Moses started crawling today! He's been rocking his booty and taking a practice "step" or two here and there for a few weeks now, but this afternoon he crawled half way across the living room! Joe and I were both in attendance to witness this exciting milestone.
The object of his desire that motivated him to crawl was a soft blue stuffed elephant. At 6 months + 1 week old, Moses has acheived mobility more than 3 months earlier than the twins did. It must be true what they say about younger siblings developing more quickly to keep up with the big kids!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Hold it Right There, Mister
Here's a sampling of some of the phrases that we've been hearing a lot in our house lately.
"Hold it right there, mister!"
The twins learned this from their beloved Gospel Bill Show DVDs in which Dry Gulch's Sheriff Gospel Bill uses this line when he apprehends outlaws. Sometimes the boys will station themselves across the room from each other as if they are dueling, and slowly enunciate, "Hold it right there, mister" in unison. They sometimes pretend that their toy hammer is Gospel Bill's gun. They also have been known to say, "Hold it right there, Mommy!" while sporting a mischevious grin.
"Oh dear!"
They say this when they're having difficulty with something, such as when they're struggling to pull their size 2-3T Thomas underwear (which they are reluctant to retire) up over their size 4T butts, or when they're attempting to re-fasten the wheel onto the axel of their wooden car.
"Oh, baby sweetheart!"
They say this when they spill something on themselves or make some other kind of mess and want to enourage me to be sympathetic with them rather than angry.
"Good stuff!"
Used to describe a palatable morsel, the boys sometimes alternatively say "good duff", then proceed to correct each other, saying, "No, it's good 'STUFF', not good 'duff'."
"Where's my meat?"
They started saying this the week they went to Vacation Bible School, so at first I assumed it was something they picked up from another kid. Of all the things they could've learned from their peers, it didn't seem so bad, just weird. Then it occurred to me that a more likely source is the book "Snow" in which the characters say "we have our bread, we have our meat, give us something good to eat".
"Jo-na-than! Jo-na-than!"
This is said in a sing-songy chant, over and over and over again. It almost sounds like they are taunting someone named Jonathan, but it's actually an affectionate tribute to Joe's former co-worker who played in the pool with them at the company picnic a couple months ago.
"Hold it right there, mister!"
The twins learned this from their beloved Gospel Bill Show DVDs in which Dry Gulch's Sheriff Gospel Bill uses this line when he apprehends outlaws. Sometimes the boys will station themselves across the room from each other as if they are dueling, and slowly enunciate, "Hold it right there, mister" in unison. They sometimes pretend that their toy hammer is Gospel Bill's gun. They also have been known to say, "Hold it right there, Mommy!" while sporting a mischevious grin.
"Oh dear!"
They say this when they're having difficulty with something, such as when they're struggling to pull their size 2-3T Thomas underwear (which they are reluctant to retire) up over their size 4T butts, or when they're attempting to re-fasten the wheel onto the axel of their wooden car.
"Oh, baby sweetheart!"
They say this when they spill something on themselves or make some other kind of mess and want to enourage me to be sympathetic with them rather than angry.
"Good stuff!"
Used to describe a palatable morsel, the boys sometimes alternatively say "good duff", then proceed to correct each other, saying, "No, it's good 'STUFF', not good 'duff'."
"Where's my meat?"
They started saying this the week they went to Vacation Bible School, so at first I assumed it was something they picked up from another kid. Of all the things they could've learned from their peers, it didn't seem so bad, just weird. Then it occurred to me that a more likely source is the book "Snow" in which the characters say "we have our bread, we have our meat, give us something good to eat".
"Jo-na-than! Jo-na-than!"
This is said in a sing-songy chant, over and over and over again. It almost sounds like they are taunting someone named Jonathan, but it's actually an affectionate tribute to Joe's former co-worker who played in the pool with them at the company picnic a couple months ago.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Hi, Man! Hi, Woman!
