Friday, May 28, 2010

Milestones XV & XXVI



A quick update as to what the kids are up to...

We're not sure what happened between 12 and 13 months, but Jasmine Olivia's ability to understand (instructions, conversation, etc.) seems to have jumped about 8 months in 30 days. The girl is smart as a whip, and a lot of times just leaves me thinking, "wow." On a different note, she talks quite a bit (sometimes words, but mostly not) and will tell you thank you for every single thing you hand her; be it a hamburger or a piece of lint. She also suffers from a
healthy dose of separation anxiety whenever mommy leaves the house. The other day, she spied her getting ready to leave, so she ran to the hallway, put some shoes on herself (they were Justin's sneakers actually) and waited by the door to make her case to go with her. It failed... and she cried. Meanwhile, when I grab my hat and keys, she says "bye bye" (which of course is the cutest thing to me right now) gives me a wave, and is back to her business as usual. To which I say, where are the tears?! Where's the tantrum?! Sometimes daddy's just don't rate.

She also yelled for mommy across a restaurant the other day (and she's LOUD) when V left to use the restroom. Funny moment... made doubly funny by the fact that she (for whatever reason) calls both of us daddy (pronounced Daa- EE) 90% of the time, and yells for us with more attitude than I'm sure she's supposed to have at this age. And speaking of attitude, while I have to readily admit (and am often reminded) that her temper tantrums are mild compared to the theatrics that I see other kids put on (there's no out of control crying, screaming, kicking or floor diving)... she definitely has daddy's short fuse and will express her disagreement in a heartbeat (usually by banging something or calling you a few choice words in her own language). And so all I can do is shake my head and think: this is the payback that grandparents always talk about when your kids become you and pay back all the "good deeds" that you deposited as a child. Between Jasmine with her temperament and Justin Alexander with his practical jokes, it's my childhood all over again. For better or for worse.

As for her brother, between setting the table and helping to make the bed, mommy is steadily introducing him to the world of chores... which, for now, he's happy to be a part of. He's also suddenly getting into words in a way that is certainly different than just a week ago, but hard to describe exactly. Rather than just "reading books" with us, he's starting to focus on individual words and wanting to know what each one says. It seems like a precursor to reading, so we'll do what we can to hone in on that over the next few weeks to see if he's ready to step up his lessons in that area. I think it has everything to do with his favorite television show switching from Sesame Street to "Electric Company." He loves that show (if he says, "Hey You Guuuuuuuuuys" one more time I think we'll all go crazy) and it's definitely a word intensive program. So once again, PBS is earning / solidifying it's place as a quality programming station.

That's all I can think of at six in the morning. If I think of anything else, I'll add it later.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hanging Out

Evidently mowing the lawn is a spectator sport.



Saturday, May 22, 2010

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Don't Sleep

The virtues of a little sister.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Best Buds

Personal 8K (almost)

This morning: approximately 4.7 miles. 44 minutes. And a growing curiosity for what 10 miles would feel like. This stuff is addictive.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Beach & Baseball

Last Saturday's agenda was packed... Beach. Bike Shop. Outback. Downtown Stroll. Baseball Game. Fireworks Show. And (probably my favorite part) the two and a half hours in the middle of the day that all four of us napped simultaneously (put that last one in the record books because it may never happen again). Anyway, hopefully it was a prelude of lots more family time to come now that the end of the semester is here. Hooray for summer vacation.






Mr. Sociable makes new friends as usual

Jasmine's first baseball game

Deliria starts to set in as bedtime is stretched beyond the norm