the boys

I can't believe it's been three months since my last post about the boys! In some ways they have changed so much in that time, but a lot of that change is sort of intangible. Let's see if I can put some of that into words....

They've become more like peers in the last few months. Each one wants the other as soon as he wakes up. Sometimes they play so well together and can't stop laughing with each other (usually over something naughty like Sam picking his nose or somebody acting up during a prayer). Of course, they've also started bickering quite a bit too, and sometimes I have to separate them or command them to ignore each other - didn't expect to arrive at this stage so quickly.

Michael continues to grow up before our eyes. He becomes more confident all the time, easily navigating social situations that would have sent him running for our arms just six months ago. He used to shy away from attempting new things in school for fear that he wouldn't get it right on the first try. He still struggles with this from time to time, but a little encouragement and the successes he's had over the last several months have done wonders for him. He loves to write, read (sounds out many words on his own), loves to count and do his preschool math workbook, and he's really proud of his hard work when he's finished. It makes us so happy to see that seed taking root in him. He has a couple of good buddies at church, and it's so precious to see them hugging and talking and playing. He also notices the girls and occasionally talks about which one he will marry (he thinks giving a girl flowers is how you marry her - oh, my heart.) Lately he's wrestling with some very heavy stuff like growing up, death, and heaven. We try our best to give him gentle, direct answers, but it's heartbreaking to see his innocence slipping away. On the other hand, the other night he smiled and said "after my life I'm going to fly up to heaven with God" and it was all I could do to choke out an "amen". This is a whole new level of joy, seeing him develop faith.

Sammy has changed so much in the last few months, too. Right after Christmas he decided to stop nursing. He was already falling asleep on his own, and he has continued to be a good sleeper (except for a few very rough patches with teething and sickness.) He's at that cute stage where he'll rattle off an entire story complete with facial expressions and hand gestures, but we'll only catch some of the words. He's a good communicator, though, and he's assertive about making sure he is heard. He answers most questions with a firm "no" and it's safe to say that he has entered the "terrible twos" phase.

Here's a little more about them:

Michael - 3 years and 10 months

Latest skills: snapping, blows his own nose, does simple addition, sounds out words, wants to do most things without help

His spirit: thoughtful, careful, independent, tender-hearted, imaginative, adventurous

Words: "I'm thinking about being a deep sea diver when I grow up."
             "You're my best mom I've ever had."
             "Why did the tissue dance around? Because somebody put a boogie in it!"

Loves: playing with his friends, school, Bible class, reading, making up stories, running, playing tag, books, movies, painting, playing outside, gardening, Ralph the Mouse (the books and his stuffed mouse), talking

Best way to make him laugh: slapstick, funny voices and faces, tickling, running from Sam

Doesn't love: being put on the spot, chaos, lots of noise

Habits we're trying to break: losing his temper, throwing things when he's mad

Aspirations: to go to Paris (he actually talks about this a lot)

Samuel - 1 year and 6 months

Latest skills: running smoothly, going up and down stairs, using a fork and spoon, gargling and spitting after he brushes his teeth

His spirit: happy, content, sweet, likes to share (most of the time), likes to play rough, gets a kick out of annoying Michael sometimes

New words: thinks it's funny to call me "Meemaw" (Mommy inverted), dee-don (donkey), nack (snack), more please, poopie, hold you, boom (to describe any type of injury), tee-go (tickle), prayer, yellow (usually used in the right context), flower, car, truck, Dear God (with hands folded to pray), excuse me, yeah, okay, all gone, sit down, sings some ABCs, crocodile, "cuggle" (cuddle/snuggle and read a book)

Loves: playing with Michael and Daddy (running, wrestling, laughing), dancing to music, hearing Daddy play guitar, his cowboy boots, wearing hats, running around naked after his bath, eating, playing outside, reading books, snuggling, being hugged and kissed

Best way to make him laugh: tickle him, nibble his cheeks

Doesn't love: the vacuum cleaner, visiting new Bible classes, sitting still or being quiet in church

Habits we're trying to break: throwing toys at Michael, hitting Michael, high-pitched shriek that annoys Michael

Aspirations: to climb onto every flat surface in the house

the boys

A quick update on the boys. They're best buddies and most of the time they play together so sweetly. Each one asks for the other as soon as he wakes up. Recently, when they've been playing with other kids, I've caught Michael protectively putting his arm around Samuel and "helping" him play with the big kids - made my heart burst with love and pride. More than ever they keep us laughing (and our hearts breaking) with their precious sweetness.

Michael - 3 years and 7 months

Latest skills: Reads some words (the, boy, zoo, box, fox, toy, it), can sound out most short words with some help, cuts with safety scissors, clears and scrapes his plate after dinner, writes his name clearly without help

His spirit: sensitive, kind, cautious, imaginative and thoughtful

Words: "I'll pretend my pee is fire retardant."
"I can't watch what I say. I don't have eyes like a chameleon."
"I'm getting a signal. (pause) It's Jesus. (pause) He says I should eat my dinner."

