24 Months - (Burr-day! Burr-day!)

Dear kittens,

A week ago, you turned two. Sandwiched as the day was between the holidays, we decided to keep it a low-key affair push the larger celebration to a later date so family can be there. We celebrated by surprising you each with one gift at breakfast, and singing "Happy Birthday" to you at the top of our lungs. You were delighted with this, and have, ever since, said "Mommy! Burr-day! Burr-day Mommy!" I don't have the heart to tell you there won't be another one for a whole year, and anyway, you'll get to have the fun of a party in only a couple of weeks .

SO much to tell since my last letter to you, mostly in regards to speech. In the past few months your language has just exploded. You both now have dozens and dozens (maybe hundreds!) of words and phrases, and learn new ones literally every day. You know all your colors and can count to 10 in English and Spanish. You are starting to use more complex phrases too, both with us and with each other, which is too adorable. I've witnessed you, little girl, trying to "sell" your brother on an idea with several words and gestures, and it is very clear you understand how to use a variety of words and gestures to get your meaning across to us. Sometimes you get things a little wrong which is funny only because you insist that your version is the correct one. For instance, a conversation with little girls:

"Mommy! Tinkle!"

"Tinkle? What's tinkle?"

"Tinkle Mommy! Tinkle!"

"Honey I don't know what tinkle is."

"Mommy! Tinkle, tinkle little starrrrr..."

"Oh, you mean TWINKLE. Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are..."

"No Mommy!!! TINKLE!"

etc.

You both love to sing too,especially little guy! You sing constantly: in the car, in your room, in the den while playing. Every morning when you wake up, I can hear you singing the ABC song to yourself on the monitor. At first you could only vaguely get the tune, but each week you get better at it, to the frequent annoyance of your sister.

A new favorite is Elmo. A few weeks ago while you were both sick, I started letting you watch short videos of Elmo on YouTube, and it was an instant success. You both LOVE Elmo, especially videos where he sings songs! A singing Elmo doll was one of your birthday gifts from us, and you've both wanted to sleep with them ever since. Well, to be perfectly honest, one of them is a Cookie Monster. But as far as you are concerned, its a blue Elmo and that's fine with me.

This week you also started full-time in the 2-3 year old class at preschool, where I swear, you look just tiny next to all the other kids. I think it is going to be really great for you to be around these older kids though. Many of them are potty trained or on their way, and it looks like that will be our next big adventure. Not for a few more months, though. I'm finding I am in no rush for potty training and toddler beds and all of those "next steps." I am perfectly happy to keep you here for just a little while longer, my two-year-old babies!

20 Months: Cah! Cah! Cah!

Now that we have hit the 20th month mark, I think its time to write a bit about your speech progression, which is of course, remarkable. I know that for parents who have already been through this, it's old hat, but for these first time parents, the speed at which language develops is nothing short of astonishing.

Here is a partial list of words you now say regularly. I'm sure I am forgetting some, and I'm also not including the words you only said once or twice simply repeating them after me:

Hi
Bye
Up (UPPY! UPPY!)
Down
Car (CAH! This is used to mean any vehicle, from cars to buses, trucks and planes. The bigger the vehicle, the more excited the CAH!)
Cup
Muh (Meaning "milk," or, in Little Guy's case, sometimes "Monkey"
More
Water (Wawa)
No
Mine
Mommy
Dada
Out
Purple (Little Girl)
Ball
Eye
Nose
Eye (again, but this time meaning ear. We are working on it)
Animal Sounds: Moo, Buh buh buh (for chickens), Kack kack (the sound ducks make), Baaaa, Owww (the sound cats make. Our old cat really did sound like that), Arf arf
Kaka (you guys learned this at daycare. It means "poop" in Spanish)


You understand, of course, much MUCH more than you can speak and that's hard to remember. It makes me realize how much we depend on verbal communication to demonstrate both intelligence and understanding! Because even though you still don't speak very clearly, you understand absolutely eveything, my smart monkeys.

