23 months old (yesterday)

Tricycle accident in progress

So, I didn't write an entry last night- I was too busy watching the Oscars.  Which I was not especially impressed with, and went to bed at 10 so I missed the big awards.

But, the boys turned 23 months old yesterday, which means that in 1 month they will be TWO YEARS OLD.  This 2nd year is flying by much more quickly than the first.  I'm working on the party planning, and picked out material to make their invitations over the weekend.

Here is what the boys are up to now:
Talking- not so much, still.  We have our early intervention check-up soon and I think I will request more intense speech services.  It is clear that they understand everything that we say to them, but are still saying very little.  They have about the same number of words and same words themselves, so part of me wonders whether, if one of them started to talk, the other would follow.  Within the past week they have started to vocalize more, and I hope that means they will talk soon.  I hate that I'm so worried about it, but I am.

Physical activity- they are very strong and agile.  Everything they see is a jungle gym to them!  Yesterday we went to a birthday party at the Little Gym and both loved swinging from the rings and bars.  Asher also loved the balance beam.  Our Gymboree membership ends in about 3 weeks, and I think we're going to stop for the summer and take a weekly gymnastics class instead.

Eating- Benjamin is interested in trying all foods, especially if they are on a grown-up's plate and eaten with adult silverware.  Tonight he had curried butternut squash soup, fennel and apple salad, and chicken.  Asher is more picky.  He likes to reject most foods without even trying them.  Asher's favorite foods right now are crackers, broccoli, asparagus, oranges, and cookies.

Personality- Asher is getting kind of bossy.  He will yell at the cats "Down! Down!" if they jump onto the table or counter,  or tell Benjamin "No!" if Benjamin starts to misbehave.  Asher also likes to have me all to himself.  He will sprawl himself across my lap and then try to push Benjamin if Benjamin wants to cuddle. Then, Benjamin will do the same to him.  Asher is very attached to me, especially nursing.

Benjamin can be a little more independent than Asher, but even that isn't always true.  He loves all vehicles, and we watch the school buses drive by twice a day.  He has been throwing some tantrums lately, especially if he doesn't have a good nap.  He basically goes limp and lies on the floor, and then he will scream, cry, and kick.  He likes to say "No." in this very condescending tone of voice when you ask him a question to which the question is obviously "yes."

Both boys like books, but Benjamin has more patience for them right now.  Asher will try to flip pages to get to the end in a hurry.  They both like picking out things in the pictures, like birds and cats, or anything that they either know the name of or the sound it makes.

Tonight Eric is out of town and my parents brought dinner to the boys and me, and then help me put the boys to bed.  My dad was in the glider and leaned over to try to take a picture of the boys reading with me, and fell out of the chair!  There was a big boom when the chair hit the floor, and then a moment of silence as we made sure Grandpa Nick was ok.  When we saw Grandpa was ok, Asher burst into tears!  It was clear he was concerned for his Grandpa, and very sweet.

Benjamin has started making little kiss noises when he kisses, and kissing more often.  Today when I got Asher out of the car seat, Benjamin leaned in and gave Asher lots of little kisses on his face.  And later, when I was holding Asher and we went to get Benjamin out of the car seat, Asher gave Benjamin kisses and a huge hug.  I love how much they love each other.

They are both silly and goofy, and love to make themselves, each other, and us, laugh.  They never stop moving, unless they are asleep.

Bear on a trike

Sleeping- Benjamin is a pretty solid nighttime sleeper.  Asher likes to wake up somewhere between 5 and 6 and keep getting up every 20-30 minutes after that.  Eric and I are seriously tired!  Asher then likes to take a good nap, and Benjamin's are hit or miss.  I usually get about 1.5 hours of peace and quiet during the day when I'm home- better than nothing!

And now it is time for me to go to bed.  Eric is in Orlando for the night for a meeting.  We miss him, but the boys kept me busy enough to barely notice his absence until after they went to bed.