Loves: school (most days), Bible class, doing projects of any kind (building, crafting, taking pictures, making little videos), playing with kids his age (especially in small groups), Gigi and Papa, facetiming with cousins, running, pretending, traveling, any kind of adventure, praying and saying what he's thankful for, Ralph the mouse, Sammy, laughing at physical comedy and Sammy's antics

Doesn't love: loud hand dryers, loud/pushy people, being hurried to do anything

Habits we're trying to break: being a perfectionist, being rude to strangers that talk to him

Samuel - 1 year and 3 months

Latest skills: speed walking (it's almost a run), climbing, naming body parts, imitating Michael

His spirit: joyful, playful, patient

Words: hello, bye, please, thank you, eat, hat, book, milk (sounds like "buk"), dog ("gog"), tickle, blanket ("bee"), banana ("blabla"), get down, all done, bath, baby, diaper ("biper"), apple ("bapple"), bible (he prefers to yell this one really loud during prayers at church), amen, round and round, no, bubble, makes animal sounds, sometimes strings a couple words together like "bubble again"

Loves: when Dada comes home in the evenings, reading short books, wearing ball caps, carrying my old baby doll, his blanket, copying Michael, eating, chasing Michael, doing "cheers" with his drink, giving fist bumps, tickles, being held and snuggled (especially when I'm making dinner), Michael, Daddy

Doesn't love: being told no, the vacuum cleaner

Habits we're trying to break: throwing food, throwing toys at people, throwing tantrums (they've started already!), nursing (down to twice a day)

the boys

One of the most surprising (and wonderful) things about our boys is how different they are from each other. Before Sam was born I assumed they would look alike, or have similar temperaments, or maybe even sound alike. But not these boys. In fact, except for the happy twinkle in their eyes and the sweet smell of their heads, they are different in almost every way I can detect. We try hard not to compare them or label them, but I do want to remember all of the ways that they are unique at this age, so I thought I'd do a little snapshot of each of them. I'm hoping I can keep this up over the years to help us remember all the precious little details that make them so special.

Michael - 3 years and 4 months

Favorite way to spend playtime: Playing pretend. All. The. Time. Repurposing trash and/or our belongings as spy gear, pirate gear, creature gear, robot gear, etc. I also often find him sitting quietly, absorbed in books. He loves to be outside "checking on the garden" (digging in the garden while wearing a cowboy hat) or running around in the grass pretending to be a cheetah or a bison. New summer favorites are the splash pad and the swimming pool.

Latest skills: Jumping off of everything, jumping into the pool, swimming with floaties, tracing letters with a pencil (and writing a few without tracing), playing nicely with other kids, sharing (most of the time), does small jobs for money so he can save up for toys he wants.

Words: "I love you so, so, so, so much, Mom."
"I love your hands, Mom. They look like claws."
"How did Sammy come out of your tummy? Did he zoom out of your mouth? Did he pop out of your belly button?"
"I dreamed I was a vole. And we lived in the sublivian (sub-nivian) zone."
"Cheese is my favorite liquid." (He was eating mac n cheese.)

Best way to make him laugh: Physical comedy involving his stuffed mouse, Ralph. Tickling. Also, wrestling around with Sam and Tim, and looking at Sam during prayers.

Loves: Animals. Books. Traveling. The beach. The pool. Flying on airplanes. Being among close family and friends. Breakfast. Helping us cook. Reading. Getting snuggly in his bed. Ralph the mouse. Sam. Adventure.

Doesn't love: Loud, chaotic situations. Pushy people. Strangers who talk to him like they know him. Beans.

Some things he's good at: Remembering things he has learned. (This leads to correcting other people when they're wrong sometimes, ahem.) Communicating. Obeying. Using his imagination. Looking out for Sam.

Aspirations: To get a pet. (Actually, all the pets. He has asked for everything from a pet mouse to a lion cub.) To carry a lunch box and ride a school bus someday.

Samuel - 1 year

Favorite way to spend playtime: Throwing a ball with someone, or if no one is available, throwing it - chasing it down - throwing it again, etc. Emptying baskets of toys, pulling all of the tupperware out, excavating the house plants, pushing toy cars around, playing chase with Mikey. He is not very interested in books or cartoons - wants to be free and on the move all the time. Loves to be outside. Loves the splash pad and the pool.

Latest skills: Throwing a ball while standing, taking a couple of steps, pulling papers off my desk, doing animal sounds, dunking his face in the pool or bathtub, climbing stairs/chairs/stools/tables/into the diswasher, falling asleep on his own (sometimes), sleeping through the night (sometimes), brushing his teeth.

Words: Dad, Mama, Bubba, Mikey (eee), baby (bee), peach (shh), thank you (tank-tank), go, Gigi, amen (men), book, balloon (boon), no-no-no.

Best way to make him laugh: Tickle him, kiss his belly, startle him. (Catch him when he's sleepy.)

Loves: Playing in the pool and the bathtub. Rough-housing with Daddy and Mikey. Dogs. Music. Avocado. Snuggles. Nursing.

Doesn't love: Being away from Mom and Dad. Having his face cleaned. Long car trips. Being told "no".

Some things he's good at: Playing happily by himself or with others. Being patient. Throwing.

Aspirations: To someday get into the bathroom and explore the toilet. To keep up with Mikey.