As I’ve already observed months ago, It is pretty clear to me that my Nico and Olive were not born in a some sort of state of “uncorrupted morals” since they feel entitled to take what they want even when the other has it; and they *always* want what the other one has. So yeah I guess it’s our duty to socialize them and curb their natural instincts through years of modeling, rewarding, and punishment. I also have to allow them to figure it out themselves, as long as no one is getting hurt. After all, they have this perpetual peer in their life at the same age/level, to which they have to constantly adapt.
So it’s no surprise that Nico and Olive wouldn’t naturally want to share all the toys that we bought for both like darling little angels. We are finally encountering them taking total ownership of ONE object. So enter the annoying doll in an elephant suit who sings songs when you squeeze her. A month ago, Olive became very attached to this doll. She has to have it near her. The most annoying part is that Olive is unable to do the actually squeezing properly so that the toy can make its infernal plastic doll-nightmare racket. Instead, all day she holds the doll out like an offering while grunting “uh uh uh” for us to squeeze it or, worse, she whines and cries until we do. But lo! when that stinking doll gets going, Olive starts to “dance” by jerking her torso back and forth. Cute city!!
However, Olive also gets absolutely HYSTERICAL when Nico goes anywhere near the doll, which only happens like 100 times per day. Now I’m not even saying that Nico is taunting her on purpose….
Nico has been trying to walk since 8 months old, so it’s no surprise that she finally perfected it by 11 months. For awhile, I wasn’t happy about this (I’m still nervous about having two toddlers at the same time), but it’s hilarious to see her moving around because she’s so tiny. She often walks with her arms out straight like a zombie and always prefers to walk carrying something large. Olive shows no signs of being moved to even try.
Getting bigger, getting funner. Their latest milestone is to dance whenever music comes on by jerking their bodies back and forth or waving their arms.
They’ve started making sounds, emulating certain words and copying everything that we do. Olive is close to saying “ball” properly and points at any round object saying “bah.. bah..”. She also loves the game of dropping stuff off her high chair just to be able to say “uh oh”… or maybe it’s just gravity experiments.
Now, going to the grocery store is such a treat. They can sit up in carriages and enjoy all the interesting objects and people. They are very social, not shy at all. Sometimes almost too friendly as Olive will crawl onto stranger’s laps.
We’ve been dancing with Nico and Olive since they were newborns. They love it and they’ve also learned to love certain songs, in particular Linus & Lucy by Vince Guaraldi.
This is what happens when we put it on. Yes, the cuteness level is off the charts I know.
We spent Christmas with Owen’s family, staying in Newport Beach for a few days with his mom’s family (many traveled down from Alaska!) and then in Manhattan Beach with his dad’s.
Although I’ve always had a hard time getting in the holiday spirit when in warmer climates (sorry, snowmen and other xmas decorations just seem so tawdry wherever there are palm trees), the mild weather and being by the ocean was enjoyable.
Nico and Olive behaved like champs during the long drives (excluding the 3 hours in LA traffic on the first leg). Now that I’m a parent, I’m shocked to discover that there are not decent facilities for families off highways. The most you can hope for is a McDonald’s with a play area. Unfortunately, this meant introducing my babies to fast food too young.
With grandpa Alan and nanna. Olive digs for gold. Nico is sick of photographs.
Nico is not walking yet, but almost! She got a kick out of taking great-grandma Carolyn’s walker for a spin.
Nico now has 4 teeth and Olive finally cut her first. I think that Nico is weeks away from walking. She stands up on her own and tries to take steps without holding onto anything. She will walk if you take her hands. Olive is content to not even try. Olive has begun to point at things and wave bye. They both LOVE music and will bob up and down to the beat. There are certain songs that they seem to love, one being the peanuts theme (linus and lucy) by Vince Guaraldi, but that is because Owen and I have danced with them to that song since they were newborns.
I apologize for the perfunctory nature of this blog. I wish I could devote more time to writing better. If I could just find time between work and babies.
Nico and Olive turn 8 months and Halloween is coming!
So far we’ve gone to one Halloween party organized by our local twins organization. We’ll be looking for more events now that we have such great costumes.
