Sunday, January 25, 2009

no babies

Today was really neat in a lot of different ways. They boys are just getting so big. They are definitely not babies at all any more. They talk very well and will let you know what happened and what they want, no problem. Their vocabularies are great. They do not often not have a word at least not that I can tell!

One of Cameron's favorite things right now is to demonstrate what he's talking about and then follow it up with the phrase "just like that." For example, today, at naptime, neither Cameron nor Connor were interested in going to sleep but they still need a daily nap. Mom takes them on Sunday afternoons for a few hours and they know they will see Nana when they wake up. So after about an hour of them jumping in their beds, laughing and playing (and after a few reminders from me that they couldn't see Nana until they took their nap), I got upset with them. I asked Cameron if he wanted to see Nana and he said "No!" and started bouncing again. I told him, in an angry voice, "That's it! Lie down and go to sleep. This is your quiet time and I don't want to here another peep from you." I then picked up Cameron and laid him down. I also laid Connor down and proceeded to leave. Cameron started crying whining "tucka in" to which I replied "No. I have already tucked you in 4 times. You need to go to sleep" and walked out. Cameron cried. Very dramatic. For about two minutes and then silence... for the next hour plus until the dog started barking and woke them up. When I went in to get them, we talked a little about how they were missing out on playtime with Nana since they wouldn't go to sleep and how I had gotten upset. Cameron then said he cried, immitated his cry (quite well) for a few seconds and then said "just like that." He also does this to imitate the mixer, blender, dump truck, etc. He's quite a good impressionist.

While Cameron is very animated, energetic and engaging with everyone, Connor is not one to run off in strange places unless he's running with Cameron. Connor is thoughful, helpful and more subdued in his toddler antics. When faced with new or uncomfortable situations, he just needs to hold my hand. (Neither of them try too much to get me to pick them up anymore since I almost always tell them my back is broken and I can't.) Connor's helpfulness and cleanliness are most intriguing to me. Today, for example, just before the boys awoke from their naps, I had discovered a nice flour mess Jack had made for me when I wasn't looking for a minute, which led to bedtime for Jack, which resulted in much barking which woke up the boys. After getting them out of bed, I told them Jack made a big mess and did they want to see. So we all went into the kitchen to behold the flour everywhere. I asked Connor to get the little broom in the closet which he promptly did. This is impressive since I only use that particular cleaning tool maybe every other week. We swept up the flour. When we were done, I asked him to put it back. He put it back exactly as it had been. I find this so amazing since he's two and not genetically related to me. How did I get "my" child?

The boys are gaining a sense of time. They know that their bed time is 8 (and that Wee Willie Winkie checks to make sure children are in bed by 8). I show them our clock in the bathroom and explain that the little hand on the 8 means it's 8 o'clock. I believe that is the only number they can identify. They also have some concept of the days of the week. They know that Saturday and Sunday they don't go to school but on Monday they do. They remember a lot. We went for eye exams at the end of December. We attempted to go again one weekend earlier this month to pick out frames for Mike and I but the store was closed. Now, whenever we go down that street, Connor points out the eye doctor. They still talk about their dentist, Dr. Copeland whom they have met once and won't see again until next month. They're little boys now. They are amazing and I just adore them.