whole experience. June's response: "What is this...what's the word again...SPOON...doing in my mouth? Get it away from me, I prefer human milk, plain."

As expected, Lyla was a natural. She ate like a pro and sucked on that spoon like there was no tomorrow. Lyla's response: "I've been waiting so long for a spoonful of iron-fortified rice cereal, thank you! Now, what else have you got in the cupboard? I'm still hungry."

Dear little Juney-June,
You are such a little cutie and we love you so much. You are quite the little go-getter, and you're finally able to move yourself around, which makes you happy. You love to roll all over the place and grab at everything. There is a vibrating toy hanging from your car seat and you figured out how to pull it and haven't stopped since, I was a little startled when I heard you pulling it the first time as I drove. I can't put you in the same crib as Lyla because you roll over to her and take her binkie or whatever toy she is playing with. You love to grab plastic chains, and your favorite toy is a soft book that makes lots of crinkly noises. You are really into your feet these days and grab them all the time.  I really have to watch out for you, I had you in your bouncy seat while I washed dishes, I turned around and you were on the tile floor a few feet away looking slightly dejected. Another time I was cleaning in the kitchen and left you playing on a blanket in the front room. I heard a thud, and came in to find you all the way across the room on the hardwood floor, running into your car seat! You have been mimicking my laugh which is adorable. I laugh, you laugh. You even did it when you had fallen asleep eating, I laughed about something and you kept mimicking me. That smile and laugh of yours is so sweet and adorable. You also make lots of faces, just like your mom. You are an energetic little thing and we can't get enough of you! I am so grateful for your sweet little spirit and love you so much!
love,
Mama

Dearest Little Lyla Bean,
You're such a sweetheart, we love you so much! You are a funny girl, you always know exactly what you want and won't stop till you get it. You like to relax too- sometimes while being held, hanging out in the crib or on a blanket, even in the pool, you loved hanging out in the water! Anything you grab goes right into your mouth, you suck on your hands and sometimes put both of them in your mouth and almost seem frustrated you can't fit anything else in there. You are a little talker. You laugh, make noises, coo, babble, blow bubbles, and make happy noises all day long. You do these big, open mouth smiles that are so cute. I can't help but open my mouth right along with you every time you do it. When I take you to Young Women's, you watch everyone who talks or sings, and sometimes make loud noises like you're talking back at them. Everyone turns around and watches you during lessons because you're so funny and cute. You continue to be such a good little baby- you're a great eater and sleeper. We assumed you'd probably like trying rice cereal and beginning to expand your taste buds, we were right! You're a little foodie like your mom, a good meal makes you happy. You're such a sweet baby, I love you and am so grateful to have you in my life now.
love,
Mama

P.S. To both of you- looks arent' everything, but you're the cutest babies in the world. Everyone says that too. I've even had people say they mean it counting their own children, cutest babies ever seen! You really are the sweetest, most precious little things there ever were.