Once again (because the holidays are upon us and I can’t think of what to write), we’re playing “Name That Photo!”
Please submit your clever and witty captions for the photo below. Like before, the winning caption will grace the photo on flickr (Hey, I’d love to give out prizes but I work for a non-profit and I have twins. Give me a break.).
Anyway, here we go…
Today was a momentous day in the Childsplay household.
Today, was a day that will be etched in our memories forever.
Today has been 17 months, 7 days in the making.
Today, Nutmeg let Swee’Pea pet her.
Yes, it’s true. It has been well documented here that Swee’Pea has made it her life’s mission to tame the wild Nutmeg. Nutmeg, on the other hand, seemed to make it her mission to avoid the shrieking little girl at all costs.
Today, however, it all came together in a perfect storm – or, perhaps more accurately, the perfect calm.
It happened just before bed time this evening. Nutmeg was lying on the bed in the guest bedroom, minding her own business. She likes to go in there because it’s one of the few rooms in the house that the twins don’t go into very often. Tonight, however, Swee’Pea was testing out her legs and wandered into the room. Upon seeing Nutmeg she looked over at me and smiled.
“Be quiet and gentle, Bri.” I said as she approached Nutmeg. She did it so perfectly that I stood back in amazement. Not a peep or shriek from the little girl. No, she approached Nutmeg with a calm I have rarely seen and she held out her hand – almost afraid to finally touch the sacred animal. But touch her, she did.
Nutmeg seemed to like it and turned her head so Swee’Pea could scratch her favorite spot. Swee’Pea let out a soft laugh and continued to pet her. Then, as if Swee’Pea understood she couldn’t press her luck any further, she stepped back and retreated to another part of the room.
But she did it. She tamed the wild beast and from this day forward Cat and Girl will be soulmates. (Or not. Nutmeg is a cat afterall.)
Bri is an outgoing little girl. As she rules our little kingdom, she laughs and yells and shouts and laughs some more all in a very confident manner that belies her 17 months. She is, by our observations, a very confident little girl.
Until visitors come over.
This week our good friend Kristie came by unexpectedly. It was a welcome surprise and we were happy to see her. I was happy to see her. Andrea was happy to see her. Even TheMonk came over and gave her a big hug (little flirt).
Not our little Bri.
No, Swee’Pea immediately transformed into a shy, timid little girl. She avoided eye contact. Her face became sullen and serious. And, most interesting of all, she became clingy. She moved back and forth between myself and her mother. Wanting us to hold her as she cautiously watched Kristie out of the corner of her eyes.
Finally, after about 20 mintues of this, she burst into tears – announcing to us that she was ready for this to end. After putting her to bed, Kristie left shortly thereafter and Andrea and I could only remark about the different side of Swee’Pea we had seen that night. Shy and timid or loud and rambunctious. Which one are you going to get? My guess is that once she gets comfortable, the old Swee’Pea will come storming back to the front.
Well, Mr. Big Dubya and his wife Mrs. Big Dubya have done something about that.
Today they welcomed Little Dubyette to the family. Yes, they now have a girl to round out the set.
It’s funny how some of you choose to do that one baby at a time.
Anyway, go on over and wish them a hearty congratulations!
TheMonk and Swee’Pea continue to achieve milestones left and right. Here are just a few of the new things that have come up in the past month or so.
TheMonk:
Words: His newest word is “Uh-Oh.” (You get one guess where he learned that one.) He’s also made some valiant attempts at Hi and Bye. This week, I swear he said “See you later” when I said the same to him. That might be a bit of a reach though. And while he’s still kinda quiet, he has begun to use sign language more and more. The signs he uses are: More; I want; Milk; Eat; Bath; Bye-Bye/Hi’; Hat; Phone and Music.
Locomotion: He knows how to walk. He’s getting better at it every day and it won’t be long before he catches up with Swee’Pea. He has so much more confidence and he exhibits no fear when walking (although a little fear wouldn’t hurt). He also figured out how to go down the stairs (on his belly, feet first) after a few lessons from Mommy and Daddy. He has also begun to dance. He sways his little hips and shuffles his little feet.
Teeth: 8 teeth all together (including one molar). He has four front teeth and one molar on top and three bottom front teeth.
Others: Claps; points; draws with crayons; rolls a ball and catches a rolled ball. And today he started kicking the ball around the room. He’s also cute as hell.
Bri:
Words: Where do I start? For all the words the girl says, it’s no wonder TheMonk hasn’t been talking that much. He can’t get a word in edgewise! Some recent words: Shoes (Shooosh); Juice (Jooosh); Puffs (so good, she says it twice – “Puff-Puff”). As for sign language she continues to learn more. New signs include: Water; Ball; I want; Belly (she points to her belly – sometimes pulling up her shirt to show you); Brush Teeth; Eat; Milk; More; and Play.
Locomotion: She is walking more and more. She’ll drop down to a crawl when she has to, but she totters around like a pro. In fact, she’s gotten so good she’s actually close to running. And with her gene-pool, we’re not likely to be able to keep up soon.
