Favorite Foods

Michael and Matthew's eating habits really couldn't be more different.

It's hard to think of Michael's favorite food (as in main course) because something he gobbles up one meal, he'll refuse the next (though after a few minutes of pondering, we did note one exception to this rule being my dad's steak dubbed "Poppi's steak."

It's hard to think of Matthew's favorite food, because he gobbles so many foods up with so much enthusiasm, it's hard to know what is his favorite. You know, what do I prepare for birthdays and feast days that he will like especially? Pasta? Steak? Quesadillas? Lasagna? Hamburgers? Matthew loves all of these with almost equal fervor I don't know what his "favorite" is.

Perhaps Matthew is far less selective because I started him on a wider of variety of flavors sooner. Matthew, maybe once or twice ate anything with the name "Gerber" on it. Mostly, we just mashed or blended up whatever we were having very early on. Even the fruits I made him were hand-prepared so they had a much less processed texture, probably making him more open to different things.

They both eat well enough. They both love fruits and veggies and by the end of the day, they get enough protein that I'm satisfied. Carbs aren't even a question (except Michael hates potatoes that are not in the form of a chip or french fry. Super-healthy, I know!). However, I wish I could see Michael becoming a little more adventurous in terms of his likes. He is very quick to turn his nose up at the things outside his regular rotation of food. He won't do soups, I really have to work to get him to eat a sandwich (that's not a hamburger or grilled cheese (again, super healthy, huh). Thankfully, we recently discovered his love of peanut butter which is among the few things for which he'll ask for seconds.

Fortunately, I very early on realized (thanks again, Baby Whisperer!) how much eating for him can be a power struggle as much as it can be for nourishment. Michael likes control. He doesn't want me to have control, and he know that what goes in his mouth is something he ultimately has control over. I definitely don't stress out over it since I've seen him eat hardly anything, go to bed, and still wake up at the regular time in the morning and not complain about how famished he is....and I've seen him eat more food in one sitting than I often see him eat in a whole day. I know it all works out. He knows how to ask for a snack in between meals, and he knows that he gets more of what he likes if he at least attempts something he would rather not eat at the moment.

I guess I just would love to see him one day say, "What's for dinner, Mom?" and me announce some entree' and have him be really excited about it, eat it eagerly, and want seconds. I wish I felt more comfortable experimenting and introducing new foods without just knowing he won't even be remotely interested. Even though I know he's fine and won't starve (especially because he gets side dishes each meal so at least he'll eat something), it's kind of deflating to prepare a meal and have someone not even want to try it!

Maybe it's just a toddler thing, but as July inches closer and I'm starting to think of a great birthday menu, aside from getting my dad to come down and cook him up a juicy steak...what's going to make a great meal for Michael? And while November is still quite some time away, I don't even know where to begin narrowing down Matthew's menu to his *favorite* foods.

These two boys....I really wonder if they could possibly be any more different!

I love this kid...

He's Getting So Big!

My little Matthew....why are you doing this to me?

Please stop getting so big!

Ok. Well, the pacifier helps make you look a little younger. Thanks.

Matthew is getting bigger and bigger each day. He finally got a third tooth this week....his walking is getting better and better and I often find him standing in the middle of the room looking around waiting for lots of and lots of praise for walking like a big boy (which he gets, of course).

His vocabulary includes:

Mama
Daddy
Ducky
Birdie
Cheese
"T" (as in the letter..he likes that letter, it's his favorite)
Star
Moon
Matthew
"pray for us!"
"Brush you teeth"
Kitty
Doggie
Please
Thank you
More Water
Milk
Shoes

I think I've left a few things out...but it gives you a good idea. He's a babbler with a very high little voice that suits his personality.

He's a little lovebug, often giving kisses to whoever he can. His kisses usually consist of going up to his intended object of affection and butting it with his head and saying in a prolonged way, "N-n-n-n-nuh!" He loves kisses his brother, especially while Michael is helpless during a diaper change.

Matthew is a hearty eater of the highest order. He is rarely ever picky and seems to take to devouring his food with a degree of seriousness. Like it's his job. Meanwhile his brother dilly-dallies during most meals, stalling as long as possible.



Matthew is just a little sweetheart. He's sensitive, yet determined and can be a bit whiny at times. But that doesn't diminish his cuteness (well, maybe for a few minutes it does). Matthew continues to be an excellent sleeper and a steady napper, unless his brother who has nearly giving up the practice entirely.



Our little Moo. What a gift!

Are You My Mother?

Michael and I were reading this book before his naptime.

I asked him, "Do you have a mother?"

"Yes" he replied.