I'll finish this post with some exciting news. Yesterday we went to Target and picked up a couple of training potties. We aren't planning to start toilet training in earnest yet, but that's only a couple of months away and I figure it can't hurt to start getting you used to them now. Just like I imagined, you spent the evening pushing them around the house like push toys and taking them apart. I do wish the little inserts were a bit tougher to get off the base! I am foreseeing some unpleasant accidents in our futuer.

However, last night after your bath, little Guy was running around the bathroom naked, as is his wont, and I am sure it was a complete accident, but I looked over and he had peed in the little toilet! Sure, he also missed it by quite a bit, but still, some got in the little bowl! Daddy just happened to be there as well, bringing us a towel, and we both promptly made a HUGE deal about it. Little Guy just looked at us like, "huh?"

Then this morning, Little Girl was getting dressed in her room when she started saying, "kaka? Kaka?" Well, given the last time this happened, I immediately asked if she wanted to go kaka in the toilet. She pointed at the bathroom, so I set her down, and she ran across the hallway into the bathroom. I pointed at her little potty and said, "You can go kaka in there!" We spent the next few minutes sort of messing about..she would pick up the insert, put it back down, sit on the potty, get back up, sit back down, etc. Finally I had to go so I said, "Look, mommy will go with you!" I sat down on the toilet while she sat down on her potty. When we both stood up again, she had peed! I couldn't believe it, I was SO proud. I showed it to her and let her help me "empty" it so she would get the connection.

I know it was mostly accidental, but she really does seem to "get" the whole process. My smart little cookie!

Mommy
xoxoxo

Mommy! Kaka!

It happened last night.

The three of us were in the bathroom, having our nightly bath. Little girl was still in the tub (its getting harder and harder to get her out each night. She is starting to take after her cousin!) Little guy was running around naked, getting into all the cabinets and drawers, so my attention was naturally focused on him and trying to keep him from a)peeing all over the place and b) pulling all the toilet paper down.

I became vaguely aware of Little girl saying, "Mommy..kaka. Kaka." I didn't pay too much attention..she has just started saying this word. It's not a word I would ever use, and I'm not excited about it, but she picked it up at daycare and it seems to have stuck so, whatever.

The next thing I know, she's pooping in the tub. I couldn't believe it! She NEVER poops in the tub, and here she was, trying to warn me. I was kicking myself for not listening to her, even as I was praising her up and down for telling me (and scooping both her and armfuls of toys out of the tub before they could get poop-ated!)

If you had told me, even two years, that I'd be excited about someone taking a dump in my bathtub, I'd have called you crazy, or worse. But this is one of those watershed moments, not because of the action, but because its a reminder once again that the two of you are thinking, feeling, communicating little beings and that I really need to remember that and pay more attention to what you are saying! So please, let me apologize and swear, right now, that the next time you say, "Mommy...kaka!" I will JUMP.

Xoxo

Mama

Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!

Thusly starts the path to speech. My dear little ones, this word first made it's appearance a couple of months ago and rapidly became a favorite. You both find it incredibly useful, because it can communicate a whole range of terms and emotions:

Mine!: "I dropped that please get for me."

Mine!: "Hey! My sibling took that from me! I want it back!"

Mine? "Is that our school?"

Mine? "It that our house?"

MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE!: "I am thirsty! Get me my milk RIGGGGHHHTT NOOOOOOOWWWWWW!! Holy crap you are taking TOO LONG! IT'S BEEN 7 SECONDS WHY ISN"T MY MILK IN MY HAND YET??!?"


"No" has been another favorite of yours, little girl, and I think your brother is just about to pick it up as well. You love this word and even though most of the time you really do mean "no," you often say it when you mean "yes." We are teaching you "yes," and you can sign it, but it just is easier or more fun to say, "no," apparently.

Meanwhile, the clearest communication going on is still between the two of you. Here is a story from a few week ago:

Little girl, we were getting you dressed for school and you were sitting on the changing table. I was pulling short sleeve shirts out for you (since I felt it was going to be a warm day) and you were flinging them all back at me while saying, "No! No! No!" So I was getting a bit frustrated ( I do have to get to work at a somewhat reasonable hour!) and trying to ignore your brother, who was standing below me trying with all his might to point to a long sleeve brown shirt that for some reason he loves for you. So he's frantically trying to get my attention, and he finally loses patience and reaches over, grabs the shirt, and hands it up to you. You smile, take the shirt and try to pull it over your head, and the two of you are looking at me like, "Jeez Mom, DUH!"