Teeth: 12 teeth all together (including 4 molars). 6 on top. 6 on the bottom. Very symmetrical.
Other: The biggest thing I’ve noticed is her ability to pretend-play. She pretends to feed her Mommy and Daddy and gets great pleasure from this. She’ll also pretend to drink from a play cup.
Can we please just take a breather on the milestones? I’m not sure I can keep up!
Recently TheMonk and Swee’Pea were honored by Andrea’s Aunt Stella Marie. We had heard that she was making TheMonk and Swee’Pea their very own quilts. We had even seen photos of the quilt as it was being made. Nothing, however, could prepare us for the absolute beauty we were to receive when the mail man dropped off a very big box for us.
Upon opening the box, we could see two beautifully hand-crafted quilts. Each quilt had little doors that, when opened up, had family photos of our family and Andrea’s extended family. Of course, TheMonk and Swee’Pea greeted these new gifts enthusiastically and loved crawling around on them, opening up the doors and seeing all the wonderful things the quilt had to offer.
Since then we have put them up, out of reach, so TheMonk and Swee’Pea cannot mess them up – but even now, TheMonk and Swee’Pea will point to the quilts and ask for us to take one out. They love the colors and the texture and I’m so excited that this is something that will stay in their lives forever.
Thank you Aunt Stella Marie! You are the best!
Mommy, Daddy, Swee’Pea and TheMonk have all congregated in our upstairs loft. The loft opens up at the top of the stairs and has two hallways that shoot off in different directions towards the master bedroom and TheMonk and Swee’Pea’s bedroom. Mommy and I sit in the loft area while our newly-walking little ones run around in glee. One runs down the hallway and returns, followed closely by the other one. Of course, no running can be complete without shrieking! Loud, gleeful, shrieking.
Every time TheMonk and Swee’Pea happen to run into each other they pause and laugh out loud. I can’t help but smile at this beautiful sight. Two beautiful little ones that somehow I helped create. I can’t believe how wonderful these little ones are. As I watch them laughing, running (with the occasional fall) and every once in a while stopping to kiss each other, my heart swells with pride and love. The sound of laughter is one that I think is so often overlooked and on this day I choose not to overlook it. I watch as the pure joy in TheMonk and Swee’Pea translates into such expressive, beautiful little faces that are lit up in a way that words fail to describe. It is so clear how much they love each other. They feed off each other’s energy but they are also quick to be there if the other one gets hurt. I can’t help but think that while I am so lucky to have them both, they are also so lucky to have each other.
It’s times like these that I feel sorry for parents who only have children one at a time.
In what might become a standard thing here at Childsplayx2, we’re gonna play “Name that photo!”
I’ll post a photo and you, dear reader, will supply the caption. Ready? Great! Here we go…!
It’s hard being a parent. You try and do all the right things. You make sure they eat their vegetables. You make sure they get enough sleep. You teach them how to flick their boogers. (What? Is that just me?)
Anyway, like most parents, I try and take my role seriously. As does Andrea. We know it is our responsibility to teach them all the things they need to know. We’ve helped them learn to crawl and then walk. We’ve taught them how to feed themselves. We have even taught them sign language. We have done a lot of things right – if I do say so myself.
It is with this in mind that I am ashamed to admit an area where we have failed:
Our kids mess up animal sounds.
I know, I know! We’re failures. But it’s not entirely our fault. I mean, when we see a duck we’ll tell Swee’Pea that a duck goes, “Quack, Quack!” Can we help it if Swee’Pea feels compelled to respond back with a “Grunt, Grunt?” I mean, we’re trying really hard to make Swee’Pea understand that ducks don’t sound like they’re trying to drop a load in their diaper but Swee’Pea just doesn’t get it.
And then there’s TheMonk. We don’t have a dog. When you don’t have a dog it’s really hard to get your child to imitate dog sounds. Not that we haven’t tried. I mean, I don’t mean to brag but I’m pretty darn good at barking like a dog. I can do a big St. Bernard-type bark or a short, Chihuahua-type bark. I’m good. However, apparently, not good enough.
But again, we’re not to blame! Is it really our fault if the only two real dogs TheMonk hears on a regular basis are the whiny dog chained up in the yard next door or the daycare provider’s little bitch (I’ve always wanted to say that) who cries all the time? No! Then is it any wonder that when we ask TheMonk what sounds a dog makes, he whines and whimpers?
No, Monk, No! Bark, man, Bark!
*Sigh*
All I can say is we’re not giving up. I’ll keep barking and quacking until they get it right. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure my kids aren’t ridiculed in pre-school for being the odd ones who can’t bark like a dog or quack like a duck.
Arf! Arf!
Quack! Quack!
Seen at the local Barnes & Noble bookstore:
A table with a sign that reads, “Perfect gifts for under $20″
One book catches my eye.
“The Art of Pole Dancing”
Um, I’m not sure if that’s the perfect gift. But I guess I can see why someone would think that way.