Our boys have been busy. Jason pulled himself up yesterday (Monday, actually). We will say that it was his first time, but he's been working towards it for about a week now. Other smart or cool things that they've been doing:
Kevin has figured out how to play with the ball roundabout toy that is in the nursery. He knows to put the ball in the top arch and it will roll into the holes or he can drop balls directly into the holes. He also knows how to circumvent the topmost holes and pop the ball directly into the side holes. What's interesting is that after he mastered this toy, he applied what he knew to the dinosaur toy in the living room. Sue commented that Kevin spent the day (Tuesday) putting the dinosaur balls into the side holes (the exit holes on this toy) on the dinorsaur. This made me laugh and I explained why he was doing that.
The boys like the dinosaur toy also. Kevin has been using it to pull himself up and to support him when he stands. He knows how to pick up the balls and put them in the holes. Occasionally he'll reach over gently and touch me on the arm to let me know that he wants me to play with him (read that as "mommy, you do the work and put the balls in the holes). He's very sweet. Kevin is now standing up in his crib. While this is an important milestone, we realize it's also one more step down a path that will eventually end with him climbing out of his crib, so we celebrate this milestone with a teeny tiny itty bit of dread.
Jason has been doing a hilarious arms in the air like an orchestra conductor kind of thing. He laughs and smiles while he does it. He did it all weekend. We aren't 100% sure what he's doing. Sue thinks he might be doing "H0w big is the baby?.. Sooooooo big" or he might be doing a wild and crazy version of pat-a-cake.
Kicky and Jumpy lovelovelove pat-a-cake. You can frequently catch Kevin doing the rolling motion with his hands. We learned a new game over the weekend.. popcorn, popcorn. Both boys like it...but Kevin loves it. We'll try to catch them on video however......much like videoing the elusive Sasquatch or Chupacabra, catching the boys doing what we want on video is a challenge.
Jason and Kevin LOVELOVELOVE the Mozart music cube. It plays several Mozart tunes. You can push a button and the entire orchestra plays or you can push a button that represents an individual instrument and that one instrument plays. There are many options and you can add to or take away instruments as the orchestra plays. The boys will stand on all fours and rock back and forth and from side to side to the music. They have shown preference for particular Mozart tunes. Jason's favorite is not Kevin's favorite. Jason has discovered that he can turn the cube over and put the Orchestra button on top and change the tune being played by pushing that button. We've turned the cube so that this button is obscured and he turns the cube until that button is on top and then he pushes the button until he gets to his favorite tune. Very funny. Smart Jumpybear. Of all the instrument buttons (violin, french horn, piano, flute, etc.) Kevin's favorite is the piano.
Jason loves to have his head rubbed. I scratch (gently) his hair and he half closes his eyes and pushes his head back and smiles. Cutey.
They both like to crack each other up when they eat. It's almost like a contest to see who can get the other to laugh. Kevin will spit his food and Jason will pretend cough and sneeze. They break out into crazy laughter at each other's antics.
Wednesday, Ginger, our cat, sauntered around the nursery and the boys followed him around. Each time Ginger changed direction, they'd swing about and go after him. Ginger, thinks he's safe but the boys are picking up speed in their crawling so it's just a matter of time until they can catch him.
Sunday we attended a lovely holiday party at Joe's cousins', Julie and Dave. Their (newly remodeled) home was lovely and decorated in a festive manner. The boys, having been awakened from a car nap, were put out (tired) and freaked out (too many people). We'd hoped to get to the party early as they do better when exposed to large groups gradually. They've started to enter that "stranger anxiety" period. It's not full blown but they do get upset and clingy. After an hour or so they were their charming selves. Kevin was held by people and anyone willing to suspend him so that he could bounce, became a fast friend. Jason was more reserved and seemed to be fascinated by the children. They were given several lovely presents and the best one of all....tissue paper. Kids are funny, eh?
I've been pecking away at this post all week. Adding a bit here/there. Crazy work week and now 2, yes 2 snowstorms on the way. Joe ran to the all-important formula store and we stocked up should we be housebound for a week. I'm working from home today and it's quite pleasant. As I wrap up this post, I can hear Joe and the boys having breakfast and having a grand time. Nothing is as musical as the sound of laughter. How lucky are we that our house is so very musical.
Hope you're all having better weather than us and if you are in the path of the coming storms, here's hoping that you have a cup of tea, a cord of wood and good company or at least a good book.
Kathy
