Basement Fun

Brock tends to be a longer napper than Kyle, and as a result, Kyle often gets to spend time in the basement "helping" Mommy work on the computer. Daddy's computer is right next to Mommy's, so Kyle has started to imitate what he sees. Sorry Daddy!!! If you ever find weird things when you turn on your computer screen, now you know why:).

"I love this thing Mommy calls the mouse."

"See, this is how you move it around on this square thing here and tap on these keys at the same time."

" I think something should have printed. Now if only I could reach up there to those papers!!"

"Okay, I'm bored with the computer. Now Mommy, come and chase me up the stairs. I'm getting really good at the up part, but not so much at the down part!"

Monkey see, monkey do, too!!

Yesterday, I was working in the boys' room, putting away, rearranging clothes in their closet, and taking inventory for summer needs. I turned around from the closet to see this:

Kyle found the open drawer and climbed right in. He looked at me with a funny face like "What did I do?? Where did I end up??"

Then, he realized that this was kind of fun, especially when Mommy went for her camera to take a picture!!

Brock heard the commotion and came over to investigate. He always wants in on the action!!

He wouldn't rest until he had a turn in the drawer.

"This is fun, but what am I supposed to do now??"

Kitchen Cupboard Frustration:(

Yesterday's post talked alot about Brock's new attitude, and it may have sounded like he's the only "challenge" that we have. But, I don't want to deceive you all. Kyle's no angel either at times. Today was a good example. The boys love to empty out the kitchen cupboards. I know that this is normal, and maybe even good for their development, but after several months of re-stocking the cupboards over and over, it gets tiring. Many of the cupboards now have locks on them to prevent injury to the boys and sanity for Mommy and Daddy, but we decided to leave one without a lock that they could "explore" in. It has harmless stuff that they can empty and play with, mostly Tupperware containers/lids and bags of chips. Earlier this morning, it had been emptied and thoroughly investigated several times. I had everything put away and it was almost nap time when Kyle decided to empty it one more time. Mommy had had enough and here's what ensued in pictures:

This was the scene from this morning. "Could this be anymore fun, brother??"

Here's Kyle this afternoon, contemplating the fun he's going to have.

Here's Kyle after Mommy decided that she wasn't going to let him empty the cupboard one more time.

"Please Mommy!!! Don't hold the cupboard shut. I know it's nap time and that I'm tired, but I'll sleep so much better knowing that those things are not neatly put away!!"

"I REALLY want to empty the cupboard!!"I NEED to empty that cupboard!!!"

"Life is so unfair!!"

"I guess I'll just read my book, but I 'm going to sit right here and wait, in case Mommy changes her mind!!"

Train Fanatics!!

Is this train built for 2 riders?? It should have been. This is the only solution that we've come up with for the dilemma of who rides and who cries while waiting their turn. Works well for the guy up top and not so great for the guy on the bottom, but as you can see, no one is crying. Thanks Aunt Ruthie for this inventive solution!!

Baby Bed-head

Wow!! Notice the date of this post?? That is the date that I started it, and today, January 28th is the date I'm finishing it:). It has been a crazy place at our house for the past 2 weeks. It started off with my first 2 Tupperware parties back to back last week. They went well, but required alot of prep time. The learning curve is higher than I expected with all of the details, but it has been fun to have something new to focus on. Then on Friday night around midnight, we got hit!! By what, you may ask?? The dreaded stomach flu. Poor Kyle was the first to succumb, and what a mess. Why is it that kids always get sick in the middle of the night? You are dazed and confused as you give midnight baths, start the laundry, and try to calm your terrified child. It was heart breaking to see how scared he was, and needless to say, he spent the rest of the night between Mommy and Daddy, with Mommy diving for the "pan" every time he flinched, hoping to save her bed from an immediate trip to the washing machine:). Mommy didn't get much sleep because of Kyle, and because I was just listening and waiting for #2 to succumb to the bug. I knew it was inevitable. At 6am, it happened. We heard Brock whimper, and Daddy arrived in his room just in time to see him finish christening his entire bed. Round 2 had begun. Another baby-clean up and round of laundry took off. Brock wasn't quite as terrified as Kyle, and actually, after some dry heaves, he was giggling as he tried to figure out what was going on. The worst of it lasted for 36 hours between Brock, Kyle, Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and Daddy definitely didn't have it as rough as the boys, but it's still no fun!! The boys are doing better, but each day that I think we have it completely kicked it, another "event" of the other sort occurs. I called the doctor's office today, and was bummed to hear the nurse say that the stomach flu is running rampid (sp??) and they are hearing of some kids that have the after effects for up to 2 weeks!! Hang on, dear washing machine!!! We need you now more that ever:).

