How there came to be a hole where our tv used to be

I have a theory about why so many toddlers I know (including two very adorable blond little boys) have such trouble with transitions. I've watched the boys learn about the world around them and have enjoyed seeing them master the art of inserting and playing a CD, DVD... pushing the start button on the microwave... picking out a favorite story... going to the fridge for something to drink... pretending to call Daddy on our cell phone... and I have found it cute when they request these things out of their pure joy for all of them. What I haven't found cute, however, is their response when the answer is, "No," or, "Wait a minute, please."

We live in an era of instant gratification. Everything the boys have ever wanted or needed has been given to them, almost instantly. No wonder they don't tolerate being told to wait... what they know better than almost anything is that almost everything in their small little world is immediately accessible. If they ask for a song, we push play on the CD. No rewinding is necessary. If we don't have the CD, we find it online. Same goes for movies. The fridge is always stocked, snacks are always available and batteries are promptly replaced in musical and/or moving toys.

After several weeks of trying to persuade the boys that there are far more enjoyable activities than turning on the television or picking out a movie, we made the decision to remove the TV from our living room. I was a little anxious about how they would respond to it, but I have to say, it's been one of the best decisions we ever made. The boys quickly adjusted and have been playing so much more creatively. Selfishly, it is so nice to have eliminated another one of our toddler battles. They no longer beg to watch TV ALL THE TIME, because the TV has completely disappeared. The only drawback, so far, has been finding suitable activities to keep them entertained while I unload groceries (since we live two floors up and I frequently have to park down the street). Luckily, they are officially enamored with library books.... so we'll just hope that lasts... a really long time!

I'm sure this change won't completely eliminate our trouble-spots, but I'm hoping it will help teach the boys that not everything enjoyable has to be immediate. We'll see!

Home Sweet Home

Don't even get me started on how much I miss my camera!!! The boys and I had a lovely trip to see my family over the week-end. Our return trip home was, perhaps, the best traveling experience we've ever shared together. I have to say, it helped tremendously that I had two grocery bags filled with a stockpile of snacks, toys, books, CDs and DVDs. Just as one distraction was starting to get old, I was able to quickly hand the boys a new surprise. It also helped that my dad rode along with me for the first hour. Keeping the boys entertained was a lot less challenging when I didn't have to be behind the steering wheel. :)

The most challenging aspect of our trip was, by far, the boys' adjustment to being in a new setting. It seemed to take them a good two days to settle-in to the new atmosphere and all the new people surrounding them. We certainly hit a few rough patches (highlight being our first dinner, during which both boys screamed and refused to eat... lovely), but, at least I had family support to help me through it all. I still think there's nothing quite as horrible as feeling so helpless to calm your children. Aagh.

Anyway, despite the few bumps in the road, the boys and I had a fantastic time. We experienced a new childrens' museum with Mimi, shared lawnmower rides and lollipops with Granddad and had a blast playing with Uncle Seth and his fiancee, Nichole (and all three of us think she is pretty neat). We even got to enjoy an afternoon with Great Grandpa, which always goes too quickly.

I think the most touching moment for me was when the boys started asking for Granddad and Mimi as soon as they woke up in the morning. They've also started calling teddy grahams "Graddaddy's bears" (since he introduced them to them) and any Joanna Newsome is "Seth's music." They've already memorized the chorus to "The Book of Right On," which we've listened to about 30 times in the past two days. :) Thanks, Seth!!!

Anyway, as sad as I was to leave my family, it felt really good to drive up to our home Monday night. I loved seeing the boys as they saw D.R. run to the car and I loved watching D.R. as he enjoyed the newest rendition of the Dex and Jax Show. Of course, we woke up Tuesday morning to find Jaxon enduring another horrible inner and outer ear infection. We're going in again today to have him rechecked.

AND... since I have no camera, at the moment, I'm posting a VERY OLD video that Seth reminded me of. This is the boys when they are just 1 day old, becoming props to my brothers' humor. Oh, family. :)

Cars and Music... my kind of boys

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved listening to music in the car. Maybe it's being in a small space with no distractions (except for, well.. driving)... or something to do with the hum of the wheels... I just know that music sounds so great in the car.

