Updates

The babies are quickly approaching their first birthday, and their little personalities are really starting to develop. Gavin is so sweet and easy-going, and lately I've been catching him paging through our board books and really studying the pictures (he is definitely my child!). He's also the more physical of the two; he was the first one to crawl (a maneuver that Charlotte has not yet mastered) and is constantly pulling himself up on furniture, the TV, and even Charlotte. Charlotte has a bit more of a temper. She'll throw toys if she's frustrated, and rather than try to crawl to a toy she wants, she's happy just to point to the object and scream until I get it for her. (I think that's more of Michael's personality. I'm just sayin'...)

Speaking of screaming, Gavin's been doing a lot of that when I put him down at bedtime. He's been known to fuss and cry a little, but for past two nights he has screamed. Loudly. So much so that I actually thought he may have climbed out of the crib and hurt himself. But no, when I go into the nursery he's on his knees, holding the bars of his crib like he's in some kind of baby jail. And I usually give in and rock him awhile, because it's just so darn nice to have a sleepy baby all cuddly against you. But I hope this screaming phase passes soon.

They have also really been interacting lately, which is just the cutest thing ever. Gavin will do something that Charlotte thinks is funny (like put his head on her knee -- ah, the hilarity!) and she will giggle uncontrollably. He realizes that what he is doing is making her laugh, so he keeps doing it. I'm sure the hair-pulling, biting, and tattling aren't far behind, but right now they are best of friends.

We had our first swimming class today. It was so much fun! They both seemed to really enjoy the water, but Gavin could hardly contain his excitement. As soon as he got wet, he started kicking his legs and dunking his face in the water, grinning all the while. A natural! I can't wait to go back next week.

And just a nap update...I decided to put them in separate rooms, at least for nap time. For whatever reason, Gavin doesn't try to stand up in the Pack and Play. Less leverage, I guess. They napped for two hours today...I don't know if it's the new arrangement or the fact that they were so tired after swimming. Either way, I didn't know what to do with all of the free time! I actually read a little of my book! (The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett...love it!)



Now, some photos for you to enjoy. The first is Charlotte in the locker room getting ready to swim (how cute is she in her warm-up sweatpants?), and the second is in the pool, obviously. (It's a terrible photo of me, but the only one I have of us in the pool!)