Friday, September 9, 2011
Tricycle
Jonas tore off down the sidewalk on his tricycle last night. He is much more enthusiastic about riding downhill than uphill. Of course, he's giggling and ringing his bell the whole way. I think he may have rung the bell enough to break it.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Solo parenting the Ed Way
Well, Shelly took some well deserved time out from the kids and has visited friends and family this weekend in Washington DC and Baltimore.
I've had a lot of fun with the kids this weekend. Saturday was filled with a lot of hoofin' about. I put the kids in the stroller and explored Brookside with them. I started with a stop at CCCUCC to get some measurements for the South entrance. Jonas helped me measure while Gill wandered about in the plants. After we were done there, we went up to 63rd ostensibly to go to the Grocery. We stopped at the drive up ATM first (in stroller) to get some cash and then went off to the Farmer's Market. After looking around I decided to buy some Okra. I gave a piece to Gill but he tried to eat it from the wrong end. The attendant felt sorry for the boys (or maybe impressed by their good looks) and cut a watermelon for them. Each got a piece. As could be expected, Gill devoured his. Jonas nibbled his.
Next was off to the Grocery. Both boys got a free sandwich on a croissant. That kept them quite happy. They both fell asleep in the stroller on the way home and slept for 2 hours in the foyer.
It stormed that afternoon, so we spent the rest of the afternoon in. Post storm, we went up to the park at Brookside Elementary and played on the equipment. The puddles made it extra fun for the boys.
Other miscellany for the day. Jonas decided that the proper way to eat hot dogs is with multiple combs. Gill has started to bring books for me to actually read versus just flip through.
That is about all right now!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
...Harvester of Sorrow
It turns out that Jonas and Gill LOVE Metallica. After dinner I turned on the iPod & when a Metallica song came on, the boys went wild. Jonas started doing some kind of crazy Woodstock kind of dance while attempting to attack the iPod in the same manner that Pete Townsend used to attack amplifiers. Gill started beating on the wall.
Awesome
Friday, July 29, 2011
Vocabulary
Gill now has a firm grasp on saying "momma" and "poppa" - he's been saying "momma" for months now, but we are hearing "poppa" a lot more lately.
Jonas speaks in full sentences, mostly without errors, though his pronunciation is still coming along. We still don't know what a "seek-away" is. The latest variations on pronunciation are "kittles" for skittles (we used them for potty training) and "pamommy." Pamommy is his somewhat confusing terminology for whatever parent is in front of him. He just doesn't get the word started right. On occasion, we hear "mapoppa" but "pamommy" is more prevalent.
Also, Jonas used the urinal at the swimming pool the other day, and he now refers to it as "my urinal."
I love all of this!
The last night of swim lessons for JD is tonight; it was delayed one day due to poop.
Jonas speaks in full sentences, mostly without errors, though his pronunciation is still coming along. We still don't know what a "seek-away" is. The latest variations on pronunciation are "kittles" for skittles (we used them for potty training) and "pamommy." Pamommy is his somewhat confusing terminology for whatever parent is in front of him. He just doesn't get the word started right. On occasion, we hear "mapoppa" but "pamommy" is more prevalent.
Also, Jonas used the urinal at the swimming pool the other day, and he now refers to it as "my urinal."
I love all of this!
The last night of swim lessons for JD is tonight; it was delayed one day due to poop.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Walkers & Swimmers
Jonas, at 3 years and 2 months old, just finished his 2nd swimming class, and has 6 more to go. I’d love to report his accomplishments, but I’m too busy entertaining Gill in the baby pool to keep watch. Ed monitors, taking mental notes for follow-up practice when we vacation in Hot Springs where there will be a pool.