Recently, the boys have started asking to go for car rides JUST so they can listen to music. In fact, for the past several mornings, the first thing Jaxon says to me when he wakes up is, "Shoes on? Car ride? Music? Daddy's song? George?" They've both completed memorized the choruses to The Fray's "Over My Head" (which they have started calling Daddy's Song... maybe they think D.R. is the singer? :)) and Jack Johnson's "Upside Down," from the Curious George soundtrack. I try desperately to introduce a new song every few days, and though they eagerly accept these new introductions, they clearly have a few favorites and these are the ones that get requested first.

So, since I happen to enjoy car rides and music, as well, I have begun indulging this request whenever I can. We'll run to the car, pick out a CD and drive a few miles while singing along. I've had more flashbacks to my own childhood, recently, as I've remembered our rules for singing in the car. While listening to an album, or the radio, we would take turns claiming a song and then no one could sing along with that song except the owner. Ironically, the boys have begun doing this, as well. If Jaxon requests "Upside Down," you can rest assured that if Mommy starts singing along, there will quickly come a, "No, Mommy! No sing!" Humph. I guess I'm getting a small taste of my own medicine! Good thing I adore listening to them sing along. That alone is worth the time it takes to get those monkeys bundled and buckled in the car.

Yes, we do have a stereo in our home that we use quite frequently. It seems, however, that the boys just seem to agree with the fact that music sounds better in the car. Of course, it helps that they're obsessed with all things on wheels and all things music-related. It's a perfect combo for them! This is a lucky phase, as I'm attempting a road trip with them this week-end, all by myself. Considering their high activity level, I realize this is a very brave feat, but I'm truly in need of a visit with family and am hoping that a stockpile of their favorite CDs will help me survive the journey. Here's hoping!!

a few observations from Mom...

It has been so remarkable for me to watch these two little boys as they grow into their own little persons. In some ways, they are so very much alike. They both have an overabundant amount of energy and curiosity in the world around them. As one onlooker said last night while watching the boys leap around the playground with much excitement, humor and oh-so-many giggles, "Those boys are fantastic!"... and I believe they truly are. In other ways, however, they are truly developing distinct personalities.

Dex is our little mischief-maker (at least for now!...they seem to take turns in this regard). He is daring, precocious and always ready to push the limits. When he hears something new for the first time, he will excitedly share his newfound knowledge with everyone around him and will proudly return to it whenever he can. Most recently, it was when he learned that gold and silver are also colors. Of course, this means his favorite matchbox car is his beloved, "silver car," which he MUST carry everyplace! :) He seems to be the ringleader in most of their little acts of crime, though Jax is quickly learning that he, too, can break the rules! Most recently, after returning from another brief trip upstairs, I found Dex on the kitchen counter, face buried in a large, juicy tomato. When I made my frustration known by shouting, "Dexter Chase!" he simply lowered the tomato and said, "Bib?"... as though that were the only thing wrong with the situation!

Jax has become my little cuddler. He will frequently ask to hold my hand or to be carried and this melts my heart several times a day. I have to admit, I really like this. Dex will ask for these things, too... but he seems just as happy to assert his independance from Mom, these days. Jax especially enjoys trying to squeeze himself into small places (though, Dex will do this, too) and I'm often trying to un-stick him from between the fridge and the wall, for example. Whereas Dex has a way of making his learning a public affair, Jax is more reserved in this regard. It's as though he is silently taking things in, and then later, will surprise us with his newfound knowledge in such a nonchalant way as to make you believe it was something he had known for months (and maybe he had!). Recently, when sitting with a playmate, he casually counted to ten, as though he had done it a thousand times. It was, in fact, the first time I had ever heard him even attempt it... and he did it perfectly. It was like he had been perfecting it in his head before sharing it with the rest of us. This morning, while playing with a shapes puzzle, he politely corrected me when I labeled a diamond a square. Apparently, he already knew diamond... I love these little surprises and I have to believe that Jaxon likes to see the look of amazement on my face when he shares these little tidits with me!

I find this difference in learning style and personality so interesting. It's a reminder to me that though they may look a lot alike, and share the same zeal for play and adventure, they are, in fact, two very distinct individuals... You'd think this would be something that would be easy for me to remember, considering the fact that I've lived with the challenge of balancing the perks and benefits of having an identical twin with the difficulties in defining oneself as an individual within a twinship. Hopefully, I can use these experiences in my mothering of the boys...

