The SkatKitten Diaries

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

2011-01-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-08-30T15:05:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-08-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-11T20:48:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

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

Funcare!

2010-02-17T21:46:00.001-08:00

How are we already at 13.5 months? I don't know how time can be going so quickly. My kittens, you are no longer "babies," you have morphed fully into "toddlers," and I am more than a little sad about it. You are my first and last babies, and so, as hard as those first few months are, I can't quite believe that they are already over and I won't ever be able to experience babies again. Well, I guess until you have your own babies and I get to play doting grandma!

This week began a whole new phase in our lives: daycare. We said goodbye to our dear friend and nanny, Lynda, which was harder than I envisioned; not for you so much as for me! She has been a wonderful companion for you both and I know you adore her, but this will be a great new experience for you. It was time for you both to be able to be with some other kids and get some more stimulation, so here we are. I was so, so worried about the first day, but you both did GREAT. I think it helped that we visited a couple of times last week, so it wasn't a totally new experience for you. When I dropped you off, you were instantly surrounded by so many new friends, toys, and new "Aunties" that I don't think you even noticed when I left. Even so, you can bet I left work early to come and get you. I worried about you all day and thought of you constantly. Other than not napping, at ALL, you did great (so I am told). I can certainly understand about the napping; it was a totally different environment and time than you are used to! I do hope it works itself out soon; the last couple of days you both have been just knackered and cranky by the time we finish dinner.

Developmentally, you are both at light speed. Little girl, you are now almost running, especially if you see something you REALLY want (like a doggie at the park!) It's in a cute, bow-legged manner though..really quite adorable. Little Man, you have almost caught up with your sister at walking..almost. She still can run circles around you, but I have no doubt you will soon be chasing her around.

I am so glad the two of you have each other. For every head smack and poke in the eye you exchange, there is also a giggle, pat and touch.

Scootches and steps

2010-01-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

It's January, 2010 and we are just beginning Renovation Hell. We no longer have a kitchen or a hallway bathroom, but we do have the framing in place already for the new laundry room! I can sort of see all the new spaces, which is cool.

Did I also mention we have had back-to-back storms all week? Lashing, driving rain and thunder makes going out the front door, around the side of the house and into the back yard to do the laundry even more exciting and fun. I am also enjoying all the mud and dirt all over the house.

Not.

The two of you however, are delightful. Little girl, you have just discovered steps and now love to go up and down the only three steps in the house, over and over and over. This is really cute, but hard on your mommy's back because you want to hold onto my hands while you do it. You are getting better and better at walking and don't need to hold your hands straight out, Frankenstein style, anymore.

Little guy, you have some new vocalizations, the "O" sound. You love perfecting this in the car on the way to your nanny's house in the morning. It's too cute. I look in the mirror and you are back there singing, "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Next month we start a whole new chapter in your lives....daycare. Your mommy is just mildly terrified; of leaving you that first day, and of colds...and well, you two aren't my tiny babies anymore. You are officially...toddlers!

Walking!

2010-01-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Walking!!!
I knew it was coming any time. You've been wanting to walk for several weeks now...your favorite game is to hold onto Mommy's fingers and walk around the room in a circle. This is very fun for you and very hard on Mommy's back! You take every opportunity to try and constantly falling down hasn't dampened your exhuberance at all. Its been wonderful watching you perfect your balance; my heart sways every time your little body does. I love how you tackled your first step of carpeted stairs, you took one look at them and just went zoom! Straight up to the top without hesitation, my brave little one.

And now here you are, just two weeks past your first birthday, and I can now officially call you my little toddler, instead of my little baby. *Sniff*.

One day, you too will understand how proud I am, when YOUR baby is taking his or her first steps.

All my love,

Mama

Happy Birthday, Kittens!!

2010-01-04T16:17:00.001-08:00

Good Lord, how did we get to a year already? Here you are, already looking less like my little babies and more and more like the toddlers you are fast becoming. As your 1st birthday came and went, you were too busy standing, pulling up, cruising and practicing walking to notice the festivities much, especially mixed in as it was with your first Christmas and New Year's!

