The kiddos had a blast on the kitchen floor. I let them spill it out onto the floor, pour it on my leg, etc.
Sarah never left the wagon. She was busy, busy, busy.
Jordan took off for a while, exploring other yard activities.
Eventually the water, or Sarah's interest in it, drew him back.
When we realized the rain really had subsided, Eric offered a trip to the pool, but the kiddos ignored him. We then brought out the hose. At first I used it to refill their tupperwares. They would dump it out and immediately ask for more water. Then I decided to be brave and gave them turns with the hose, with the nozzle in the locked on position.
At one point Jordan dropped it and we all got soaked. From then on, the game became spraying ourselves. The three of us giggled and giggled. Eric somehow managed to stay dry through it all, but he also didn't laugh as hard as the three of us. No bath tonight? Works for me.
Then off to the People's Choice Festival. Because it's not enough to have 1 arts/crafts festival in a county per weekend, you really need 3. The things the kiddos loved there were the fields, and... hmm, what could really be better than a field to run around in?
We can all run in different directions and you can't catch us!
Liam decided to hitch a ride with Jordan. Auntie Heather offered to carry Sarah because she's so light compared to the boys.
It was really hot, so we went to a shaded tent. There we watched a children's musician, who invited children on stage. And by the end, I think all 6 parents and 5 children from our group were on that stage. In one friend's words "what have our lives become that we get ourselves into these situations?" The musician supplied this lovely look.
Then Jordan and Sarah discovered Mama and Daddy's lemonade.
Bigger than Sarah's head.
Home for lunch and nap. Then Auntie Lorraine came over and we had a quick dinner and walked back to arts fest. We walked through the art a bit more, stared at the water buckets, and then made it to the Creamery stand on campus. We offered Sarah and Jordan their first ice cream cones.
7:05 PM I finally arm wrestle Sarah to push cone into her face and get melty ice cream all over her face. She licks ice cream off her lip, realizes we are not trying to poison her, and joins Jordan in the feeding frenzy. Insane dripping all over chins, clothes, stroller begins. Eva resists her inner control freak and lets it happen.
7:09 PM: Jordan eats all of the ice cream off the top, and asks for more ice cream. We explain, you can eat the cone, too! So begins the love affair with ice cream cones. We also explain, but you don't eat the paper. So begins three days where, if you ask Jordan what he thought of ice cream cones he replies "No eat paper!"
7:12 PM Lots of attention from passersby. We could have been a paid advertisement for the Creamery. Lots of, "I hope you took photos" or "I wish I had my camera." One woman exclaims "that's the cutest thing at all of arts fest!"
7:20 or so (no time stamp): Sarah's cone is completely gone. Jordan has about an inch of cone left, with no ice cream and announces he's "all done" and hands it to us. We then head off to listen to music.
"Run away wit Mama water!"
What a blast we all had. And only about 360 more days until next year's arts fest.
We first had snack at the main stage and enjoyed listening to the music.
Then we walked around through some booths and made our way to the kid magnet, the water features. Both kiddos were willing to walk through the misting tunnel. They both also loved watching the water buckets. We took them out of the stroller so they could try the buckets. Jordan wanted to get close, but not too close. Sarah was willing to go through once with Eric.
Also on garden days, at the end of it all, cuddling with Uncle Rey and Liam. I love how Liam grabbed Sarah's hair for comfort.
On Canada day, they helped with making a "stained glass" picture. Apparently they loved and kept asking for "more gems." Sarah kept taking Jordan's but he didn't seem to mind (there's a 10% chance I reversed the story).
On 4th (okay, 3rd) of July, they made a flag out of footprints. Sarah was apparently the majority of the blue footprints. Then they had a parade to the adminstration building on campus, and were even invited in (I laziness blocked out the faces of others... of course, my children didn't face the camera and would not have had to be blocked out if they weren't mine).
Last week, two new babies, twins at that, started: Baby Sarah and Baby Lily. Jordan and Sarah knew there names by the end of the day (though sometimes confuse them). Amazing that they are 6 months old, the same age as Sarah and Jordan when they started. I remember that day vividly. There were a bunch of almost 2 year old girls, and they all seemed so BIG and OLD. They could walk, talk, laugh, dance... my kids could smile and nurse and sit in bouncy seats. Now there are new baby (twins) and they are the big kids. Sarah and Jordan love reading to them and helping with bottles and bringing them toys (real live dolls to play with).
