The Fairy and the Mermaid

The Holidays have arrived. With them comes family time, decorating, gifts, lots of things to do, a first Christmas and a first birthday. None of this has slowed down the girls. They do not seem to understand what is happening but they know something exciting is going on in the house. Both girls helped wrap gifts. The paper, tape, boxes, and bags were new toys. We have always heard children like the box and paper more than the gift. If wrapping the gifts was a preview, our daughters will not be an exception to this.

Cora started crawling. There have been many attempts in the past. Last week Cora realized she could get the toys and books she wanted (and keep them from Hazel) if she was able to move. Not only did she crawl but she is also pulling up. We knew she would start moving one day soon. We just were not expecting Cora to make so many steps within a couple of days of each other. She is much happier now that she can move around. She is still getting the hang of it. Most of the time she can move without trouble. There are times when she is wobbly, she tries to crawl with her knees locked and her rear in the air, or she is crawling with one leg and trying to walk with the other. No matter which way she is trying, she is on the move now. Cora is also talking more. She has added book and Hazel to her vocabulary. There are a lot of other words and phrases too. Mama and Papa do not understand all of them. This causes Cora great frustration. To help explain things better she has started to point at objects or people as she talks. She points to pictures in her books, objects she sees, her food, Salem (our cat), and people. One of Cora's new favorite sound is to take her finger, move it up and down over her bottom lip, and make a ba-ba-ba sound. This cracks her up. She is much quicker with a smile and a giggle now. Having more independence has made her a happier baby. Another new trick is to feed Mama and Papa. She will point to us, laugh, put a cheerio in our mouth, laugh again.


Hazel is still moving around like she owns the house and all the toys in it. Cora is starting to hide toys and grab back anything Hazel takes. This is confusing for Hazel. She is not sure how to take Cora's new ability to move around. It is exciting but sometimes we still have to calm Hazel down, in her excitement she knocks Cora over quite a bit. Hazel has not realized it yet but she is standing on her own without support. She is pulling up on everything and everyone. Even Salem is used as a prop. She is trying to stand up without support by putting one leg straight out to the side with her knee locked while balancing on her other knee. She can do this to see something, grab something, holding a toy, or while clapping. Yes, Hazel has started to clap. She knows clapping gets her attention but she is still getting used to when to clap. She will clap at the Christmas tree, when she is happy, when she is crying, or when she wants attention. Either way, it is getting the desired effect. She loves to crawl to the Christmas tree, balance in front of it, and clap while saying, "he-he-he-he." It really is adorable. We have added an empty box to the girl's toy collection. Hazel uses it to walk around the house. She will push the box forward, take a couple steps, then repeat. She is very proud of herself. She can really move around with the box. With all her concentration on moving and walking, she is still not making a lot of new sounds. She is saying ma-ma-ma-ma now and other smaller nosies. Da-da-da-da remains her primary use of communication. She does not like to share her food with Mama and Papa but she likes to share her pacifier. A new game she likes to play, instead of going to sleep, is give the pacifier to Mama or Papa, take it away, give it back, take it away, etc. This game makes her laugh and laugh. It keeps Mama and Papa distracted for a little while but she still has to take a nap. Hazel is also patting people when she is picked up, upset, needs comforting, or is trying to comfort you. It is very sweet. You pick her up, she taps you on the back or arm a couple of times. She is a very caring little baby. She still tries to console Cora when she is upset.


The girls are growing and changing quickly. At their last doctor's check-up, Cora weighed 18lbs.13 oz and Hazel weighed 17lbs. Both are continuing to meet their developmental goals. We are so proud of everything they have accomplished. Our little girls are growing up.

Upcoming Events:
Wednesday: Doctor appointment at 9:00, Portraits at 4:00
Thursday: Cora has a follow up appointment with the Pediatric Neurologist
Friday: Christmas Eve, Love Feast with Grandma and Grandpa the Great
Saturday: The girl's first Christmas!
Sunday: Cake and Ice cream party for the girl's First Birthday
Monday: Lunch and play time with Auntie Amy
Tuesday: Happy First Birthday!
Thursday: Developmental Therapy with Marsha
Friday: New Year's Eve
Saturday: New Year's Day