Point & Grunt

Benny does the cutest things these days. Although we feel like he is behind where Nathan was at this age (at least with talking) he is catching on to other things quickly. He manages to communicate his needs despite his lack of words. His pointing/ pulling/ directing in some fashion gets you in the right room. His more annoying grunts gets his point across - for the most part. He copies Nathan's every move - from climbing on every surface and jumping off, to running around with arms outstretched "flying", to holding on to the outside of the stair rails and using the steps to ascend. Awesome. Not. It's scary to watch that little body make such big boy maneuvers, but it's also good to see that he can handle more and more of the world and it's obstacles. After all, he is no longer a baby. He is suddenly a year and a half (about) and is very much aware of that fact.

Our favorite game of late: he will be between me and Leo and alternately run into a hug or kiss between the two of us. Of course I love this one. I will have to force it out of him someday. Also, we know he knows how to do things (high-five, fist bump including 'blow it up', blow kiss, etc). But when he doesn't feel like it, or just wants to get a reaction, he will shake his head no and giggle when asked repeatedly. The key is repeatedly. Everything is over and over until you think of a different way to entertain him. This is usual for kids but still exhausting!

When we was a baby, he was a good sleeper, as in when he was asleep, we would put him down and that was it. He's always been good through the night but at some point he wasn't so great about just going to sleep when it was time, and so we went through the horrible (but effective) cry it out stage. From about six months on, he would cry when put to sleep. For months! Then, it slowly changed and it would be a little less, then it was only a few minutes or no crying at all. Hooray! Recently though he too has realized he is becoming more a kid and less a baby. He started crying again at bedtime. Ugh. It's normal at this age and I vaguely remember Nathan doing it too. But it's still painful. Then, before you know it you turn another corner. Just now in fact, we went to his room to change him (without pointing you can tell him what's next - 'bath' or 'change' and he will lead the way). I closed the door, turned off the lights and put on his music. After a moment, he looked at me and pointed to his bed. I put him in and he snuggled right up, ready and willing for nap time. Hallelujah! All the little things over time have paid off. He knows the ques and he practically asked to go to bed. We are doing something right!

Nathan is proof we have been doing ok too of course. He is as bright and funny as ever. And head strong and independent as ever. He has been testing out his place in the world, trying to make deals with us as we do with him ("If I finish my beans and take one more bite of chicken I get dessert, ok mom?") He tries and even sometimes comes up with decent compromises. But mostly, they come out as angry attempts to control things when they aren't going his way. He even boldly shouted to me, "I'm not going to bed early because that's not the way the world works!" Oh my. My words come back at me full speed but from a four-year-olds attempt to get out of punishment. Sorry, buddy, that definitely isn't the way the world works. But nice try. It gets harder to keep him in line as he tries to push back on every front, but we just have to become more consistent at discipline while still taking into account he's a smart kid with feelings and he's taking in every detail of how human interaction works. You can't yell at a kid in frustration and not expect him to yell back at you later on in the way he's just been taught. We're learning every day.

Nathan's funniest thing is he loves to dress us. When we are at a friends house, if there is dress up things - masks, play outfits, boots, helmets, knee pads, etc, he is in them. We went to Marbles not long ago and they have lots of little areas for dress up. He spent lots of a time as a doctor, then a fireman. I almost couldn't find him underneath the coat and hat. I love his sense of make believe and pretend play. He gets better at making up ways to spend time. It's finally translating into less TV time which is knows we are trying to spend less time doing. Also, Benny and Nathan are playing together. Another Hallelujah moment! Even though their play results in giant messes (blocks, under cabinet tupperware, pillows and blankets, books, etc), they pass the time easier these days when they are together. Organized activities are less successful: they are on such different planes still that number and letter practicing for one equals marker on the wall for the other. But still, we are making some progress as a family unit. It's hard to keep things interesting, fun and productive for four different individuals. Today is a bad example of cohesiveness. Mommy and Daddy want to veg and the boys simply don't do much of that - so we are all in different parts of the house doing our own thing. On the other hand, how cool is that?!