Gymboree
August 21, 2006
The kids have really taken to Gymboree. Andrew is very cute. When we ask him if he wants to go to Gymboree, he points at the back of his hand. At the end of class, the kids get stamps–Andrew likes getting stamps on the back of his wrist. Both boys are good about sitting quietly to get stamps.
They are the most active kids in the classes I’ve been to, despite the fact that they are at the younger end of the age range (16-22 months). In a few short weeks, the boys will be 18 months! Hard to believe we’ve made it this far.
On the way out of Gymboree one day, we were trying to make a left. A nice police officer stopped to make space for us to turn across traffic. Some lady pulled in front of him. He was really ticked off–he told her to pull off to the side of the road. We made our turn without seeing what happened to her–she probably got a warning, if not a ticket. The moral of the story: pay attention when there are police around. (We think she may have been chatting on her cell phone at the time).
One of Andrew’s new words is “noo-noo” which means “noodles” (or mac ‘n cheese). Andrew also says “di-di-di” for digger (i.e. dig dig dig). Both kids have made three word sentences recently–usually of the form “I” (pointing at self) then either “want” or “fruit” then “more”. I was wearing a hat yesterday at the park and Andrew said “Andrew”, “Hat” (pointing at himself then tapping his head). Both boys are doing “hat” now.
We went to a picnic at our neighbors on Saturday. The kids had fun–the neighbors have slightly older kids (3, 4, and 11), so they are used to toddlers. There were several other kids there of various ages. Andrew was almost as big as the 3 and 4 year olds. They didn’t have much on him in height or weight. Owen is sticking with Andrew in height (maybe a half inch behind is all), but Owen is much skinnier than Andrew. They just have two different builds.
The boys both have incredible laughs. If you haven’t had a chance to see them laughing, you should.
Unfortunately, we are still struggling with getting them to sleep through the night again. They slept through two nights ago, but Owen was up again last night. Andrew slept through. We’re really thinking about gin and tonics for all four of us 
We also went to the Oregon Garden since the last post. The boys had a great time. Andrew pushed his stroller through the woods, then he hit the pavement and took off. We need to get a video of him pushing his stroller from the front because you can’t see him at all when he gets going.
Pictures
Andrew playing in the barkdust at the Oregon Garden
Andrew in a basket at Gymboree
Andrew pushing Owen in his stroller at the Oregon Garden (Daddy is nearby)
Both boys at Gymboree
The boys helping daddy with the dishes
The boys at the Oregon Garden
Owen with bottles
Owen with Grammie in the firetruck
Owen looking at flowers
Gymboree
August 12, 2006
Nancy and my parents have been taking the kids to Gymboree. They tried a music class and a gym class. The boys were much happier with the gym class (no surprise there–they are active boys). The boys will be going to gym class regularly with Nancy and my parents. I took yesterday as a vacation day, and we took the boys to a morning gym session. We are going to get them out this morning as well. They really enjoy climbing and playing on the equipment.
Yesterday I took the boys to the beach with my parents. Nancy stayed home and slept–she was feeling sick and is doing much better for the sleep.
The boys have been to the beach before, but this time they were old enough to appreciate it. We played in the sand–the boys used their shovels and pails. They enjoyed seeing the kites (though we forgot to bring our kites).
Owen was very cute–he didn’t like getting sand on his hands, so he would wipe his hands off on Grampie’s shirt (poor Grampie).
Andrew has to ride in or push any wagon we see. He smoozed a nice grandfather at the beach to get a ride in his grandson’s wagon.
Last night for dinner we had various types of pie. Grandpa Dale had a pie with whole strawberries in it. Andrew grabbed the largest strawberry off of Grampie’s plate and stuffed it into his mouth. He did bite it into pieces, but he ended up eating the whole strawberry.
The boys understand a lot–they will probably be reading this blog soon. My parents made a list of the words the boys understand–they got to 150 words and that’s not all of them. They have a new way of dancing–instead of just bouncing up and down, they also spin around in a circle. Owen was working on frog hops: he can do the down part, but isn’t as good on the hops.
Pictures
Owen climbing the couch
Owen climbing at the park
Owen with Grammie at the Clark County fair
The boys at the beach
The boys in a shopping cart
Andrew and Grampie at the fair
Andrew and Grampie at the restaurant
Andrew eating strawberry pie
Manners
August 8, 2006
We have been working on manners the past week. One of our big lessons is “don’t throw blocks”. Hopefully that is one which they boys will learn quickly.
Several times now, the boys have said thank you. Sometimes they say “Thank you” and other times they will sign it.
Last night, I fixed bottles for the boys and went into the Great Room. They were sitting nicely on the air mattress next to the pillow I was going to rest my head on. I asked the boys, “Where is daddy going to sit?” and Andrew patted the pillow.
We went to the Clark County fair on Friday with my parents. The boys were enthralled with the old fashioned steam engines at the entrance. There was also a minature tractor that was pulling a train full of stuffed animals–the boys thought that was great. We also made it to the Washington County fair where the boys got to sit on tractors.
New words: dirt, digger, caa-caa (quack quack), coco (crayon or coloring), and frog. Last time I missed two animals that boys know: cow (mmmmm) and sheep (baaaa). They also think that “elk” is “cow” (mmmmmm).
The boys were practicing climbing the couch. They already know how to get on the couch from the front. Now they are learning to climb up the outside. It is interesting to see the two different ways they climb. Andrew treats it like a ladder (left foot right foot, left hand right hand) until he can get his leg over the edge. Owen throws his head as far forward as he can and scrambles the rest of the way.
Pictures
Andrew wrapped up in a blanket
Andrew climbing the couch
Andrew driving tractor
Grandpa Dale holding Andrew
Both boys with daddy on the couch
The family laughing
Grandpa Larry driving the stroller
Owen working at the desk
Owen driving tractor
Owen looking at Grandpa Larry
Owen walking with Grammie
