Hide and Seek

The boys have found a new hiding spot!
Nick
Logan & Alex
And just because this picture of Nick made me laugh...

Bow Chica Bow Wow

I got some video tonight of Alex saying (or trying to say) Bow Chica Bow Wow. He's also watching himself on the camera screen while saying it - hence the funky angle.

Summer Updates

It seems like forever since I've posted about the boys and their new achievements. Well, there's no time like today, right?! Throughout the day, I'll post some updates on the guys and what they've been up to. I can't believe they are almost 2 (21 months old next week)!

In general, they are loving the summer ... at least they love being able to go outside and play! Thank goodness for a privacy fence (which they are learning/trying to climb) and nice back yard for them to run around in and burn off energy! They love to swing and play on their little slide and cars. They also love to try and put absolutely anything in their mouth (rocks, grass, chalk, etc.). We've been able to go swimming a few times this summer both in kid pools and a big pool and they enjoy that a lot. They were much more cautious of the sprinkler!

They're all talking more and more each day and getting better at communicating with us. They are very vocal about food and let us know when it is time to eat. They also help us (kinda) know what they want to eat. We offer options and they shake their heads or say yes/no. They also remind us when it's time to watch TV, or bath time or even nap time. Today we thought Nick was saying he wanted "ju-ju" (juice) but he emphatically said no. Finally we realized he wanted to watch "do-do-do" (Scooby Doo). We still have a little work to do on communication and toddler translation!

We are officially down to one nap a day! We start to get a little groggy at lunch time, but we eventually perk back up. Sometimes we just need a little cat nap...

Enjoy the posts. I'll work on updating the pictures soon. If you ever want more current/up-to-date information - follow me on Twitter or Facebook!

Alex

aka - Dash, Mr. Incredible

Alex is always full of energy. He requires the least amount of sleep and is always ready to go, go, go! He loves to run and is fast (although he doesn’t always look where he’s going). He especially likes to run away from mom in the opposite direction of his brothers just to see how fast she can chase him. In fact, he likes to do a lot of things he isn't supposed to do. I'm sure it's genetic, but he loves to do something he shouldn't (like grab the lamp), look at us when we say No, smile and then grab the lamp again! Or, laugh at us when we try to scold him. Let's just say Alex has frequent timeouts

Alex is the most advanced in speaking of the three. He was the first one to consistently use a lot of words and string them together. Some of the ones that are still my favorites... "truckts", "lawn mower tractor", "tee-ya" (TV) and some new ones "scooby dooby doo", "K". But my favoritest favorite one is "mommy"! For a very long time, I was "dada" by all of them. Finally I'm mom! Of course, it comes with a price... "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy..." - but I still love it! He's is really great at mimicking anything we say. Just ask uncle Brandon about the new word he learned this weekend! He is also great at saying Hi! When cousin Sydney was here, we tried to teach him her name before she arrived. Once she was here, he walked right up to her and said "Hi Sydney, Hi Sydney". It might have taken her a bit by surprise - he was kinda "in her space". It is so cute - I'll say Hi Alex and he'll respond with Hi Mommy. (It's the little things that make me happy).

The kid has a full mouth full of teeth! Until the next set of molars, I think he's done popping out teeth for a while. He may have more teeth than his head has room for! He also loves to pick things up and move them. They used to scooch toys around but Alex has decided it's easier to just pick it up and go. That includes the lawn chairs on the back deck. Grandpa wouldn't give up his chair, so Alex went to get his own. Instead of pushing it over to Grandpa, he picked the chair up and almost knocked Grandma in the head with it! Gotta watch that kid!

He is always studying things to figure out how they work. He'll turn the big cars over and play with the wheels - he loves tires and wheels. He's happy to go off and play with something on his own in a corner. He's also happy to dive head first off the couch, upside-down and backwards! But put him on a carousel at the mall and he freaks out!

Alex has been picking out the movies we watch at night lately. Granted, sometimes I have to guide him... otherwise it would always be "Nemo, Nemo, Nemo, Nemo, Dory, Dory, Dory, Dory, Dory, Dory, Nemo, Nemo, Nemo..." You get the point. Over and over and over. I love the talking little man he's becoming!

