Just about every day I think to myself "Wow, my boys are so big!" "They are growing too fast!"  I need time to slow down, I can hardly believe that my boys will be Two in just under 3 months.

James


Height: 21 Months- approx 35.5inches
             20 Months- approx 35 inches
Weight: 21 Months- approx. 28.6lbs
             20 months approx 28lbs


William


Height: 21 Months- approx. 35.5 inches
             20 Months- approx 35.25in
Weight: 21 Months- approx. 29lbs
              20 Months- approx 28.5lbs


Whats New: Development and Interests

Somersaults!  The boys have learned how to do somersaults!  It is so funny and they will do it all of the time.  They stand "upside down" with their head on the ground and then flip their little legs over.

Another big motor skill the boys have developed is jumping.  They have figured out how to coordinate getting both feet off the ground at the same time!

Tools and fixing things.  My boys love tools: play tools, daddy's tools, anything they can use as a tool!  For Christmas they had received a small tool bench with a hammer, wrench and drill from their Aunt Angie and have enjoyed it, but within the last month they have really been wanting to play with their tools more and more.  I ended up picking up a few play tool sets so they could have a few more and they love trying to "fix" their toys and have mommy and daddy help them screw and unscrew the screws from the pieces of wood.  One thing I have been surprised about is when I ask the boys to fix a toy of theirs they will turn it over to work on the underside of the toy.  This is not something I have shown or taught them and it surprises me that they would know to work on the underside of a vehicle to fix it.  How do they know that?!?

The boys are growing and changing.  They are becoming more independent and need me a little less. And with this independence comes less snuggles and cuddles from my sweet boys.  Every cuddle I get from them is extremely special.  James continues to be more of a snuggle bug and wants his mommy a little more than William does.  The other night while I was putting them to bed both boys sat on my lap and snuggled up while I sang to them and it brought tears to my eyes (blame those on pregnancy hormones).

The boys went to their first (and second) birthday party this month for friends from our playgroup.  I think their first adventures at a birthday party was a success and they were huge fans of birthday cake! I'm sure they will be looking forward to more birthday parties in the future.

I purchased the boys baby dolls in preparation for their new baby sister this month.  They love their babies.  They have insisted on taking them to the table during meal times, they pretend to change the babies diapers, make sure that the babies have their pacifiers and take the babies to nap and bed with them everyday!

We had friends come and stay with us this month for a few days.  The boys enjoyed having friends here for a few days.  Their friend Joan is a few months older and after watching Joan walk up and down the stairs using the banister the boys have now decided that is the best way to use the stairs.  I feel like I should happy they have developed this new skill but it definitely makes me nervous especially when they are going down.  They do a great job holding onto the banister and taking their time.

So I've decided that my boys may like animals more than people (they are definitely my children).  I took them to the pet store to pick up food for the dogs and while we were their I walked them by the birds, guinea pigs, mice and hamsters.  The boys were so enthralled with the little animals.  I told them to say "hi" to the animals and both boys started waving and saying "hi, hi" (If you ask them to do that to a person they will just stare at you most times and rarely say "hi")

The boys stayed with a baby sitter for the first and second time this month.  They did great and that made me happy!  Both times the baby sitter put them down to sleep and they had no issues at all.  They weren't even upset when I left.  The only thing I noticed was that James was especially clingy when I got home and they didn't want me to leave again after getting home.

Whats New: Language and Understanding

We have had a little progress in the area of language this month.  The boys have been trying more and more.  Their language is still not clear but they are at least trying.

They continue to use/attempt to use all the same words from last month plus a few new words: Grambie, Geep, waddle, rock, hi, gobble

Going back to their love of tools Will is able to identify many of his tools accurately: screwdriver, wrench, drill, pliers, and hammer.

Two of the most used words the boys use are "excuse me" and "thank you" and they know how use them appropriately.  There are times they will spontaneously use "thank you" on their own otherwise I can just ask them "what do you say when someone does something nice for you" and they will usually respond with "Thank You". They also use excuse me appropriately, when they want someone or the dogs to move.

The boys got look and find books this month and love looking for the hidden objects.  They have a few items on each page that they know where they are hidden and will point to the object, raise their hands asking where it is and then will proudly point out the object in the picture.  It is really cute and they impress me with how they understand what the point of the book is.

Temper tantrums: this is somewhat new.  The boys are starting to test the boundaries trying to figure out what they can get away with.  I am now trying to figure out the best way to deal with the tantrums and the boys new behavior, wish me luck!