This past week was arts fest. One day they took a walk to watch them set up.
Wednesday, children's day, was rained out. They went on walks but ended up poured on. This photo actually appeared on the university website so I didn't bother to block out the other child. At this point they were huddled under a shelter (though the caption said something like, even the youngest children enjoyed the activities at children's day).
Luckily on Thursday, the sun shone and they went for long walks to explore arts fest. At one point on the walk Jordan found his shadow and spent a long time watching it. He loves waving to his shadow, and then when we get to shady parts saying "see ou laddah adow"
I bumped into Sarah's group's walk. When she saw me she wanted me to pick her up and hold her. It took me a while to convince her I could put her down to keep walking. Then I snuck behind the group to take these photos. Can you believe how well they manage these children, all turning/turned 2 in June through September? Plus a baby in the stroller and at least 1 more toddler on the very left holding onto the stroller.
Sarah eventually caught me stalking them, but allowed me to simply wave goodbye.
Jordan and Liam (aka "Mimi") apparently spontaneously started holding hands together.
Sunday we kept them busy at home in the morning with all kinds of random activities. Now that I've cleared out some of our old gear and clothes through freecycle, we can actually get to the piano again.
I also at after snack gave each kid a bowl filled with water, and a whisk to play with. Um, no it wasn't because I was dying to watch some Wimbledon in the next room and we have a no TV policy. I wouldn't go back and forth, watching Nadal win the first set, while the kiddos happily whisked water. Nope, not me. Then if, after Eric took Jordan up to nap, if I brought Sarah into the nursery, handed her to Eric, and said, "um, I'm going back downstairs" to watch the next part of the match after the rain delay, would that be so wrong? What if I kept watching while Eric gave them snack? Finally, I turned off the TV at the start of set 5, set the VCR, and watched set 5 after bedtime. To take the kiddos to the pool. So I'm not all evil. And I do know how to write non-fragment sentences. Just don't wanna.
Eric was at the store, but 3 adults on 3 toddlers is totally manageable. Jordan and Sarah now love the "big side" which is really tall, so we insist someone go with them. But they are now great at going down the more reasonable slides themselves.
Sarah continues to adore her Uncle Rey. And remember I used to say Sarah never smiled for the camera? Now she loves to, accompanied by saying "teese!"
Sarah lasted longer at the activity than Jordan did. She could get the labels off herself, and didn't freak out if they stuck to the tray.
See, address labels can be fun!
After nap we went to a 4th of July party. We taught the kiddos to say "happy Independence Day" which they enjoyed saying to everyone (the next day at a birthday party, though, it was hard to remember to say happy birthday instead). At the same party last year we were pretty low key, and left well before fireworks. I love how I wrote "But in a couple of years, we'll keep the kiddos up late enough to see it." It must have seemed an eternity away. On that day last year, the kiddos tried pasta for the first time.
Any chance for a family photo, no matter how we look.
But you have to move fast.
We decided to "see how it goes" in terms of staying up for the fireworks, scheduled for 9:20. We arrived at the party about 4:30, so at times it seemed it was an eternity away, especially around our usual bedtime. A couple of times Eric was tempted to bail. But the kiddos were doing great, having a blast, running around and playing. The older kids put a DVD in and Jordan and Sarah watched a bit, and then went back to running around in circles and chasing each other. If you asked them "what sound do fireworks make?" they would both answer "boom!" We changed the kiddos into PJs and then finally went outside. One poor girl made it up all night and freaked out at the first boom and they had to leave. Another boy made it but then slipped and cut his face and had to leave. The two older boys got bored and went back inside to watch their movie. But Sarah and Jordan, outside for the whole 40 minute show.
Sarah stayed in this position the entire time.
Except the parent changed, because we would pass her back and forth. Because after that first photo, Jordan would not stay still. He was chasing his shadow into the road. He was running, running, running. He would find a spot on the grass, sit down, and request "Mama dit dere" (sit there) but it would be a spot where you could see no fireworks. But he was happy.