Logan

aka - Sharkbait

Logan loves to laugh. It is the best sound in the whole world. He will giggle or break into a full out belly busting laugh. The little man is ticklish too. It is awesome to get him laughing and he'll keep going for a crazy long time. He's also prone to hiccups. Not sure if these two are related or not, but still adorable.

Logan is smaller than his brothers - but that doesn't mean much. He's also learned a dangerous defense mechanism - biting. It's usually Alex, but Nick has been bitten too. Both of these two have learned to say "no biting" quite well! When Logan gets frustrated, he gets mad and tries to inflict pain, either to himself or whoever is around him. I know it's horrible, but he's so cute when he gets frustrated. You just have to stop him before he hurts something/someone! Biting is thankfully a random/rare thing. (Logan has 4 teeth/2 molars on the top and bottom.)

Logan’s language skills are currently the least developed of the three. Until recently, he wouldn't say anything. There were some things he'd sign - milk, more, etc. But in general, he didn't talk... well, he didn't speak English. He'd go on rants in toddler talk as you've seen in some of the movies I've posted on the blog. Otherwise, he was fine pointing and grunting or letting his brothers talk. He's slowly picking up more words now. He also has a few "cue" lines. When we say Sharkbait - he says "ohhha" (as in the movie - oooh-haha). He also growls any time he sees Darth Vader. Not sure how he learned that one! I still like when he tries to communicate "eat". He'll sign it by putting one finger to/in his mouth and just make the "t" sound.

He loves to climb - anything. He was the first to climb out of his crib. He climbs out of his pack n play and can usually scale over half way up a gate. Speaking of gates... he has learned how to open the gate. Granted, since they broke the gate a month or so ago, it isn't quite as strong as before. But he can consistently walk over and pop it open! And then run for it of course! He also enjoys playing with or watching all the bugs (outside only please). He's even picked up a few, but they don't stay alive too long after they get smashed. And then there are rocks. He loves to pick up handfuls and throw them. Or eat them. He tries at least one rock a day, just in case the flavor changes. I love the adventurous little man he's becoming!

Nick

Nick is hard to describe. He is both "sensitive" and "rough". He definitely clings to mom or grandma (or really any female) when he's tired or in a mood. He sometimes requires a pacifier to calm him down and then won't let it go until he's good and ready. He also tackles his brothers. When they play their version of "tag" - Nick is always it. He's been known to come up behind one of his brothers, give him a bear hug and take him to the ground. He's also the one that initiates hugs and kisses with his brothers. And he likes to help calm a crying brother by putting his finger to his lips and "shushing".

Nick needs his sleep. If he doesn't get it, he's grumpy. When we changed their schedules a few weeks ago and took out one of their naps, Nick was the one I was worried about most. He consistently took both naps, and full advantage of them! Although he's doing well with the new schedule, he more often sleeps in his highchair during lunch than actually eats lunch. He's happy to get down from his chair and go lay on a pillow. He'll eventually perk up and play, but is more than willing to go upstairs for nap time.

Nick has always been good at picking up new signs and using sign language to communicate with us. As he started using more words, we noticed there were still a number of things he'd still choose to sign as well. In fact, for a while, he would not vocalize "milk" - he would only sign it. As we'd go through one of their word books, he'd say all the things he knew, but when he pointed at milk, he'd just sign it. Since then, he's said it a little more, but still prefers to sign it than say it. He started talking shortly after Alex did. He has a number of words he uses but is also very good at giving speeches. He'll get up on a box or table and start a passionate delivery of some speech - granted, I have no idea what he's saying, but he's very passionate about whatever it is! He also likes to point and wave his finger at you. And helps us tell his brothers No, No, No. Granted, he'll also say that when he's caught doing something he shouldn't be doing.

Nick loves, loves, loves to swing! When we go outside, that is the one thing he will spend the majority of his time doing. When we went out to a new park a few weeks ago, all he wanted to do was swing. He tried out the other stuff first, but then once he saw the swings, he never went back. (Actually ended up being helpful as we'd have to chase after his brothers that kept running in opposite directions). He even chooses the swings over swimming in the pool! His brothers wont' get out of the water and Nick just wants to go swing, and swing and swing...

For a while, Nick would tell me he was stinky (potty training - here we come!). He just wanted to play on the changing table and get a fresh diaper. Seems it was calmer on the table than in the play room with his brothers. I love the interesting little man he's becoming!