The summer is flying by and the boys are really on the move. Maceo can pretty much run in the walker and I have to put the brakes on it often. They also have a round table with multiple activities that has an attached chair with wheels, which allows them to walk around the table to partake in all the table has to offer. This toy is great except for when one of them is in the other walker chasing the kitty, free to go wherever and the other can only go around and around.
The boys are both on the verge of crawling, getting up on all fours and rocking. At this point, they get really frustrated because they always go backwards rather than forward. They have pretty much figured out how to sit up by themselves and tend to roll over or scoot on their bellies to get to something. All this moving around frightens me a little, because I know some accidents are just around the corner. I feel like we will have to do extra extra babyproofing with two of them on the move. It drives Daddy crazy, but my heart skips a beat every time I hear any thud or bang. I always assume it is one of the boys.
Last week Enzo spouted out multiple syllables, shouting out "bababababa" for well over an hour. Then this week, Maceo started his multiple syllables with "mamamamama". As Mommy and a student of linguistics I could not be more pleased with both of their language capabilities. However, hearing "mamamama" melts my heart. Last night at bedtime, I had put Enzo to sleep and Daddy had Mace, while I cleaned up the kitchen. Maceo spotted me and began yelling "mamamama" and reaching out his arms for me. I had to stop with the clean-up and take over. It is so exciting to hear that and I'm sure it won't be long before they are yelling out "dada". Some of the other noises that we hear recently are growling from Enzo, and Maceo grunts and yells at the dogs (probably since he hears Mommy tell the dogs to go back to their room several times a day).
It's awesome to see the boys interact. When they see each other for the first time every morning they smile and start making noises at each other. Then there is usually a wrestling match in our bed. They definitely have different personalities. Maceo is very wild, passionate (quick tempered), and picks on Enzo a little. Enzo is very lovey, laid back, and takes Maceo's picking. I am constantly trying to get Maceo to leave Enzo alone and stop him from eating his hands and squeezing his face. When he does it, he looks at me and smiles a little devilish grin. I should have expected this behavior since at almost every ultrasound the tech couldn't get measurements for "baby B" (Maceo) since he was moving so much and I had constant kicking under my right rib. I think this is why Enzo was ready to get out.
As many of you know, it took Daddy a little while to come to terms with having 2 at once. I reminded him of this the other day and asked how he felt now...His response was "I love it and wouldn't have it any other way". It might be more work but we are truly lucky!
It's amazing what happens in a month; developmentally, physically, emotionally. The boys are becoming very receptive to both their mommy and daddy and themselves. They've grown fatter (in Enzo's case) and taller (in Mace's case) with a lot more hair. And they are much more able to articulate their feelings - now with sound! Lots of grunting, shouting, laughing, cringing, crying. Mommy has been making the boys a lot of new foods to try - acorn squash, peas, sweet potatoes, avocados, pears, peaches, nectarines, and bananas. The good news is they eat everything even if they don't like it (that's the cringing part). We have taken a couple trips over the last month; finally getting back to Asheville after a year and then heading down to FLA to see Poppi and Yaya and to get the boy's feet wet. Asheville was great. We miss the slow, humble pace of the small town mountians, plus the weather; it was gorgeous. The boys had a helluva time with their cousin Dylan who is well on her way to becoming a nanny. It was also fun to hang out with some of the old gang - they rented a cabin in Fairview for Ashley's birthday. We had more kids than adults at the "party" - we're getting old. A couple weeks later we headed to Florida. We decided to drive down; my work schedule, the amount of stuff we needed for the boys, and the fact that we wanted to stop in Amelia Island drove that decision. I was in Philly for the first part of the week so Tina took off early and headed for AI. Sean, Crystal, and Dylan also stopped there on their way down. Tina and Nan hung out with the kids at the beach, the restaurant, and Nan's house (Nan and Scotty, you guys are so awesome!). I flew into Jacksonville and we headed down to Boca the next morning. We had a blast! The boys loved hangin with their grandparents and their uncles and playing in the pool and at the beach. We drove straight through on the drive back; the boys did very well all things considered. Till next time...
I apologize for the duration without a post. I have been writing a case study for a class I was unable to complete last fall since the boys came early. A lot has happened in the last month. We made a visit to Knoxville for the boys' first Easter. Here are some pics from the weekend...
Besides travelling, we've continued our neighborhood walks. A few pics to see what it's really like. When the neighbors see me, they must think I'm crazy pushing the limo stroller w/ 2 babies and walking 2 dogs. For those of you that don't know it, Mommy is an avid four-leaf clover scavenger. Notice that the boys both have one. Hopefully they will bring them good luck!
Look at Mommy... Going Up the Driveway to go on a Walk... A true Caravan
Enzo
Maceo
On the walk...Check out the hill Mommy just had to push our limo stroller up! Pull doggies pull!
Enzo has started teething. I can see both bottom front teeth. Oh what fun! He's been chewing on frozen wash cloths for the last 2 weeks.
This teething thing sucks!
Mace is our little apple turnover. He steamrolls across the floor all day! And now he does it in the middle of the night in his sleep sack...no more sleep sack for Mace as I found him face down in the crib the other night.
Getting Ready to have Dinner w/ Mommy & Daddy on the deck
Riding in the Walker Together
In the walker together
Silly Mace
Helping Daddy wash the Cars
You missed a spot Daddy!
And we've started with solids... a real mess! And extremely difficult! Enzo pretty much loves everything we give him. Carrots, bananas, pears, and sweet potatoes are what we've tried so far. Mommy is making all of their food...really quite easy, just steam and put in the food processor and add a little water. Here's Enzo enjoying some bananas...
This past weekend was full of fun! The boys' grandparents came on Thursday night. Friday we ran a few errands and had fish cakes for dinner as my mom reminded me that "it IS Lent" and we should eat fish. Saturday we tackled the yard, which Mommy got poison ivy in last weekend. The boys played on the front porch while we weeded the flower beds, planted ferns, and blew leaves. Saturday evening Daddy & Mommy got to go out to eat @ Holeman & Finchwhile Nana & Grampa watched the boys. Then to Wayne's World... the Lil' Wayne concert that is. Great entertainment for sure, not only the artists but the attendees too! Sunday we made a family outing to watch the Braves take on the Phillies. The boys first major league baseball game and the temp was in the high 80's...not good! But to my surprise, the boys handled the event excellently. Thankfully, we ended up in the shade. My biggest worry was that game time was nap time, but the boys took their naps on their grandparents. Thanks to great defense the game went quickly. After the game The Avett Brothers played, but the sound was way too loud for the boys, so we headed home.
Enzo says "Go Braves!"
Enzo pumped for the game
Hot Stuff Maceo
The weather the last few days has been nice though, so I've taken the boys on a walk to the lake and back 2 days in a row since it will be 90-100 freakin degrees all summer. As I have been walking with the boys, I have been dreaming of this
It's a jogger stroller, bike trailer, and regular stroller. I've suggested to Daddy that it would make a nice Mommy's Day present. And if he wants me to be in the ultimate shape, this would help. Speaking of ultimate shape,my goal is to run in a 5k with the boys sometime in the Fall. Yet another reason to purchase this. Plus, Daddy can put it on his bike when the boys get a little bigger. Daddy, are you listening?
And here are a couple of videos of the boys checking each other out and talking to each other a little bit...