Music, Maestros!

Dex, M and Jax, once again, spending much of their playtime at the piano. :)

The boys have loved the piano for as long as I can remember. Now, upon sitting down to play, they consistently request a "music book," as they couldn't possibly be expected to perform original compositions on a daily basis. They are honing their pretend ability to read music and it is hilarious. The other day, I walked upstairs for just a moment (this is how most of my Dex/Jax stories begin, these days!) and when I returned, I found Dex and Jax sitting at the piano banging and singing away. I stood silently and watched from the stairs as they dramatically bobbed their heads and filled their song with many "Aahs" and "Doo doo doos." Almost simultaneously, they stopped playing, turned to each other and, in tandem, said, "Again? Yes!" And the music continued...

Seriously, how great is it that they have each other?

THE TWOS

Oh, the joys of having two year olds…

The other morning, after a highly successful playdate with some friends of ours, I started packing up the boys’ belongings while they scampered through the grass. Somehow, in the two minutes that it took me to gather our things, the boys managed to find the only mud puddle within a block radius. Of course, they couldn’t just look at it… OH NO!... they had to fully enjoy the ooey-gooey mud. What I saw, as I raced to stop the inevitable, was two little tow-heads jumping and splashing in knee-deep mud. Had I not been their mother and entirely focused on how I was going to get my muddy little boys back into the car and the mud out of their nice, blue pants, I would have noticed how their enjoyment of that simple mud puddle was so very pure and sincere. In fact, in retrospect, I should have pulled out my camera and captured this terrible (and adorable…my little partners in crime) two-some moment. Instead, I lifted them out of the puddle, stripped them of their mud-soaked clothes and drove two diaper-clad boys home to be bathed. There may have also been a firm word or two about how we DO NOT jump in mud puddles.

After the boys were bathed, fed and down for their nap, I found myself scrubbing out their little pants and replaying the two of them giggling and splashing in the mud. It’s so hard, at times, to live in and fully appreciate the present moment for all its beauty and far-too easy to be so concerned with the work that may lie ahead. Ultimately, I supposed it’s important for these two little boys to learn that they really shouldn’t be jumping into every mud puddle they see… but I’ll keep smiling in secret as I replay their excitement and wonder at discovering the simple joy of a good splash in the mud.

At long last...

Well, it certainly took me long enough... but, after long last, I completed another set of sweaters for the boys, just in time for fall! Jax is in blue, Dex is in green. I love the photos of Jaxon sniffing a dandelion. He wound up with a few pieces in his mouth, somehow, which was clearly not his intent!

As usual, we are thoroughly enjoying our afternoons outside. I'm starting to get a little anxious about the three of us going completely stir-crazy this winter, but I'm hopeful that the boys will be content with indoor projects and bundled-up games in the snow. Here's hoping!! :) In the meantime, we're going to get outside as much as we can. I think these days of autumn weather represent every idyllic notion I had of being a mother. Cute little busy-bodies in sweaters, galavanting through the grass and leaves. I just can't get enough of it!!

Somehow, I managed to lose our camera last week (not at all surprising!), so it may be a little while until I can post more photos. In the meantime, I will try to be diligent about posting... and trying to find a replacement camera!!

Translation, please!

One of my favorite things about having toddlers is the entertaining way they learn to speak. Dex and Jax are learning more words everyday and it is so exciting to see them try stringing these new words together. I feel like I have been given the gift of a precious little window into their hearts and minds. With each new word, they're better able to tell me what they're thinking about, what they want, what's making them sad, etc. I LOVE this.

Anyway, despite the fact that their language skills continue to develop, there are still some cute lags in pronunciation. A few of my favorite Dex and Jax words:

Dex calls a pig a "wonk." I think, somehow, this has stuck around from when he first learned that pigs say oink. If I ask him to say "pig," he'll repeat it perfectly. However, if he sees a pig, he'll call it a "wonk." I love this!

Instead of saying, "I love you," Jax says, "Blah Blue." He says it so regularly, that I find myself ending conversations with loved ones by saying, "Bye. Blah Blue!" In a similar fashion, instead of saying "good-night," he'll say, "Bye-bite." The best is when we hear, "Bye-bite! Blah-blue!!"

