Celebrity Mama

The babies turned 5 months old a few days ago. As with the months before, this month has brought lots of changes, new experiences, and excitement. The babies continue to demonstrate how amazing they are and how wonderful it is to have them in our lives. Here's the latest news:

• The babies are starting to really respond to people especially their mother. When ever she returns to the room they light up and give her huge smiles. As such, she's become "Celebrity Mama!"
  
• Sydney is rolling like crazy! If you turn your back on her she'll be flipped on to her tummy by the time you turn around. She's still figuring out how to roll from tummy to back but it won't be long.
  
• Ryan continues to be verbal and is getting louder! He has brought new vocalizations into his repertoire including the raspberry and the screech.
  
• He is also laughing a lot. He started last month but this month he's really getting into it and making us laugh. We have to work a little to get him started but once he starts, it's hard to not join in.
  
• We had a great visit from Grandma and Grandpa Bash but also managed to catch a flu bug while they were here. Ryan got sick first and the rest of us followed but amazingly Sydney never got sick. This was my biggest fear as a parent - illness. But Ryan was amazing and really laid back about it (much more than Mom and Dad).
  
• As you'll see in the photos below Sydney has gotten her DOC band to help her head shape correctly. She continues with her occupational and physical therapy to lengthen her right neck muscle allowing her to straighten her neck and head.
  
• Sydney has started sucking thumb (the pacifier is out) and Ryan sucks on numerous fingers at any one time (often from both hands).
  
• We are also super excited that all naps are now in the crib and the babies go to bed at 7:30 every night (frequently without any protest). They are sleeping all night, waking between 6 and 7 most mornings.
  
• And the biggest/most exciting news of the month is we started the babies on "solid" food! They are enjoying squash, carrots, bananas, etc. At this point they eat very little but we'll grow their consumption over time.
  

Here are the photos and a quick video of the kids playing:




The wrestling has begun!