15 months old

Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  And in general, that's what we're having.  Both boys are full of energy, curiosity, and personality.  We've gotten to a point where it's pretty hard to be in the house alone with both of them, even though we had done a pretty good job of childproofing, they are finding new ways to make trouble- climbing the chairs, climbing the couches, and reaching for whatever they can.

It seems like Benjamin is getting ready to go down to one nap a day, as evidenced by the fact that he almost never takes more than one nap a day.  He still gets tired around 11 if he doesn't take a morning nap, and falls to pieces if he doesn't take an afternoon nap, but he seems to be resisting taking both in the same day.  That's fine for him, but Asher still seems to want 2 naps, and he will nap about 2 hours each time!  I am not sure what the solution is, and how to manage their differing needs while still having the time to shower in the morning...

Yesterday morning while Benjamin didn't nap we had an incredibly scary experience.  We were hearing all the usual no-nap noises of him kicking the slats of his crib, practicing his soprano, and chatting.  Then hysterical screaming.  I rushed up to their room, and Benjamin was standing in his crib with the cord to the air conditioner wrapped around his neck!  I cannot describe how horrifying it was to see that, I thought I was going to vomit.  I screamed for Eric and pulled the cord off, grabbed Benjamin and ran downstairs.  He was crying, and I was shaking.  The cord to the air conditioner had been tucked behind the book shelf that is next to his crib, but apparently his little arms could reach behind the shelf.  And with all that no-nap time, he decided to play and explore.  It could have been disastrous; I can't even consider how things could have ended up.  Eric fastened the cord to the baseboard, and we moved the furniture in the room so that Benjamin's crib is on the opposite wall, with nothing within reach.  And I think we'll get a video monitor so that we can see what trouble Benjamin is getting up to during no-naps.

We are working on them with talking.  They still don't really talk, although they do communicate, and Asher's physical therapist gave us some suggestions.  I am a little bit worried, but we know several other little ones their age who also don't talk, so I don't think they are outside the range of normal just yet.  We'll see what the doctor says when we go in July.

We're leaving for our annual trip to Maine on Thursday, and are getting so excited to see all our family, and of course, eat ice cream.  And then, July 3 is our 5th wedding anniversary- I cannot believe it has been 5 years!

I'll post pictures tomorrow, we forgot to take any today, even though I purposely dressed the boys in really cute clothes!

all better!

The boys' ailments seemed to clear up for the weekend.  We went to the park:

Hi. I have been taking my cute pills regularly.

And a pool party:

Asher took to the water like a fish. Benjamin screamed.

For Father's Day, I took the guys to our favorite coffee place and we had breakfast with Grandpa Nick while Eric was supposed to sleep in.  This was a treat for both of the fathers in my life!  Later I ran errands, in the morning with Benjamin and in the afternoon with Asher.

The boys learned a new trick:

Look mommy! We're tall!

Which quickly turned into Asher climbing on, and then standing on, the kitchen table.  Oh dear.

Tonight they had corn on the cob for dinner.  When Benjamin was done eating, he used his cob to call Meema, who has been away in Colorado.

"Hello, Meema? How are things out West?"

"This thing gets terrible reception! I want an iphone!"

There is never a dull moment with these boys, that is for sure!

sick baby week

This week we had sick babies.  First it was Benjamin, with a low fever.  I thought he was teething, because there was a lot of drool, and he was constantly chewing on his hands.  He wasn't sleeping well-- worse than he usually does, which is saying something!  On Tuesday night he just screamed whenever we put him in bed, really hysterical and heartbreaking screams.  I ended up taking him for a car ride, hoping that would get him to sleep, but even that didn't work.  We gave him Motrin, but that didn't seem to make a difference, either.  He wouldn't nurse, but eventually took a bottle of milk and calmed down to sleep.  I did so wish he could talk enough to tell me what was wrong!

Wednesday he seemed better, and then Wednesday night I got home from work just as the guys were getting bathed and going to bed.  Asher fell apart, just crying and crying, which he never does.  He went to sleep, but then woke up around 3 in hysterics, with a fever.  We gave him Motrin, too, but it took him a while to settle down.

I went to work on Thursday and heard that Asher was kind of cranky, and napping a lot.  I got home around 4 and he woke up to my voice.  I went up to him and he was burning up!  He had a temperature of about 102, and I called the pediatrician's office.  Of course they told me to come in.  He had no other symptoms, other than lethargy, loss of appetite, and his fever.  The nurse practitioner we saw sent us home with infant Advil (I had sent Eric to the store to get ibuprofen, told him NOT Tylenol, and he came home with Tylenol. He said the pain medication choices were too overwhelming so he grabbed something and ran) and to call if it got worse.

This morning both boys seemed fine.  They ate breakfast, played, Asher napped and Benjamin rolled around his crib, we went to play group.  Asher had no fever, had regained his appetite, and was back in his good humors.  They ate a big healthy lunch, and then Benjamin went down for his nap.  Asher was nursing and then pulled off, looked around... and threw up all over me!  It really was a lot of undigested food, poor baby.  He seemed fine before, and fine after.  I called Eric to help me clean up, and Eric hates vomit more than I do, so I was worried he would lose his lunch on top of it!

