January 19, 2006
You all are both walking well now. We left for FL a few days after Christmas. Aaron was staring to walk before we left and by the end of the trip you were off and running. Aidan was starting to walk by the end of the FL trip and now you are off and running. We had a good time in FL, but I think you all are still a little young to enjoy vacations. The beach was fun – you all sure loved to eat the sand. Dad buried you all in the sand and you all did not mind it one bit (unlike mom). The plane trip went pretty well. You all kept us busy entertaining you, but other passengers complemented on your good behavior.
Christmas was fun this year. Santa brought a picnic table, wagon, books, bath toys, push/ride train, Fisher Price chair, and some other little toys. We spent Christmas Eve with Nonnie, Grandpa, Ed, Michelle and Lindsey. We spent Christmas day with just us. The day after Christmas we went to Cincinnati to have Christmas with the Lord’s, and that evening we came back for the Lose Christmas. It was a busy holiday season.
A few days after we returned from vacation we learned that you would be transitioning to the next room at school. That same day when I went to pick you up you were already visiting the other room. It took me of guard, because they had just told us about the transitions. The next day I went in to meet the other teachers and visit your new room. There are three COC rooms with two teachers in each. They told us at that time that you all would be in COC #1. I was happy with this room – I liked the teachers and the kids were younger. They continued to transition you over the next week. When I went to pick you all up on Monday we had a note that you would be starting in COC #2 on Tuesday. I was shocked to learn that this was already happening - one little girl had been transition for a month. Plus I really wanted you all in COC #1. When we dropped you all of the next day Aidan fit right in, but Aaron had a hard time. They called me that morning to let me know you all were doing fine. When I came to pick you up that evening you had been moved to COC #1 (the room we liked) because Aaron did not care for the teachers in COC #2. You all have done well so far in the new room. You are eating at a big boy table and you are napping on cots. We miss the infant teachers (Felecia, Judy and Laura) and they said they will really miss you all.
Our other big event for the week was our adoption of Jack the cat.
Your sign language is improving. Aaron is starting to pick up on the signs. You are staring to clap for more, just like Aidan started. Aidan can sign eat, more and all done.
March 30, 2006
We had our first (I am sure of many) set of stitches on March 20. Aaron fell and hit the bridge of his nose on the coffee table. Earlier that night he hit his chin on the bathtub. It was a deep cut, but it stopped bleeding quickly. The nose injury was horrifying. We went to an urgent care and they sent us to the children's hospital. We were there for 12 hours!!! Because a wound can be stitched up to 12 hours later, everyone got put in front of us. They used a numbing ointment and they put you in this straight jacket type thing to hold you down to do the stitches. You got 4 in your nose and they decided to go ahead and do they chin while they were at it. You were so brave, but all you wanted was for mommy to hold you. It was heartbreaking to you go through this. I was actually surprised how little it bruised. I thought for sure he would have black and blue eyes, but you just got a small bruise under the cut area. Nothing broken. They took his stitches out the following Monday. Dr. Harper told us not to even worry about scaring because it would take up to a year to see the final results.
We were surprised that Aaron was the first to get the stitches. Aidan is the climber and we thought for sure he would be the first. Actually you all are both getting very daring and we cannot take our eyes off you all for a second.
May 22, 2006
Your vocabulary is developing wonderfully. Aidan has said these words in the following order: dada, mama, baba, jack/Jackie, and new to the vocabulary, more and hi. You combine the word more with your sign language – so smart! Aaron said dada, mama, baba, jack/Jackie, more, hi and shoes. I believe this weekend you combined words to say hi jack.
In addition to your vocabulary development you all have learned to wave and blow kisses on your own. Aaron looked like a super star this weekend when you were standing on the deck blowing kisses to everyone in the yard.
Aaron loves to play with shoes and socks. It is amazing how long you sit in your little chair in your room and play with all your shoes. If we try to put them on you do not want our help, you just enjoy playing with them.
