Speeding our way to 6 months old, the changes are happening and happening and fast fast fast. The big thing about two weeks ago was the girls' new way of saying hello. It happened a few times and I noticed it and didn't think too much of it. But then, it started happening everyday and both at the same time. Yes, they stick out their tongues to say hello. They do it to us, to each other and even to the teachers in the daycare. It is just hilarious and cute and slightly weird. It is more that they "show" you their tongues, actually, considering they keep them out for more than a few seconds at a time. Talking about it at home after feeling slightly embarrassed about it when picking them up at daycare, Jeff and I realized this is more than likely my doing. I am always sticking out my tongue at them and saying, 'ello and laughing. This makes them giggle and is just part of our day. I wondered if the teachers at daycare thought this was rude. I said to Jeff, "cause in some cultures, sticking out your tongue is rude, right?" To this Jeff replied, "Um, in OUR culture, sticking out your tongue is rude." I laughed so loud and hard that I almost peed my pants. This got me thinking about how the girls don't mind being tickled because they don't worry about peeing in their pants yet. How wonderful is that?

Rachel has begun to say what sounds like Dada. Actually, dadadada daddy. We have also heard her say what sounds like Anya, bottle, and of course Rachel. The Rachel was more an Ach-el, Ach-el, Ach-el over and over again while she was alone in her crib. As if to say, "Hey, I am here. Ach-el!" People keep telling me it is too soon for them to talk, but my Rachel is a talker. Anya is more of a listener and a great beauty, so I think she will be ok.

All of this talking and tongue showing is getting us worried. We may have to stop singing them Public Enemy songs and using bad words jokingly in sing songy voices.

Jeff is working late tonight, so it will be just the girls and I for a few hours. In anticipation of this, I am loading up on protein. It is like I am a marathon runner or something because when I get home there will be no time for dinner or for laying about or even just sitting down. There will be baths to give and bottles to prepare and songs to sing, sans the bad words. Every night, I feel like I am on stage, with just two little audience members. I sing and tell jokes and clap hands and in general try to keep the girls in good spirits. I worry that my manic show is going to teach the girls that interacting with people means you jump about and laugh and sing all the time. I worry I am making two little creatures who, like Robin Williams, won't be able to sit still or act like a normal human being. I need to keep this in mind and try to read to them tonight instead of give them the normal routine.

Anya wanted to sleep with me last night. So I let her. She slept on my tummy nearly all night long, but at one point I put her beside me. This is always a worry because of SIDS and such. I hate bringing them to bed with us because of this, but will love it when they are big enough to sleep with us on purpose and not just because they are demanding it. I woke up this morning to Anya tap tap tapping on my face. She would tap a bit and then pinch as if making a sculpture on my cheeks. She had the biggest smiling eyes, that I could just barely see in the 5 am light. I was never the kind of girl who wanted or thought about babies. But this moment with Anya in the morning, made me realize why so many teenage girls get pregnant and have babies on purpose before their lives are really ready for it. Wow, how amazing this is, this unconditional love that you get from your children. I never ever imagined it could be this lovely.