And what a fun first birthday it was! Sandwiched as it is between the holidays, I wasn't sure how we'd celebrate it, but it was great. What made it really special (at least for me!) was that your Mom Mom, Pop Pop, Auntie M and cousin Bean came all the way here just to see you and celebrate with you. Your Daddy's family was in full-force as well, and everyone made sure there was no lack of presents for you to open! You also got your first taste of cake, something your Gran has been dying to give you ever since you were 6- months old. It was actually an almost healthy pumpkin spice cake with very little sugar, but shhhh, don't tell her. And the cream cheese frosting did sort of mitigate the healthful aspect.

Unfortunately, there WAS some unpleasantness. Little Man, you move too quickly for your Mama and your Mom-Mom these days. You were in the kitchen playing with some pots and pans, and we both took our eyes off of you for a tiny second, which was just long enough for you to crawl right over to my old, roasting-at-400-degrees-oven, and lay your tiny hands flat on the scorching glass. You burned yourself badly, and broke your Mama's heart clean in half. It only took you a day and some tylenol to feel like yourself again, but I don't think your Mama or Daddy will ever be the same. We sure learned our lesson, and sorry Little Man, but you aren't allowed to play in the kitchen anymore; at least not while the oven is on!

Your accident didn't slow you down too much. You've been doing so well with trying to walk, getting stronger and stronger. You are sleeping better too..we had a few spells where you were waking up at odd hours in the morning again, but after a couple of nights of not getting nursed anymore, you got back on track and you are sleeping past 6am again. Phew! You are eating all sorts of new foods, and you seem to have almost caught up with your bottomless sister! No doubt all the extra activity has revved up your appetite.

Little Girl: You continue to be my delight. You have really blossomed as far as interactivity, and we marvel at how SMART you are. You are a great mimic and you are quick to pick up new games I try to play with you. You love to push the walker around the living room; or barring that, hold my fingers as you steer me around the room. It seems like you will just take off walking any minute; which means we better get ready! Pretty soon that play room will feel too small and we are going to have *gulp* TWO toddlers going in all directions.

I don't think your Daddy is adequately prepared. Boy is he in for a surprise!

Love you both!

Mama

First Cold

2009-12-09T10:14:00.001-08:00

It had to happen eventually, and really, we are pretty lucky to have made it almost a whole year. But still, colds suck. Feel better soon, little Man!

11 months

2009-12-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Dear kittens,

We are fast approaching the one-year anniversary of your birth, and all the bookies are taking fast action on whether or not you will be walking by then. I am afraid to hazard a guess, but if you both keep getting stronger at the rate you are, it's definitely a possibility! You went from crawling to pulling up to cruising in a remarkably short time, no doubt encourage by the walking toys we bought you, as well as your Gran's exhortations. The desire is certainly there, as you try desparately to reach things that you have apparently been eyeing for months. Who knew that you were just DYING to get into the side cabinets of the wall units? I certainly had no idea that the contents of the end table in your room has been mocking you for months, but now that you can reach it, you are determined to get everything you can reach with your little hands and pile them right on the floor. At first we thought you actually wanted certain objects, and we'd try to help you reach them. It took me a couple of days to realize you didn't want anything, you just wanted to pull them down/out/off yourself. Now if only we could get you to enjoy putting things back. Ha ha ha. I know.

The best part about having you both is how much you enjoy each other. Sure, there is the requisite hair-pulling, tackling and toy stealing; your Daddy and I have pretty much resigned ourselves to this only getting worse as you get bigger. But you also love to play quietly together and you make up your own silly games which I love. Little guy, absolutely nothing your Daddy and I can do will make you crack up like whatever the heck your sister is doing in that play tent. I love being in the kitchen and hearing you crack up from the den. Your laughter is the sweetest sound in my whole world.

Socially, I wish you had more opportunity to meet other kids, because when you DO meet them, you aren't much interested in playing with them. Sure you might watch them for a few seconds, but you'd rather explore your own space. I hope this changes once you get older.

Your diet has grown to encompass pretty much anything we eat, so I try to plan meals around you now as well. This is quite a challenge! It's the age-old question that Moms everywhere have grown to dread: "What's for dinner?" Some days I wish I could just put a grilled cheese sandwich in front of you. I guess those days aren't far off.