The best part of it all, though? When I woke the next morning and looked a the clock, it was 8:27. And not a sound. The kiddos slept until 8:30, and so that was the true independence day for Mama and Daddy.
And here they are, fighting over a toy, not practicing at all.
Dear Sarah and Jordan,
You are 22 months today (okay, yesterday, I was tired). Walking back from the pool this evening after an action packed 3-day weekend, I told Daddy that I could not believe how much fun we have these days. When I read about our time last year I sounded happy, but my memories are a big hazy blur of exhaustion and nursing and trying to get you two to nap. Just to plan an outing seemed like such a chore, and often by the time we thought we could go out the door, it was time to nurse again or nap or change a diaper. Our lives still take effort, but not as much. I love that we finally can share so many things with you both.
Of course, I will not pretend that I have any control over our lives. When we walk in the stroller, you both make requests: “go dis way… go dat way… go alley way.” I now call Sarah the director and Jordan the narrator. Daddy and I are simply actors in this great movie you have created. Jordan describes the action as it occurs “Mama walking on the didewalk; Daddy dinking watah; bumblebee… doggie… birdie… boo fower, white fower, ellow fower…” Jordan, you should be the one keeping this blog.
Sarah, on the other hand, commands the action. You announce the next activity, and pull people around to start it. You especially like to tell Jordan what to do, though there is no malice or even bossiness involved. Instead, you like to make sure he gets to do all the great things you’re doing. I love when you say “Dadan, come too!” in a sing songy voice. When we get ready to go outside, you find your shoes, and then bring Jordan his. At bedtime after you kiss Baby Dew, you bring Baby Gordon to Jordan for him to kiss goodnight. One time when we were pretending to drink tea, you directed Jordan through the complete activity – bringing him over to the play sink to show him how to pretend to pour the tea, and then showing him how to drink it. And last week at daycare, you finished snack before Jordan. The staff told you to get ready to go outside, and you wanted Jordan, who had not finished snack, to join you. So you commanded “Dadan, dump bowl!” and said “Dadan, outdide, water!” to try to get him to understand he would miss out on fun if he did not hurry.
We have so much fun in everything we do. Sometimes we play hide and seek which you call “Mama no peeking.” I hide behind a corner and you both run around it to find me. Or I sit in the middle of the living room with a blanket over my head and you both come under and hug me and scream “Mama!” with huge grins. Walking to and from daycare we continue to explore everything we see and hear. Some mornings I ask you both what you think we will see on the way in. You often answer things like “see birdie” or “see boo car” or “see doggie.” Then on the walk we see how many things we guessed we actually find. You both still love the moon, especially Jordan. One day walking home I found the moon and we watched it the whole way. Another day on the walk in, Jordan found the moon himself. I told you it was a half moon and you talked about it, looking up at the sky and announcing “aff moon.” You both now recognize Obama signs and yell out “Obama/Omama” when you see one. You explore at daycare, too. Your caregiver told me this story recently: “We went on a walk this morning in search of Abiyoyo! Jordan sang and called Abiyoyo's name with everyone else and danced his way up to the Peace Garden. We climbed the rocks looking for Abiyoyo, but sadly didn't find him. Once we were back on the playground, we found the rest of our friends, including Sarah, who went on a different walk. Once back, Sarah came over to Jordan and hugged him. :) I turned on the sprinkler and allowed the kiddos to get wet and have fun before going in for lunch. Sarah was SO BRAVE! ! ! She was putting her feet in, her hands in, and then her head in and trying to lick the water. She repeatedly put her head in the sprinkler and giggled. She had so much fun. Jordan didn't like the sprinkler as much.”
