In the meantime, no doubt we are staying busy! There is true meaning in the phrase "It doesn't get easier...it just changes"...while there isn't 3 hour and middle of the night feedings right now, there are certainly all sorts of challenges on a daily basis. As the mom, I feel like we've struggled more with discipline (simple things like staying close to me in public), saying mean things, handling conflict without destroying things or other's feelings...there are times I feel I've completely missed something somewhere, that I failed to teach them the correct way to handle these situations, that I've been too lax in my expectations or discipline. I should probably pick up a parenting book or two to see where I've gone wrong...they are good boys, but they can run wild at the least opportune times - stores and church are the first to come to mind...I guess this is just my little moment of truth for the month and I decided I would make this one public! :)
Drew started Blastball this month (the pre-cursor to T-ball). He's easily the oldest, and tallest, kid out there. But at this level, the parents are on the field with the kids, and the goal is truly to learn the fundamentals of the game, like which base to run to, how to catch the ball, etc. He's been really excited about it and seems to enjoy it. The weather has stymied some of our enthusiasm for practice, but are anxious to help and participate when the weather cooperates. The fields were we play and practice are in the same complex as a huge park and so Noah is completely pre-occupied there...making it impossible for one of us to see anything going on with Drew. So, we take turns each week on who takes which kid...glad that works for now!
Drew has gone to consistently not taking an afternoon nap this month. He still has quiet times during Noah's nap, and gives Mommy some time to get some things completed (like write the blog, or whatever!) and a bit of a break from parenting. We decided to do this to help with Drew going to sleep quicker at night. In general it has helped overall. But I'm wondering if that's where all of our fiercely emotional moments are stemming from too, just trying to get the body used to a different sleeping cycle. Man, that would be great if that's all it was, but I'm sure it won't be that easy! (I'm sure I'll be responsible for some parenting and guidance here!) Drew has seemed to have more 'emotional' days this month and struggling with times that don't go his way. He is quite expressive in these moments, nothing middle of the road for him (just like Mommy) - he is either full on bawling his eyes out, or screaming insults at everyone, or throwing toys as hard as he can, or all of the above all at once. I'm sure he'll appreciate that I am recording this for everyone, but this is a record for me and for him, and this is something that I don't want to be missed! Does that make me a horrible Mom! Maybe it's out of hope that we can see how he grows and learns to handle these moments better! There, that sounds better!
Some funny moments with Drew this month: one night he discovered his spine. Daddy had just left his room, putting him to bed and Drew calls him back in and asks: "What are the bumps on my back?", M: "Oh, that's your spine.", D: OH! Tell me all about the spine!" with tons of enthusiasm, M: "You better ask Mommy about that another time." D:" Oh, that's right, you don't know anything about the spine...Mommy knows everything!", M: "Well, I know a little bit, but Mommy knows more..."We were cracking up all night - at the irony and at his enthusiasm to learn about the spine at 9 o clock at night! Another was during Spring Break at school, Drew was so excited that week and couldn't believe it... "There was no work today! No learning or worksheets! Just play!" I really didn't think about it making that big of a difference to him at this age, but apparently so!
The boys continue to love ninjas and super heroes, tickle monster and video games. Play-doh is about the only 'craft' type activity that keeps their attention for more than 5 minutes, and they really do love to play with it...it's great to have something like that finally! They really just don't do craft type stuff...though they like to draw and decorate with stickers, paint, etc, but it just doesn't keep their interest as much. I don't know how their teachers get them to do it as much as they do at school - I guess they know they don't have any other options at school! They have also really enjoyed their castle toys and marble set more this month as well. Always interesting to see what catches their interest for awhile before they move on to something else.
We did have two or three evenings this month where the pool water was just warm enough that Daddy thought it would be ok for the boys to play in the tanning deck. I don't know why, but I was surprised how much fun the boys had with just that! They had SUCH a BLAST! Daddy turned the bubblers on and before we knew it, they were splashing and giggling - the sounds of true joy! They both slipped a few times, getting more wet than expected, but they just kept going, despite Noah's chattering teeth! They really enjoyed it and keep asking when they can do it again...soon boys, we promise!
