Last week I took Levi outside to walk around. We wandered over to the courtyard across the street and found one of the neighbors on her porch with a baby squirrel. Oh my goodness, it was the cutest thing ever. I have never seen one that little. It had not yet developed a fear for humans and the minute it saw Levi it followed him everywhere. Levi did not like it a first. He ran away from it but that adorable little squirrel kept up. He would cry and fuss but the squirrel had no intention of leaving him. I was able to pet it and Levi felt reassured that it was okay. He touched it and then pulled up on the tail. I told him to be nice and gentle so he let go. We spent some time there and I was wishing that I had a camera handy. What a great picture opportunity and I was missing out. Levi kept wandering around with his little shadow. A couple of times the squirrel got a tad trampled under Levi's feet but it never left. I decided it was time to walk back home and it followed us across the road and up the sidewalk. Levi stopped to pick up a pinecone and offered it to the little fella in friendship. Unfortunately the pinecone was the same size as he was so he didn't accept it. We continued walking back and he eventually stopped following us. I was worried about him. Poor lil' thing. Where was his mama? Would he get too cold at night? I hope he didn't get attacked by any other creatures out there. We haven't seen him again. I was tempted to let Levi keep it and let it be his first pet. If we lived out in the country I would have made a nest in a box for him to live on the porch or in a garage. But since we live in a condo association I didn't think the neighbors would look to kindly on it. Too bad because it was so friendly. But then again it might not have lasted very long considering I have two cats that would make it their mission in life to escape the house and pounce on it.
Wednesday morning we were waiting for Doug to arrive and I told the boys that Papa was on his way. Levi perked up and said "papa, papa, papa!" It was the first time I had heard him say this. It was so great! He continued repeating it and walked back and forth to the door looking for him. He was so excited when Papa arrived. Such a sweet moment. Can we all say, "awe!"
Yesterday evening I made a "house" out of a large box. I cut a saloon style door and a couple windows out of it. This morning I showed it to the boys and they had an absolute blast playing in that box. In and out, in and out, in and out. They played so well together too. There was all kinds of giggles and laughter going on. It was great to have something new to stimulate their mind and senses. The toys they have get boring very fast and I need to find more ways of keeping them occupied and content.
My dear sweet William. I love him so much but he has his moments. He is currently perfecting the art of the temper tantrum. Sometimes he will get angry, for example when I tell him "no you cannot have my keys," and then he will start crying, throw himself on the floor and then roll around like a crocodile. It doesn't matter what is in his way he will roll over it and if he rolls into a wall or furniture he will get back up, move to another spot, throw himself down and start rolling again. If I go to another room he will get up and follow and continue his tantrum there. I have taken to ignoring him. I will not allow him to think that it is going to get any kind of reaction. He will eventually learn that his behavior is not effective in getting his way. He is very stubborn but he will figure it out even if it takes him a long time.
The other reason I do not react to his tantrums is that Levi is a little mimic of William and I don't want him to pick up on this behavior. Usually, when I am telling William "no" and make him stop whatever it is he shouldn't be doing then Levi will go and do the same thing. He could care less about what the action is but is looking for the same reaction. He is an attention seeker.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A Bushel and a Peck and a Hug Around the Neck.
Sweetest sight in the world. Seeing the boys standing there hugging each other. I told them to kiss and Levi kisses William on the cheek. Awe! Then he pets Williams head to say "nice brother." They stood there hugging for a full minute or more.
There is hope for them after all. Ha ha.
There is hope for them after all. Ha ha.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Ouchie
This morning the boys and I went outside for a walk. It didn't last very long. William started running and then tripped on the sidewalk. He scraped up his knee and it hurt. I carried him back to the house with Levi in tow. We washed up the knee and put a bright yellow bandaid on it. He wasn't so sure about it at first but soon enough he forgot and started playing.
Levi apparently noticed the difference. After a few minutes of playing he came up to me with a torn piece of pink paper that came from an envelope. He lifted up his shorts from over his left knee (the same knee that William was hurt) and then held the paper over his knee. He tried handing me the paper but then proceeded to put it on his knee again. I had to go get him a bandaid so he could look just like brother. It took him a couple minutes to decide he didn't like it. He came back to me whimpering until I took it back off.