On the way home, Jonas asks to go to a seek-a-way. Sometimes he asks to go to the park, or a doctor’s office, or just an office. I have no idea what the sick-a-way is, so Ed and I tried playing 20 questions. “Are there animals at the sick-a-way? Balloons? Clowns? Cake? Slides?” Jonas replies “no” to each question, stuck in the negative feedback loop of toddlers still teetering on cusp of managing full-blown conversations. It remains a mystery.
Mastering the iPad is Jonas’ most recent technological feat. He is better at it than me, and is quite addicted. I’m ashamed to say that I enjoy the occasional peace it brings the house once Gill is asleep. (Gill is equally obsessed but forbidden from touching it so there is lots of whining and screeching). Jonas’ favorite games are Talking Tom (a cat which yawns, farts, and mimics what you say), Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, Monkey Lunchbox, and various train apps. He laughs out loud most often at Cut the Rope. In fact, his iPad obsession is the very reason I am now able to find quiet time to blog.
Jonas also now makes music requests in the car. Favorites songs are by They Might Be Giants: LMNO and Rolling O. (I like Rolling O myself, quite well actually).
The big news is the potty training success. He has been wearing underwear (Thomas and Mickey patterns) for about a week. Skittles proved to be the most effective motivator. Number one is firmly established, but Number two (the big job) takes us by surprise. I learned that while on my own with the boys at Little Monkey Bizness. What a fun time I had in the ladies restroom trying to balance Jonas on the full sized toilet while Gill cruised under stall walls to greet strangers.
Sadly, Jonas is not brave about trying new foods. He even turned down chocolate pudding this past weekend, even though I smeared some on his lips so he could taste the velvety goodness. (How can this be MY child?) Gill, on the other hand, will try anything and everything you put in front of him. We don’t buy any infant or toddler food for Gill. Except for yogurt (which we don’t eat), he eats everything we eat.
A recent novel experience, for both Jonas and me, involved the Plaza library on a busy Sunday. Gill, Jonas and I stopped in on the way home from Monkey Bizness. My hardheaded toddler refuses to stay near me, and won’t even turn his head when I call his name as he runs off. He “got lost” not once but twice during our 20 minutes there. The 2nd time occurred as I was trying to check out. A librarian and the security guard (an imposingly tall black lady) were walking him through the library looking for his parents; they caught him pressing the metal plate at the exit doors which powers the doors open for disable people. I was alarmed, embarrassed and infuriated all at once. I impulsively asked the security guard to try and impress upon him the gravity of his actions by acting stern with him. I was frustrated that he didn’t seem to listen to me and I kept referring to her as a “police lady,” hoping he would be scared of her. If I thought he would have understood, I would have told him he was going to be arrested. I’m still uptight about the whole thing two days later. Needless to say, I handed Jonas over to his father when we got home.
Gill, at 14 months old, has mastered use of the spoon. Even his daycare teachers comment on it. He refuses to be fed; he must power the spoon on his own. He often gets a full container of yogurt with dinner, and manages to wear only about 1/3 of it.
Crawling continues to be his main method of travel, probably because he gets carried a lot by his parents who are trying to keep up with older brother. At the pool each evening, I try to walk Gill around in the baby section. The concrete surface is rough on his knees and the tops of his feet, so he is somewhat compliant. When he’s not paying attention, he stands on his own, and has taken 3-4 steps before he notices and drops down to all fours. My goals for July of 2011 is to toilet train one and get the other walking. One will make life easier, and the other will make it more complicated again.
All in all, the boys have never been more work or more fun. Ed and I are grateful for each and every moment with them, though we are exhausted. I hope to go to bed soon, and it’s just 9:00 on a Tuesday!
On the way home, Jonas asks to go to a seek-a-way. Sometimes he asks to go to the park, or a doctor’s office, or just an office. I have no idea what the sick-a-way is, so Ed and I tried playing 20 questions. “Are there animals at the sick-a-way? Balloons? Clowns? Cake? Slides?” Jonas replies “no” to each question, stuck in the negative feedback loop of toddlers still teetering on cusp of managing full-blown conversations. It remains a mystery.