The twins are on a mission to cordially greet everyone who crosses their paths these days. From fellow grocery store patrons to the homeless guy at the stoplight begging for cash, the boys aren't afraid to extend a friendly greeting. The worst is when a shady-looking guy rings the doorbell in the middle of the day and my efforts to feign absence are foiled when the boys precariously perch themselves on the arm of the recliner, and while balancing themselves on the window sill, brush the vertical blinds aside and wave their hands while yelling, "HI, MAN!" over and over again until they gain said man's attention. At that point I just make sure the door is deadbolted and pray that the strange man will quickly retreat and proceed along his merry way to harass some other stay-at-home-mom.
Albeit unusual to hear coming from a 3-year-old's mouth, "Hi, man" is not an entirely socially unacceptable salutation. "Hi, woman," however, is much less acceptable nowadays than it was when Jesus walked the Earth. Unfortunately, this has not kept the boys from merrily greeting total strangers by chirping, "Hi, woman!" Most women who are greeted by the boys in this manner are forgiving--their countenances slightly contort as if to say, "Did he really just say that?" and they giggle politely. Only once did a rather sour woman retort, "Yes, I am a woman". I was so embarrassed. After that incident, we tried especially hard to teach the boys to say "Hi, ma'am" in lieu of "Hi, woman," but since the difference between "ma'am" and "man" is so subtle, this proved to be rather confusing for the boys. We decided that it'd probably be even worse for the boys to accidentally say, "Hi, man" when addressing a lady, so we initially didn't press the issue. But after a few weeks of persistent drilling, they now understand the difference and enjoy correcting each other.
Imagine me navigating an aisle at Trader Joe's with a cartful for groceries and three little boys in tow. We pass a person of the female persuasion, and the following conversation ensues:
Joshua: "Hi, woman!"
Caleb: "No, Joshua. It's hi MAN!"
Joshua: "No, Caleb, it's hi, ma-MUH!"
Caleb: "That's right. Hi, ma-MUH!"
The amused woman chuckles kindly and I muster an apologetic smile, wondering how someone as fiercely introverted as myself could have possibly given birth to such extroverted children!
Albeit unusual to hear coming from a 3-year-old's mouth, "Hi, man" is not an entirely socially unacceptable salutation. "Hi, woman," however, is much less acceptable nowadays than it was when Jesus walked the Earth. Unfortunately, this has not kept the boys from merrily greeting total strangers by chirping, "Hi, woman!" Most women who are greeted by the boys in this manner are forgiving--their countenances slightly contort as if to say, "Did he really just say that?" and they giggle politely. Only once did a rather sour woman retort, "Yes, I am a woman". I was so embarrassed. After that incident, we tried especially hard to teach the boys to say "Hi, ma'am" in lieu of "Hi, woman," but since the difference between "ma'am" and "man" is so subtle, this proved to be rather confusing for the boys. We decided that it'd probably be even worse for the boys to accidentally say, "Hi, man" when addressing a lady, so we initially didn't press the issue. But after a few weeks of persistent drilling, they now understand the difference and enjoy correcting each other.
Imagine me navigating an aisle at Trader Joe's with a cartful for groceries and three little boys in tow. We pass a person of the female persuasion, and the following conversation ensues:
Joshua: "Hi, woman!"
Caleb: "No, Joshua. It's hi MAN!"
Joshua: "No, Caleb, it's hi, ma-MUH!"
Caleb: "That's right. Hi, ma-MUH!"
The amused woman chuckles kindly and I muster an apologetic smile, wondering how someone as fiercely introverted as myself could have possibly given birth to such extroverted children!
Monday, August 17, 2009
6 Months for Moses
Believe it or not, it's already been half a year since our sweet Moses was born. These days we're enjoying seeing him sit independently and play with toys, happily clap his hands, and get up on his hands and knees and rock his cute butt to and fro. He has made some valorous attempts to crawl and we suspect it won't be long before he fulfills his mission. Today I noticed a something sharp poking through his lower gum, and upon closer examination beheld a little white speck. That's right, Moses got his very first tooth on his 6 month birthday! You would never guess that he's teething based on his steadfast sweet temperament, although he does seem to prefer Mommy's company over anyone else's :)
Moses' doctor is currently out of the country so his 6-month check-up will have to wait, which is just as well since our health insurance from Joe's new job won't kick in for another week or two. In lieu of a well-baby visit, I took the boys back to Bed Bath & Beyond to find out Moses' weight. The boys have now decided that standing on scales is great fun, so we had Moses try out half a dozen scales, each claiming unique weights ranging from 20 to 24 lbs. So we'll just say that he weighs about 22 lbs., which happens to be above the 95th percentile. Supposing Moses has only gained 1 lb. in the past month and is now only 21 lbs., he would still be among the top 5-10% of 6-month-old baby boys. I also measured him this evening and he is about 28 inches long, which would also put him in the 90-95th percentile.