These are the things that keep me smiling, these days!

Family Week-end

Remarkably, Jax is left and Dex is right in all these photos. Both the boys are still very much into climbing... on this afternoon, Jax was convinced it was his mission to climb that gate (I think he just wanted to go for a dip!) and Dex insisted on climbing up all those stairs like a big boy. Whew!

A few weeks ago, after D.R. completed his physics boards, we decided to have a little at-home family vacation. We spent three days centering our lives around being a family, enjoying day-trips and playing, playing, playing. It was great. We kicked it off with a trip to the Mall of America, where we let the boys pick three rides to go on. I had no idea how they would respond to such a proposition and am somewhat not surprised that we have two little thrill seekers on our hands!! Of all the rides they're tall enough to go on, they chose the fastest one they could find (a little racetrack) and loved every second of it. I rode with Jaxon and everytime we spin around a corner (and I mean SPIN!) he'd squeal with delight. Then he's let out a deep breath and sigh, "All done." Of course, seconds later, we'd spin around another corner and the cycle would continue. I'm not sure if the "all done" was an attempt to remind himself that he survived the crazy corner or if it was disappointment that the thrill was gone... but, regardless, he was asking for more race-cars all day long. Dex, on the other hand, introduced us to our first public tantrum. Yikes!! He absolutely refused to leave one of the rides, clinging to the inside door of his beloved semi-truck shouting, "My truck!!" It took two of us to pry his little fingers off the door and much humor and smile from nearby parents to remind us that this was certainly not the first time a child had refused to leave a ride. Let the public humiliation begin...

Anyway, our week-end ended with a fun afternoon at a local park. They have these fantastic family bikes and the boys have frequently BEGGED to climb onto them. Of course, as soon as we made the decision to actually rent one of them for a half hour, the boys absolutely refused to go for a ride. We had two sobbing boys as we strapped them into their little seat. Of course, as soon as we started moving, they were united in their opinion that it was about the coolest thing EVER!

As I reflect on that week-end, I marvel at how much a person can change. A few years ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of going to a mall amusement park or renting a cheesy family bike. Now, however, when I see the wonder and amazement in the boys' eyes as they get to try all these new things WITH their parents (yes, I'm going to savor THAT as long as I possibly can)... it causes a reshifted of priorities... an instantaneous redefining of "what's fun".... because it was... fun. And I can't wait until the next time that we can take a little family get-away, even if it's just for dinner at a local family restaurant... complete with hokey music, balloons and a menu with pictures. LOVE IT.

"Daddy's Juice" and "Mommy Do"

The boys are going through an equally adorable and exasperating phase. Of course, "no" is their all-time favorite word (though, at times, they love shouting, "YES!"). Recently, I've discovered that if, for example, I ask them if they want juice, milk, water, cereal, clothes (or ANYTHING AT ALL), they'll simply say no. If, however, I ask them if they want Daddy's juice, milk, water, cereal, etc... they answer with a resounding YES! Apparently, everything Daddy uses is way cooler than anything they assume I'd be offering them! Now, if they see me pouring milk into their breakfast cereal, they'll shout, "No! Daddy's milk!" So, being the peace-keeping Mommy I am, I'll put the milk jug back into the refrigerator and pretend like I'm looking for Daddy's milk. For the time being, they seem satisfied if I pull the same gallon of milk out of the refrigerator, as long as I tell them it's Daddy's milk. So, yes, it may be exasperating... but, at least I've found a door-way into that ever-elusive toddler YES.

They're also very big on "No! Mommy do!" While I LOVE to feel so wanted and needed, it can be frustrating when I certainly can't be in two places at once and when Daddy is all-too willing to take care of whatever the task at hand, may be. At least I can rest assured that this seems to be a normal developmental phase, as other mommy friends seem to be experiencing similar things with their tots. In the meantime, I try to remind myself that there will come a day when they don't want me or need me as intensely as they do now... and that I should be savoring this fleeting days.

Fun with Uncle Jonathan

The boys thought Uncle Jonathan was so cool! They even sported their sunglasses for a good three blocks before throwing them into the grass (a new record!). :)


Jonathan and Jaxon entertain the rest of us on the playground with their dance routine.