So now I consult your brother on many of your wardrobe changes. He apparently has impeccable taste, because you always want to wear exactly what he suggests. I think I need to start getting his help in dressing myself; certainly your father could use some pointers.

You've had a great couple of months. We seem to finally be getting a break from the constant illness that started in February (although having said that, I think we may be coming down with new colds right now) and you got to visit with Mom Mom and Pop Pop. We also have a trip to Hawaii coming up rapidly; for which I am literally counting the days, although your father is a bit less excited. He's concerned about the flight and whether you two will give us hell. I personally think you will be so excited by the new space that for the first hour at least, our biggest problem will be keeping your little fingers out of the old ashtray holes.

Physically you are both getting bigger and stronger by the minute, although you are still a bit peanutty compared to other kids. But you certainly don't know the difference, and you fling yourself with gusto at everything you can reach. Neither of you seems to be scared of ANYTHING, although I almost wish you were a bit more cautious sometimes. It seems we have to constantly be on vigil, lest you decide to jump off the bed (which you, little girl, have already done twice!), jump into the pool, or walk right off a 5-foot drop at the playground. Your daddy has many, many new gray hairs to attest to your bravery. Last weekend we showed you how to climb at the playground, and now that is all you want to do! Thank goodness we no longer have any bookshelves in the den, or we would be in major trouble. The furniture will do nicely, thank you very much!

We are still waiting for our yard to be done so we can FINALLY enjoy some outdoor fun. I feel like we've been waiting all summer, but considering how cool it has been, maybe our timing wasn't so terrible. For now, the yard is a giant dirt pit, which, as far as you are concerned, is just FINE. Fortunately our new mudroom is adjacent to the new bathroom, because there are a lot of occasions calling for a shakedown!

By the end of this month, you will be 20 months old. Only a few short months away from your 2nd birthday, and I am wondering where my little babies have gone. I don't wish them back necessarily; I am loving every new step as we go. But lately I've been hugging you a little tighter and a little longer, trying to imprint the feel of your little bodies into my memory and soul. I feel like I can't get enough of your sheer littleness...I want to soak it up like a sponge. I know someday my arms will ache to hold you on my lap like I can now, and I want to savojavascript:void(0)r every bit of this time. I wouldn't mind at all if you wanted to slow down just a little bit. Just for your mama? Please? No? Well, then if, when I get home tonight, you could just say "mine" a couple of dozen times so I can record it.

Thanks, my loves.

Kack Kack Kack!

Dear Kittens,

A little more than a week ago, you passed the 18-month mark; half-way through your second year on this earth.

You have now entered the age of language, and this is one of the most exciting times to date. Each week you refine your skills, and your Daddy and I are getting better at interpreting as well, so the result is much better communication. By now, we have some of the basics down; you can sign "milk," "more," "please," and "thank you." You say "Hi and bye bye," "Bubble," "Down" (which sounds like da), "my," and a few other words. Most fun, you can both do many animal sounds and I love making you run through them for me. Lions say "rawwwrgh!", Chickens say "Buh buh buh BUH" and ducks, of course, say "Kack!"

You are both doing very well with your fine and gross motor skills as well. You can eat with a fork and spoon pretty darn well, and around the house, you are little monkeys, scrambling up on top of the coffee table and pulling yourself up on the chair. Daddy and I have to start getting more careful about what we leave on counters and tables, because you are now tall enough to reach them!

Little boy: I wish you knew how much your smile melts my heart. Your beautiful blue eyes and sweet round cheeks are just ripe for stroking. Please be kind and gentle with your sister. She loves you and is so good to you! Please don't bite her, tackle her and rip toys from her hand.

My sweet little girl: You are astounding to me. You are so good, so sweet! You share willingly, offer gladly and you get genuinely distressed when your brother is upset. I am constantly amazed at how much you understand and how well you can communicate! I adore spending time with you. You are truly my pride and joy.

