Who are they? Part II

Annabelle used to be the fussy one, crying often and being tough to soothe. However, for the past three weeks, she turned into a love bug. She stares at things (not usually people) for hours on end entranced by the shadows on the blinds or the stripes on my shirt for example. She'll coo and squeal and talk to those stripes or polka dots like they are her best friend, telling them all her deepest, darkest secrets.
     Last week, she started to smile (the social smile) with mommy. She thinks I am the funniest thing ever, especially when I say her name like, "Annabelle, well, well, well, well, well, well." She also likes to imitate mommy. If mommy sticks her tongue out, Annabelle will too. This is one of our favorite games. And even Daddy can be funny too, although she doesn't like his scratchy kisses as much as Abigail does.
       Other people she won't smile for, but she will be glad to cuddle in their arms. Annabelle is happiest being held. Ever the disturbed sleeper, she kicks and grunts and talks, coughs and chokes, and may even look straight at you while sleeping. But in your arms, she is like a sack of sugar, never moving. One of Annabelle's distinctive trademarks is her sigh. She sighs during each breath of her eating, just a simple feminine sigh, and will also sigh during each breath of her sleeping.
        For toys Annabelle seemed to notice them first; she held onto a long rubber handle and waved it back and forth (she also learned how to holdher pacificer in first). Then when shown a mirror, she smiled at herself in it. No other toys interest her right now as she prefers human interactions and the designs that the light makes in different parts of the house. She also recently discovered her hand when it passed by her eyes, they widedned like saucers as she figured out, "Hey this thing is connected to my body! Cool!"
       Annabelle has developed quite the Buddha belly and has started to get some thickness in her thighs. You can see little rolls developing on her arms as well. These are all good signs that she is gaining the weight she needs to grow. Annabelle has always enjoyed her pacificer, and now her mouth continues to be a place where she can explore and test new things. If Daddy's nose approaches her face, well, she'll try to suck on that. What's sister's hand doing in my face? Well, let's suck on that too. How about sister's elbow, shoulder or arm? Tastes good to me! Mom's finger? Why not! Annabelle has always made funny faces in her sleep, and she continues to make funny faces now that she is more cognizant of the outside world. Eyes wide, mouth crooked, nose crinkled, forehead wrinkled, Annabelle is truly a funny character.

Abigail, previously the mellow one, hit six weeks and found her voice. When she's hungry or tired or has painful gas, she will let out a siren cry to let you know. She'll kick and wriggle and grunt and push. And if she's truly uncomfortable, there isn't much you can do to soothe her. She continues to be a barracuda during feeding time, biting, pulling, hitting until she hits her stride and eases into the motions.
     But during awake periods she is still the biggest flirt ever. She is fascinated by human faces and will stare at them for hours. She discovered her bedmate and that is her first pleasure. While Annabelle grunts and squeals and cries in the crib, Abigail will literally sit and stare at her not making a sound. What built in entertainment! What is that thing doing over there, she seems to be thinking...
    Abigail is not specific in her flirting strategies; she will smile at anyone who holds her and smiles at her. She will look at you from the side, her eyes in the corner, her head tilted, the longest most beautiful eyelashes fluttering. At first she'll stare, and then suddenly let out the most subtle of grins that quickly turns into the biggest gummy smile ever. Sometimes she'll do a sideways grin, with just one side of the mouth turning up, and sometimes its just the upper lip. In those circumstances, I tell her she looks like Elvis, and I'll sing my rendition of "Bllue Christmas" to her, which then elicits more smiles. Even Annabelle will stop and stare at mommy's face when Elvis comes out of her mouth.
   Abigail likes music and she will kick her legs and wave her arms to the sounds. She also started dancing with daddy in the kitchen. It doesn't matter the type as long as you are having fun, she is having fun.

Can't you tell, we are in love with these girls!!