Carter the Helper

Carter and Logan were enjoying some orange slices at their picnic table this afternoon and Carter once again showed his helpful side. Logan was so happy about the “appas” (what he calls just about everything in the produce section that resembles an apple in size, shape or color), he started leaning over and eating them with his mouth. Being the mom that I am, I tried not to laugh and said halfheartedly, “Logan, use your hands!” A minute passed while Logan chewed with his hands resting on the table, and then Carter collected all the remaining orange slices and stacked them, without a word, on the back of Logan’s hand. He was helping Logan “use his hands.”

Some people ask me how I stay fit after having twins. Well, I do obstacle courses all day long. My boys are very sweet to set them up for me (see below). When we go to the park, they also encourage me to do cardio by running in two different directions. Their favorite game is to be chased, but I know that they're only trying to keep me healthy.   

I’m raising a Monkey and a Lion

My sons are adorable. I just want to throw that out there. As they are starting to talk more and communicate more clearly, they crack me up every day.

For example, Carter likes to run around beating his chest and saying “Oowh Oowh AAh,” just like daddy told him a monkey does. When asked if he’s being a monkey he proudly shakes his head “YES”. He repeats words you ask him to say about 50 % of the time, although they still sound a lot alike (or nothing like the word). My favorite is his Thank You. It comes out as “Ding Dong.”

Yesterday, Logan decided he could talk. He said “bubbles,” “Please” (which sounds like “Blee”), “Uh-oh” and “diaper” (which was clear as could be). On this same day he found he could talk consistently, he also decided the best way to get my attention was a deep throaty growl. He will say blee if prompted, but he starts with the growl.

They got a train table for Christmas from their grandparents, and they stand around it (or point from across the room), and Carter says “Vroom vroom” and Logan say something that sounds like “tickle tickle.” I think he means “chicka chicka chicka” like a train, but who knows. It took daddy three hours to build it and painstakingly set up each little strip of track, and it took them about 12 minutes to completely dismantle it. I now have track upstairs in my bathroom, as well as under my couch. I think there may be a strip in my pantry as well, but since I try to keep that shut while the boys are up (because they like to take all of the boxes out and hand them to me to give them whatever’s inside, and I don’t think they’d like bread crumbs), I really haven’t checked.

The boys also have a tent  that their Aunt Cara got them a few months back, and Logan loves to point inside it, and then at me, letting me know that he wants me to sit inside it. He will also pat the ground inside the tent and growl at me. Yesterday, we were all sitting in the tent (which is quite small really) and Logan pulled the tent flaps closed. Since the boys like to hide from mom or dad in there, I said, “Oh, are we hiding? Ok, lets be very quiet.” And putting my finger to me lips I said “SHHH.” That was all it took. I am now often requested in the tent, where both or one of the boys points a finger almost up his nose, sometimes both fingers, to let me know what game we’re playing.  Adorable.  

It’s been a while. I know. I’m okay with it. I’ve been chasing two tornados, and they keep me pretty busy. We’ve been in Arizona for five months now, and things are going well. I’m starting this new year full of resolutions, and I think I may even get a few accomplished. (Hence, the blog entry.) I am sad that we are so far from family, and that they miss all those silly little things the boys do every day that I miss with the video camera.  I am grateful, though, that we were able to go home for the holidays and visit almost everyone, even if it wasn’t for as long as they all wanted. Although the boys were sick with all sorts of stuff the entire time we were gone, it was still nice to see everyone and hang out for a bit.

Being in Arizona, I am a full time stay at home mom, which is what I always wanted, though it still surprises me how little I get done during the day. We did swim lessons in November at my new gym, and though we haven’t continued them since we were gone for most of December, the boys are starting to get comfortable in the water. I’m not planning on dropping them off at the community pool for the day yet, but it’s a start.

 

The boys have mastered stairs and ball kicking, and Carter is talking all the time. What’s really exciting is that we can actually understand some of the things he’s saying too! Logan talks a little less, but I know he’s just saving up all his comments for a personal journal he’s going to write soon. You should see him with his crayon – he’s so serious! Logan is getting better at blowing bubbles, and Carter is still mostly content to chase them happily. It helps that the weather is so mild here, staying in the mid 60s even though it's January. All we usually need is a light coat to go play outside, and sometimes not even that.