Little girl, you seem to have, overnight, developed a new sense of awareness and communication. You are most definitely listening to me and communicating. For instance, all of a sudden a few days ago, you held your dog puppet up in the air and started mimicking the "arf arf" sound I make when I play with it. It was quite clear and deliberate! Also, if I say, "would you like to kiss your teddy?" you lean forward, open your mouth and touch it to the teddy. It's so exciting to be communicating with you! You have also learned that hand gestures mean certain things, but I think you confuse the signs for "more" and "All done." This is my fault, I need to separate those more. But how exciting that you have figured out that you can gesture and tell me what you want! You have also finally learned to use a sippy cup, and you'll easily drain a full one in a few moments.

Little guy, you continue to be my delight. You are so affectionate, and you love your mommy! Your favorite thing to do is stand up, cling to my shoulder and at the same time, play with some object in your hand. You are both adventurous and wanting to stay close. You aren't quite as sure about foods as your sister, but you watch her closely and will eventually try anything as long as she goes first. You are really starting to fill out and our affectionate nickname for you now is "Chunk-a-munk." I adore hugging you, you are so deliciously substantial in my arms.

As I count down to your birthday, I have to reflect on how different our lives are now, compared to several months ago. You are poised on the edge of toddlerhood, and as much as I celebrate your inevitable developmental progress, a part of me wishes I could freeze you for a moment in your infancy. It's all going so fast for your Daddy and I!

Love, Mommy

10.5 months

2009-11-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know where the days fly to, but here we are only 6 weeks away from your first birthday! And what an extraordinary month its been. The developments are really coming fast and furious now. You both started crawling within a day or two of each other, just after we got back from Portland. Little Girl, you skipped the army crawling that your brother was doing for several days and went straight to full-on crawling. Now I can't even keep up with you, you both go so fast! The other day I carried you both inside from a walk, and put you down on the living room while I ran to get the phone. By the time I had got back (all of 15 seconds), Little Guy had crawled across the room, into the kitchen, and upended the bowl of water we keep out for the cat. Its like you had been eyeing it and were just waiting for the opportunity.

Needless to say, its a full-time job keeping you both out of mischief. We did our best to babyproof the various rooms you spend time in, but you just want to get into *everything*. Not to mention, you have figured out how to pull yourselves up to a standing position, which is a recipe for bumps, bruises and crying, especially on our hard wood floors. You have each had at least one awful looking bruise on your forehead at all times for the past two weeks. I cringe every time one of you bonks yourself too, and my mother-in-law assures me its only going to get worse. I don't know how I am going to get through your toddler-hood! Good thing I have medical insurance.

Another exciting development: teeth!! Little Guy, you busted out four of them all at once and seemingly overnight. Your bottom front teeth poked through first, but your top two were right behind. Unfortunately this has given you the ability to cause some serious damage when you are nursing, and unless we get the biting under control, you may be getting weaned earlier than anticipated! Let's hope this is just a (painful) phase. Little Girl, you have one bottom front tooth that's been juuuuust barely poking up for a while now. Its hard to tell how far along it is though, because you love to stick your tongue out everytime I try to look!

Vocally, you both never stop talking. Little Man, you love to say something that sounds like "Yeah!" and you say it a lot. You are only quiet if you are realllly absorbed in something. Little Girl, you are experimenting with a whole range of sounds and you are quite the mimic! You say "Mama" and "Dada" and I swear the other day you said "Kitty cat." Although it sounded like "Kitkat." Cute as hell.

We have really started getting adventurous with food and so far you've willingly eaten just about everything I've offered, with a few exception. Little Man, you don't much care for scrambled eggs or goat cheese, but you've scarfed down foods as diverse as Dover Sole and salmon, barley with mushrooms, red quinoa, banana pancakes, crumpets, buttered French bread, sweet potato chunks and all kinds of green vegetables. Little Girl, I haven't found too many things you just plain won't eat, even the dried out lamb I accidentally made the other night. Sorry about that. You are a trooper. Your particular favorite is grapes...you can't eat them quickly enough and if I didn't dole them out in small chunks, you'd stuff about 5 in your mouth at once.

We try to get you both out to many new places, including parks and playgrounds, restaurants and even a wine bar or two. We did check out a petting zoo, but you seemed less than impressed by the animals. I hope its only a temporary thing; your mommy would be crushed if you didn't like animals as much as she does! Fortunately, you love your Farm Book, which is very exciting. We now read to you two almost every night, and I think its finally starting to become enjoyable to you (as opposed to just wanting to eat the book).

