Sam and Max are five months old

Sam and Max say "Thank you Bob and Stasia for the stylish giraffe outfits!"

Sam and Max are five months old! It feels like just yesterday I was writing the post about Sam and Max turning four months old. The boys are continuing to grow bigger and become more active, both physically and vocally. During tummy time Sam and Max are spending more time lifting their heads and looking around the room, especially Sam. He can hold his head up for a minute or two before he goes down for a rest. Max isn't as active as Sam in this regard, but he's coming along at his own pace. It's difficult to not compare the twins with each other, but it is inevitable that one of them will do something first, and eventually the second will achieve the same skill, so I'm not worried at all about their development. Here are some photos of active tummy time:

Sam showing off his head lifting skills

A rare moment of Sam and Max both putting in work

Max giving it a try

Sam just showboating at this point

Max is more vocal than Sam, making more frequent noises, both of satisfaction and of complaint. In the past week or so they both started making a faint screeching noise, which doesn't quite sound like they're upset, but rather like they're just making sound for the sake of it. For lack of a better description, they sound like whiny little dinosaurs, so we've taken to calling them whinosaurs.

"Who you callin' a complainosaurus rex? I ain't no cryceratops!"

Here are some more photos from the past couple weeks:

Sam makes a smile

Dad gets some Max cuddles

A chunky Sam enjoying Grandma's lap

Sam and Max say "Thank you Steve and Marta for the Sequim outfits!"

Max enjoying the fresh air

Sam likes Mommy hugs

Sam and Max holding hands

Double cuddles are the best reward for being a twin dad

Max and Sam enjoying "the jungle" (play mat)

Grandpa with Sam

Nonie with Max and Grandpa with Sam

As it so happens, Sam and Max would like to make a special announcement...

Sam and Max say "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Großtante Inge!"
(Happy birthday Great Aunt Inge)

Today, September the 21st, marks the 90th birthday of Sam and Max's Great Aunt Inge. What a milestone! Amanda and I visited Germany in 2018, which is the last time we saw Tante Inge in person. Here are a few photos from that trip:

Tante Inge and Amanda discussing the importance of cake

Andrew and Tante Inge sitting outside the Mill

Amanda, Andrew, Tante Inge, Cousin Patrick, Tante Ines and Onkel Hermann

I hope that one day we can bring Sam and Max to Germany in order to visit family, and show them the beautiful mill. It might be some time still before the world returns to normal to allow for such a trip, so until that time comes we'll have to send our greetings from afar. Happy birthday Tante Inge!