Happy 1/2 Birthday

May 19th has become one of my favorite dates because it now represents so much to our little family. May 19th was the day our lives officially changed forever. May 19th was the day my soul felt true joy after so many months and years of heartache. May 19th is the day I felt like I became a mother...

It seems like so long ago and just like yesterday all at once. I can remember tiptoeing to the bathroom well before the sun was up. I can remember the pounding of my heart and shaking of my hands. And I remember the shocking joy and disbelief as I read that one magical word I had been waiting my whole life to read, "Pregnant."

And so, I celebrate the miracle of you two on this two year anniversary of so many prayers being answered. Not just that though, May 19th is your half birthday, little ones! So today, we celebrate eighteen months...ONE AND A HALF YEARS old! How can that be?! How are my little three pound peanuts now closer to two then you are to one year old? You boys are such a joy to watch grow and explore the world around you.

So, for old time's sake...

 Wiley

• Size: we will get an official weight next week at your check up. I'm guessing you're around 27 pounds and a little over 30 inches tall. You fit comfortably in size 4 diapers. 18 month clothing is fitting your pretty perfectly right now. 
• You are still such an excellent sleeper. Bedtime is typically between 7 and 7:30 and you don't get out of bed until 9:00 AM. However, this is starting to change. You are waking a little earlier than you used to and starting to get out of your bed around 8:00 AM now. You are happy to lay in bed and babble with Ryan for quite some time though. Once I hear, "Milk," and "Hi," I know you're about ready to get up and begin your day.
• You can say 13 words: mama, dada, banana (ba-ba), milk (mel), more (muh), ball (bah...sometimes we hear the "l" sound at the end), down, hi, doggie (duh-duh), outside (ow-sigh), bye-bye (buh-bye), shoes (sh-zz), socks. You also sign please when asking for something and thank you (when reminded) after receiving what you want. You blow kisses when we ask you to say, "I love you." I could burst into tears when you "say," "I love you," without being asked and just because you want us to know! You also have one "sentence," "more milk."
• You have always been such a fabulous eater, but that is starting to change. You will now shake your head if you don't want something or simply throw it on the floor. Breakfast is our best bet for a good, solid meal. We'll take what we can get during lunch and dinner! Part of the problem seems to be your independence. You want to do everything for yourself. So, if we're eating something that isn't finger foods, you are a little more stubborn. You understand how to use a spoon and fork, but aren't always successful in scooping the food onto your utensil.
• You are such an observant, curious little problem solver. You will sit and tinker with things, trying to figure out how they work. I watched you open and close a drawer over and over again, as you sat below it, stood up to look  from the side, and then got on your tiptoes examining from the top, trying to figure out how it worked. You like to take things apart and line the pieces up. When things are stuck or out of reach, you find a way to get them. I remember watching as you'd bring your toy bin over to the couch (before you were tall enough to climb on yourself). You flipped the bin over, stood on top of it, and climbed up onto the couch! I like watching your creativity developing; it amazes me. 
• You still love music and now love to sing! "All I Want is You," is your favorite. All we have to do is sing, "If I were a flower growin' wild and free," your face lights up and you start humming the tune to the song! If (on the rare occasion) we don't have music playing, you'll walk up to my ipad and make this panting sound, which we now means, "music!"
• You are a great listener and follow a lot of our directions, (Wiley sit down, Wiley put that down, clean up your toys please, etc.). But as well as you follow directions, you seem to also have an equal part mischievousness to yourself. "Wiley, don't open that door please," is often followed by your slowly walking back to the door, looking at us with a grin that says, "I heard what you said, I know I shouldn't do this, but watch me open the door anyway."
• I have said from the time you were an infant, that you have always seemed to be a sweet, sensitive soul. This is still true! You are really sweet with your brother and take care of him. If he's crying or upset, you will hug him or bring him his milk to comfort him. I love your caring heart!