Love, Mama

I have waited 15.5 months for this!

Last night, all four of us were hanging out in your room having some "naked time" after your bath. We had just finished nursing (you now both like to sit up facing me to nurse which is so weird!) and on a whim I said, "who wants to read a book? Hope, would you like to pick out a book?" and darn if you didn't turn right around, walk over to the bookshelf, picked up a book, came back and handed it to me, then sat right down in my lap! And we read the WHOLE BOOK together!

I was amazed and excited. This was literally the first time that you have brought me over a book to read, and the fact that I just asked you to and you did it...well, this is a breakthrough moment.

Clearly you understand what your Daddy and I say very well.

Uh-oh.

Love, mama!

15 months

Dear Kittens,

A few days ago you hit the 15-month mark, and so far you seem to be holding true to the idea that you seem to go through a huge change every 3 months. It's funny to look back at photos from your birthday; just three months ago but wow, such dramatic changes.

Your communication is really taking off and is becoming more "two-way" than ever, especially Little Girl. You can do all sorts of fun things like wave, point, blow kisses, and pat you chest when I say "Who is the baby?" You love to say "bay-beh" and its become your go-to word of choice, almost more than "Ma ma." Even cuter, I think you call your brother "Diddy." Other than that we still haven't had any clear words, but your babbling has become MUCH more word-like. It's clear you are trying very hard to tell your father and I important things; if only we could figure it out!

Physically you have no fear. You can climb steps and playground equipment with kids much larger, and you love going down slides. You also love to just walk around, and you are very content to run around the park or through a sandpit. You can move quickly too, I really had to keep my eye on you!

This past month we also had some tough illnesses to get through, including your first ear infection. It took us of really awful nights of being up the whole night to realize what it was, and you have no idea how guilty I feel about that. We could't figure out WHAT was wrong, we just knew that you seemed miserable and not able to sleep or even lie down. I'm just sick with guilt that I didn't figure it out and get you some pain reliever stronger than infant tylenol! Poor little girl. Fortunately, a week of ear drops and antibiotics later, you are all better and sleeping as well as ever.

Little man, you seem to like to follow in your sister's footsteps. A couple of weeks after she started waving "bye bye," you started doing it too! I am still waiting for you to blow kisses or point to yourself though. And you aren't quite as linguistically advanced, although I've noticed your babbling sounds distinctly more "word-like" as well. In general, you prefer to be a bit less communicative and don't point quite as much. We will need to work on signing and communicating a bit more with you, I think. Recently you started wanting to crawl into my lap, just like your sister, and I am just loving every minute of it. I adore holding both of you, one on each leg, with my arms around each chunky little body. It feels amazing.

As you were both getting over some nasty colds, your appetite took a nose-dive and I was getting a bit frantic trying to come up with dinners you both would eat. Much of the time I'd knock myself out making a healthy, balanced meal (not easy with no kitchen!) only to watch you both knock whatever I put in front of you to the floor without even tasting it. Then I'd end up running back into the kitchen to heat up some frozen thing in an attempt to get you to eat SOMETHING. Anything. Well, a week ago I decided that wasn't happening anymore. It was simply way too stressful on me, so I figured I would offer you ONE meal with a nice variety of options and if you didn't want to eat it, well so be it. And there have been a few dinners where all you ate, Little Girl, was peas; or maybe Little Man, you wanted nothing but spaghetti. And you know what? It was ok! Maybe you were a bit hungrier for breakfast in the morning, but you were sure none the worse for wear and you didn't wake up in the middle of the night starving. Maybe its our new relaxed attitude at dinner time, but the last few nights, you've eaten just great again. Its like having my good eaters back!



Also new this month..bike seats! We finally got the iBert ones and started taking some rides. You seem to both really enjoy them and I look forward to many more as the weather gets warmer and the days longer.

Coming later this month...my first business trip away from you. I am both looking forward to it and dreading it. This will be my first time away from you for so long since you've been born, and I am already missing you. I think your father is a bit nervous about taking care of you all by himself for four days, so please, be easy on him.

All my love- mama