Oh, Boy.

In the world of little boys there is not much down time. Maybe the occassional nap (if Mommy is lucky!), but for the most part it is 110% go time all the time. My boys are all boy. Through and through - snakes and snails (and rocks) and puppy dogs' tails... They are drawn toward dirt and bugs like a chef to an unchopped onion. It's like they can just SENSE its presence in the room and are utterly determined to exploit it for all its worth. And then eat it.

Brayden got his first real black eye this weekend. Jumping on the bed. No matter how many times you tell him not to do something, he feels that he NEEDS to continue doing so. Even after his near brush with death, he can still be found using his mattress as an indoor trampoline. Boy.

Tyler was found the other day with a runny nose. And a ladybug stuck in his snot. Boy.

Brayden recently decided that it's worthwile to learn how to make himself fart. And although that probably comes from me, it's still a BOY tendency. So... Boy.

Tyler has already learned how to wrestle and understands what "Get 'em!" means. Boy.

It also seems that the boys think our house is one giant jungle gym. Anything that sits, stands or lays still for more than a few seconds is likely to get scaled. But watch out, because it's also likely to become formerly mentioned trampoline as well.

But I have to admit that (even though I'm worn out most of the time) my days aren't boring. Ever. And with both boys doing something new almost every day, it's even kind of fun. Brayden is starting to pick up new words - today he learned hiccup (ah-gop) and tried to sing, "I just want to celebrate...another day of life!" (well, he sang "el-bay....iiiiii-eeeee"). Tyler is getting closer and closer to walking. Anyday now. And we think he's starting to try talking, too!! He will mock our sounds and about 80% of the time we can tell that he's trying to say something after us!! I can't believe that my little boys are growing up so quickly. I'm sure that I have so much more boy-ness to look forward to....

If You're Happy and You Know It....Say NO!

Two major things with two major boys. Tyler has figured out "If You're Happy and You Know It." He claps at all the right spots and knows to wait for the "clap your hands" part. It's just too cute. He gets this proud and happy look on his face whenever he's doing it, too. Then there's Brayden... He's learned the word, "No." He says it ALL the time now, even if he's not really meaning "no" at the time (e.g. "Brayden, do you love Daddy?" "No."). He says it so defiantly, too. It's so very funny. Well, sort of. Before now he'd just ignore us when we told him to do something, but now he tells us no. Amusing, huh?

And in other news... We got our taxes done and thanks to our two little tax breaks, we're getting a hefty amount back. Using almost all of it to pay off debt, but had to use a little to get a new dryer. And washer. But we got a good deal - 15% off sale price, $200 off the washer/dryer combo and 12 months no interest/no payments. So we got a black Whirlpool Cabrio - which is what I've wanted for over a year now (well, the Cabrio, not necessarily the black...). John's really excited, though because HE wanted the black ones. The only thing that stinks is that we have to wait until 2/5 to get them... Oh well, though.

Brayden is 2 years old...

I can't believe that two years could go by so fast. John & I say all the time that it's hard to remember Brayden as a baby because it's all been blurred by Tyler coming into our lives. But at the same time, I can still see it all as clear as day because being a mommy for the first time doesn't just disappear. It seems like from the day they are born and on, a child is doing something new every day. You'd think it would slow down after they start walking and stuff, but no. You can just SEE Brayden's brain expanding every day. It may be a new word or some new physical skill (like scaling the wall to get to his lamp), but let me just say no day is boring with this kid around. He never ceases to amaze me at the things he figures out and/or remembers. Just today at the doctor's office, he remembered that the toys were in a drawer - not on the shelf. Or yesterday, we sang "Happy Birthday" to him and after that he started singing it himself. Mind you, he's probably only heard the song a handful of times in his entire life!! But my favorite thing that he has started to do in the last month is how he brushes his teeth. I'd been having problems getting him to open his mouth and let me brush his teeth - but he was perfectly willing to chomp down on the brush once it was in there. So one night, out of the blue, I started "singing" the theme to 2001: A Space Odessy (you know - dum, Dum, Dum, DA-DUM! Bum bum, bum bum, bum bum, bum bum). And lo and behold, he opened up. Then the next night - this happened:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v675/ritzbits/?action=view&current=102_4927.flv

Steel trap, I tell ya! The kid can remember anything. But he's got a stubborn streak in him that mirrors mine to no end. He will (most of the time) refuse to say or do things on command unless he wants to. He does not like to be told no, and when told no will see if there is some other way to do said thing without getting caught. He's the classic "toe the line" kind of kid. And I guess I should put his stats in here as well - he's 35" tall (36" if he's laying down - which is how they measured him at the doctor) and 27.5 lbs. We were so excited about his height because at 36", he can ride some of the bigger rides for kids at SDC!!! I can't wait to let him ride a roller coaster!!! Well, anyway - we're heading to Fletcher tomorrow and so I need to go to bed.