Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer

The Hird girls are picture perfect. From left are Annabelle, Ruthann-Belle, Isabelle and Gabrielle. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The Gleaner continues to follow the Hird babies through their family diary.

Monday, June 23:

It's morning and all the babies except Gabrielle are sleeping. She is doing her leg exercise by bending her knees up and down while smiling and making sounds. Grandma tries combing her hair, but stops because Gabrielle is using her hands to hide her hair. The other babies are up and are feeding. Isabelle and Ruthann-Belle are facing each other, playing and smiling. Now it's Annabelle and Gabrielle facing each other. Gabrielle looks on and smiles as they touch each other, but Annabelle is not smiling.

Tuesday, June 24:

Today, the girls are all of five months old. They are getting their hair washed and surprisingly, Gabrielle is not fussing. Her hair is being combed while she is sleeping, so no fussing with that either. Growing up?

Later, all the babies are fed their formula and then it's back to sleep. Oh well, you know it, Gabrielle is up playing with mom. Annabelle and Ruthann-Belle are soon up. Ruthann-Belle is smiling and playing with Annabelle, but she is not responding. They are in their carrier and mom is playing nursery rhymes and dancing for them. Gabrielle is kicking; Isabelle is moving her toes and smiling while Ruthann-Belle and Annabelle are looking on attentively.

Wednesday, June 25:

The babies are watching cartoon and dad is playing and talking to them. After having their food and bath, they go off to sleep. Not for long, though, as they are soon awake and are being fed porridge. They are a little fussy, as they don't have the patience, but they are eating it up anyway. They are taken to the verandah for some cool breeze. Annabelle falls asleep. Isabelle is fussing, so Grandma takes her out for a stroll.

Thursday, June 26:

Dad is playing with Annabelle while the others sleep. After bath and feeding, Annabelle is sitting in mom's lap watching 'Smile Jamaica' on television. Isabelle is fussing and 'talking' aloud so that she wakes Ruthann-Belle who was sleeping. Ruthann-Belle is eating her porridge with a spoon, but stops in the middle of it. She is going no further. She is given the rest from her bottle.

They are watching cartoon and they are swinging hands and making sounds at the characters.

Friday, June 27:

Dad is playing with Isabelle while the others sleep. Time to wash their hair after they get up, but there is the regular drill with Gabrielle. She is crying, while the others are smiling and kicking. They are feeding from spoons and this time they are doing well, eating all the porridge.

Isabelle is crying as her belly is hurting. She is drinking prune juice because mom thinks she is constipated. Grandma is walking her to cool her down. They are feeding, and all, apart from Isabelle, are feeding from a spoon.

POSITIVE Parenting