Moses is still exclusively breastfed for the most part. Last week I bought him one of those mesh feeders and he has enjoyed using it to gnaw and suck on delicious fresh peaches and plums. I've also scraped some apricot pulp with a spoon and let him have a few bites. I've decided to hold off on traditional baby food for now since he is clearly thriving on breastmilk alone and I don't see the point in creating extra work for myself! Besides, I've read that introducing solid foods earlier than 6 months (and some argue 1 year) will deprive a baby of crucial nutrients by replacing the amounts of breastmilk he needs. In other words, as healthy as pureed spinach may be, it's certainly no substitute for the goodness that comes from mama's milk.
Moses' doctor is currently out of the country so his 6-month check-up will have to wait, which is just as well since our health insurance from Joe's new job won't kick in for another week or two. In lieu of a well-baby visit, I took the boys back to Bed Bath & Beyond to find out Moses' weight. The boys have now decided that standing on scales is great fun, so we had Moses try out half a dozen scales, each claiming unique weights ranging from 20 to 24 lbs. So we'll just say that he weighs about 22 lbs., which happens to be above the 95th percentile. Supposing Moses has only gained 1 lb. in the past month and is now only 21 lbs., he would still be among the top 5-10% of 6-month-old baby boys. I also measured him this evening and he is about 28 inches long, which would also put him in the 90-95th percentile.
Moses is still exclusively breastfed for the most part. Last week I bought him one of those mesh feeders and he has enjoyed using it to gnaw and suck on delicious fresh peaches and plums. I've also scraped some apricot pulp with a spoon and let him have a few bites. I've decided to hold off on traditional baby food for now since he is clearly thriving on breastmilk alone and I don't see the point in creating extra work for myself! Besides, I've read that introducing solid foods earlier than 6 months (and some argue 1 year) will deprive a baby of crucial nutrients by replacing the amounts of breastmilk he needs. In other words, as healthy as pureed spinach may be, it's certainly no substitute for the goodness that comes from mama's milk.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Vacation Bible School
Last week the twins attended Vacation Bible School at a Methodist church down the street. It was their first time in a structured school setting away from Mommy or Daddy, so I was a little concerned about how well they'd do, but their friends Lizzie and Michael were also attending, and Miss Leah was one of the helpers, so I knew they would be in good hands.
The folks running Vacation Bible School were wise in that they knew that food--particularly junk food--is the key to a preschooler's heart. I was unable to extract much information out of boys regarding their daily activities other than what they ate. Among other things, they feasted on bagels with "crim cheese", "rice Christmas treats" (Rice Krispies Treats), and "red juice". They also told me they "took a couple sips," meaning they drank from the water fountain. "Red juice" seemed to be the most frequently recurring theme throughout the week, and I can imagine it must have seemed like heavenly nectar to these sweet-toothed boys whose previous perception of juice was limited to watered-down 100% fruit juice.
During the week we tried in vain to detect any evidence of Biblical instruction they might have been receiving at Vacation Bible School--the boys would only talk to us about food (and no, I don't believe "red juice" was used as an allegory to Jesus' shed blood!) Throughout the week there was also occasional mention of a cricket, which they eagerly introduced me to on Friday--a lonely little dead cricket on the floor in the corner of their classroom, not a class pet or story character as I had previously speculated. On one of the last days Caleb happily pointed to a door across the hall labeled "Music" and asked, "want to go do music?!" and he also mentioned learning a song, although he didn't feel the need to share it with us. At the end of the week each boy brought home a prized plastic cross filled with sand, Bible verses on keychains, and a Bible story booklet. And thus we were pleased to learn that there had been a "B" in VBS after all!