On a much lighter and happier note, I'll update you on some of the boy's recent achievements. Kyle is walking more and more every day. It's amazing to see how his coordination has improved just in the past week, and his confidence level is rising, too!! He is definitely inspired by Brock, as he races past Kyle and gets seemingly every toy Kyle's headed for. Brock is changing almost daily, too. The little boy who had no time for book reading has started to show an interest in the past 5 days. I'm not sure if it was the flu that slowed him down, but he suddenly has taken the time to sit and listen to several books at a time for the past several days. He even cried inconsolably 2 nights ago when Daddy stopped reading before he was ready, and had to resume story time to calm him down enough to go to bed:). He also has become very vocal about what he wants, but in a not so good way. He can whine with the best of them and you definitely know when he feels that he's getting the short end of the stick or is frustrated with something. His most often source of frustration is the sharing of a favorite push along Thomas the Train, or when he has it all to himself and gets stuck against a wall or couch. I'm not sure how to nip this whining thing in the bud, so if anyone has any good tips, let me know. I know that it's difficult at this age because he has no other way to communicate his displeasure, but boy does it grate on the nerves!! His other new talent is showing displeasure to his brother. When he and Kyle are playing, if Kyle takes something that he has, Brock lunges at him with an open mouth. I'm not sure how he would have learned the concept of biting at 11months old, but that's very much what it looks like!! And, it's usually not just once. This boy has a memory!! I usually try to stop the interaction, but the minute I step away, he goes after him again, as if to reinforce his irritation. Poor Kyle!! He seems to be on the receiving end alot, but I'm afraid of what will happen when he's finally had enough. Watch out Brock!!

Kyle has a new word that he knows the meaning of. Both boys know Mama and Dada, and know what they mean, but Kyle was the first to learn a third word. Those of you who know our family won't be surprised by this but his new word is Cheese!! If we listen closely when we put him in his high chair and open the refrigerator, we can hear a little "cheese, cheese, cheese" come from the him. It's usually very soft, almost in a whisper, but we can definitely tell what he's saying. Then, when his request is fulfilled, he gets a very big smile on his face:). So cute!!!

Whining and GI issues aside, the boys are so much fun these days. They love to play with us and with each other, and can be found investigating any corner of the house that is not closed off to them. They laugh at each other frequently and definitely know how to push each other's buttons:).

Sorry for the long dissertation, but now you're all up to speed. On to the pictures...................

Here are my bed-headed little boys. Now that we're sleeping so much better, we seem to have much more frequent bouts of bed-head. Mommy doesn't mind this at all!!!

Brock seems to have the most. His hair is much finer than Kyle's, but I'm not sure if it's that or the fact that he burrows in the corner of his crib when he sleeps.
An up top shot.
Can you see my little spike on top?? I look like Dennis the Menace!!
Kyle has to get in on some of the pictures, even though his hair is lying nicely. They love to sit in the big rocking chair and rock by themselves!!!

I'm just not awake yet, Mommy!! Keep the paparazzi at bay, please!!
Sharing an after nap snack.
This is kind of like bed-head. Kyle trying on Daddy's 180's. He'll be ready to shovel snow next year, and Daddy will be ready to let him!!
Can you still see me behind my ball and cup??
I love my paci!!!
Still lovin' my paci!!!!

