Can't Stop Writing

I just wrote their 14th month update last week, but it is like living with different babies week to week, actually day to day, maybe even hour to hour. There is no true way to capture these moments, these explosions of knowledge. I am constantly running a post/entry into the memory banks of my mind, cataloging their latest skill acquisition, their latest accomplishment. I want to hold on to it, grasp it to my heart that skips sometimes when I realize my babies are toddlers and the inevitable movement towards growth and independence marches forward.

We now have a Mace who speaks in sentences. What those sentences mean, well, we are seeking an interpreter at this moment.

I may ask Yoda to come and stay in order to decipher his baby-ese. But there is construction in his voice, a knowledge of the 'words' spilling forth and taking shape. He watches my lips intently when I give him words to try. The inevitable 'Ball' usually results, but I see his desire to do it my way. And Tim swears the other day, after giving them their first Hot Wheels, Mace sat down next to his brother (who was relentlessly placing the cars in our full glasses of ice water) and said "Do it like this...," then threw the car. I think talking may be his forte, which is better proof that he is my son than any DNA test.



Owen is a book reader, which is a huge surprise to me.

I am delighted because when they were young (ha, young, like they are all grown up now) he had little interest in scanning the pages of books that I would read to them. Lately I find him on the couch with an open book, giving himself a little 'time out' while he peruses the pages. He loves to take a lot of books and put them in a receptacle, sometimes the trash but usually a bucket. Very encouraging, to watch him develop the skill to sit alone and relax. He also loves to take things, especially Tim's glasses.

What better way to prove his bookish habits, huh?

Speaking of Time-out. The fighting and biting has begun in earnest. Would not know it from the picture though.

In the last week I have found bite marks on Owen from Mace, vicious marks with teeth and suck marks that last. Owen prefers the head tackle, where he pulls Mace down by the head/neck area. Arg. It gets ugly, but I try to keep my cool (yeah, right) and institute a Time Out policy. It is usually when they are tired and overstimulated, but it hurts me to watch them deliberately hurt each other. I guess I should get used to it, but does not mean I have to accept it.

This week Tim had the wonderful experience of introducing his boys to the world of wheels (Hot Wheels to be exact). I found the boys playing with an old HW from my brothers' room and they were so excited.

We took them over to the Target and, lo and behold, did you know those little cars can be had for 97 cents? I was impressed. Inflation seems to have missed that part of the world. Good for us as my husband once had a collection that required his father to build custom shelves in his little boy room to hold his collection. I have a feeling he is just waiting on that day.

I love watching them scoot them around, say 'vroomvroom' and then find other interesting things to do with them, like eat them, throw them or place them in my cold drink.

Those kids, just too much.

I have a little 4th of July something I was able to accomplish. I am excited about the 4th this year and should have some fun times to report. No fireworks this year (I think it would scare the crap out of them) but a few family and traditional city events planned. In my new skirt.

Pattern from Sew U. Seriously do-able. I was quite surprised that the skirt looked like a skirt when I finished it. I do not know, I thought it might be unwearable. I heart the binding and used this tutorial (found via the excellent Whip Up) to make true bias binding (except I did not totally follow the directions correctly...really pay attention to step 4 if you try) then finally used my bias maker to fold it (a snap).

I am going to bind everything forever. It is simple, requires no hemming and I like th weight it gives the edges. No rolling hems here, people, it sure ain't knitting as I can be done in few days with a simple project. I find it to be a great alternative to knitting when the hot weather makes wool seem a bit unbearable.


Hope you have a great holiday weekend. Looking forward to seeing yours with yours. Smiles.