Good Times

We are finally in a fun and happy phase. By that I mean that both boys are happy at the same time for multiple days in a row. That hasn't happened for a loooooong time it feels like. They are such buds and constantly crack the other one up. In fact, I know that when I start to hear belly laughter from one or both, mischief is being made. Nothing too catastrophic yet. They giggle and jump in bed before going to sleep and then wake up talking and laughing. I love it!

They are also understanding and absorbing so much. I know they pretty much understand everything we say. And they are learning new words and understanding the associations. Just today, I was carrying Pierce down to get his shoes on to get in the car. He kept saying what I thought was the word "blue". It's been his favorite color lately and he names most things as that, even though I know he really knows. He kept saying it and pointing to his pants, which were a navy blue. Finally, I stopped and realized he was saying "poo" for poo poo. And he'd gone! I was so proud. Perhaps the first steps to potty training? :)

They have just been so agreeable, despite the normal occasional toddler meltdowns when things don't go exactly as they want. I had expected that, but a couple weeks ago we were having constant meltdowns literally all day sometimes. And they would last forever and just be in a generally bad mood. I had been worried that this was just toddlerhood and we were truly entering into the "terrible twos", but so far things seem to have straightened out. Knock on wood it continues!

Blaine 22 Month

You seem like you have matured so much this month. You are communicating so much more and it's like having two little buddies with me who can talk back now. Although you have become fond of the monkey noise while pointing to get your point across as well. Even still, you just seem like such a boy. Where did my Baby Blaine go? You recently learned "uh oh" from Pierce, but up until that you would make an "ooohhhh" sound making your voice go high to low whenever something wasn't quite right while furrowing your brow. Your uh oh sounds like a frog though. You don't really have a tone to it and it cracks me up. You use both now. Your gesture and mannerisms continue to blow us away though. You pick things up and use them correctly and I seriously have no idea how you learned them. I guess I must do more than I realize and I wonder if TV plays a role. (Kinda scary.) Anyway, you have started putting your hand up and shrugging your shoulder for "I don't know". I'm amazed at the way you combine your vocabulary and gestures to express yourself. For instance, if you're looking for your paci you will do that gesture and then do your paci sign. (Which is gathering your fingers together and touching them to your cheek. You also still stand with your hands behind your back if you're waiting for something or randomly just tap your fingers on the table. The other day we were watching Sesame Street, I think, after you woke up from a nap and you took a big sip of milk and then made a panting sound with the back of your hand to your forehead like you were worn out. It cracked me up!

You and Pierce are buds more and more these days and you call each other "buh". You are very aware of each other and you, especially, like to know where he is and have even started calling him sometimes like Beary. Just today the two of you played in the basement alone together for over an hour. I could hear extreme laughter and it made my heart so happy. You also started occasionally calling me "ommy" sometimes, I think after hearing me refer to myself that way a lot. You say it in a sing songy voice going from low to high. You also sometimes call Daddy "ah-dee". I love it!

You are still incredibly active and love rough housing and jumping around on pillows. You also are quite the jumper and can get both feet off the ground at once. I'm impressed! You've always been a physical one. You love going to the playground and are pretty daring about the slides and other equipment. You and Pierce both love to be outdoors. We are very ready for Spring, but it's taking forever to get here! You like reading books, but have a little harder time sitting still for too long. I think you're probably just getting bored with all your indoor surroundings.

You have been a pretty good sleeper and usually sleep in until at least 6:30 these days. But you never know with you. You are our early riser for sure. You have been doing well with going down for your nap though and almost always sleep at least 2 hours. You are also still a pretty good eater. You've become a little pickier overall and are less willing to try new things. But you still have a pretty good variety, although bananas are usually the only fruit I can get you to eat. And you still won't do smoothies or applesauce. You must have a texture issue. Your favorites are still PB sandwiches and breakfast foods. The other day you (and Pierce a little) helped me make your veggie muffins. You were so excited about pouring in the ingredients. You are such a good helper and take such delight in it. It makes me so happy.

Blaine's words

mama
dada
nana
papa
rah rah
gigi
blue
purple
animal noises (dog, cat, elephant, horse, cow, sheep, duck)
buh (brother)
uh oh
bye bye
choo choo
car
bath
Gigo
hot (hhhhhaa)
up
house
wa wa (water)
ma (Elmo and milk)
tuh tuh (train)
gaga (cracker)

Pierce 22 Month Update

With almost a full mouth of teeth you are becoming more and more boyish and less like a baby. I still see a little baby in your cheeks though and I'm holding on. :) I feel like your knowledge and understanding has exploded this month. Or like we always say about you, you've probably known it for a long time and just chose to show us now. We knew with months of answering your "wassats?" that you'd blow us away one of these days. You have been trying a lot more to repeat words we teach you and have learned quite a few new ones. You can say purple and even repeat the whole alphabet! Your favorite letter is still "o" though and you say it in the cutest little voice. We were amazed how quickly you grasped colors and you can correctly identify them if we ask where one is. You know red, blue, green, purple, pink, yellow, and orange. And you can even say purple and blue in the correct context. Another thing that blew me away was after several times of reading your new Dinosaur Train book, you could correctly point to all the right dinosaurs on the cover when I named them. I'm pretty sure corithosaurus and daspletosaurus aren't typical knowledge points for someone your age!

You are buds with Blaine and you both call each other "buh". It's so sweet and you are really aware of each other. Today you played alone in the basement together for over an hour and had the best time! You love playgrounds and are pretty fearless about going down the slides. You are also working on walking up the stairs like a big boy just holding on to one hand. You still love transportation, but are less attached to your black train and fire truck as you are going to bed alone these days.

You are still our great sleeper and rarely wake up before 7. You take an afternoon nap between 12:30 and 1 and usually sleep more than 2 hours. Eating on the other hand is still another story. I can't believe the things you still refuse to eat. I mean pizza. Really? But the things you do eat are pretty healthy: PB sandwhiches, pineapple, sometimes apples and pears, and you absolutely love yogurt these days. That's pretty much your dinner every night. Yogurt and veggie sticks. I just continue to pray you will grow out of this and learn to be open to new things. We do a daily Flintstones vitamin though which you love!

You are still fairly attached to me, but in the last couple of weeks you have really become a lot more flexible. You enjoy time rough housing with Daddy and even walked into the Y and church without a look back. You are also a Nana's boy though. You still love going over there and your very favorite thing to do is sit on her lap and play with her iPhone or iPad. You make a relentless horse noise to make your point known and often sound like you are having an asthma attack. :)

Overall you are a pretty easy going boy and can put a grin on my face as your fake shy smile turns into a huge grin.

Pierce's words
mama
dada
nana
papa
rah rah
gigi
blue
purple
animal noises (dog, cat, elephant, horse, cow, sheep, duck)
buh (brother)
uh oh
bye bye
wassat?
choo choo
car
bath
Diego (he says "go" or "dido")
hot (hhhhhaa)
up
house
wa (water)
ma (Elmo and milk)
tuh tuh (train)
gaga (cracker)

I know there's more...