Another funny face shot from Kyle. Notice the ouchie on his lip. I didn't see it happened, but I heard a yelp and found Kyle laying face down with Brock on top of him. I'm not sure if the ouchie was from Kyle biting his lip or from his brother somehow, but it's amazing how fast they heal!! Thank goodness!!

Someday I will remember......

...........to make sure that bathroom door is shut and the lid is down!! We are doing better at this most of the time, but once in a while, we still forget:). This toilet paper episode started with Kyle taking a little bath in the toilet, and while I was taking off his wet clothes and washing him up at the sink, Brock took off with the toilet paper end and didn't stop until it ran out. He then proceeded to wrap it around himself like a shawl and look at me with glee in his eyes. He had won, again!! Here they are, reveling in their glory as I went to get the camera. I have to document these funny events, but hopefully, I'm not giving them positive reinforcement with the picture taking:).

Mommy's Rewards

After a long hard day of work and play, Mommy found her reward after the boys were in bed ...

A once gummy, now dried on Gerber puff stuck to her pant leg. This was a leftover from snack time much earlier in the day. Wondering who might have seen this little treasure besides Daddy, Mommy was relieved that this day was spent only at home:).

The Gerber puff seems like a great reward:), but Mommy's real reward are these 2 award winning smilers, who were fast asleep when the reward was found. Brock and Kyle, you are the best rewards ever!!

Boyz in hoodies:)

These super cute hoodies were gifts from Aunt Kara earlier this year. Don't they make them look like little boys?? I can't believe my babies are almost 1. It goes so fast!! Next thing you know, we'll be taking them skiing a Keystone Mountain. Oh the fun to come:).

Adventures in eating

Eating is a very time consuming event in our house these days. Including meal prep, feeding time and high chair cleanup (oh, my - what a job - times 2!!!!), it can take over an hour per meal. And we're not talking gourmet cooking here - just the basics!! The good part is that the boys are really starting to love their food and only want big people stuff - so yea!!-no more double cooking and no more baby food making:). The hard part is being creative enough to find things that they like and will eat, trying to introduce new foods, and wondering the whole time if they're getting enough of the right nutrients. Here's some pics of our recent eating adventures:

Brock has thoroughly enjoyed this meal!! His new thing when the camera comes out is to give us a cheesy grin, which usually means his eyes are shut (you'll notice this on a lot of these pics:).

"I'm so full!! I need to relax for a bit."

Brock loved the chocolate crinkle Christmas cookies that Grandma Martin and Aunt Kara made. So yummy!!

What happens when you run your hands through your hair with food on them??? You get a new hairdo, of course!! And a bath!!

"Can you see my peas??"

"I'm all done!! Will someone clean my hands, please??"

When Brock decides that he is done - HE IS DONE!!!! I'm not sure how people used to keep their children in highchairs without these wonderful 5-point harnesses. He definitely puts all parts of it to good use while Mommy's trying to clean him up!! I'm sure that we would have had several flying attempts by now without them:).

Toilet paper trials

A favorite activity of Brock and Kyle lately is anything involved with the bathroom. This mecca of forbidden things is typically off limits to them, but occasionally, one of us is forgetful and leaves the door open. They seem to have a sixth sense about an available bathroom, either that or the toilet calls their names:). I can just imagine that as they get close, they are devising a plan in twin talk. "Kyle, you unroll the toilet paper, and I'll flush incessantly to waste water:). " We imagine Brock as the instigator, because, well, it just seems to be the roll that fits him best!! Often times, by the time I get both of the boys out of the bathroom, I'm frazzled enough that I just shut the door and forget the mess until later. Last weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Martin came for a visit. Grandpa went to use the restroom and found the evidence of the latest bathroom raid by Brock and Kyle. "What's taking him so long??" wondered Grandma. "Uh-oh!!" I responded. I had not gone back to clean up after evacuating the bathroom. Sure enough, Grandpa came out a short time later. "I re-rolled your toilet paper, and don't worry - I threw away the pieces that had been chewed on:)!!" Thanks for the clean-up reprieve, Grandpa, but unfortunately, I'm sure that it won't last long!!