Yum Yum Solid Foods

We started feeding the girls "solid" food about two weeks ago.  We've tried mashed up yams, green beans, avocado, butternut squash, and rice cereal.  During our first two attempts, I would say 80% didn't make it down either of their gullets.  Noemi, especially, still likes to help by grabbing the spoon and shoveling the food du jour towards her nose.  This afternoon, she just kept her mouth open showing off all the strange orange food on her tongue, like that was the final step of this thing you call eating.  Zora seems to have a slightly better handle on the chewing and swallowing.  But - it's all relative.

Turning 6 months!

Yesterday was the girls' 6-month birthday and we celebrated by...taking them to the doctor for their shots! Needless to say, they were not excited. Both of them are right on track with their growth: Noemi is 14 lbs. 14 oz. (around the 25th percentile for full-term singletons) and 25.75 inches (50th percentile), while Zora is 12 lbs. 14 oz. (5th percentile) and 24.75 inches (15th percentile). They are also hitting developmental milestones for 6-month-olds (sitting assisted, reaching for & grabbing things, rolling around, showing preference for mom and dad over strangers). We've also been given the green light for solid foods so expect some fun pictures in the near future.

Speaking of pictures, our camera recently broke so I'll post here some shots that Bob/Grandpa took during our trip to San Francisco last weekend (more details on that to come):

The Public Library

One of our recent outings was to the downtown branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library. It's a gorgeous newer building with rooftop gardens, glass elevators, and locally-owned shops and cafes. And they've got a whole floor dedicated to kids books with lots of nooks to read them in. But maybe the best part was that Mike came and met us for lunch since it's just down the street from his office.

We had such a good time that we went back the next week for Book Baby, their story time for infants and toddlers. Needless to say, Zora and Noemi were mesmerized - by the songs, the books, the other kids, and the BUBBLE MACHINE at the end!

Noemi and books

Zora reading

"Eating lunch" with Daddy (i.e. napping)

Rolling Over!

The girls have really gotten the hang of this rolling over business. If you put Noemi down on her back, she almost always flips right over to her stomach. She loves hanging out on her belly (which is a complete 180 from a month ago)!

Zora doesn't as much, but she's beginning to master the double roll: flip to her belly, then continue on to her back. Soon she'll be barrel rolling all over the place! Both of them are starting to scoot around just by twisting their bodies; no crawling yet, thank goodness, but they're getting there.

They're also having more and more fun with each other. They're constantly sucking on each other's hands, feet, head, etc. and will smile when they see the other. Today I went in after their mid-day nap and they were just hanging out, looking at each other, and "talking."

Noemi beginning the roll

Ending the roll (almost on top of her sister)

Hanging out

A video of Noemi rolling over

Auntie Aly, Uncle Lou, and Cousins Ray & Lucas Visit

It's not easy to schlep your family across the country but Katy's sister Aly came with husband Lou and two boys Raymond and Lucas. We had a blast hanging at the house, swimming at Liberty Park & the hotel, ice skating at the Olympic oval, and beating the heat up in the mountains. Zora & Noemi were so entertained by Ray & Lucas and Mowgli appreciated the extra attention. And the girls had a lot of "firsts" during the week - first time meeting all this family, first swimming without crying, first tram ride up at Snowbird, and first time in a skating rink (in August no less!). Thanks for the visit Magliozzi clan!

Lucas with Zora and Raymond with Noemi

Ray, Zora, and Lucas

Mike, Zora, Lucas, and Lou

Lucas, Zora, Aly, Noemi, and Ray in the hotel pool

Aly on double duty

at the Olympic skating oval (it was chilly in there!)

 

Back to Work

Westminster classes start next week so Katy's back at work, at least part-time. This fall she'll teach one class (Tuesdays & Thursdays) and watch the girls two days a week, while Mike takes advantage of the lull after the summer program of Real Food Rising to work 4 days and watch the girls one day a week. The other two days the girls are at daycare!

Today is their second day at St. John's Community Child Development Center (CCDC) a few blocks from our house. Ms. Benilda and Ms. Cecilia are taking wonderful care of them (and a handful of other munchkins) in the "Honey Bees" Room, with the bonus that they fall asleep early and sleep soundly after a full day at "school." We made each girl a "family poster" with photos of all their family members and pets so they could say hello to everyone, even while at school.

All ready to go to school on their first day (complete with labeled pacifiers)

Making Zora's family poster

Zora and Katy checking out the finished product

This is how tired they are after daycare

Twin Olympics!

In honor of the summer Olympics, the girls have gone head to head in their own series of competitions:

Swimming 

(our first time - in the pool at the hotel where our friends Doug & Carrie were staying)

 

 

Napping

Sitting up in their Bumbo chair

Boxing (Zora taking one on the chin)

Just kidding - we're best friends!

And a video of them in the hardest event of all: TUMMY TIME! (Noemi is getting closer and closer to rolling over just because she's so not excited to be on her stomach).