"Who is your mother?" I asked.

"Daddy."

:/

Catechism Class

Michael Jr has a great memory. We've discovered that an early age by his language skills and his ability to memorize very lengthy bedtime stories word for word.

So we decided to put his memory to good use and get him started on his catechism.

In case you aren't fluent in toddler-ese or theological terms, the answers to the questions are:

1. "The Holy Trinity"

2. "Transubstantiation" (we had to go back and get that one a second time at the end of the video since I caught him mid-drink)

3. "The Hypostatic Union" (his assessment that the "hypostatic union is good" is all his own though and this was the first time he said that. Not sure where he got it, but I'll go with it! It is good that Jesus is fully God and fully man!)

4. "The Blessed Virgin Mary"

Matthew likes to chime in these days too. When we start asking questions, he'll get a BIG smile on his face and rattle off answers...of course, it is just babbling, but it is very confident babbling in the same intonation and rhythm as the answers Michael gives. It's cute and he's SO proud of himself!

This video was taken a few months ago. Since then he has added the following questions:

"What is the source and summit of the Christian life?"

--The Holy Eucharist.

"Who inspired the Bible?"

--The Holy Spirit.

"Who is the Pope?"

--Benedict the Sixteenth.

Hey, if kids can memorize songs, catch phrases of their favorite toy car (Kachow!) or all the other things kids can do, why not give them a head start on the language of their faith? Of course it is way to soon for them to understand the concepts, but the more they hear it, the sooner those bridges between words and meanings will form!

First Steps!!

Matthew took his first steps today!

Unfortunately, we weren't able to catch it on camera, but we were so happy that he did it when Michael was home. Michael was holding his hands in the hallway while I was kneeling down a foot or two away...I encouraged Matthew to come and he stumbled toward me. A few attempts later, he stumbled back to his dad!

He was very proud of himself!

Michael Jr. of course had to demonstrate his ability to walk expertly a few times as well by running down the hallway into our arms, of course expecting praise and adulation as well...which he got even though he's already and expert biped....

His little legs got tired fast, but was able to do it (and by "it" I mean falling forward but happening to move his feet once or twice before he is caught by Mom or Dad, which is what we are calling "taking steps" around here) once more before the night ended, unfortunately again, not while being filmed.

We're proud of the little Moo!

Late Night Shenanigans

It has been quite some time since we have had the boys share their bedroom.

The transition went much more smoothly than expected and after only a few nights of taking forever to go to sleep, the boys learned to go to sleep rather quickly without disturbing the other one. In fact, we could put them in their beds at around 7:15 and know that at least one of them would be asleep by about 7:30 or 7:40...and if the other were awake, he would be laying quietly in his bed.

About a week ago, I rearranged the kids' room so that both beds were along the same wall, allowing a fairly large space on the left side of the room.

I thought that since the boys had spent so much time in the same room prior to this, bringing them just a few feet closer would not be much of a big deal.

I was wrong.

For the past several nights (excluding the time we were traveling), Michael and Matthew have been completely distracted with each other at bedtime. They hit the walls and laugh and laugh...they throw stuffed animals, among other things.

Thanks to our trusty video monitor which we still love (who wouldn't like to spy on their kids?), we can peek in at their antics. We often see them stretching their hands out and holding hands across the gap between their beds. I'm sure it's much more mischievous than it appears because it appears downright adorable...but I'm sure there is some finger squeezing or twisting or something.

After a while, someone will inevitably end up crying, so we go in there and discover that even the pacifiers have criss-crossed cribs. Michael will be clutching Matthew's pacifier, and Matthew will be looking at Michael's wondering what to do with it.

This goes on and on for about an hour...sometimes more. Finally, someone will fall asleep leaving the other staring at the opposite bed, waiting hopefully that the game isn't over. Eventually, the second one will put his head down and reluctantly drift off to sleep.

It is a riot to watch, but also just a touch frustrating, especially when one of them is sick and really needing to sleep, or when they keep beating up the walls, especially since our neighbors can probably feel it through the walls.

It seems the brothers are really bonding. Not only at night, but even throughout the day, they really love each other and enjoy their time together. For the past several days, Michael has been obsessed with hugging Matthew saying, "I love you, little Matthew." It is so sweet.

The other day, Michael even went to Matthew and spontaneously said to him, "I'm getting used to having you around" and then he barreled into him giving him a big hug. Now, I was pretty taken aback at where on earth Michael got that phrase from, until Michael Sr reminded me it was from one of the stories we read to them. Still...it was in perfect context and perfectly heartfelt.

We love our boys and are enjoying seeing their relationship grow!