Dexter thought Jonathan was about the best addition to our couch... EVER!

We had so much fun when my brother visited last week. Luckily, I think Jonathan had fun, too... as he stayed a whole day longer than he was planning! (The boys can be SO persuasive!) I really enjoyed having by brother all to myself and, of course, was thrilled to see how much the boys loved him. Not only was he great with the boys, but he introduced me to Flight of the Conchords... which kept us laughing non-stop!! I think the funniest part of the visit, however, was the fact that the boys kept calling him Seth. Of course, I never once called him Seth... so I have to believe that the boys picked up on the family resemblance. Too cute!

My Little Bucket Head

Here's Jaxon, walking around with a bucket on his head! I know I've posted about this before, but both boys think it is just too much fun to wear buckets on their heads!! :)

Vroom vroom!

Before I had children, I would have argued nurture over nature.... I firmly believed that children were products of their environments... that we could shape and mold little people into the individuals we hoped they would become. Now, as I watch the boys, I see that there is so much about personality, interests, temperament that is simply innate. One very small example of this is the boys' recent fascination with all vehicles. Airplanes, motor cycles, trucks, cars, busses, trains... they can't get enough of these things!! So, despite the fact that I have no real interest in these fuel-filled units of transportation, I have accepted the reality that the boys cannot get enough of them! :) Last week, I made their first little racetrack, complete with two garages. Sure, it only lasted about four days before it found its way to the garbage can, but it provided the boys (and, okay... Mom) with plenty of creative entertainment before it met its fate!

A few of my favorite things

A few of the things I love about the boys:

...how Jaxon pounces and jumps everywhere he goes. If he's not jumping, he's planning a pounce... usually right on top of Mommy, Daddy or Dexter. He's our little lion cub, with plenty of "roars" to back up his reputation.

...how Dexter develops these routines that he just HAS to do. It used to be that when we went outside to play, we had to first go peek at his favorite garage. Now, however, due to the heavy amount of construction and his big love of construction vehicles, we MUST go straight over to see the digging truck before enjoying the rest of our playtime. He also insists on throwing any toy or book he brings to bed into Jaxon's crib before falling asleep. I'll go in to check on the boys and find Jaxon surrounded in a pile of both boys' bedtime favorites.

...how opinionated the boys can be! Every morning, they each inform me which bib they want to wear, based on the color. If I dare offer a bib before they announce their preference they quickly correct me. As frustrating as this can be, especially when I'm in a hurry, I love that they actually care about things that seem so trivial to me! It's just a reminder that they're busy observing and learning from even the smallest detail in their daily routine.

...how they love announcing colors. "Blue car!" "Green grass!" "Red shirt!" Perhaps it's because they're some of the only adjectives the boys have at their disposal, or perhaps they just really like colors, but EVERYTHING must be described by its color. I love this.

...how they'll sing along to all their favorite songs and what creative dance moves accompany these tunes. Seriously, I LOVE this.

Lastly, I love trying to figure out how their little minds work. I'll find them busily trying to hide all of the coins in my purse in the vacuum hose or putting CDs in the piano bench. How do they get these ideas and what makes them so determined to carry out these silly little plans? Recently, I discovered that nearly all of our magnetic alphabet letters are BEHIND the oven. Really!

No work and all play

It was our turn to clean the laundry room this week-end (yes, MORE Labor Day week-end fun!), so I took the boys with me to get the job done. Will they always be such good little helpers? Let's hope so! While I was dealing with cleaners, they waited happily in the wash machines and when I was ready to mop, they were so excited to join in the fun! Jax- right, Dex- left.

What's the perfect reward for all that hard work? Well, more playtime, of course!

Labor Day Week-end: Part II (or... Paint, Pals and Picnics)

What's more fun...painting or cleaning up?Maybe.... painting? (Dex)No... DEFINITELY cleaning up! The boys were fascinated with this soapy dish of water. Seriously, they spent far more time washing their hands than they did painting! They would quickly dip their hands in the paint, smear them on the paper and then race over to the soapy water to wash their hands! (Jax-left, Dex- right)And, of course, anytime we paint... I'm always left with a few reminders of all the fun... good thing we use washable paint!