All my love -

Mama

9 (1/2) Months

2009-10-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, I am very, very late this month. Perhaps you'll forgive me once I tell you how much has been going on in our busy lives! This has been an incredibly exciting month with lots of "Firsts," not the least of which was your first plane rides to visit your Auntie, Uncle and cousins in Portland. I don't mind telling you now that I was very nervous about this first trip. Traveling by plane with two infants is no small feat, logistically and emotionally. I was worried about how you would do on the plane, how we would maneuver all of the stuff we need through two airports, and how you would sleep once we got there. We prepared as well as possible by having you practice sleeping in your new Peapods, which are a fabulous product. You did beautifully on the trip out, absolutely no problems on the plane and the two of you absolutely enchanted all the flight attendants. They literally couldn't stop coming by to ogle you. You got only a short cat nap in the rental car on the way to our rental apartment, but despite being tired, you made it through the long afternoon and even made it through dinner at a local Italian restaurant without fussing. I was so proud of you both!

I think you enjoyed your weekend in Portland. It was colder than we are used to here, but you got to play with your adoring (and adorable) older cousin, visit Sauvie Island, taste raspberries for the first time, went to a pumpkin patch, and strolled the streets of Sellwood, all with aplomb. You also slept very well in your Peapods, and I was so glad we took the time to get you used to them before we went.

The ride home was a bit more difficult..it was later in the day and I think you were both just DONE with traveling. It was after 8pm by the time we got you home and in your cribs. You did as well as could be expected, but I think your daddy has no interest in flying anytime soon!

This has been a month of lots of other firsts as well, including being able to get yourselves into a sitting position all by yourselves. Little man, you were the first to solve that challenge, and after watching you for a week or so, your sister followed suit.

One other big first?

You are both crawling more and more right now as well as starting to pull up in your cribs or other objects. It seems like your physical development is on the fast forward button! So far no teeth have shown yet, but Little Man, you have two distinctly swollen spots where your front teeth are soon to be. This may or may not be affecting your mood..some days you seem to have trouble napping and we wonder if this is why. Overall though you are both sleeping well and for this we are grateful.

Both of you continue to be great eaters! This month we got the ok from your doctor to introduce whole milk yogurt, and you both seem to like that. Just this morning we tried scrambled egg yolk, and Little Girl, you liked that well enough. Little Man, you weren't so sure. So far although you will eat pretty much anything your mommy offers you, your favorite foods seem to be various versions of Cheerios, applesauce, pears and sweet potatos. You also love to try different things we offer you from our own plates, from hummus to roasted carrots and asparagus to chicken and beef.

This month also brought a visit from your doting Mom Mom and Pop Pop, who love visiting you and can't get enough of you. They spoiled you and your parents rotten with lots of affection and a trip to the Aquarium (another first!) You both loved watching the fish, a sea lion who swam right up to you, splashing the cold water in the pools and the colorful lorikeets who flew right up to you. You both wanted to touch them badly but we wouldn't let you, since they bite.

This has been a wonderful month. I love playing with you, taking you different places and trying new things with you. You are both such wonderful babies; taking new experiences in stride.

Farewell

2009-09-25T09:14:00.001-07:00

Dear hearts,

Two days ago we said goodbye to a family member, our dog Kylie. I don't know if I can adequately convey how much your Daddy and I will miss her. She came into my life 11 years ago as a tiny, scared little puppy, and from her first night, brought intense joy with a slight side of destruction.

When your Daddy first met her, he wasn't sure he liked dogs. He didn't have many good experiences or memories with them. He tolerated her because he was interested in me, and he wanted to be a good sport. It didn't take much time at all for him to fall in love with her. She was a bundle of energy wrapped around a sweet soul. We would spend hours at the park, throwing the ball for her to retrieve over and over. Or we would go to the beach and watch her catch frisbees with such elegance and athleticism that perfect strangers would stop to marvel. I started to go on hikes solely for the purpose of being able to let her run off leash; I never liked hiking much before I got Kylie. Now its something I look forward to each fall as soon as the weather cools, and I can't wait to bring you two. I only wish our friend was still with us, trotting just in front of me, pausing every so often to look back and say, "Come ON!"