Ryan

• Size: we will get an official weight next week at your check up. I'm guessing you're around 25 pounds and probably right at 30 inches tall. You fit comfortably in size 4 diapers. You are in the awkward in-betweeny stages of clothing - 12 months is becoming a little snug on you, but 18 month is still a little big (especially the pants - they fall right off you).
• You are still such an excellent sleeper. Bedtime is typically between 7 and 7:30 and you don't get out of bed until 9:00 AM. However, this is starting to change. You are waking a little earlier than you used to and starting to get out of your bed around 8:00 AM. You are happy to lay in bed and babble with Ryan for quite some time though. Once I hear, "Milk," "Hi," and the sounds of a baby boy jumping up and down in his crib, I know you're about ready to get up for the day!
• You can say 14 words now: hi, mama, dada, more (muh), ball (bah...sometimes we hear the "l" sound at the end), banana (ba-ba or na-na), down, milk (mel), doggie (doh-doh), bye-bye (buh-bye), shoes (shzz), outside (ow-sigh), socks, and cheese (ch-zz). You also sign please when asking for something and thank you after receiving what you want. You blow kisses when we ask you to say, "I love you." I could burst into tears when you "say," "I love you," without being asked and just because you want us to know! You have used a couple "sentences" now: "Mama, ball, please (sign please)," and "more milk, please (sign please)."
• You have always been such a fabulous eater, but that is starting to change. You will now shake your head if you don't want something or simply throw it on the floor. Breakfast is our best bet for a good, solid meal. We'll take what we can get during lunch and dinner! You seem to like to copy your big brother too. So, if we can avoid you seeing him refusing to be fed, you will be a little more cooperative. But the second you see Wiley doesn't want the food, you too suddenly refuse to eat, stinker! You are also very independent too, wanting to do everything for yourself. So, if we're eating something that isn't finger foods, you are a little more stubborn. You understand how to use a spoon and fork, but aren't always successful in scooping the food onto your utensil.
• You are a little more cautious than your curious brother. Instead of trying new things out first, you watch Wiley very carefully. If he is successful, then "monkey see, monkey do." However, if Wiley's idea doesn't seem to work or if he got hurt, you turn back to what you were doing and decide it's not worth the risk. 
• You still seem to be the comedian of our family. You know what to do to make us laugh and continue to do it to keep us giggling. The faces you make seem like you know exactly what you're doing. 
• You still love music. If (on the rare occasion) we don't have music playing, you'll walk up to my ipad and make this panting sound, which we now means, "music!" Your newest, go-to dance move, is a cool head nod. 
• Bathtime is still one of your favorite times of the day! You especially love when Daddy dumps water on your head.
• You are a really great listener and follow most of our directions (Ryan sit down, Ryan put that down, clean up your toys please, etc.). Every night we can count on your to clean up all your and your brother's toys.

I had the day off today, so we were busy celebrating your half-birthday all day. We started the morning off with a quick (relatively speaking -- nothing is too quick when toting two toddlers!) shopping trip and then met Zsu Zsu and Daddy at Paka's office for a lunch date. From there, it was back home for your afternoon nap. We ended the evening going out to eat with your great uncle and aunt who were in town from Pennsylvania for business.

I was so happy to be home with you boys today; it got me very excited for our summer and next school year, knowing I will soon have so much more time with you boys! It is such a privilege to be your all's mommy. I love watching you grow and having a chance to see the world through your innocent, wide-eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drip Drip Drop Little April Showers

This week you experienced your first rain drops! I don't think you've ever been in rain (except maybe in your carriers when you were babies, covers pulled over you). So, when it started to sprinkle earlier this week, we rushed "ow-side" to go feel the rain! Wiley, you loved it!! Ryan, you were shocked that water was falling from the sky and couldn't quiet understand what was happening.

Spring Has Sprung

Thank goodness, spring is here! It's funny, it didn't seem like we were going to have a rough winter and I was sad about that at first. Then, the end of February / start of March, winter hit us and hit us hard! Once the beauty of the snow melted, we were left with the frigid temps and ugly gray days of winter. We were trapped indoors, counting down the days to get back outside.

With the arrival of spring, we are "ow-side" as much as possible! When I ask if you want to go outside, you both go grab your shoes, head to the door, and repeat, "ow-side, ow-side," until we finally get out there! You especially love to go outside right before daddy gets home from work. Every car that passes, you yell to it, "Dada? Dada?" hoping it might be him. You have also become the neighborhood greeters. Every car that passes us while out, you stop, wave, and shout, "Hi!" You have also really taken to all our neighbors that own a "dah-dah" (doggie) and yell, "Hi dah-dah!" to every doggie that passes us. It is so great watching you boys grow and learn. Life is just so fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Break

I got back to school after spring break to hear the tales of these extravagant vacations my students went on: cruises, California, Disney World, beaches, you name it. And while they all sounded fun and exotic, we had the most perfect spring break spent at home! It was a week of countless small moments that I often miss on a daily basis while at work. It was just what my soul needed!

We kicked off our mornings by eating Zsu Zsu's Easter Bread for the first time (it was an instant hit and didn't last long in our house), followed by yogurt finger painting. Ryan, you've always been a little unsure of new textures, so you weren't too crazy about finger painting. Wiley, you loved it! Yogurt was all over your tray, face, hair, floor, and some even made it to your mouth.

 

From our messy breakfasts, it was off to the tub! This was a special treat, since bath time is usually saved for our bedtime routine. You boys love the tub and could spend hours splashing around (hopefully you like the pool as much this summer!). You were fascinated by each other's silly hairdos, making silly faces and making each other laugh!

Mommy braved the grocery store by myself for the first time in awhile too. When you were smaller, it was easy to keep one of your in your carseat in the back of the cart and wear the other one. Now, you're a little too big for me to wear you, so I've avoided solo grocery trips. This week I tackled the challenge and the three of us headed to the grocery. Though the pictures might not support it, you had a blast! Every person that past us, you shouted, "Hi!" and would wave.

There were plenty of extra cuddles and kisses given this week as well. The quiet moments of smiles and cuddles after naptime were some of my favorite.

 

 There was also plenty of playtime outside!

 

It was such a wonderful week together! I cannot wait until we have even more days like this together this summer and next school year.

 

(Mommy wore you out - collapsed on the kitchen floor, begging for a nap!)