You all are quite the speed demons now. This weekend when I had you all at the nursery you all darted in two different directions – it was a twin moment. Additionally, you all are in to everything. Unrolling the toilet paper is our favorite activity. Aaron can open the childproof locks. If Aidan bangs the cabinets long enough Aaron will open the cabinets for you. Aidan can open doors so we have to keep them all locked.
We are getting ready to leave Discovery Time and stay with Jennifer next door. Ever since you all moved to the toddler room we have seen so many teachers come and go. We will miss the center, but it is so important for your development to see the same faces everyday. In fall you all will start pre-school at Northside Christian. You all are going to be so smart starting preschool before the age of 2 – that’s my boys!!!
May 30, 2006
Yesterday we went to the zoo and bought some animal figurines. Aidan and I played jungle and later that evening you were making the animals fight. Aaron was very verbal at the zoo. You pointed and quacked at the ducks – as did Aidan. Today is your first day at Mrs. Jennifer’s. I am so happy to be out of Discovery Time. Although I feel guilty that I cannot stay home with you it is very comforting to know you are in a stable and loving environment.
August 28, 2006
Wow – where has the time gone? I cannot believe it has been so long since my last entry. Summer is wrapping up and you all are about to start into preschool. You start next week into the two year old class with Ms. Debbie. You all are a little young, but very well socialized so they are letting you in early. Class will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 – 1:00, and you all will eat lunch at school. I already got emotional thinking about making your sack lunch. Mrs. Jennifer will take you to and from school and she will continue to baby-sit all day Monday and Friday and after school. What a head start you all have starting school before you are two – you all are going to be little geniuses.
We took our summer vacation to New Smyrna Beach, Florida last month. This was our first vacation with just you all, dad and mom. The highlight of our vacation was seeing Barney at Universal Studios. We watched a show with the real Barney characters. You all were excited, but a little overwhelmed. Aaron about jumped out of the stroller when you saw the Barney store. We heard some “WOW’S” from Aidan – your word of choice on vacation. Other than Universal we just swam and spent a lot of our time on the beach. We collected shells and ran on the beach. Aidan is quite the swimmer. We used water wings so you all were able to swim around. Aaron preferred to just hang out and float around. The hotel had a really nice baby pool with two different depths. You all traveled very well on the plane. This time we bough everyone tickets, and we took your car seats on the plane. We did spend a long time at the airport since we had another airline terrorist threat toward the end of our vacation. It was the worst planned attack since 9-11.
Your favorite toys are the animal figurines and books. You all are starting to pretend play by feeding your stuffed animals. This morning Aidan was feeing his lion slippers. Aidan loves to play with the shape sorting block toys. Aaron loves his Barney dolls. You all both love books. Aidan likes the pop-up books and Aaron loves the books that make music. Oh, and the discovery of the computer. Aaron gets so excited when we go to the Barney website. You would think someone is hurting you with the way you scream with excitement. A few weeks ago at nap time I heard typing on the keyboard. I walked in the office only to find Aaron had climbed out of the crib and you were playing on the computer. The weekend before Aidan figured out how to get out of the crib. We switched you all hoping Aaron would not figure out how to get out, but obviously we were kidding ourselves. We bought ourselves a little more crib time by moving the changing table which you both were using to climb out. So far you have not escaped again, but we are ready with the bed rails at your next escape.
Aidan’s words are: mama, dada, Jackie (jack the cat), more, dog, up, down, uh-oh, uh-uh (no), fish, wow, dog (sound), and pig (sound), and tiger (sound). We are working on the ‘thank you’ sign. Aidan, however, blows kisses to say thank you. I assume you do that because it is so close to the thank you sign.
Aaron’s words are: mama, dada, dadn (a combination of Dad and Adam), adn (Aidan), Jackie (jack the cat), more, dog, up, down, uh-oh, fish, wow, bad, fish (sound), and tiger (sound).
