So Who ARE These Babies, Exactly?

Benjamin is Busy contained in a baby body. He's always on the go. We call him the Wormy Worm because he never. stops. wiggling. Now that he's crawling that means he's all over the place as fast as he can get there. And when he's not motoring around he's churning his arms and legs. Running is coming soon and he'll be SO happy when it finally happens.

But he's also a sweet little guy. He loves to snuggle with us (especially Mommy). Nursing is really just a business endeavor. Gotta keep enough in the belly to stay hydrated but the real eating happens at night and in the morning when he's sleepy. Once he's had his morning nursies he's off like a shot. He's almost always happy and content. His favorite place to hang out is on the floor. He has a hard time falling asleep some nights. It's difficult to turn it off and go to sleep, you know? When he gets mad though, watch out. He'll scream non-stop until his needs are met. He adores his older siblings and especially his twin who he'll move heaven and earth to get to so he can either snuggle or maul depending on his mood. He's loud and verbal and makes his presence known with his gurbles and yells.

Claire is his antithesis in almost all ways. She is demur and honey-sweet. She likes to cuddle above all things. Her favorite place is at my breast, where she'll contentedly nurse non-stop. Claire doesn't end many nursing sessions. I do when my nipple is about to fall off! She'll happily stay there all day. But she's also content to hang out on the floor with Ben for long periods of time. She enjoys watching him motor around as well as watching the older kids play. She talks in soft coos and when the occasional shriek comes out she's just as shocked as the rest of us! Her huge grin is always at the ready. Sometimes she'll be sobbing over some horrible thing and when I grin at her she'll smile back at me through her tears. She really can't help herself. And her joy is contagious. When I'm having a rough day all I have to do is seek out my Bear and she soothes my spirit.

Claire has quite the temper and is much quicker on the draw than her brother. She absolutely hates being awakened for any reason, especially if I'm about to stick her in the car seat and drag her out into the heat. She does not like to have poopy pants and she'll scream until you take her diaper off and start to clean her bottom and then she's happy again. If Claire is screaming and you don't know why--check the diaper first! She's not so keen on Ben as he is on her. She'll tolerate him but it's obviously that is all she's doing. But who can blame her! His new obsession is pinching.

I absolutely cannot believe that my babies are going to be 5 months old in a week. Where on earth has the time gone? It's been a wild but completely fun ride thus far and I look forward to them discovering more and more of the world, our family, and most of all--each other.