His blocks

He likes to stack them real high - just so he can knock them down.

Weekending

Wacky Wednesday

There's something magical about right now - this stage of life for our babes.

Do yourself a favor - if you have never spent a few hours with two 18 month olds, do so. Find a family member, a friend or a relative and ask if you can join them at the park or on a play date. Don't think of it as a hassle - oh, I have to watch the kids while they play sort of thing - think of it as a privilege.

An exclusive party and you have been invited.

They've got a lot going on in those big old soakin' all of it in little minds. And when Lane and Andrea get together they really bring out the best in one another.

Alone, they are each fun. As mamas, we love to brag about their daily accomplishments. New words learned, games played, songs sung, and how they make us laugh.

Sure, it makes us feel good to know that we are doing something right. Teaching them. But, talking about them is fun too. Just telling one another about our babes makes each other laugh. Gives us something to look forward to. Makes us strive to teach something new.



Oh, but when they are together, it is even better.

They love to show each other how to play.

Lane's favorite game - Ahh boo. His papa taught him at home but he showed Andrea at the park. One ducking down below the tops of the tires then popping up and shouting "Ahh, boo!" much to the other's delight.

There's the mimicking of funny faces and silly sounds. Words repeated. Lyrics to songs sung to one another.

Andrea's favorite Pop Goes the Weasel. Over and over she would sing to Lane in her sweet little voice, "POP goes the Wea Sel," until he would repeat it to her. Together, they snuggled at the bottom of the slide singing.







There's the desire to copy one another. Gone are the days of parallel play. Now, they follow each other. Watch what the other does. Try to do it at the same time.





They are so silly. And so lovable. Such a delight to watch. We stayed for two hours staring at their beautiful faces, laughing at their funny outtakes, listening to them giggle and talk to one another. Watching them copy cat each other.

Because if one has some juice - the other must have some too.



And anyone who does not think social playtime is important at this age is wrong. Dead wrong.

These two have been playing with each other since before they could crawl. They know each other well. It stared in the pack-and-play when Andrea would tickle Lane's toes.

It moved to parallel play - stacking blocks, throwing balls, enjoying walks and picnics. Playing while the other was there but not really playing with each other.

Then we took them bouncing.

And running through the weasel.

Their faces light up when they see each other.

They have seen the season's change and celebrated birthdays together.

Now they are friends.

Yesterday, as Andrea walked in to the playground, Lane threw his hands over his head and jumped with joy to see her. Instantly, they began to play.

And teach each other all the tricks they have learned since they saw each other last week - like walking up the slide.


They love one another.

Who doesn't love that?

Nudie suit

A few nights ago, Papa decided to pull out the paints I purchased and some plotting paper as Lane's evening activity. Together, the two of them covered their canvas with their own unique creation.

As they entertained themselves on the back deck, I could hear Papa name off each color to Lane and praise him on his excellent ability to carefully place the paintbrush into paint and then slide it on paper.



By the time my kitchen duties were complete, Lane's patience with painting with one color at a time was done as well. We offered him the opportunity to take one container of paint and do with it as he pleased.

He chose orange. And then we decided to let him be in charge.

He covered the plate with orange paint. He covered his canvas with orange paint. He covered himself with orange paint.



Then he covered his papa and his short hair. With all the laughter and fun outside, Marley could not help but be woken from her indoor slumber. She decided to join us too. And then she was promptly covered in paint by papa and given her Indian name ....

Marley Three Stripes

and Little Orange legs.

There's only one thing to do with a babe in this condition. Sprinkler. It was not as if he needed any coaxing to move his party down to the yard. So we left him bare butt and free to roam the waters.

Oh, and I just noticed a little sprinkle coming from a different direction. Funny, I caught that with the camera.

We let him roam wild until papa decided a babe should not have to wear a shirt while playing in the sprinkler in his own backyard. So, we stripped him down to his nudie suit.



And there's my dad. When he's hard at work and deep in concentration, the tongue comes out and no one can get in his way. He's passed it down to my babe. Papa calls it Lee N A.









And I'm awfully proud to say my son is a whole lot of his papa mixed with a bit of his Pops.

Even if Pops is going to totally disapprove of these photos of our babe in his nudie suit.