September 21, 2006
So we moved to big boy beds last night. You all did great for the first night! Aaron did not care for the safety rail at first but you got used to it. We put you down at 7:30 and you did not fall a sleep until 9:00. I had to sit in the office until you fell asleep. Aidan kept calling ‘mom’ to make sure I was still close by. Aidan did not get out of his bed – surprise, surprise. A little before 9:00 I thought you were both a sleep so I snuck outside to help Adam paint the garage floor. A few minutes later the door opened and there stood Aaron. We walked back to bed and I sat back in the office and it did not take long for you to fall back a sleep. This morning when I was getting ready Aaron surprised me when you walked into the bathroom. I had the monitor on and I did not even hear you get out of bed. Aidan did wake up at 4:30 and 6:30 to be consoled, but that is not unusual. The challenge will be nap time on the weekends – this is when all the crib escapes have occurred. You go right to sleep at Jennifer’s but at home nap = play time. You jump on your beds and laugh at each other while you throw everything out of their cribs.
September 27, 2006
I have to admit the past few days have been the most challenging due to the transition to the toddler beds. It took about 40 min to get you down for nap yesterday. After I sternly told you to lay down numerous times you were both pointing your fingers at me while lying in your beds telling me ‘bad’. I was at a loss for words. Last night was a long night. Aidan woke up around 1:00 and walked to our room. We made the mistake of letting you get in bed. Aaron came in shortly after. It is very difficult to sleep with four people in a bed. At 4:00 I took Aidan back to bed and you went down fine. No such luck with Aaron. You cried so much I gave in and took you back to our room because I was afraid you would wake Aidan up. You woke up this morning 6:00. Then Dad called me on the way to work and said Aaron figured out how to climb over the gate to the basement. We had no problem getting you to sleep through the night. Breaking you of bottles was so easy, so I guess we are getting a taste of parenting reality now. I suppose once we get through this stage next comes potty training – fun fun.
October 13, 2006
You are saying a new word almost everyday. Aidan’s word today was ‘mine’. Then you were doing ring around the rosy saying “ashes, ashes, down”. Aaron really keeps and eye on Aidan for me. The other day you were playing in the garage and Aidan’s bubble car tipped over. Aaron came in saying uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, over and over again until I attended to Aidan. And if Aidan is doing something he is not supposed to Aaron is sure to tell me. You are becoming very independent. You like to sit in the big people chairs now – not the ones with your booster seats.
I can tell you are picking up on things at preschool. You do a lot of hand motions now to songs we sing. Like When Your Happy and You Know It – Aaron puts his fingers on his cheeks. And Aidan does the hand motions to Mr. Golden Sun.
December 20, 2006
We celebrated your second birthday Sunday December 10. Nana, Grandma Metzger, Grandma Lord, Gary, Marianne, Jared, Corrie, Grandpa and Martha all came in town for our party. You all got some really cool toys, and you thoroughly enjoyed ripping the paper off the gifts – Christmas will be so fun. We just finished the basement so we have a place to put all those toys. We are so happy to have the basement done – we have so much more room now. I feel like you all have a real playroom now because you all have shelves full of stuffed animals. My dad and I used to collect stuffed animals. It seems like every time we went out I got a new stuffed animal. I had shelves full of stuffed animals in my playroom growing up. Now I am so happy that you all have the same.
Your school program last night – it was adorable. You sung jingle bells and shook bells. You boys were front and center and when they were done singing Aidan took a step forward and put his hands in the air – like ‘look at me’ – it was the funniest thing.
You all are talking up a storm now. Aaron is very good at putting words together. You say ‘by and hi mom (or whoever)’. You have the most wonderful manners. You say thank you without anyone telling you to. You are able to put three words together. You are going to be a talker – you are always babbling something.
Aidan has a large vocabulary and can put two words together. You will attempt to repeat just about anything we ask you to. I would have to say though you use your body language more than your words – you are quite animated.
We are still surviving the toddler bed transition. Dad and I were debating about the last time we slept through the night. It is getting better, only with about one waking a night. You all are sleeping from about 8-7 and napping from 2-4. We have a bedtime routine that includes mom reading two books and singing songs. Our favorites are ‘Wheels on the Bus’, ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ and ‘You are my Sunshine’.