Levi apparently noticed the difference. After a few minutes of playing he came up to me with a torn piece of pink paper that came from an envelope. He lifted up his shorts from over his left knee (the same knee that William was hurt) and then held the paper over his knee. He tried handing me the paper but then proceeded to put it on his knee again. I had to go get him a bandaid so he could look just like brother. It took him a couple minutes to decide he didn't like it. He came back to me whimpering until I took it back off.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Love these boys!
These kids are wonderful little sponges. They learn and comprehend so quickly. William may understand something sooner than Levi and vice versa. This makes me think they have different learning styles.
Four or five weeks ago we started (again) to learn sign language. I have a dvd designed for babies to learn. It is set to songs with images and small children making the signs. It easily captures the boys attention. In fact when I put it on they get so excited. After the first time William watched it he immediately started using the sign for "food." Now they both are asking to eat constantly. Bottomless pits are they. Their favorite words to sign beside food is cracker, banana and pacifier.
Yesterday, while we were waiting for Doug to come pick up the boys I told them that Papa was coming. Levi's eyes got really big and he started pointing and looking out the window for him. I started signing and saying "Papa." It finally clicked with him and he was signing it back to me. Every once it a while he would look at me and sign for Papa and say "eh-eh." I kept telling him that Papa would be here any minute.
I am amazed at how focused he can stay on one thing for so long. He was faithful in keeping watch for Doug for the ten minutes from when I told him until Doug arrived. Even when I tell him to go find a specific toy he stays focused on that as well. He looks and looks until he finds it and if he can't find it he will come get me and try pulling my hand so that I will help him.
William has been somewhat clingy to me the last couple of days. I'm not sure why. And no one else will do. He just wants his mama. This is very unlike him. Normally he doesn't make a fuss about who comforts him so as long as he gets held and snuggled by someone he loves when he needs it. This is very much a Levi personality. When he wants someone in particular no one else will do. It's crying and squirming and pushing until he gets the person he wants. It is quite the ordeal.
Levi FINALLY had another tooth pop through this week. That brings us up to 5. He sure is on his own time schedule. He keeps his mouth a private affair anyway. I have a hard time inspecting for new teeth because he closes up shop like a clam shell.
Have I mentioned how much I love these boys? With all my heart. They light up my life each and every day.
Four or five weeks ago we started (again) to learn sign language. I have a dvd designed for babies to learn. It is set to songs with images and small children making the signs. It easily captures the boys attention. In fact when I put it on they get so excited. After the first time William watched it he immediately started using the sign for "food." Now they both are asking to eat constantly. Bottomless pits are they. Their favorite words to sign beside food is cracker, banana and pacifier.
Yesterday, while we were waiting for Doug to come pick up the boys I told them that Papa was coming. Levi's eyes got really big and he started pointing and looking out the window for him. I started signing and saying "Papa." It finally clicked with him and he was signing it back to me. Every once it a while he would look at me and sign for Papa and say "eh-eh." I kept telling him that Papa would be here any minute.
I am amazed at how focused he can stay on one thing for so long. He was faithful in keeping watch for Doug for the ten minutes from when I told him until Doug arrived. Even when I tell him to go find a specific toy he stays focused on that as well. He looks and looks until he finds it and if he can't find it he will come get me and try pulling my hand so that I will help him.
William has been somewhat clingy to me the last couple of days. I'm not sure why. And no one else will do. He just wants his mama. This is very unlike him. Normally he doesn't make a fuss about who comforts him so as long as he gets held and snuggled by someone he loves when he needs it. This is very much a Levi personality. When he wants someone in particular no one else will do. It's crying and squirming and pushing until he gets the person he wants. It is quite the ordeal.
Levi FINALLY had another tooth pop through this week. That brings us up to 5. He sure is on his own time schedule. He keeps his mouth a private affair anyway. I have a hard time inspecting for new teeth because he closes up shop like a clam shell.