She was a wonderful guard dog as well. Anyone who knocked on the door or entered our back yard was greeted with fierce and ferocious barking, until they proved to be a welcome guest. At that, growls and barks turned to sheer joy and exhuberance (sometimes a bit too much!) I have no doubt that our home avoided the spate of burglaries that have plagued this neighborhood in large part because of her vigilance. Knowing she was at home, guarding, brought me enormous peace of mind.

We were a bit worried about how she would feel about you, little ones. Kylie didn't get to meet a lot of kids, and she usually avoided them out of fear. There had also been a few, er, incidents with other toddlers that had us concerned. We needn't have feared. When we first brought you both home, she was a bit nervous. No doubt because you smelled new and like the hospital. But over the weeks and months she grew curious and fond of you. She always wanted to be in the same room with you, and not just because you often threw up tasty morsels. She just seemed protective of you. She would lay down next to you and let you touch her face, ears, nose, paws. Little girl, you in particular were so curious about her and she let you explore with great patience.

I wish very much that she could have stayed a bit longer so that you might remember her more clearly. I know that, in the future, I will show you photos and videos of Kylie next to you, and you might barely get a wisp of a memory. My dearest wish is that someday you will have another friend in your life as good, loyal, and loving as this dog was to your Mommy and Daddy.

Until then, peanuts, remember what you can.

Love, Mom

The Speed of Bright

2009-09-08T16:50:00.001-07:00

Dear Kittens,

It's funny, but I realize that so many of your developmental leaps seem to come from sheer frustration ("Hey! Even though I have 18,347 other toys here, I want what HE/SHE is playing with. Give it to me! Give it! Now! How can I get it...let me. just. roll. over. there. arrrrrrrrrrgh! Oh hey! How did I DO that?")

The hardest part for me, as your mom is, how much do I help you out? I want to give you plenty of space to figure out how these little bodies of yours work, as well as physics and that oh so cruel mistress, gravity. But it also hurts me to see you laying there, wailing, because you can't do something you want to do. This also extends to your relationship with each other. On one hand, I want you to touch each other, interact and play, but I really don't want you to yank each other's hair or whack each other in the face with a spoon.

On the exciting development side, there's lots going on! Little girl, you can now feed yourself with your own spoon! Sure, sometimes you are bit messy about it, but for the most part you do a darn good job of delivering the food to your mouth. I'm so impressed by your fine motor skills, especially since I wasn't really letting you practice! You have fantastic depth perception and control.

Your new favoritest thing is blowing raspberries. It cracks you up, especially if your Mommy does it back at you! Unfortunately its not so funny when you have a mouth full of food, and its very hard not to laugh, but I definitely can't encourage that!

Little man, you get more personable and charming by the day. You are also sooooo close to figuring out the crawling thing. You don't know this, but I watch you on the video monitor while you are in your crib (sorry if that creeps you out one day!) and I can see you pulling your knees underneath you and sort of rocking. Now we just need to give you the confidence to be able to do that on the play mat! Although come to think of it, I am not THAT much in a hurry for you to crawl. I am sort of relishing this time when you'll more or less stay in the area I leave you in.

You watch your sister very closely, and I know that if she does something new, you are going to notice it quickly and try to do it as well. Lately you've also been wanting your mommy more than usual, and you won't let me leave you alone in a room for too long. When you are playing, you stop often to "check in" with me and want to touch my leg to make sure I am still close by. I find this both heart-melting and a bit worrisome. I don't want you to start becoming anxious when I have to leave for work each day!

My dear kittens, I almost wish I could freeze this moment in time for just a little while. This is such a delicious age; old enough to interact and play with me, yet not yet walking or running away from me. I know the best is still to come...but for just a little while, please...stay still just a bit longer.

Happy 8-month birthday!

2009-08-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, 8 months. I know its a cliche, but where DOES the time go? Well, I know where actually, and its been time well spent.

This past month has been a truly exciting one. So many new skills learned, new experiences gained and new things tried. Every month I fall in love with both of you a little more, impossible at that seems. Your personalities are becoming clearer and more sharply focussed; strengths and characters are emerging along with some traits that are, er, a little less glamorous. (But who can blame you; you take after your doting and imperfect parents!)

