Ben's tricks and a word from the girls

Ben you say "mama", something for all-done: "ah-da", ...and that's about it so far. You do some cute signs too! You do "bed" (hand over your ear, and even tilting your head ... so cute!), all-done (first sign), potty!!! (occasionally), milk (you just shake your hand at your side vigorously) is a new and suddenly very frequent, and useful one!, "eat" (only once or twice), and you wave bye-bye and night-night (nor really hello very much). You climb in and out of the family room, a few days ago you pulled yourself up in your crib and on the potty, and in the last week, we have found you in your crib sitting up, something new. You love remotes and outlets and wires, just like Dad. You started a new trick a few nights ago: you like to toss toys over your shoulder. You clap whenever you hear any loud sort of clapping sound, such as a pat on the back or a firecracker.

Anna calls fireworks some other cool word ... maybe "light works" and today Anna and Carla were both using the word "medius" (something like MOST medium!).

Carla's words

adultian
fumber storms - mommy's favorite

Oh boy!

Ben is getting so big! First haircut by Daddy yesterday -- so handsome! He is doing "so big" and waving and it seems like he says "Hyyyyyeeee" so sweetly and so clearly he says "Anna!" He loves his pumpkin and yogurt and everything we feed you. He is crawling around army-style, moving fast. Ben you are thinking about pulling yourself up -- some day soon I think.

Carla says "wid-bit" and she is sleeping until around 5, peeing, and then sleeping until 7 sometimes. Only tiny accidents during the day now -- panties damp, just a "wid-bit", and "I held it!!!!" She says "poo-ups" and loves them! Anna called them "pull-downs".

Anna is really behaving well, growing up, getting ready for kindergarten! She goes to bed lickety-split and sleeps often past 7. She likes to "surprise" us with doing things like getting jammies on on her own or dressing herself and going potty before coming in to say good morning. You LOVE "chocolatey goodness" and think it's amazing that it's so yummy AND healthy!

Ben is waving!!!!

Carla woke up around 6am 3 days in a row! She also loves her pooooow-ups!

Ever since his baby signing class on Monday, Ben has been waving constantly!!! So cute! He is also SO close to picking up and crawling away!

Anna's new tooth is growing in nicely. She feels bad when she does something wrong. She says "I don't know how" or "I forgot" or "Benny likes it" afterward, just trying to figure it all out.

Carla to Anna - where is the Easter bunny?

Anna to Carla - up in the sky, like Jesus.

Carla to Mike - is there just one Easter Bunny? So he goes around the whole world???

Anna - maybe the Easter Bunny will come early! At Christmas, Santa came to Grandma M's house every day!

Ben has been doing lots of pottying in his potty! Carla has been hardly having accidents and today she woke in the night, went pee, and then curled right up back to sleep :)

Easter is 2 days away. Anna has been getting up earlier than usual all week, running downstairs, and searching for Easter eggs /basket that might have come early.

Good night.

Time Flies!

Anna calls Carla's Pull-Ups "pull-downs", "wide-asleep" (tired), you didn't try for your kindergarten shots! (wouldn't be surprising, except you've been a bit anxious about them since Dr Cochran said you'd have to get an extra at 5y b/c you chose none at 4y. You got Carla to go potty "without crying about going potty" by asking her to sit in the "parlor seat". You're thrilled to be 5!

Ben likes to stick out his tongue, giggles lots, 19 lb 11 oz at 9 months old, 27 in (though you're actually taller), today it sounded like you were saying anna, dada, ma, eye :), you love necklaces and eyes, you're beginning to wave and do "so big"

Carla said Ben had on a running shirt because it had a "snook" on it -- a snook is a sad, poor face (a Nike symbol!), you have 'poor', tears, and Jesus/God all intermingled into some confused idea. you say "pony, pony, pony!", you said to Dad last night "who is Pooh's friend?, the one who will always be with you?", you slept through night 3 of 5 last nights. You know your birth date AND Anna's!

Catching up!

ooops, now this is even getting way behind! You guys just do so many cool things that I think it will take too long in the moment to write everything down! Anyway...

Ben, you have 2 top teeth now! Yesterday you were signing "more" between every bite! So cute! Yesterday also, you started a new way of pottying ...sort of like standing to pee ... well at least facing the potty, instead of the other way. I think you signed "all done" a few times, and you instinctively know the "eat" sign without even being taught! You're getting really close to crawling I think -- you definitely move around from original position when you are on the floor. You sit really well, like I am comfortable to move away from you when you are sitting! You love everyone's necklaces! You grab at everything. Carla is still gently in love with you and so protective, and Anna is finally getting better at not being so loud with you. You love avocado, pumpkin, sweet potato, apricot, prunes, oatmeal, wheat, rice (or as Carla says "reese"), potatoes, carrots...everything we give you! You're very interested in food!

Carla -- let me see, some funny things to say: "once about a time", "going home" (means leaving home), you love to watch the workers outside digging, once coming home from Gramma M's you said the sky looks "sleepy" and that the Indians stadium lights look like "big toothbrushes" (and they do!), once I wanted you to pee, and I offered you a chocolate chip, and you looked up at me and asked "pepper?" so cutely (I sure wished we weren't out!), ...

Anna and Carla things: buckle bottom, monster traps, jumparoono (gather all the pillows in the house and jump on them), conica, conikay, ...

Anna: "I never want to watch Dr Oz, but I get stuck on it!", you love everything Leprechaun (ever since one visited your pre-school classroom and you brought home a Leprechaun trap that you made at school. You lost your first tooth yesterday! The tooth fairy came last night -- you got 4 shiny quarters for your age and for your shiny tooth (which I threw away by mistake!). A fairy visit was very exciting!, "Mom, can I take everything off except my panties, and put on a dress-up?"

Buckle Bottom