Painting: Take II. This time, we tried potato stamps. The boys thought they were cool for about 15 seconds, before they discovered how much fun it was to try to coat their entire bodies in paint. Yes, this was another fun project to clean up!
Dex- left, Jax- right
The boys and I also got to spend a little evening with M. As always, the boys were thrilled to have another playmate. The best part of the evening was watching the tots move from parallel play to direct interractions. The game of the night involved M pretending to fall down and the boys taking turns picking her up. I just sat and watched the three of them entertain each other for a good hour! Is this the beginning of a whole new era? The "we don't need Mom to entertain us all the time" era?! Yipee!!!

We also created our first racetrack, spent hours and hours outside, watched the oh-so-fascinating "digging trucks" and "yucky trucks," as Dexter has started calling them (both boys, but Dex, in particular, have developed new interests in all things truck-related... particularly, construction vehicles and garbage trucks), hunted squirrels, staked out local garages for once of those rare moments when the door might go up or down (they LOVE this) and even braved a lunch out, just the three of us. This was a first for me, as I've only braved restaurants with another helper along! I made the very wise decision to choose an outdoor table, two sets of utensils for each boy and much (MUCH) patience!.... but it was great, great fun.

Today, D.R. completed his big test and we are getting all set to enjoy our first leisurely family week-end in quite sometime. :)

Labor Day Week-end: Part I

The above photos are all of Jaxon, enjoying the warm sun and the cool sprinkler. I get such a kick out of watching the boys play with water! Again, I know it's not unique to them... it's just one of those fantastic toddler traits... but it's captivating to watch how excited and creative they can be playing with water. Between the sprinkler and H's and T's wading pool, the boys have had several fun-filled days in the late-afternoon sun.

As the boys continue to grow, I so enjoy discovering differences in their personalities. For example, Jaxon just dives into everything. He's like a little lion cub... he has this incredible energy and seems to be just bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and joy. He loudly proclaims this happiness and a routine basis and, despite the fact that we're trying to work on quiet displays of joy, as well... I love his lack of inhibition and secretly wish I could be more like that. Dexter, on the other hand, examines a situation before diving in. He'll quietly watch and then, quite intentionally, follow through with one of his fantastic toddler plans. With the sprinkler, for example, instead of just jumping straight into the water, like his brother, he carefully planned a "cover the sprinkler with grass" scheme and then purposefully worked on accomplishing this goal. He's a little bit slower to warm up to people... I think it's a growing shyness... but he can be such a little chatter box! And once he has warmed up to someone, he's oh-so cuddly.

Anyway, a few observations from Mom and a few photos from the first part of our week-end. I'll be posting more soon. It's been an interesting week-end, thus far, as D.R. has either been working (he's on call today) or studying (his physics boards are on Thursday). Since Daddy's been a bit MIA, the boys and I have had to be extra creative in finding ways of filling our longer-than-usual days. More on that soon...

Summertime Treats

This morning, Auntie T and I took the boys on an adventure walk that ended in our little garden searching for the perfect tomatoes. Our plan was to have grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches... however... the boys (Dex in particular) thought it would be WAY better to just eat the tomatoes in their stroller. By the time we reached our apartment, Dex was covered in tomato juice and happily handed me a sticky green stem.... all that was left of his tomato! It reminded me of all the fun the boys have had eating great summertime food. Here are a few of their favorites...


Blueberry pie (or, as call it, Blueberry Soup) is so much fun to eat... especially with friends! H and T were more than happy to help the boys gobble up their Blueberry Soup.

H & T... sharing their blueberry smiles (considerably less messy than the boys!!).

Dex, munching his chestnut apples...

Jax, savoring his "Apple Reese."

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, chestnut apples are the BIGGEST HIT EVER in our house! The boys have taken to eating the entire apple, core and all, and then handing me the stem when they're finished. It is the funniest thing in the world! Even cuter, is that they call them "Apple Reese" because they first saw their cousing Reese eating them. They are the perfect size for toddlers and we can easily go through 6 of them during snacktime!

Dex- left; Jax- Right. Since the boys found out their friend H LOVES to eat corn on the cob, they just HAD to try it themselves! It was an immediate hit! Now, the boys ask for corn at least once a day and can easily gobble their way through several ears!!