Mastering the iPad is Jonas’ most recent technological feat. He is better at it than me, and is quite addicted. I’m ashamed to say that I enjoy the occasional peace it brings the house once Gill is asleep. (Gill is equally obsessed but forbidden from touching it so there is lots of whining and screeching). Jonas’ favorite games are Talking Tom (a cat which yawns, farts, and mimics what you say), Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, Monkey Lunchbox, and various train apps. He laughs out loud most often at Cut the Rope. In fact, his iPad obsession is the very reason I am now able to find quiet time to blog.
Jonas also now makes music requests in the car. Favorites songs are by They Might Be Giants: LMNO and Rolling O. (I like Rolling O myself, quite well actually).
The big news is the potty training success. He has been wearing underwear (Thomas and Mickey patterns) for about a week. Skittles proved to be the most effective motivator. Number one is firmly established, but Number two (the big job) takes us by surprise. I learned that while on my own with the boys at Little Monkey Bizness. What a fun time I had in the ladies restroom trying to balance Jonas on the full sized toilet while Gill cruised under stall walls to greet strangers.
Sadly, Jonas is not brave about trying new foods. He even turned down chocolate pudding this past weekend, even though I smeared some on his lips so he could taste the velvety goodness. (How can this be MY child?) Gill, on the other hand, will try anything and everything you put in front of him. We don’t buy any infant or toddler food for Gill. Except for yogurt (which we don’t eat), he eats everything we eat.
A recent novel experience, for both Jonas and me, involved the Plaza library on a busy Sunday. Gill, Jonas and I stopped in on the way home from Monkey Bizness. My hardheaded toddler refuses to stay near me, and won’t even turn his head when I call his name as he runs off. He “got lost” not once but twice during our 20 minutes there. The 2nd time occurred as I was trying to check out. A librarian and the security guard (an imposingly tall black lady) were walking him through the library looking for his parents; they caught him pressing the metal plate at the exit doors which powers the doors open for disable people. I was alarmed, embarrassed and infuriated all at once. I impulsively asked the security guard to try and impress upon him the gravity of his actions by acting stern with him. I was frustrated that he didn’t seem to listen to me and I kept referring to her as a “police lady,” hoping he would be scared of her. If I thought he would have understood, I would have told him he was going to be arrested. I’m still uptight about the whole thing two days later. Needless to say, I handed Jonas over to his father when we got home.
Gill, at 14 months old, has mastered use of the spoon. Even his daycare teachers comment on it. He refuses to be fed; he must power the spoon on his own. He often gets a full container of yogurt with dinner, and manages to wear only about 1/3 of it.
Crawling continues to be his main method of travel, probably because he gets carried a lot by his parents who are trying to keep up with older brother. At the pool each evening, I try to walk Gill around in the baby section. The concrete surface is rough on his knees and the tops of his feet, so he is somewhat compliant. When he’s not paying attention, he stands on his own, and has taken 3-4 steps before he notices and drops down to all fours. My goals for July of 2011 is to toilet train one and get the other walking. One will make life easier, and the other will make it more complicated again.
All in all, the boys have never been more work or more fun. Ed and I are grateful for each and every moment with them, though we are exhausted. I hope to go to bed soon, and it’s just 9:00 on a Tuesday!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Growing, growing, gone!
Jonas had his 3 year visit with the pediatrician on Tuesday. His weight (30 pounds) puts him in the 40th percentile with his height (37 inches) in the 35th percentile. We are tantilizingly on the cusp of potty training. He will wear underwear, and get to the potty about 50% of the time. The big problem is the poop. He tries to hold it in; we've effectively trumped that strategy with a daily administration of Miralax for the past 8 months. Works like a charm.