Little man: You are making incredible strides physically. You are getting really strong, and this morning you suddenly started scootching yourself backwards. This makes you incredibly frustrated, because you can't quite figure out how you are getting where you do. But its also comical (please forgive your mommy for chuckling) because you get the most hilarious looks on your face! It's as if you want to complain but can't help being interested by the new position in which you suddenly find yourself! Have patience, O' son of mine, soon you will master those pesky limbs and then there will be no stopping you! And yes, your mommy is fully aware of the irony of her telling anyone to be patient.

You continue to be a great eater; trying everything we offer you with equal enthusiasm. In the last few days, we offered you some pureed meats for the first time and you ate them up with great gusto. You seem to enjoy eating, although something about meal time is also really bothering you. I am not sure if it is the high chair that bothers you or you just don't know how to tell us that you are thirsty or full, but meals are often accompanied with a lot of fussing and yelling. Be patient with your mommy and daddy as we try to figure out what is bothering you!

Little lady: The sweetness of your disposition brings tears to the eyes of your grateful parents. You are often content to sit quietly and take everything in with those extraordinary eyes. (A feature on which endless strangers are moved to make comment). You are wildly empathetic to others, including your brother and the dog. You love to pat the dog and if there is anything that will spur you to start crawling, it will be Kylie! You almost launch yourself across the mat to get to her.

The past couple of weeks it seems you are definitely working on some new skills, because your sleep has been a bit restless. Once you fall asleep you certainly stay asleep, but you sometimes resist going down for a nap or bed time. I think you are worried you are missing something fun...let me assure you, you aren't. Most evenings your Daddy and I are ready to eat a quick dinner, watch a bit of TV or read and call it a night!

Both of you have just discovered your hands, and this is hilarious to watch. It's like I have two little Dead Heads grooving in the living room.

Love you both--

Mama Cat

Both sitting up!

2009-08-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful.

2009-08-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

I am teary-eyed as I write this. I decided to check in with the blog of one of my fellow Multiples moms today, and reading her most recent post just broke my heart. This MoM lost her beautiful daughters at 5 1/2 months of age to a severe form of Werdnig-Hoffman disease, and she writes so beautifully and openly about her pain and grief and loss. You can follow herblog here if you like:
http://sweetgirlies.blogspot.com/

I am so incredibly grateful to her for being willing to share all her most private emotions. I can't imagine that sort of pain and loss. It is amazing to me that she has been able to get up each morning and put one foot in front of another to walk down a path of healing.

Lest any of us be tempted to take our good health for granted, let this be a reminder to be incredibly grateful for any time we have together in this world. Littlest pea and Little Man, I promise not to take my incredible good fortune that you are both healthy lightly. Today, and every day I give thanks to the Universe.

7 Months!

2009-07-31T21:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm a few days late, I know. But its been a crazy week and there is so much to tell!

Littlest pea: You are sitting up! And not just for a couple of seconds with support, but all by yourself! You've been working on this skill for a bit over a month now, getting a little bit stronger each day. Having something to reach for helps a lot..you looooove to use your dexterous little hands to pick things up and feel different textures and surfaces. If I hold you up to a window, you are less interested in looking out it than you are in feeling the glass or frame.

You are eating two solids a day, cereal with fruit in the mornings and two vegetables or some avocado at night. You are so trusting and willing to try pretty much anything, although the cereal is not your favorite and you will often make a bit of a face. I can't really blame you, I don't much care for it either, but the doctor said you need the instant kind for the extra iron. I promise, it will be much better when you can have the kind Mommy eats!

You have now been to swimming sessions at the Y 3 times, and you took the water very well, even letting me dunk you. The first time, you swam underwater a whole foot or so to me, like a little fish! I was so impressed.

Your sleeping continues to be great. Most nights you sleep from 7:30 clear through to 5 or 6am, nurse, and then go right back to sleep for another hour or two. You take at least 2 naps a day, usually for at least an hour and a half. All that good sleep must be helping you grow, because you seem to get bigger every week. You are such an incredibly mellow, good little baby. A total pleasure to be with; I can't get enough of cuddling you.

Little man: This past month has been a major breakthrough for you. It seems like overnight you went from a frustrated guy who napped poorly and woke up several times a night to a happier, calmer baby, and I know its because you finally figured out how to roll yourself back to front and back again. Turns out you love sleeping on your tummy, preferably with your butt in the air! It's cute as hell. Now that you are finally getting some good sleep, you are making huge strides in figuring out that little body of yours. You aren't quite as proficient in sitting up as your sister, but you are starting to figure it out. Like her, you like to have something to reach for to keep your attention off the fact that you are sitting up, so we need to keep enticing you with fun new toys. You are also VERY close to figuring out the basic crawl, so this weekend, its time for your Daddy and I to do some baby-proofing around here!