Fortunately, after his afternoon nap, Asher seemed fine.  We took a trip to the grocery store and he was being completely adorable, calling everyone in the store "Da-eee," playing with me by giving me kisses when I would lean toward him and say, "Will you give me a smooch?"  It was really nice to have time with him where my attention was completely on him, and I took my time at the store so we could enjoy each others' company.

Despite the illness, we have enjoyed nice, long walks in the beautiful weather.  Eric and I are eating a lot of vegetables, since we keep getting green things from our CSA.  I do look for different ways to use them, but we've had a lot of salads.

This weekend we have a pool party, and then it's Fathers' Day.  Our only plan for Fathers Day at this point is that I am going to make big pieces of red meat on the grill for Eric and my dad, and Eric wants key lime pie for dessert.  Easy enough!

Can you believe...

Can you believe these 2 big boys wouldn't even put their toes in the water last summer?  Now look at my little water babies!

Last night Eric took the boys for dinner with my parents at my aunt and uncle's pool while I drove to Maryland to meet up with other mommies from a message board (I know, a mass internet date! I was nervous to meet everyone in person, but reminded myself that I met my husband on the internet, and that worked out pretty well).  I had a good time at my dinner, and the boys (and Eric) had a wonderful time in the pool!  Apparently there was splashing and screeching and general silliness.

Asher Bear and his curly hair

Today we went to Alex's Original Lemonade Stand-- we live in the same neighborhood as her family and so are near the big Lemonade Stand party they have every summer.  They have tons of "free" food (just make a donation), so we went and had a snack.  The boys had their first taste of "wooder eyes," which is Philadelphian for water ice.

Asher and his water ice

Benjamin holding that other famous Philly food- soft pretzel!

"OOH! That's cold!"

Tonight we had ribs and corn on the cob for dinner.  The boys ate the rib meat off the bone and loved it! Then they ate their corn off the cob.  Asher is serious about his corn on the cob, and generously helped Benjamin finish his corn.

Benjamin licking the bones clean

Asher and his rib

double-fisting

Then they had blueberries, tons of them, until I decided enough was enough.  For dessert they each had some cake, which they liked, and Benjamin used bits of to style his hair.  I really love watching them enjoy their food.  I noticed they chew with their mouths closed, which is nice, since I have a lot of other table manners I will need to teach them over the years!

I sometimes feel like we only take pictures of them eating, and part of that is that they try so many new foods, and we like to capture those moments, and the other part is that they are only still when we strap them down!  I swear we do things other than eat, but I guess it is pretty obvious that we love eating and love our food.

"Da-Deee"

The family at the playground

That's what Asher has been saying since Saturday morning!  I am not 100% sure he knows that Da-Deee is Eric, but he certainly noticed our enthusiastic reaction to his saying it, and so has repeated it several times since.

Saturday morning had another first- first use of forks!  Benjamin looked very interested in my fork, so I got him his own, and he knew exactly what to do.  We were having french toast, and he was able to feed himself.  Sometimes he holds the fork in one hand, and eats with the fingers of his other hand, or picks the food up with his fingers and then puts the food on the tines of the fork.  He really loves the fork, though, and if I don't give him his own, he will try to grab the big fork out of my hands.

Benjamin and his beloved fork

Asher and his funny squint

We had a busy weekend, with a birthday party on both Saturday and Sunday.  The Saturday party had a puppet show, and all the other children sat quietly on their parents' laps and watched.  My children raced around the room, trying to pull food off the tables, double-fisting goldfish crackers, and running out the door into the parking lot.  I worry a little that the other mommies won't want us around, since my guys are so active and a little wild, but so far everyone has been understanding that "boys will be boys." It definitely requires a great deal of energy from both Eric and me to chase them, and we sure did work hard for that birthday cake!

Here are some pictures from the past few days:

The Bear growling

Cute pajamas (Costco!) and a thumb-sucking Asher

Benjamin styled his hair with cupcake

We are trying to enjoy the good weather, by eating on our deck, taking lots of walks and jogs, and getting in the wading pool I bought them as often as we can.  I have a feeling that this summer will just fly by, and I hope that we enjoy it as much as we can.  So far, so good!

too busy to take pictures

We had a very busy holiday weekend.  In general, Eric doesn't like when I overbook his weekends, but he made it through this one without a complaint!

Ever since Eric completed the new table for our deck, we have been inviting friends over and entertaining almost daily.  Friday night we hosted my parents, my cousin's husband, and a family friend for dinner outside.

Saturday afternoon we were invited to a friend's condo complex to swim in the pool.  Last year the pool was not a big hit with either of the boys, but I figured that since they love their baths so much, they would love the pool this year.  Not so much.  Both boys yanked their feet up from the water as if they were being burned, and Benjamin cried.  I managed to get Asher in, and standing up, since it was a baby pool.  He looked so proud of himself, standing there and smiling, and then next thing I knew, he had toppled over and was face-down in the water!  I was right next to him so I pulled him out immediately, and he cried right away, but it really gave me a small panic attack.  We did go back in, with him on my lap, and he was able to enjoy himself a little, but Benjamin never really got in.

