Today was my turn to hold down the fort while HRM took her mom shopping for a pretty new dress and top; a small way of showing our appreciation for all of her kindness these past few weeks.

Olin was fussy, clingy and crying for no apparent reason. That lasted all afternoon. Fortunately, Luca was really patient and well behaved.

At one point, I had Olin cradled in my arms rocking him back and forth; his brother sat nearby playing with a toy. Without really thinking about it, I pretended to yawn loudly and then midway through the yawn acted out a fit of sudden coughing. Both babies looked at one another, then at me, then laughed at the same moment. I repeated this once more but more loudly and with greater exaggeration; they laughed even harder. By the fourth iteration, Luca was rolling around on the ground laughing hysterically and Olin cracked up so badly he spit out his pacifier and his whole face became one enormous, beaming smile.

Clearly, babies have a language of their own.

I’m learning it as I go along.

ps: the house in this photo is not where we live.

pps: I wish it was.