Spring 2011

Both of the boys seem to be in a big growth spurt right now. Mitch is going to be one the day after tomorrow and is just learning and growing so much all at once! He’s getting two new teeth (one more on the bottom to make three and one on top – the first top tooth). He’s going to look so funny when they’re finally all in! He is starting to understand that animals make noises and tries to imitate them (particularly dogs barking when we’re on walks). When he sees a picture of an animal in a book, he makes barking or growling noises. My favorite is when he roars like a lion. He waves hello and goodbye and just today started blowing kisses. Tonight at his birthday party, he also started leaning in to kiss people goodbye. My favorite trick lately (I may have written about this already, but it’s so funny) is when he hits us in the face just to see what our reaction will be and when you tell him “No Mitch, be gentle,” he does a very dramatic fake crying routine that could win him an Oscar. Sometimes he even gets real tears going, but I know he’s faking because in the middle of his little fit, he stops abruptly to hit us again. It’s all I can do to keep a straight face while I try to “reprimand” him. J

Finn is growing out of his clothes so quickly that I can't keep up with him! I just bought him a whole round of spring t shirts that he has already outgrown! At least they'll be good for Mitch in just a few months! He has had some good one liners lately too. He says “goodness” and “horrible a lot – as I'm writing this, he is in his bed trying to fall asleep. He is doing fake sneezing and then saying “Oh! Goodness!” just like I do when he sneezes. He often tells me about his skinned knee, calling it a “horrible boo boo”. He also uses "actually" and "somestimes" quite a bit. Example: at breakfast the other day: "Mom! Somestimes oyoma (oatmeal) is hot and somestimes coffee is hot!" It was quite the revelation. He has a bug toy that he calls his “spantula” (tarantula). When he rides his motorcycle toy that we borrow from the library, he does a great song and dance routine when he finds a good "parking spot" in the kitchen. He’s been getting a lot better with his manners (not always, but he’s trying!). His favorite new phrase is “excuse me” because he has learned that if he says it, then he’s allowed to interrupt any conversation he wants. The other day I took him and Mitch to Dariview to get ice cream after dinner and when he tasted it, he looked up at the lady in the window and said, “this is the best ice cream ever!”

Here are some new spring pics:

A visit from Annie and Mallie - Finn not in the mood for pictures

Finn playing on the deck by himself with his "animal families" (plastic animals of different sizes that we make into "mommies, daddies and babies". For some reason, this has been a favorite activity for months now.

I think this picture best sums up my current experience as a mom...lots of help in the kitchen! :)