Saturday night we had another family friend (and my parents, again!) for a dinner of ribs and corn bread on our deck.  Then on Sunday I went out to brunch with my girl friends, then went with a friend who is expecting to check out baby equipment at Babies r Us.  After the boys got up from their naps we went to another family friend's pool and attempted swimming again!  While I was at Babies r Us, I had picked up little floats for the boys to ride in, in the hopes that we won't have any more face-first incidents.  Again, I managed to get Asher in, although he did protest a fair amount.  Benjamin wouldn't even put a toe in, and instead ran laps around the pool.

Sunday night we hosted a barbecue to celebrate my good friend's engagement.  We hosted my friend, her fiance, and another couple who are mutual friends.  It was a really lovely evening, except for the part where Eric broke 3 champagne glasses on the deck!  We celebrated my friend and her fiance, and also the anticipation of our mutual friends' adoption.  Eric and I let our friends borrow our baby swing, which I was sad to see go, thinking of how many times my little boys had been rocked in it, and just how big they are now.

On Monday morning we had brunch with yet another family friend, and met their brand-new baby boy.  He was so tiny and sleepy!  Benjamin was so cute with the baby- when my mom held the baby and patted him on the back, Benjamin reached up and patted the baby, too.  He seemed fascinated by the baby, and you could tell he didn't really see the baby as another small human being.  The boys ran circles around the big yard, and then we went home for naps.  The boys napped a long time, I think all the running tired them out!  It makes me wish we had more space, when we are home we simply run laps around the dining room table, and it gets old fast.

Monday afternoon Eric blew up the inflatable wading pool I had picked up at Babies r Us.  We then had another friend and her two little girls over for the inaugural swim.  Yet again I managed to get Asher in, but no luck with Benjamin!  I am hoping he warms up to the idea of swimming soon, because I love the water and want to enjoy splashing and playing with my little guys.

Today it was back to work, which was not so fun.  It seemed like my clients were slow to realize that today was Tuesday, not Monday, and I had a lot of cancellations and got to leave work early- in time to come home and chase my boys around the dining room table before bed.

14 months

I cannot believe that my boys are 14 months old!  They are continuing to learn and change each day.  I noticed that they are starting to imitate my behaviors- they have tried to feed me their food and make me drink their sippy cups.  Tonight Benjamin tried to brush my teeth with his toothbrush, and he thought it was hysterical!

Dinner on our deck, at our new table- Eric built it all by himself!

Benjamin has been adventurous: he has walked (and then run) across the bridge on the play equipment at the play ground, and has been climbing on the slide at my mom's house, and tonight at our house.  He is a very quick learner, and with each time he climbed up the slide he got better and faster at it.  Asher is a little more cautious, but after he sees Benjamin do something a few times, he generally wants a crack at it.

Benjamin, a big boy on the slide all by himself

Asher trying out the slide after Benjamin showed him how it's done

Asher's new favorite thing is to take the phone, press all the buttons, and then wait for the "phone is off the hook" signal to start-- and then he starts dancing.  His dancing looks kind of like the "running man," he stays in one place and stomps his feet up and down.  Benjamin thinks this is soooo funny (because Benjamin loves physical humor), and they both have a good time.  What gets me is that we have a ton of musical toys, play music for them through our computers and TV, and he likes the phone the best.  So now I call the phone "Asher's iPod."

They are not talking at all yet, which of course worries me a little.  We had Early Intervention here on Monday for Asher's 6 month evaluation.  His torticollis is much better, although he still tilts his head to the right at times, especially when he is tired.  Now our bigger concern is that he walks on his tip-toes.  Note to parents: don't google things.  The possibilities that come up with "walking on tip-toes" are not good.  EI doesn't think we need to worry about the serious stuff (cerebral palsy, autism), but that he should learn to walk using his whole foot.  Next up: a referral for physical therapy.  But as far as the not-talking goes, they said not to worry.  The boys definitely communicate, they babble, and make a variety of sounds.  We were told to imitate their babbles, which we were already doing, but given they are both boys (and boys learn to talk a little later than girls), we don't need to worry just yet.

14 month old Benjamin

14 month old Asher, pouring his milk on himself

I also finally got their bloodwork done.  We were asked to do it when they were 9 months old, since we live in an older home and there is a possibility that we have some lead paint in the house, but then we switched pediatricians.  The new doctor gave me a prescription for bloodwork at their 12 month visit, and I didn't do it, because I just couldn't stand to go.  But I called the doctor about Benjamin's nap boycotts, and they told me to schedule an appointment... and get the bloodwork done ASAP.  Today the doctor called to say that both boys' hemoglobin was low, so I have to give them an iron supplement.  Being a mommy is very consuming!  There is a lot to handle, and sometimes it is hard to cram all their appointments and things into the two days of the week I'm not working.

In the end, the complaints are few and the joys are many.  Not a day goes by where I don't pause and remember how lucky I am, and how grateful I am to have two healthy and beautiful children.  14 months old, and the time is just flying.