Have I mentioned how much I love these boys? With all my heart. They light up my life each and every day.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A Party Pooper
Yesterday morning while feeding the boys breakfast I smelled something funky coming from the direction of Levi's pants. After he ate I promptly escorted him to the changing table to correct said funk. Unfortunately when I unsnapped the pajamas and peeled them open there was evidence of insufficient coverage by the diaper. I cleaned him off and then decided he could air out for a minute or two while I rinsed off the pajamas and set them to soak in some oxiclean.
Levi likes to run free as a jay bird so I scooped up William and deposited him on the table. Once he was free of the diaper I opened the drawer to grab a new one and realized I did not refill the drawer. Oh nuts! So then there were two naked babies running amuck in the house. I went to open a new box and refill the diaper drawer. After accomplishing this task I grabbed Levi because he was closest to me and put his diaper and clothes on. Then I walked to the dinning room to grab William. As I stepped into the hall I saw his backside and a large ball of pooh falling to the floor. I gasped loudly which startled him and he turned to look at me but in doing so he squished some of the poop into the carpet. Crap.
I knelt down by him and picked up the poop so it would not become worse of a mess and showed it to him. I made the sign for "potty" in hopes of making the connection for him. Instead I got a blank stare. Oh well. I threw it in the toilet and then went to clean the carpet. Once that was done I again grabbed him and put him on the table. There was a mess all down his legs. So I was wiping him up and nearly had his diaper on when I happend to turn my head and see Levi step in another pile of poop. Double crap. How did I not see that before? When did...?
I knelt down to grab him and put him over my knee so he didn't make a bigger mess while I was stretched out holding onto William so he wouldn't try standing or rolling off the table. I managed to finish fastening the diaper while I was in this position. Somehow I got William off the table and grabbed the wipes to clean up Levi. While I cleaned Levi I had to play referee to the pile of poop and William. And finally I was able to clean the carpet again.
All of that and it wasn't even 8:30am. Thankfully the rest of the day wasn't that bad. Until I realized at bedtime that the cats had been shut out of their bathroom. Over eight hours without access to the litter boxes and I haven't found any surprises anywhere. That's pretty impressive. Speaking of impressive... all of this poopy drama left quite an impression in my mind and it had to follow me into my dreams. I found the place where the cats decided to "go" and I had to clean it all up. So glad it was only a dream.
Butt, (hee hee) I'm hoping for better dreams tonight.
Levi likes to run free as a jay bird so I scooped up William and deposited him on the table. Once he was free of the diaper I opened the drawer to grab a new one and realized I did not refill the drawer. Oh nuts! So then there were two naked babies running amuck in the house. I went to open a new box and refill the diaper drawer. After accomplishing this task I grabbed Levi because he was closest to me and put his diaper and clothes on. Then I walked to the dinning room to grab William. As I stepped into the hall I saw his backside and a large ball of pooh falling to the floor. I gasped loudly which startled him and he turned to look at me but in doing so he squished some of the poop into the carpet. Crap.
I knelt down by him and picked up the poop so it would not become worse of a mess and showed it to him. I made the sign for "potty" in hopes of making the connection for him. Instead I got a blank stare. Oh well. I threw it in the toilet and then went to clean the carpet. Once that was done I again grabbed him and put him on the table. There was a mess all down his legs. So I was wiping him up and nearly had his diaper on when I happend to turn my head and see Levi step in another pile of poop. Double crap. How did I not see that before? When did...?
I knelt down to grab him and put him over my knee so he didn't make a bigger mess while I was stretched out holding onto William so he wouldn't try standing or rolling off the table. I managed to finish fastening the diaper while I was in this position. Somehow I got William off the table and grabbed the wipes to clean up Levi. While I cleaned Levi I had to play referee to the pile of poop and William. And finally I was able to clean the carpet again.
All of that and it wasn't even 8:30am. Thankfully the rest of the day wasn't that bad. Until I realized at bedtime that the cats had been shut out of their bathroom. Over eight hours without access to the litter boxes and I haven't found any surprises anywhere. That's pretty impressive. Speaking of impressive... all of this poopy drama left quite an impression in my mind and it had to follow me into my dreams. I found the place where the cats decided to "go" and I had to clean it all up. So glad it was only a dream.
Butt, (hee hee) I'm hoping for better dreams tonight.
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