Hello there. Well–this will be  a wordy post because we are still trying to figure out my new photo system. We changed operating systems on my computer to make it work a bit faster and are encountering some obstacles with that…so hang in there. I’ve got tons of pictures and videos to share–but just can’t right now.

The boys are such a joy for me to be around. I am so thankful that I am able to be home with them to see every change and new development with them as they are happening. I am also grateful to have a husband that also believes I should be in the home and is doing what he can to keep it that way. It can be trying at times though, living with a 2 year old that is into everything, exploring everything, and soooo busy and with a 4…almost 5 month old that still requires mom as his mode of transportation…but gosh…even with all the crazy, stressful, “cant be everywhere at once” times…these boys are super great. Such good boys, and I feel very blessed.

Arden (26 months)

•Oh my Arden-pie. Oh dear sweet Arden-pie. He takes such good care of his momma and brother when daddy is at work. He wakes up in the morning and says, “Time to wake up mommy. It’s daytime. The sun is shining. It’s not nighttime…it’s daytime. Time to wake up! Are you tired mommy ”  Often, I say, “Yes…mommy is still a bit tired. Are you tired Arden?” and he will say, “No. I’m not tired. It’s day time.”

•We have been playing “Pick a hand” when we have a little treat for him. So that has become one of his favorite new things to do. He has us “pick a hand” and usually the treat he just got from us is in his hand …but we aren’t meant to keep it. We are to do “pick a hand” back to Arden again. This game has evolved with Arden, as the other day I was doing something in his room and Arden came up to me with something quite obviously stuck under his shirt and he said, “Pick a belly!” I was then rewarded with a toy football.

•Arden and I were playing in his kitchen, cooking up everything we could imagine. Then we started to put the play food back in his cabinets and we got the whole play kitchen cleaned up. Arden then took off his apron, hung it on the cabinet latch, and said “That was hard work.” Then he left his room. I picked a few more things up and noticed how quiet it was, so I peeked out of his room and he was sitting quietly at his table flipping through the pages of a book. A nice way to unwind from all that “hard work.”

•Arden doesn’t just say, “No” like supposedly lots of other 2 year olds say. He says, “No thank you.” Almost every single time that he would say no he always says that. For example…he did not want to brush his teeth. Instead of screaming “no” to daddy when daddy took matters into his own hands….he cried out with a “No thank youuuuu .”  Or, Mommy will say: ” Arden, would you like some toast?” Arden: “Umm, no thank you.” Its just nice to hear.

•My mom bought the newest grandsons a cd/cassette player for Christmas and Arden has become the DJ for our house. He does an extremely good job of finding the cd he wants to listen to out of his cd folder, placing it in the player, and pushing play, stop, and next song. The favorites lately are “The Wheels on the Bus,” “The ABC’s,” and “Six Little Ducks.” He’ll put a cd in the player and announce, “Wheels on the Bus is coming! Come on mommy! Come on! Dance mommy!”

•Speaking of ABC’s…Arden can sing them now. All of them. From start to finish.

•Legos. This boy is a Legos maniac. He is always building tall towers and castles.

Ensel (4 months)

•Grabbing grabbing grabbing! My my if you’ve got something, this boy wants to check it out! I am finding it difficult to have a glass of water while I hold Ensel because his arms will shoot straight out and his fingers will be latched around that glass faster than I can say, umm…inkpen. (umm…my surroundings inspire me?…?…) Then of course the newly found object goes straight to the mouth. I think he really likes the sound of his voice in the cup as well. He is quite the talker.

•Such a giggly boy. Arden, Ensel, and I were laying on our backs looking up at the “Over in the Meadow” book and he would giggle and giggle everytime I turned to a new page and started singing. It was pretty funny.

•He has been seeming to be a little more attached to mommy lately and needing to know she is near if daddy or someone else has him.

•Ensel really loves to lie on his tummy across the Boppy pillow and play with toys in front of him.

•Big news here. Ensel has started sitting in his own chair at the table when we eat supper. He seems to really like this change of view, and Arden thinks it is pretty neat as well. I like seeing two children’s chairs at the table. Tee hee. It is sweet.