Toys, Boys and Cheerios

We had another round of firsts yesterday (Thursday, May 5). Here are some of their new achievements:

• Dom took three steps on his own! Then, just shortly after he took 2 steps.
• Alex climbed on top of a box while holding onto the rocker in their nursery. He wasn’t so sure about his perch after he got there though.
• Dom pulled open the bottom drawer of our chest-of-drawers. He was very proud of himself too!
• Alex also managed to climb onto the plastic push-riding horse today on his own.
• Alex’s third tooth on the bottom is starting to come in. That puts him at 7 teeth – almost catching up to his brother’s 8.

9 Month Check-up

The boys were excited to see their doctor on Wednesday, and all went well – even taking their blood went much better this time. Both boys are around 25% in weight and 75% in height, and their growth curves are looking good. Both were 2 ft. 4 1/2 in. (73 cm) tall. Alex weighed 19 pounds (8.64 kg) and Dom 18 pounds 12 ounces (8.5 kg). Both of our boys tried to “help” the doctor by grabbing her stethoscope and shaking it for her, and they gave her some big, sweet smiles. We should hear back on lead and iron levels soon (common tests for 9 months).

Food

The last few days the boys have been feeding themselves more – with cheese for a couple of meals. Then, they really went crazy for their bowls of pears two days ago. Yesterday, I chopped up pears and bananas for them and threw in a few cheerios. It was a hit too. Of course, with the bowls they typically grab fistfuls of food (instead of delicately picking up individually pieces), and they get bits of food on themselves (sometimes even down their onesies), their high chairs, and the floor plus pear juice all up and down their arms. Alex usually manages to get juice in the back of his hair too, but they have lots of fun.

Sleep

Last week was a very good one for sleep, with the boys going down fairly easily and mostly sleeping through the night. Starting this past weekend, the boys have had a harder time – taking longer to go to sleep and waking multiple times in the night. There were a few nights of 4 hours of sleep for Mommy plus a short nap while the Twin-Dad watched the boys in the morning before he headed off to work. Those naps can sure help! The boys’ napping has varied a great deal this week too. I don’t doubt that Alex’s new tooth (possibly teeth, though the second one hasn’t started showing through yet) has definitely contributed to his troubles sleeping.

ODE Day

April 28th was Out-of-Diaper Experience Day in the Curtis household. The poo managed to breach containment a total of 7 times in one day (yikes!), with Dom going through the most outfits. Dom had been sick the morning before – not being able to hold down Mama’s milk, so I believe the two were related. It was a long and stinky day! Alex was still dealing with a few ODEs the next day, but things have finally calmed down on the diaper front!

Talking and Toys

Dom’s favorite sound to make right now is still “Dadada,” and he still seems to say “Dada” and “Ah-yah” in context at times for Dad and Alex. He’s been chatting away and seems to say, “Hi” sometimes. Alex is more fond of “G” sounds. Both boys are waving and clapping more.

The Twin-Daddy made the boys some new toys out of big tubs with a smaller tub inside each to rattle. Alex and Dom enjoy lifting, chewing on and beating them. Plus, they are a good size to use to stand up. Go, Twin-Daddy! He also arranged a huge pile of pillows across the middle of the Playzone this past weekend, and the boys got to practice climbing up and down the pile. They absolutely loved being dropped on the pillows.

Both our boys often fall asleep with one of their stuffies cuddled in their arms, often their dogs though sometimes Dom curls up with MoMo the Monkey and Alex with GiGi the Giraffe. Alex is especially fond of sleeping with his dog stuffie though, and he often chews on its behind as he falls asleep. Needless to say, his doggie often needs a good “bath.” They are such sweet little boys – and not just when they’re sleeping.

They have started fussing at each other sometimes when they steal each other’s toys. Alex has a plastic book he loves right now, and he’ll really fuss at Dom when Dom tries to take it. Alex will steal Dom’s toys at times, though he’s more interested in his brother’s cheerios. They still play well together and usually gravitate to the same toys or general area of the Playzone.