Addison has really gotten into pulling objects over her head. Give this girl a blanket or scarf, and she'll sit forever pulling it over her head again and again and again. This is pretty cute most of the time. But not during meal time. Because she still wants to do it during meal time, but that means she's trying to pull her bib over her head, and if we don't let her do that, she'll just latch her hands together and pull them over her head. Usually her hands are covered with whatever she's eating, so that means whatever she's eating ends up in her hair. Here we are one bright morning in December, enjoying bagels and cream cheese.
You won't let me pull my bib over my head? Fine, I'll just pull these sticky hands over my head!
I've got cream cheese in my hair, and I just don't care.
Chris discovered that the girls would follow the light reflected from a mirror. He thought it was pretty neat to watch their heads bob as he made the light dance on the wall. But then he also discovered that they were able to make the connection that the light was coming from the mirror.
Emily started doing a happy dance last month. Things like the happy dance, head banging, and sisters making eachother giggle happen quite often, but are hard to catch on video because whatever fun that is causing the dancing, head banging, or giggling is always immediately forgotten when the camera is spotted.
Emily's happy dance is most frequently triggered by music, but a dance party can start out of the blue, just give this girl something to be happy about!
There's something magical about watching children play. Getting down on their level, seeing the world from their perspective...it's beautiful. The soft winter light falls through the slats of the window shade, making the wood floor glow. Addison sits in the still light. Chair rungs, socks, and a teddy bear provide perfect entertainment. Emily lays next to her sister. She has found the camera lens cover and examines it closely. My little observer.
November was full of firsts, and we caught some of them on video.
Addison has been giggling for months now, and while Emily has been talking up a storm, she's been a late bloomer on the giggles. In November, she started giggling in earnest. Here she is doing a funny cough-laugh while playing with Addie.
The girls started eating more solids in November, and shredded apples and toast sticks became a breakfast staple.
Addison learned how to click her tongue, which became a fun trick for awhile.
The stairs were officially discovered in November, and before we put the gate up, the girls had some fun times playing on the stairs,
Emily has been talking more and more, and in November, one of her favorite phrases was bababa.
Addison started crawling on her knees in November.
The girls got their first experience with putting up Christmas lights. Most years, Chris really goes to town...the front tree, bushes, two trees out back. This year, he started...and ended... with the icicle lights along the porch. It was a crazy, busy time of year, and I was proud of him for getting any lights out there at all.
Addie has gotten quite skilled at maneuvering her walker, and Emily enjoys scooting around on her little rider toy. What happens when you get these two going in the same room? Bumper cars!
Every year, we make candy using recipes from my Great Grandma Cullen. My mom always lays out the rules: have all your ingredients ready before you start, butter your pan FIRST, slow stirring to avoid splashing the side of the pan, constant stirring for perfect candy. All these rules keep a candy maker glued to the stovetop while the candy is cooking. Good thing Grandma Nicoll was there to play with the babies so we could get our candy making on!
We arrived at DeeDee's after the Darling Doubles Christmas party, and had to take a pic with the tree
Lovin' all the Christmas red!
Callie gave a wonderful dance performance while the adults sang Jingle Bells
As Christmas was approaching, we were getting lots of packages from Amazon as presents came in the mail for Emily and Addison. This box was just the right size for pulling around two excited, fabric-scrap-eating girls. Later that day, the box ended up in the recycle bin and the scraps ended up in the trash, but first they provided lots of entertainment!
Addison: Why are you stopping, Mom?
Emily: Weeeeeeee!