We had a few firsts this month. One was that Mommy took both boys to a movie in the movie theater - this was Noah's first! Much earlier than Drew's, but we thought we'd try it. We went to the LEGO movie...Drew loved it! Noah thought it was scary at a few parts and tried to leave a few times, but I was able to bribe him with candy and reassurance and we were able to make it through the entire movie, just the 3 of us!
That same night, we moved the boys into the same room! What an adventure this has been! We convinced Drew it was ok to keep the paint on the walls the same (he'd been asking for orange and green for about a year) to match a Super Hero room better and he quickly agreed! So super heroes it is, and we may just need some super powers to make it through this transition! There have been some nights that have gone ok, but others where about 5 minutes before getting into bed, they get all riled up again and are just loud and crazy and take forever to get to sleep! Our patience and parental power is being tested for sure, but we are glad we are doing it now, and not a few months before Baby! It's got to get better...it just has to! Talking and laughing are expected, but we've caught them jumping from each other's bed to the other's, jumping off the nightstand, fighting, etc. So we've taken as many distractions away as we can, but this may take awhile. Then the other challenge is getting Drew to leave the room in the morning without waking up Noah, who usually sleeps another 30 minutes or so. So add that to the emotional scale that we've been dealing with this month as well...fun times!
We had a fun visit from family this month...Grandpa, Nana and Uncle Kevin came for 3 days and we had a wonderful time, as always! The big guys got a huge start on the pool shed, with a little help from Drew (at one point he was lounging back in one of the pool chairs and leisurely handing screws to Uncle Kevin one by one - wish I had a picture - hilarious!), some from Noah too. The girls worked more on the boys new joint room and getting things sorted a bit more. We also enjoyed some March Madness, fun times playing outside, some baseball practice from coach Grandpa and Uncle Kevin, lots of books, Legos, chase, tickling, and lots of jokes and laughter! We even went to Daddy's outdoor soccer game on his birthday which was fun to see, though the boys really just ran all over the empty field the whole time.
Noah keeps on learning and taking after Drew in all that he can, but still showing a different personality and temperament. He is certainly quite the entertainer at times, and always willing and wanting to try something new and more daring. We struggle with whether or not he actually is so involved in his play that he doesn't hear us when we call, or if he really doesn't care and will continue to do what he wants...and who's to know at this point!
He is getting the idea of puzzles more and more and we are expanding to more floor puzzles lately. He still loves trains and games (Hungry Hungry Hippo is a favorite, but lots of others too). He loves to play with bouncy balls too - the boys realized the Jack and Jill bathrooms make for a great spot to bounce the balls off the floor and walls - the closed off area that's just the sink and cabinet - they have a great time doing that there! He does love books and can be quite content on his own more than we usually realize and see, but we see it most when the boys are separate...Noah can play by himself with toys (little zoo animals can keep him really busy sometimes!) and/or read books for a very surprisingly long time...hope that works when Baby comes too! :)
Noah got a tummy bug at the beginning of the month, and took several days to recover, and shared it with Mommy in the meantime. He handled it as one would expect any 2 year old to - pretty sad. There were a few days we could tell he really wanted to play, but his poor little body just didn't have the energy. Drew was sure to keep his distance and any time Noah made the slightest cough, Drew ran the other direction just in case! There was one day that Noah was better, but still couldn't go back to school, Mommy was sick and so Drew went to school and Daddy stayed home to help...Noah kept asking for Drew...pretty cute!
Super silly moment with Noah this month: we were having dinner with the Glienke family one night and Noah started to sing the ABC song. After a few repetitions, he started singing very loud and clearly stating every letter, with a pause between, making him get lost several times. Then at the end of the song, he sings "Now I wonder what you are" instead of 'now I know my ABCs'. His delivery was priceless and impossible to describe, but trust us, we were all rolling!
We celebrated Daddy's birthday this month...I love his enthusiasm he shows for the gifts the boys pick out for him...inevitably something they want...almost always some little Lego set - this one was Spiderman...very fun!
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