In many ways you are now great friends. This month it became easier to get photos of the two of you together because you want to be around each other more. If you do things together Sarah will often say “Dadan turn,” like after you go down the slide. You want to look at toys together and often enjoy taking turns or sharing. Jordan sometimes sits on the walker and asks Sarah to push the button to make Elmo dance. This evening coming down the stairs, Sarah was behind Jordan and you would catch up to him, slide right into him, and then put your arms around him giggling. Other times, though, you already annoy each other. Jordan lately gets bothered by Sarah for reasons no one else (including Sarah) understands. It started last week in the wagon. Suddenly, Jordan started saying “No Wawah, no Wawah” and Sarah would reply “Yes, Wawah, yes, Wawah.” Since then Jordan is suddenly set off by Sarah. Multiple times on walks we have noticed the daylilies and you both label them. But suddenly Jordan will start saying “No Wawah dayiwies” which leads Sarah to repeat “dayiwies” and Jordan to continue with “No Wawah dayiwies.” It happens in multiple contexts. Sarah started singing “Wahoo, wahoo, wahoo” and Jordan replied “No Wawah wahoo” in an endless cycle. Sarah talked about Baby Anna and Jordan started complaining “No Wawah Baby Anna” repeatedly. And the other day Sarah walked into the living room and Jordan ran after her, almost tackling her, yelling “No Wawah wiving woom.” I imagine you will continue to annoy each other in mysterious and sometimes quite evident ways, though I hope the love and joy continue to outweigh the bother.
You both have favorite colors now. Jordan loves green (like Mama’s eyes) and Sarah loves blue (like everyone else’s). You have preferences for clothes, utensils, sippy cups, toys (including party favor balls yesterday), balloons, and crayons. You even know each others’ favorite colors, so if Sarah asks for a blue ball, for instance, you will then say “Dadan geen ball.” Sometimes you ask for silly things, like when I ask what kind of cereal you want, Sarah might say “boo ceweal” and Jordan “geen ceweal.” And sometimes Jordan claims to have green eyes.
This week our blackberries became (almost) ripe and we spent some time outside picking them. Jordan loved finding the ripe ones and helping remove them. When Sarah discovered the activity, and that it involved berries, you also loved it, and had the gentlest touch pulling them off the vine and avoiding thorns. The best part was after dinner when Jordan, who generally avoids berries at their first mention, ate them heartily and asked for more. These are the moments I never want to forget, standing in the yard watching the two of you picking berries, Mama too busy even to pull out the camera. I love rolling around in the grass with you, jumping in the pool with you, sliding down the slide with you, and hugging and kissing you at the end of the day. Two more months kiddos… unbelievable.
Love,
Mama
Dear Sarah,
Yesterday a friend compared you to the Dalai Lama. Sometimes you do have such an observant, contemplative look it is hard to remember that you also love rolling around on the floor being tickled. You have become so adventurous. You love climbing ladders and going down slides, riding in the wagon at fast speeds, and even went down the big slide with Daddy at the fair. You used to fear mobiles and dangling giraffes and now you are so brave (except when it comes to live animals).
You had your first real tantrum this month. You did not want to take off your pajamas after nap, and started rolling around, crying hysterically about it. You wanted me to comfort you but had trouble settling down. Eventually we both recovered. On the 4th of July you had a beautiful brown dress and wanted nothing but your neon turquoise and pink water shoes on your feet. After much stubbornness and negotiation (and then there was you!), we settled on blue sneakers. Not the brown sandals I wanted, but better than neon foam. I suspect to see more of these in our future, and I imagine I could throw a mean tantrum in my day.
Mostly, though, you are an adorable lovebug. You continue to love your dolls and want them present at all times. You give them the best “mwah!” kisses and hugs. You are quite possessive of Baby Dew, though the last couple of days you finally let Jordan play with her while you played with Baby Gordon. I took out a bunch of preemie and newborn clothes for the dolls, and you love putting the newborn hats on yourself, pulling them down like skull caps.
You love talking now. You imitate us a lot, and even imitate Jordan. You still talk quietly, but you enunciate quite well. You love when I ask you questions, and lately nod yes quite frequently. The last couple of nights while nursing, I would ask you “did we go to a party today?” and you would nod yes, then I would ask another question. Whenever I paused, you signed for more. Before our trip to Richmond we had talked a lot about going out of town and who we would see. The night before we left I asked you at bedtime, “Who would you like to bring to sleep with on our trip?” I expected the answer to be “Baby Dew” but instead you answered “Mimi.” Eventually you agreed that Baby Dew should come and we could see Liam at daycare the next week. You love to giggle, and often giggle in anticipation of something funny. Other times, Jordan starts giggling and you laugh or imitate him, even if you missed the joke.
