In the Middlesworth - a family blog.

Phinehas is 19 months old. I know because I just checked the calendar. If I hadn’t, I think I would have continued telling people that he is 18 months for about three more months! He is an amazing combination of energy and calm. He doesn’t stop running, but he will make his way up to his room and play quietly for a long time. His words have gotten better over the past couple weeks…so suddenly he says the “n” on “down” and the “p” on “help.” He likes to make jokes (I didin’t know little ones could have such a sense of humor!)

The most common question I’m asked about Phinn is how he interacts with the babies. Not much has changed since they were first born–he gives them a few smiles and hugs here and there, but usually he just does his own thing. Actually, the babies seem to want to interact with Phinn more than he does with them! They give him really big smiles and sometimes talk to him.

Usually my posts are picture-heavy because I think the pictures speak volumes. But today they will be text-heavy. The twins are 6.5 months old. They are sweethearts, full of smiles and coos (ok, maybe a better word is “squeals”).  It’s fun to to watch them both want a toy. Or to watch one want the toy that the other has.

The most common question I receive is, “What are their differences?” While they are certainly two different little people to me, their differences aren’t very easy to articulate. And when I try to label one baby as one way and one another, they usually end up changing the very next day. A few weeks ago, I answered the question by saying that Oliver was the patient one in the mornings, quietly watching me from his crib, while Julian was the demanding one, wanting to be picked up and fed immediately. Yeah. They switched practically the next day. My mom (also a mother of twins) understands this, and says it’s God’s way of keeping you from having a favorite twin. I think I agree.

They sit up well, love the jumparoo, and have started eating a little baby food. They have no teeth, blue-ish eyes (although not the same stunning blue as Phinn), and brown hair.

Somehow the twins are five months old. I can’t believe it. I also can’t believe that in only a month they will probably be ready for baby food. I don’t think I will be ready for that…for several reasons.

Here and here you can see Phinn at five months old. Does he seem so much older than the twins to anyone else? We sure treated him like he was. In any case, it is interesting to compare them. Phinn’s hair was so much longer than the twins’ hair!

Regarding the pictures: For Memorial Day weekend, we enjoyed a visit to Indiana. Then our little fam celebrated Ascension Day by picnicking on top of the hill at North Side Park. Finally, as you can see, Phinn has learned to smile for the camera. Well, sort of.

Apparently I am only posting on a monthly basis now! The twins are four months old. They smile and talk a lot. They also are doing pretty well with sleeping. So far the record was set last week by Julian when he slept from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.! Of course, that isn’t the norm, and it was followed by two very bad nights!

The twins were baptized at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

Picture #17 of the twins shows something cute that happens quite often–they will unknowingly hold each other’s hands for long periods of time!

Phinehas is nearly 17 months old. He loves being outside more than anything. He starts asking for “a walk” after breakfast, and when we return from a walk, he starts asking for another one.

Phinn’s favorite book continues to be his picture dictionary, thanks to cousin Kyle. It has hundreds of pictures, and he knows several words on every page. (Sidenote: I definitely recommend the book to anyone with a little one Phinn’s age.)

Also, we finally cut Phinn’s hair. Well, Kevin cut Phinn’s hair…and in my opinion, it was cut a little too short! I think that for a while I didn’t post any haircut pictures because I was in denial! Picture #14 shows Kevin making the first cut. Phinn has never sat so still for anything in his life!