Boys' Update

NOAH:

CUTE MISSPEAKS--mecycle(recycle), me-larm (alarm), practus (cactus), promas (Thomas).

FAVORITE COLOR--red

IMAGINATIVE CHATTER-- While on our trip to Lake Wales Noah was very smitten with the tower and its golden door. He talked about the magic gate opening as soon as the music stopped and being able to cross the bridge to the golden door. On the road he saw a factory puffing our white smoke/steam and said it was a "cloud factory". Too cute.

NEWEST ADVENTURE--When we go to the Gulfstream Park beach he showed a lot of interest in exploring the sea grape "jungle" at the beach. At first he ventured around with Nana and then took me on a romp under branches, sliding down the sandy slope to the beach...telling me to be careful of the "practus" (see above). Now he says he's an explorer and can't wait to go back and take Daddy.

SCHOOL--He had recently started not wanting to leave school & Mama had to negotiate deals before agreeing to leave for school. How about we go to the museum after school? And he'd say: "How about we go to Chuck E Cheese then the museum? Is that a plan? Is that a good idea?" Then just this past week he's not wanted to go to school at all and just stay home to play with Owen and Mommy. He will say "I want the sun to go down" or "It's NOT a school day". We're not sure what it was that got him started on this kick and it's been very disconcerting/stressful. We did go to a cultural night at school where a college kid watched him and his classmates. He completely freaked out and ran crying to us...it hasn't been quite right since so we think that may have triggered it all. Other notables at school: beginning to challenge/ignore teachers, talks about friends by name now, showed off his "big" boogie to teacher on playground, showing littler students how to do things, cutting/folding paper is his favorite thing to do.

MR. MANNERS--Noah has gotten really good at speaking politely and appropriately. He says the usual please, thank you but also compliments "that's a nice dress" or "you're a nice lady Mommy" (must've been a good day). He gives out kisses by the dozen and can be quite affectionate. With that said he can be quite stubborn, obstinate, and say nasty things (to me nasty is stuff like--"Go far far away" or "I want you to hush" or "I don't want you to come home"). I think that being at school has taught him a lot of positive communication skills and manny of his phrases come from there. Daddy's favorite is "No Skank You!". The teachers tell them to say thank you after "no" so it's not so harsh for the listener...but Noah says skank...daddy thinks it's hilarious.

QUESTIONS WITH NO ANSWER--Ever have someone come up to you and ask you what something is or where it is and then refute your response? No? Probably not since USUALLY someone asks a question to be informed about something they don't already know. Not my boy. "Is that an elephant mommy?" "It's a giraffe Noah" "NO. It's a elephant mommy." Or "Can I go outside to play" and when I say it's raining or whatever he says "Say Yes mommy, say yes!" This goes on every day...makes me feel like I'm going insane sometimes.

POTTY: Noah is doing really well (knock wood) at going to the potty. He used to want me or his teacher go with him to the potty and help him with his pants. A couple weeks ago he started going by himself and then sometimes hollering for help. SO! I thought I needed to kick it up a notch and have him wear training pants (the ones with plastic covering) at night. We were having him go before bed, when we went to bed and then when he woke up circa 3am. Some nights dry, some nights not. He balked significantly at having to wear his "squeaky" pants at night so I broke down and bought the pullups. Sigh.

SOCIAL SKILLS--Noah recently started to take interest in playing pretend with stuffed animals. He referes to them as "my friends" and will take them around in a box, push them around in a cart or laundry basket, etc. He still doesn't have one as a lovey but I think it's great he's finally pretending to interact with them now. He also talks more about his "friends" at school. His best buddies (from what i can gather) are Kyle (neighbor), Daria (school friend--I think he has a crush), and Giuseppe. He played almost non-stop with Giuseppe on a recent playdate...bouncing on the bed, chasing, running circles, drawing on the aquadoodle together, etc. This is major to me since he's not been one for cooperative play outside of playing with his brother. I'm really jazzed up that he's actually initiating play with other children (finally!).

FAVORITE PAST TIMES: cars/trucks/trains, puzzles on occaision, reading books, blowing bubbles, his 'SUPER FAST' bicycle, inflatable pool w/ slide, PAINTING, and playdoh.

TV/DVD: Pocoyo, Caillou, Little People, Curious George, Little Einsteins, sometimes Handy Manny and Special Agent Oso (denies liking it). New interest--Dora the Explorer.

LITTLE HELPER: vacuuming, clears his plate, puts in/takes out laundry, sweeps, helps cook/bake and occaisionally feeds his pet fish.



OWEN:

THE COMMUNICATOR: He is such a big talker to the extent strangers will comment. He's not even 2 yet and speaks in full sentences. He actually answers questions accurately and has a pretty good ear for new phrases. He doesn't really say cutesy misspeaks but his grammar is cute--"Me Mommy me read book please"...he LOVES the word "me". Sometimes he uses his own name and rarely will say "I"...like in his other favorite "I did it!". Just in the last 72hours he's started to stammer. Not sure what to make of that.

GAMES: He likes to be goofy with his brother. He'll play with all the same toys that brother does. He likes the Little People toys and puzzles most. If we go to the library he'll do all like 15 of the puzzles there...some of them multiple times. He's really good with spatial things like that. We like to tickle and he loves to climb on daddy or try to jump on his head or belly etc saying "Boing!". He'll point at me with his pointer fingers and say "I love you!" emphatically and I respond "No, I love YOU!"...it goes on for a while... ;) Last night he took a piece of apple and pretended it was a whale. He also likes to bounce on my knee and swerve around yelling "Whoa! Whoa!" and giggle.


COUNTING--He likes to count things or just count in general. He gets to about 10 and then starts again...or if he's counting things he'll go to 3 and start at 1 again!

MUSIC MAN-- O loves to sing songs: Twinkle Twinkle (almost all correct), EiEiO, ABC, Happy Birthday, Move it Move it, and is trying to learn theme songs to Caillou & Little Einsteins. He jiggles around, bounces and spins to music (sometimes he likes to spin just to get dizzy). Noah and O still do their Shabbat dance on Fridays. He calls it Abba Alom. Cute.

BEHAVIOR--O listens well, behaves normally and doesn't fuss much when not given his way. He actually WANTS time out and will sometimes sit there even after the timer has rung.

HELPER: Likes the dustpan & brush or vacuuming with the dustbuster thing. He wants to help with things in the kitchen but usually Noah gets to it first. I haven't figured out how to cook with both of them yet.



Their favorite haunts: Chuck E Cheese, library, nature trails, beach, playgrounds, bookstore train table, pet store, children's museum, pool in the Bevilaqua's neighborhood, publix/target, school/class,