Later and Water

I have very smart babies. They have all mastered the "Yes" and "No" nods at the appropriate times - usually. Some exceptions include when a very stinky-baby Alex was asked if he was stinky and he laughed and shook his head no, repeatedly - guess potty training is still a little ways off. They know what we're talking about when we talk to them and know where they are supposed to go when we mention going "downstairs" to play or "upstairs" for naps - different gates for the different locations. They even do what we ask them to, every once in a while.

They also have a handful of signs they'll use to communicate with us. Yesterday I taught Nick (and Logan) how to sign "later". In context, the weather was so nice yesterday that they went outside in the morning and afternoon to play! They were out in our back yard learning how to climb up (and down) our hill. So of course when we came home from work, they were excited to go back outside. I told them we'd go later - it's too dark out now. I signed later for Nick and he just looked at me for a while. After a while, Nick and Logan started signing that they were ready for their baths. Still a half hour from bath time, I again signed later to them. Nick started waving his arm/hand to mimic mine. It isn't 100% (as the L sign is a little advanced), but it's so cute to see him sign it. Logan must have been watching too because he was joining in with Nick. Tonight they repeated the sign, without my prompting. Okay, so I was saying later (we can't see Mr. Moon tonight because of the clouds but we'll look for him "later"), but wasn't signing it. Nick looked at me, started shaking his head yes and signing "later". I'm so thankful that they are smart little guys! Now if only they'd start using their words!

Something else we learned/tried this week was drinking water. It sounds odd, but they've only had milk or juice before. I just started the other day giving them a drink from my cup with water in it. There are mixed results. Eventually, everyone drinks the water, but Logan likes to spit some of it back out, either back into my glass (gross) or all down himself or onto the floor - you've been warned. I also started using some sippy cups with straws this week. Logan will drink a whole glass of water and not want to put it down. Alex drinks when he's not busy doing something else. Nick drinks it, I think. I'm not fully convinced he's learned how to suck it through the straw. Some times it looks like he does but other times he just looks frustrated. Maybe he's just frustrated that it's water and not the diet Pepsi he tried last weekend!

I'm updating the slide show on the right hand side of the blog. It has some pictures of the boys from the last week. Some are from being out in the yard yesterday. Some of them are just cute, around the house pics.

Harry Potter?

Some quick shots of the boys playing today and trying on glasses. All they're missing is the lightning shaped scar. Kahchow!!! - oh wait, different "lightning" movie. I love Mater! (Just enjoy the pictures and ignore the crazy stream of consciousness - is it Friday yet?!)

Choo-Choo!

The weather was so nice today we got to take the boys out again! This time, I finally finished constructing the choo-choo wagon. We let the boys play with it for a while and they liked pushing it - around and around and around... Short video of that below:

The drive way was a bit steep for them the first time and there were a couple of tumbles. But we put them in the wagon and they were happy to just sit there and ride. We didn't even have to put the belts on! Granted, we just went to the end of the block and back.

Then we went out to the back yard and they loved playing on the deck/patio. They each had their own way to get down the (2) steps from the deck to the patio. Alex wanted to dive forward and have us catch him (as he does off the couch all the time). Nick turned backwards and crawled down without any problem. Logan backed down the first one and then held onto the rail for the second one. I shouldn't be surprised with as much as they climb in the house, but we've never had them go down stairs before. They love to go up the stairs each day for naps or baths, but never down.

Anyway, it was so nice to get out and play. Makes me want the spring to be here even more (but again, without heat or bugs). Also, I added some new pictures to the picture show to the right hand panel. Enjoy!

A Dragon Growls

For a while now, I've been trying to get a good video of the boys growling to share with you. Tonight I finally got a good one! They were all playing on the storage blocks - Alex loves to climb to the very top box and Logan likes to get in the bottom "drawer". Check out the video...

"What does a dragon say?"


Or view the video on YouTube

Wonderful Weather

Yesterday was so nice outside, we tried to get the boys out more than usual. That isn't hard since the boys hardly leave the house! We make our weekly trip to the grocery store and that's about it. Even the boys realized how nice the weather was. We opened the windows for a little while and they loved looking out (and pounding on the screen). We packed them up to go to Sam's (bananas and diapers needed - again) and they were all hyper and excited... to be in the car! Must have been the sun. Usually when they get in the car, they just veg for a while. They had fun watching all the people at the store too.

After we got back, we went for a walk. I've been wanting to use their new choo-choo wagon they got for their birthday, but I keep forgetting that I haven't finished putting it together. So, we just took the stroller out instead. They had fun pointing at all the things they usually only see from the windows. Lots and lots of "tre"(trees) and a couple of "tuk" (truck - which could sometimes be "ca" car or truck). And of course there were a couple of "bir" (birds) that say "caw-caw". They were not happy to have to come back inside.

Last night and tonight, the boys noticed Mr. Moon (or Ms. Moon - Adam and I are still debating on this). It is a pretty full moon that is rising right outside our playroom window. I turned off the lights so they could see him better. They were all at the window waving Hi to Mr. Moon. Then when I turned the lights back on, Nick was not happy. He kept walking over and pointing to the light switch, wanting me to turn the lights back off. Once (or twice) he even tried climbing on something to reach the switch himself. Tonight even Logan was wanting the lights back off. It took a bit of effort to distract Nick - very determined to see and wave at Mr. Moon!

Thanks Mother Nature for a nice February day to take the boys out! Of course, now I just want to take them out more and let them run free for a while. Too many gates and small spaces. Can I have spring/summer weather without the bugs and heat? Or maybe a few more snow days to go sledding again?!