February

Here we are: the last day of February and I’ve been a pathetic blogger this month and taken very few pictures (AND I didn’t even finish this on the last day of February, sigh). Not that I haven’t written an update on the boys about ten times in my head. Here’s my attempt to put some of those memories into words:

-If I would have written this update last month, I would have focused on how bossy Sam has become. However, since it’s a month later, I’ll write on how bossy Seth is. Yep, they did a complete switch in a span of a month. So let’s just say whoever is “the boss” of the month spends their days making sure their brother is in line. Nothing is built without “the bosses” approval and the “the boss” loves to tattle to mommy whenever “the understudy” is doing something out of line. In January, Sam seemed much more aggressive; February, Seth is having a hard time keeping his hands off Sam.

-It is so fascinating parenting two boys of exactly the same intellect level. Their rhetoric and arguments with one another are exactly the same—no one has an advantage. I find I’m spending a lot of my words saying things like: “Mind your own business,” “You can’t control what he’s doing, but you can control your own body,” “That’s his choice.” But having them be at the same level has a lot of positive aspects as well; they are the closest of buds. Their humor is exactly the same, so they laugh A LOT. Daily while they are at rest, I enter their room to find them sitting side by side reading to one another. So special!

-After watching a couple of Uncle Levi’s basketball tournaments this past month, Seth and Sam are spending lots of time playing basketball. Sam is obsessed with learning to dribble and is getting pretty good for his age. Seth loves to dunk it hard. They love fouling, getting fouled and shooting free throws.

-They are starting to be a bit less shy, meaning that they warm up to extended family members quicker than they used to. Seth has even said, “Hey,” to a couple of people walking by (a first for them!)

-They have been struggling with fear lately, which is very sad to watch as a parent. Sam struggles especially and doesn’t like to venture into the back of the house by himself at night. Most of the time, Seth will go with him and help him to be brave as they put their “binoculars" (their fingers around their eyes) and look for monsters (all their idea). Along with fear has came bad dreams and waking up in the night. Yuck.

-One of Seth and Sam’s best traits is that they are VERY helpful. I’m so thankful for their willingness to help! Ben has been having them help him unload and load the dishwasher after dinner and they LOVE it. When I do yard work, they are right by my side raking, pulling weeds, and digging.

-They still are asking thousands of questions every day. Especially Sam. Oh so many questions.

-Seth is good for one at least one special snuggle a day. I love it.

-I started going through a couple preschool workbooks with them last week. They LOVED it and would have blown through the entire book in one sitting if I would have let them. It was very fascinating for me to watch them exhibit very different learning styles. Sam’s tougher to teach initially; he quickly gets frustrated and will cry if doesn’t understand. However, he’s SO determined that once he learns something, he will obsess about perfecting it. Seth is a quieter and more steady learner. While Sam will blow through pages in a workbook somewhat sloppily, Seth doesn’t worry about speed and traces those lines perfectly.

Sam set up this “drum set” all by himself. Check out the cowboy hat on the vacuum: it’s a cymbal!  Sam keeps asking me when we’re gonna get a real drum set. I tell him to ask his daddy. I made Seth pose for me this day because he was “camo man.” Unfortunately his cheesy smile has not improved.

-The boys and I spent a few hours at the zoo this week (I love having a zoo pass!). It was a slightly rainy day, but those days are perfect for us. There are plenty of inside exhibits to spend our time at, and not many people brave the zoo on rainy days, so Sam and Seth have the run of the place.

The polar bear cave (Seth, Sam) Watching the Chimps (Seth, Sam) Baby elephant Lily was lots of fun to watch! Sam and the red tree frog The giraffes were walking back and forth—I was in awe of watching their long limbs work! “Mama, what’s that giraffe doing to the other one?” My reply, “I think it’s a mama giraffe prodding her kid along…like I do to you!”