You have the best face. You are so full of character, and your face is constantly changing with every new emotion cycling across it. Your cheeks are exactly the color of a ripe peach, and its all I can do to not bite into them. Instead I have to content myself with little butterfly nibbles! You have the sweetest blue eyes with eyelashes that any woman would covet. Your mommy's heart just melts looking at you, every time.

You two have just figured out that the absolute best toy is whatever the other one is holding at the moment. I am not sure how much to interfere or let you work it out on your own, but I sense some conflict coming in your future!

The story so far....

2009-07-24T15:39:00.001-07:00

Dear H & H,

6 and 3/4 months old is turning out to be a great age so far. You are growing at an astounding rate, as you have been, but now I can actually see the metamorphases occurring between morning and evening of the same day. You are soaking up experiences and skills like little sea sponges.

Little girl: You continue to amaze your Daddy and I with how quickly you pick up new skills. You just started solids a couple of weeks ago, and you are already eating like a champ. You sit quietly and open your mouth like a little bird for each new spoonful. So far we've tried oatmeal, sweet potato, peas, carrots, pears, apples and butternut squash and you've eaten everything with equal and apparent relish.

You are also starting to sit up on your own for longer and longer periods, which makes mama VERY happy. I can't wait until you are sitting up entirely on your own, as I think this will open up an incredible new world for you to explore from your new vantage point. You have great control of your hands, and right now you love to touch all kinds of new surfaces...glass, fabric, walls, and your mama's face. You are not always gentle and my face shows the marks of your sharp little kitten nails, but I would never complain. Well, except about the hair-pulling...I am not fond of that!

You continue to be a GREAT sleeper, as you have been since you were only 8 weeks old. You sleep 10+ hours at night, and two long naps during the day, and for this your Mom and Dad are truly grateful.

Little Man: You have had an AMAZING month. In the beginning of the month, you didn't roll over well. You certainly could do it, and you sometimes would roll from tummy to back, but it seems as if you forgot you could do it at will. Any attempts at "tummy time" quickly turned into a bawl fest until we righted you. This was frustrating for you and cringe-inducing for us. You also struggled to sleep and would wake up several times a night. Mommy had to nurse you at least once to get back to sleep, and naps were a disaster. You rarely made it past the 45 minute mark, which left you cranky and miserable. Then one day about 2 weeks ago, I decided to see what would happen if we just let you stay on your tummy and work it out yourself, rather than rescue you. You complained mightily for about 5-6 minutes, but then....miracle! You scootched your knees under torso and just flipped right over! And it was like a tiny lightbulb went off over your head... I can roll into any position I want any time! That night was incredible. We watched on the video monitor as you rolled yourself all OVER that crib. And guess what..you realized you prefer sleeping on your tummy, little butt stuck up in the air. Unfortunately, you rolled around so vigorously that you banged your head on the crib bars several times, so we had to improvise some bumpers made from rolled up towels.

It was a major leap forward for you. Now whenever you wake up, you can just move into a more comfortable position and go back to sleep. Not only that, but you are also starting to wean off those middle of the night feedings. I am so proud of you, and relieved because it means that for the first time in more than 7 months, Mommy is getting almost a full night's sleep. Bliss indeed!

This month you both started taking more interest in each other as well. Little girl, you are incredibly empathetic to your brother. When he is upset, you are curious and concerned. You won't nurse or play, and if you are in reach, you will stretch out a hand and pat your brother's head. Little man, as soon as you see your sister each morning, you give her the widest grin imaginable. This morning you faced each other in your respective exersaucer/jumperoo and just cooed and chattered at each other. It was clear you were conversing. I can't wait for more conversations to come.

Ok Ok already.

2009-07-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late. 6 and 3/4 months late, to be exact. My sister has been on me for some time now to start keeping track of the development of my twins, H & H, and she's right. I DO need to, because I WILL forget all those precious little details otherwise. But damn, when you work full time and have infant twins, somehow there never seems to be enough time.

Fortunately, we are just now starting to get some decent sleep in our household, so here goes.

Begin the Beguine.