Tough Lovin'

So this morning, I noticed that the boys were being really quiet. A little too quiet if you ask me.  I knew that the trouble couldn't be too bad because Matthew was still in his crib and Michael's ability to cause trouble doesn't hold a stick to Matthew's....but something sure seemed fishy.

So I poke my head in their room and see both boys lying in Matthew's crib. Michael had scaled the rail and was lying in there and the two were whispering, cackling, and no doubt, plotting their mischief for the day.

Before Matthew noticed me, I even noticed him petting Michael's head.

It was darn cute.

But then they noticed me and the frenzy of the day began and apartment teemed with life and chaos.

When I put them to bed tonight, they took FOR.EV.ER to go to sleep. I even put them to bed early (because they didn't nap and were a touch cranky), but it didn't bother me whether they slept or didn't because my evening relaxation had already begun (complete with a glass of moscato, thank you).

Finally, at 9:00, I hear desperate pleas coming from their room. I begrudgingly push the button for "Mom mode" back to the "on" position and go in there.

Michael is in Matthew's bed again and can't get out.

Now, Michael is, at this age at least, not the most athletically inclined kid.  He is a little clumsy, not daring, and not super coordinated.

But he got himself in there! I thought, which includes the exact same rail to climb over as it is to get out.  I think this was just a matter of will and he just didn't want to get himself back over.

So I told him (eager to get back to my kid-free evening), "Get back yourself!" (Maybe it sounded a little more loving than it looks written. Maybe).

He whined and complained, but eventually he did it. He crossed the chasm (4 inches) between his bed and Matthew's bed and made it safe in one piece. He put his head on his pillow and fell asleep.

But not without a pat on the back from his Mom for overcoming his hesitancy and a smile of self-pride on his face that he, even in just a small way, was one step closer to being like Batman than he was this morning.

...And I love THEM

She Loves Him

And he loves her!

Boys

Keeping Cool

This past weekend we went to a Splash Park here in San Diego.

The boys had a blast!!

They were a little leery at first and it was about 10 minutes before they got so much as a drop on them. But that turned around quickly enough and soon they warmed up to the idea and cooled off.

Michael went about some important business getting things exactly right.

Matthew focused on blocking the yellow squirter thing with his foot.

Molly also set her mind to her favorite task.

It was a great time and the boys are dying to go back!

Stop playing so we can have fun!

I was playing the game Memory with the boys (any formal game with a two-year-old is always risky).  It started off well and we got through one or two rounds of actually playing.

Then Matthew started to turn over more than two cards per turn.  I corrected him and told him that's not how you play.

Then he did again the next turn and they both howled hysterically.

"Matthew!" I warned, "If you do that it's not fun for anybody."

But then I realized that they were both giddy with laughter every time. It was fun. It was fun for everybody. Except me because I was worried his behavior was going to ruin the fun.

Grown-up of me. I know.

It's important eventually that kids learn to play games according to rules because otherwise, it does end up not being fun.  But today was not that day and maybe two is not that age.

A good lesson for me to learn as a parent that sometimes kids don't need parents to teach them what is fun.

Practicing "The Look"

Daddy? Can I have a pony?

Pleeease??!

Yes?

Oh Goody!

Thank you, Daddy!