Jonas is also talking up a storm (full sentence with mostly accurate syntax and pronoun usage) and I can understand about 85% of what he says. As Ed predicted, he is troubled by the "r" sound. Ed finds it particularly entertaining when he overhears Jonas yelling (and pointing) at ants on the sidewalk, telling them to go away. He experienced his first bee bite while we visiting Steve, Sue and Nathan in Greenwood, Arkansas. The bee landed on his finger while he floated in the pool. Before I could shoo it away, he was crying, and I was pulling out the stinger. Within minutes, though, he was fine. Despite my precautionary administration of a Benedryl, he skipped a nap that day.
Gill is also growing faster than I can measure. I try to cuddle and smooch him every chance I get. He is so adorable with his soft, springy curls, big blue eyes, and the ears that stick out. Not to mention his buck teeth. He has 6 teeth, almost all of which are on one side of his mouth. I can see one renegade tooth breaking through at the top on the other side, though. He is an exceptional child, always smiling first thing after waking, and laughing and happy most of the rest of the day. He's had a fever for the past 24 hours, so I spent the day with him at home today. Ed is on duty tomorrow, and I think we'll get him to the doctor to check him out. Like his older brother, he does seem to struggle a bit with chest congestion, but is otherwise quite fine. Since he had tubes put into his ears, he hasn't been sick very often. Like big brother, he also had his yearly check up with the pediatrician. He is in the 10th percentile for weight, but I have no doubts he'll catch up with the way he eats. I haven't seen him turn away much in the way of food. At his Aunt Cindy's house in Opelousas, he ate catfish courtbouillion with his very own spoon, shoveling it all in as quickly as he could. And that was the day AFTER he pigged out on boiled crawfish!
Finally! I can see evidence of my Cajun heritage in one of my boys!
Jonas is also talking up a storm (full sentence with mostly accurate syntax and pronoun usage) and I can understand about 85% of what he says. As Ed predicted, he is troubled by the "r" sound. Ed finds it particularly entertaining when he overhears Jonas yelling (and pointing) at ants on the sidewalk, telling them to go away. He experienced his first bee bite while we visiting Steve, Sue and Nathan in Greenwood, Arkansas. The bee landed on his finger while he floated in the pool. Before I could shoo it away, he was crying, and I was pulling out the stinger. Within minutes, though, he was fine. Despite my precautionary administration of a Benedryl, he skipped a nap that day.
Gill is also growing faster than I can measure. I try to cuddle and smooch him every chance I get. He is so adorable with his soft, springy curls, big blue eyes, and the ears that stick out. Not to mention his buck teeth. He has 6 teeth, almost all of which are on one side of his mouth. I can see one renegade tooth breaking through at the top on the other side, though. He is an exceptional child, always smiling first thing after waking, and laughing and happy most of the rest of the day. He's had a fever for the past 24 hours, so I spent the day with him at home today. Ed is on duty tomorrow, and I think we'll get him to the doctor to check him out. Like his older brother, he does seem to struggle a bit with chest congestion, but is otherwise quite fine. Since he had tubes put into his ears, he hasn't been sick very often. Like big brother, he also had his yearly check up with the pediatrician. He is in the 10th percentile for weight, but I have no doubts he'll catch up with the way he eats. I haven't seen him turn away much in the way of food. At his Aunt Cindy's house in Opelousas, he ate catfish courtbouillion with his very own spoon, shoveling it all in as quickly as he could. And that was the day AFTER he pigged out on boiled crawfish!
Finally! I can see evidence of my Cajun heritage in one of my boys!
Monday, May 30, 2011
My Favorite Part of Summer
I walk down the trail in our neighborhood with the boys in the double stroller, their heads bent toward each other. The breeze lifts their hair, both dark blonde, one straight and thick and the other fine and curly. The rhythm of the stroller bounces them together, their shoulders touch, legs overlap, and feet dusty from play hang loosely. Though they often squabble, time in the stroller is usually peaceful; they are distracted by people, dogs, buses, bicycles. I spend the rare quiet time marveling that these two beings are my sons.
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