You love eating lately. For our lunch date this week I took you for Indian food and you adored it. You ate spicy chickpeas, lentils (teeny tiny beans), potatoes & peas, tandoori chicken, naan, and a semolina dessert. As with everything, you wanted me to eat whatever you ate and sometimes wouldn’t take another bite until I tried some (not a fan of that dessert myself). The other day when I watched you in the booth at daycare you saw a teacher roll up her tortilla, so you rolled up your own to take bites of it. I recently asked you what Mama’s milk tastes like. Does it taste like milk? No! Ice cream? No! Then what does it taste like? Apple! you announced. If frogs’ legs can taste like chicken, I guess breast milk can taste like apple.
I love the way you push your hair out of your eyes. There is something about it that exudes big girl. It delights me and scares me at the same time. Still, you are my baby girl. Yesterday after nap you wanted to cuddle with me well into snack time, and then finally felt ready to join Jordan for crackers. And sometimes now at bedtime or even in the middle of play, you look in my eyes and say “Mama cuddul iddle bit.” Sarah-bellum, I’ll cuddle you until you no longer will let me (and probably then some).
Love,
Mama
Dear Jordan,
For a couple of weeks, when asked “How old you are you?” you would reply “Tenty un mons.” I was worried that you would not adapt quickly enough, but within an hour of waking up on the 5th you could answer the question “how old are you now?” with “Tenty dew mons.” Yesterday at a party I asked Sarah to show someone the mac and cheese dance, and she stared at me blankly. Auntie Kim said, “she’s not a performing seal.” So I turned to you and said “Jordan, do the mac and cheese dance,” and dance you did. Because everyone knows you’re the performer in the family, performing on cue and doing anything for a laugh.
I know I say it every month, but you continue to love to sing and talk and laugh. One recent thing you learned to say is that “geen mean go, wed mean dop” and you repeat it a lot (making it hard for me to jaywalk). Perhaps your favorite expression is to ask for “dew more minahs” in the tub, at the park, or anywhere. Sometimes if I say “two more minutes” you will respond “Wawah one more minah.” I am not sure why you do not think she should have two, but it is pervasive. You correctly use more abstract words now, too, like “this” “that” and “any.”
In the car returning from Richmond, you suddenly became fascinated with Baby Dew. You kept asking for her and wanting her from Sarah. I would broker complicated trades (much like chess moves, thinking three steps ahead) for you to have a turn. I adore the way you say “Baby Dew-ew.” Back home I offered you your own doll, whom Sarah has named Baby Mimi. You now sleep with Baby Mimi although sometimes you want Baby Dew instead. Even though you still love to “dep on de baby” and have taught Sarah a new game that involves laying on the baby dolls, I love when the nurturing side of you emerges.
You find joy in the smallest moments. Sometimes you do downward facing dog and wait for me to peek between your legs and then giggle away. Outside you love to explore rocks and leaves and bushes, to walk along curbs or step into puddles. At the park you love to climb the same toy over and over and never seem to tire of it. And in your crib at night sometimes you talk to yourself before sleeping for up to 20 minutes. Sometimes when you finish nursing in the morning you love to jump down, open the nursery door, push open our bedroom door, and walk in to see Daddy. What a great first greeting for Daddy.
Sarah gets all the publicity for wanting order and fairness, but you have your moments as well. You recently saw a very pink baby sleeper and immediately said “Celine wear.” Celine is a girl from your daycare who wears the most pink, princessy clothes, and I loved that you recognized that characteristic out of context. The other day you went into the living room and walked out holding a permanent marker saying “uh oh Mama pen.” Although you have your moments of mischief and it sometimes feels as though you have a honing device for the one thing in a space you should not touch, you clearly also have a sense of right and wrong and want to abide it (as long as you won’t miss out on something super cool).
You now give amazing hugs. You put your head on my shoulder and sometimes add a kiss. If I pick you up and you do not give me one at first, I only need say “where is my hug hiding?” and you cuddle in with a grin. Although you want to run and climb and jump, you still sometimes look up at me and ask “Mama pick-a-you-up” and there is nothing I would rather do. Thank you for being so warm and loving and sharing those qualities will me.
Love,
Mama
