9 month update

The blogger is a slacking.  Here are the stats from the 9 month visit (2 weeks ago). 

Rafael
27.5" (21%)
19 lb 5 oz (26%)
the giant head: 18.3" (78%)

Sylvia
29" (89%)
19 lb 7 oz (58%)
head: 17.5 (63%)

twin fight

It doesn't take long for the twin play to go the other way...  As I discussed the day today with our nanny, she said with a smile, "We had a new development, today!  They started fighting!"  Rafael was playing with a little plastic toy mobile phone, which of course looks nothing like our mobile phones, but apparently the twins already understand the importance of always having a mobile phone nearby.  Sylvia watched him intently, and then snatched it.  Rafael, fed up with Sylvia always stealing his stuff, took it back.  I'm not entirely sure how often this went back and forth, but they started grabbing and then swatting their sibling to keep them away from the goods.  Sylvia prevailed and Rafa cried.  Poor guy.  Always pushed around by his big sister.  Our nanny said there were two such episodes.  And so it begins.

twin play

People often ask us if the twins enjoy playing together. They are still fairly oblivious of each other. Sure, they take toys from each other and want to explore the other's head or foot or other body part by grabbing or sticking in their mouth. But, for the most part, they are mostly just interested in entertaining themselves. They do take note when they hear the other crying, but it's hard to tell if it's more than a 'what's that sound?' face. We have been told by other parents of twins that they'll start entertaining each other and playing together when they're about 18 months. Nevertheless, it's pretty fun to watch them play 'together' (i.e. next to each other).

checking out the world

Rafael has now become interested in the big world around him. I have to remind myself of how fun it is for him to be more curious when he also doesn't want to nap because being awake is so much more interesting. When we put him in the cart for a family shopping outing, he kept turning all the way around in the seat to see where he was going. Ready or not, world, here I come!!

froggie

anything but the toys

I think we're going to stop buying toys. We have all these great toys, but the Vassariños only have eyes for household objects. And typically ones that can hurt them, like plastic bags and electrical cords.  To prove to us that we can quit spending money at Toys 'R Us, during one clothes changing, Rafa played with

An empty bottle...




A shoe...





And a suitcase.  The zippers are just so fascinating!

mama hen

I wrote this while on the trip, but apparently it didn't post.

A couple ladies were transfixed by the twinfants today. Sylvia, unfortunately, was über tired. So she was fussing. Rafa has started coming into his social self and charmed the ladies thoroughly. Then, one of the ladies started calling Sylvia a term that means she's a bad kid but doesn't have a good English translation. Bad in that she was crying and not going to sleep etc., but a little bit of a term of endearment as she tried to make Sylvia laugh and smile. I know she didn't really mean that Sylvia is a bad kid, but my protective heart went into overdrive. I wanted to explain that she was only crying because she was tired. And we weren't able to put her down for a nap. I wanted everyone to think that my baby is an angel and not have these even slightly negative thoughts. Mama hen instincts. I know this is just the beginning.