Tantrums Times Two

We have hit the age of tantrums. For the most part, Hank seems to loss his patience a little quickly than Clara. That said, when Clara does eventually decide something is worth fighting over, her devotion to the cause is pretty intense. Sometimes it is like threading this small needle of what will and won't start a fit. We have noticed a few patterns. Clara throws a fit if she has specific toys taken away (usually by her dear brother). Hank has a fit if you need to go inside after spending time outside. No matter how long he has been outside and no matter how cold the temperature gets, his view is that there is plenty more time to spend with bikes and balls--his two objects that make life worth living. We continue to strategize on how to get through this lovely "stage" without pulling out our hair.

Hank and Hank

While new words are coming quick and furiously, we are still working with Clara on her name. It seems that she much prefers to call herself Hank. Yesterday, for the first time, she finally even said Clara. Perhaps it is just a challenging name? Perhaps she wishes she was named something else? Who knows. We will continue working through this.

I do love all the new words, though. Mark and I tried to calculate how many words Hank and Clara know at this point. We got to around 30 before stopping our tally, though throughout the day I kept thinking of new ones to add to the list. My goal is to generate a thorough list by their second birth day.

Day care is going better, and the kids seem to enjoy their time there. They particularly love art, which is great since I love the art projects which currently decorate my office.

Dreaded Daycare

The time has come for the kids to start daycare. Hank and Clara started last week. They are going two days a week, and so far, it has been rough going. Clara is having a particularly hard go of it. There has been a good deal of separation anxiety, naps are nil, and Clara already has caught her first cold (though, I have suspicions that may be more playdate related than anything else).

It's surprising just how difficult it is on me. I am trying to figure out how to not feel so guilty about the whole thing. I can't help feeling I am handing over a portion of my parental responsiblity. Add to it that glorious guilt associated with knowing you are making your children do something that is both scary and dreaded, and one gets a sense of just how hard this week has been for all.

Here's hoping for a better, calmer, and happier week for all.

Pleas of Peas

Hank and Clara have added a new word to the vocabulary: "please". We definitely needed this word to come into their vocabulary. With so many of the babies' requests sounding like demands, we are now able to request that they add a softening word like "please" to cushion the demands. Of course, articulation remains an issue, so Clara in particular, sounds like she is repeatedly asking us for peas. Since peas remain one of the few vegetables the babies willingly eat, this can definitely be a confusing thing. But, any move from demanding to manners is a welcome one!

Glorious Messes

I keep thinking that as the kids get better at eating with forks and spoons, the food related mess will ease up. Apparently, it doens't really work that way. This morning's attempt at Cheerios, blueberries, and cottage cheese is more on the high chairs than anyone's tummy. But, it was worth the effort to let C&H try. I find that the more indepence they are given during the mealtime, the less hellish the whole thing is for the parents.

Speaking of messes, we had a wonderful time getting all the cousins together last week, but man oh man, it's amazing how much five kids can make a home messy, even in the height of the summer. Hank and Clara loved watching Alex and Natalie explore their world, as only big kids can. And Madeline was often Hank's shadow, crawling right behind him every where he went. Clara had some reservations about sharing Mom, something that is increasingly difficult for her to do. But, it was all in all great.

Now, it's time to turn our attentions to our next adventure, which is heading out to Rochester for an overnight camping trip. Will Hank and Clara be good campers at age 18 months? I have my reservations...

The Revenge of the Pink Eye

Hank has pink eye. More accurately, Hank has pink eyes. Fun for all. I suppose it is just a matter of time before dear Miss Clara gets to join in on the festivities. My favorite tidbit of advice came from our doctor's office. Generally, we love our pediatrician. The nurses offer great advice and never give us a hard time regardless of the number of questions we ask. Today, though, some of the advice ignored that Clara and Hank can't really be separated. The nurse suggested we keep the kids apart or, at a minimum, we ensure they don't share toys. To that, I offer a hearty "Ha".

In a terrible way, I do hope Clara gets it quickly, so we can get them both treated and on their merry way without reinfections. For now, it's the joy of trying to get eye drops in a wee eyes--a skill I apparently lack.

Happy Happy Clara and One Bruised Hank

Clara has decided that her new favorite word is "happy". Really, no complaints from here! My favorite is that she now starts singing "happy" whenever the day is going her way. While both Hank and Clara have a good 12+ words in their vocabulary, it still never ceases to amaze me when they add something a new one. For a few days, Clara was saying something that resembled "abby", but with a few more days and some more context, it seems like it really is more about being happy. It is hard to know what is going on in their little minds, and while they are so expressive in some ways, emotions remain elusive to gauge. Does Clara actually mean she is truly happy? I will never know for sure, but I suppose we take the joy where it is offered.

These days are crazy. With both babies (toddlers?) on the move, it is not surprising to see them in all kinds of questionable places. They both love to move chairs around the house and use them to climb onto unacceptable heights. Hank took a terrible fall off the couch two weeks ago, managing to bloody up his nose and bruise both eyes and nose bridge. I was just a foot or two away when it happened, watching the whole thing. Isn't that how these things always are?