Random Update- July 2012

Here are a few random thoughts that describe our lives currently...

- Pierce continues to be OBSESSED with all wheels and things that spin. I don't know that I've ever seen a one year old with such a fixation. It's really cute though and fun to see him enjoy something so much. He loved the dinosaur eggs at the Crown Center exhibit we went to with Standrew and would have sat in that nest happily playing with the eggs as long as we would have let him.

- Blaine has been so happy and easy going lately. He is pretty much in a good mood from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed. It's been so fun! He has also learned out to give "kissies". He leans his head in and puts his little lips right on your cheek. Melts us everytime!

- Diego continues to amaze us with his patience for the boys. Blaine is pretty gentle, but Pierce is quite rough. He just lays there as they pet, pat, pull, and crawl over him. He has astounded us and secured his spot as family cat. :)

- They seem to be improving with meal times. I think they are slowly warming up to new foods and have pretty much stopped the defiant throwing of food they don't want. Our one minute time outs actually worked we think!

- They have been really good with independent playing and just lately have started giggling at each other some. They'll be under the kitchen table together and I'll start to hear these darling giggles coming out. I think they're playing a game of chase/peek-a-boo. It's happened two days in a row now and is maybe the cutest thing ever.

- They are still doing really well with sleeping- two naps a day: 9 and 2 and bedtime around 7. Although lately they both haven't been going to sleep at night until almost close to 8. We're not sure what this is about, but I know change for our nice little schedule is on the horizon when they go to one nap. I'm enjoying this consistent schedule with easy put downs for now though.

- Blaine has connected with a lovey, Beary. A few months ago I put a lovey in each of their beds- the bear in Pierce's and the monkey in Blaine's. They were pretty much oblivious to them, but one time B was playing in P's bed and picked up the bear and apparently there was chemistry because he's been sleeping with it ever since. Pierce could care less about the monkey now in his bed, but he seems to have become more attached to his paci. We have to do some distracting to get it away without a short tantrum after he wakes up. It's been so cute, though, to watch Blaine love Beary. He holds it by its little ears and takes it around the house with him. Luckily we haven't had to drag it out with us yet.

- They are doing really well with Child Watch at the Y and the church nursery. Sometimes they'll still cry as I drop them off, but they always tell me that it was just for a minute and they've been playing and fairly happy when I come to pick them up. What a relief! I'm so proud of them for expanding their horizons!

- Pierce seems to have learned the art of the tantrum. He sometimes just sits in one place with a severe whine/cry until he gets what he wants or gets distracted. This can happen when Blaine takes a toy he was playing with, he has to leave a wheel he wasn't ready to, etc. It's been fun to see him have such a will though. He is obviously a baby that knows what he wants.

- Pierce has expanded his "more" sign to mean what we think is a general "I want". He's started doing it at random times: in the car, in the store, playing. It's really cute, but sometimes we're not sure what it is he's wanting! Blaine seems to be starting some signs. Occasionally he'll clap for more, do a small drink sign, and he lifts his arms up for us to pick him up when he's done.