They're definitely not preemie anymore!

It's amazing how much JJ and Alexis keep changing--who knew that these 3 and 4 lb babies would wind up being so big at 6 months actual (4.5 months adjusted).  They've been doing a lot the past few weeks, here are just some highlights:

• JJ and Alexis tried eating for the first time last week... and we decided we'll just keep practicing with cereal for a while until they get more in their mouth than on their faces, hands, chairs, floor, us, etc. We dread starting them on the veggies and fruit--as we can already envision the constant stream of colored drool and spit-up that will result.  But it is fun to see their faces when we put the spoon in their mouths. Every day we give them just a couple of Tbs (to share) of cereal and each day one of them will do really well while the other one just smears it around (or, even better, blows bubbles with it!). The next day, they reverse. We're discovering that they definitely like to switch things up.

• They found their feet, and each others feet.  They haven't found Mike's or my feet yet.  They love grabbing anything they can reach, but at this point their grasps are still developing--if the object is too heavy, they drop it pretty quick.
  

• They're still exploring their voices--Alexis went from cooing very demurely to screaming/screetching for what seems like forever.  She also likes to gurgle.  She still spits up some, so instead of the spit up running down her chin, she keeps in in her mouth and gurgles with it.  Eww.  All in the name of learning, we guess.  We like it when she giggles.

• We've (meaning Alechia) started giving them baths simultaneously--anything to cut down on time.  Mike still prefers to bathe them one at a time, however, so he has yet to witness the excitement that comes with both of them together in close proximity without diapers. As we mentioned.. they've found their feet.  But JJ recently also found his... ahem... but not to be outdone, Alexis has found it as well.  Mainly in the aforementioned double bath.  JJ's "ahem" has been found numerous times.  Don't worry though since JJ has found a way to get back at his sister.  Twice now while bathing, JJ has managed to urinate with a trajectory aimed for Alexis' mouth--and has succeeded in warding off his sisters "raking grasp."  If only we had that on Video!
  

• They definitely have become much more aware of each other this last month than they were for the first few months after they were born.  They now love smiling at each other and "talking."  We tried to capture the talking on camera, but failed miserably.  About a month ago, we were a little more successful.
  

We also successfully transitioned them up to their nursery for both naps and night.  They're still eating 3 oz or so between 5 and 6 am, but we like seeing them before we go to work, so we're not in a hurry to wean them completely off that early morning feed.

We uploaded some more videos and pics (in addition to those linked here) to the dropshots site (see sidebar).  We'll update more soon!