The boys' teacher told me that earlier in the week they kept to themselves and refused to participate in any of the activities, but by the time Wednesday rolled around they were joining right in on all the fun. Throughout the week the boys insisted that they did not want to go to Vacation Bible School, and sweet Caleb fought back tears the first couple of mornings when I dropped them off (but he stayed tough and never actually cried). By Friday morning, however, he was smiling and waving good-bye to me as I stood outside the classroom door.
As much as I enjoyed my peaceful mornings with just Moses, I did miss my big boys. I always arrived 15 mintues early to pick them up, and enjoyed observing them from the window before entering the classroom. The first morning I was saddened to find them sitting next to each other all by themselves at the table, but also thankful that they had each other for comfort. The second morning, only Caleb sat at the table while Joshua played nearby. As the week wore on, I would return to find that they'd ventured further from the table, playing with toys and reading books with their teachers. And when they would first see me, they'd exuberantly exclaim, "Mommy! Did you have fun at Vacation Bible School?!" On Saturday morning they actually asked to go to Vacation Bible School, but of course there was no more Vacation Bible School to go to. I know they'll be looking forward to going back next year.
The folks running Vacation Bible School were wise in that they knew that food--particularly junk food--is the key to a preschooler's heart. I was unable to extract much information out of boys regarding their daily activities other than what they ate. Among other things, they feasted on bagels with "crim cheese", "rice Christmas treats" (Rice Krispies Treats), and "red juice". They also told me they "took a couple sips," meaning they drank from the water fountain. "Red juice" seemed to be the most frequently recurring theme throughout the week, and I can imagine it must have seemed like heavenly nectar to these sweet-toothed boys whose previous perception of juice was limited to watered-down 100% fruit juice.
During the week we tried in vain to detect any evidence of Biblical instruction they might have been receiving at Vacation Bible School--the boys would only talk to us about food (and no, I don't believe "red juice" was used as an allegory to Jesus' shed blood!) Throughout the week there was also occasional mention of a cricket, which they eagerly introduced me to on Friday--a lonely little dead cricket on the floor in the corner of their classroom, not a class pet or story character as I had previously speculated. On one of the last days Caleb happily pointed to a door across the hall labeled "Music" and asked, "want to go do music?!" and he also mentioned learning a song, although he didn't feel the need to share it with us. At the end of the week each boy brought home a prized plastic cross filled with sand, Bible verses on keychains, and a Bible story booklet. And thus we were pleased to learn that there had been a "B" in VBS after all!
The boys' teacher told me that earlier in the week they kept to themselves and refused to participate in any of the activities, but by the time Wednesday rolled around they were joining right in on all the fun. Throughout the week the boys insisted that they did not want to go to Vacation Bible School, and sweet Caleb fought back tears the first couple of mornings when I dropped them off (but he stayed tough and never actually cried). By Friday morning, however, he was smiling and waving good-bye to me as I stood outside the classroom door.
As much as I enjoyed my peaceful mornings with just Moses, I did miss my big boys. I always arrived 15 mintues early to pick them up, and enjoyed observing them from the window before entering the classroom. The first morning I was saddened to find them sitting next to each other all by themselves at the table, but also thankful that they had each other for comfort. The second morning, only Caleb sat at the table while Joshua played nearby. As the week wore on, I would return to find that they'd ventured further from the table, playing with toys and reading books with their teachers. And when they would first see me, they'd exuberantly exclaim, "Mommy! Did you have fun at Vacation Bible School?!" On Saturday morning they actually asked to go to Vacation Bible School, but of course there was no more Vacation Bible School to go to. I know they'll be looking forward to going back next year.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
We Made the News!
Yesterday we attended the Friendship Firehouse's 235th birthday party in Old Town. While we were there, a reporter from AlexandriaNews.org interviewed me and a photographer snapped a photo of the twins playing on an antique fire engine! Check it out! Contrary to what the article would have you believe, we actually have 3 sons (I guess the reporter didn't notice sweet Moses in his stroller), and the boys were not nearly as somber as depicted in the photo!
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