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Unlike this time last year, today turned out to be a perfectly ordinary day in all the best ways – including two toddlers who appear to be stymied by snow even though this is not the first time we've seen snow this year (because toddlers are awesome like that):

– What is this... stuff?

– It's a brave new world everyone!

We made some funny faces:

And when we weren't busy being hooligans we built things:

– Mommy not being entirely honest with you here.
– It's true we are building things, yes.

– But we never stop being hooligans.
– No. Never. I'm destroying the couch right now for example.

There was even a yummy homemade cake, thanks to Gamma Rita:

Really, it was very yummy. And messy:

Also, my boys know what to do with cake now. How perfectly ordinary is that? 

- L.

PS. I don't like telling stories out of order, but these last two pics are timely since it's my birthday after all. Seth proved a bit elusive this year when it came to taking photos over the holidays – and even though he wasn't especially thrilled by my ambush today, I at least have a picture (or two) of the two of us together:

And at least one of us was happy about it: 

The "Big" Gift

Just so you don't think all Nate and Seth got for their birthday were a couple of haircuts (spectacular though they may be!), we decided to give them their "big gift" after their nap.

I took a "before" picture for posterity, even though my expectations for wild abandon were set fairly low. The boxes are full of all the requisite accoutrements a couple of bachelors would need for their first kitchen (and then some):

Then it was time to release the hounds. Much to my surprise, Seth went straight for the presents. 

And for the first time ever, there was some legit paper-tearing at the OP – books and magazines aside, of course. I mean they were tearing paper that I actually wanted them to be tearing. Joy! 

Nate found the bow especially exciting.

Beholds my mighty bow, everyone!

There was even a hint of wild abandon:

Setting up house. Deciding where the ice cream and apples go for the first time is serious business!

Chef Nate hard at work:

Seth taking a call on the kitchen phone – probably from one of those cuties he's always busy smiling at:  

And just in case it wasn't clear, the "big gift" was a hit! I think the face on this happy boy sums it up perfectly: 

The party is all set for tomorrow at noon and I'm still hoping to have my babies down for their nap around 2.

Overly ambitious? Most definitely.

But wish us all luck anyway.

- L.

8:54 AM

Seth at 8:54 AM, February 01, 2012. Exactly two years old.

• • • • • • •

For Seth, my last:

Two years ago at this exact time you were born. Your brother was the first one I heard cry, but you were the first one I saw and I always liked that it turned out that way, so that you both got to be first right from the start.

At two, you love to barrel through life. There is no around with you – you have always been my little bulldozer. You are physically confident and incredibly strong, despite a perpetual case of the skinny. I've made reference to you along the way as a "tough guy"– which you certainly are when it comes to physical challenges – and as much as I hate to blow your cover it's time to set the record straight for those who don't know you as well as I do and say that the "tough guy" stuff ends there since your insides are about as tough as a bag of kittens.

As it turns out, you are a pretty sensitive guy.

You aren't as big on kisses as your brother, but you sure do love your cuddles. Your Gamma Rita said it best when she said you fit like a puzzle piece. You really do.

While your brother might take the title of chatterbug, you have your own way with words and have an amusing way of alternating between your sweet toddler voice and resembling a drill sargeant. Home just wouldn't be "Hum!" without you.

Your favorite games to play with Mommy are "hiding" and "chasing". You would do both all day if I had the stamina for it.

Your favorite things to do include building things, the proper order of things (within the general chaos of course), puzzles of all kinds, "abbets" and "numbahs" (especially those bath toys!), managing your "library", and anything tactile. You love soft things on your face especially.

Flirting with cuties is also pretty high on your list of favorites. You have a swagger and a look that no one at two has a right to have, but you've pretty much had both since you were born.

You like to laugh, but love your own jokes best and are rather good at coming up with them.

You are ridiculously ticklish.

Your very favorite things are Mommy's eyeglasses, your aloo-shoes* and your combat boots. Your favorite color is also orange, you favor your right hand and I think your favorite number is 20 ("twen-twee!"). You love helping Mommy and I love that you love that.

You are the purveyor of leggy-bugs*, uh-oh's* and things that "go"*, as well as co-conspirator in the great tse-tse capers*.

Big cuddles to you today, Seth. I hope you have the happiest of happy birthdays.

All my love,
Mommy

8:53 AM

Nate at 8:53 AM, February 01, 2012. Exactly two years old.

• • • • • • •

For Nate, my first:

Two years ago at this exact time you were born. A year ago, you were standing and crawling. You and your brother already had a few words under your belt, like "up" and "apple" and "baby". Of course, there were also some made-up words – the dibba-days and numma-nays – things I thought were baby babbles at the time, but have since come to realize are words that you and your brother have ascribed real meaning to. They are words all your own and since this post will likely be peppered with them I felt a need to caveat this part until I have time to write a proper post about cryptophasia, also known as twin-speak.

At two, you love to run and jump. You surprised me a little when you turned out to be my climber, but it turns out you're really quite good at it and haven't given me too many heart-stopping moments (yet).

You are also my chatterbug. Even though you and your brother are well-matched in terms of your vocabulary, you are more interested in talking and probably as a result articulate very well when you aren't upset.

I say that last part only because you have been known to enjoy the theatrics here and there. Everyone that knows you well will be at least a little surprised if drama isn't one of your favorite past-times in school. You've always excelled at making real tears, even when you aren't really very sad and you have a smile that lights up a room. I always know when you are really sad though because when it's legit you make Square-Mouth*. If you were playing poker, this would be your "tell".

At two, you are very much the life of the party and are the driving force behind most of the shenanigans and made-up games around here, although you share equally with your brother in the naming of things.

Your favorite game to play with Mommy is "10 kisses". You love to give kisses and are also down with your numbers, so it's a fun way to incorporate both. I know I love this game, but you invented it. Also, it tends to run way past 10 kisses for the most part, but that's just what we call it. So far your record is 44 kisses and you counted out each and every one of them (with only a little coaching once we'd hit 20).

Your favorite things to do (outside of 10 Kisses and whatever Seth is up to) include taking things apart to see how they work, finding things to climb, "abbets" and "numbahs", "reading" upside down, being upside down, and faking injuries for the kisses that are in it. You are the purveyor of bonks*, chewnits*, torn-its*, boons*, kai-ai's*, pah-guts* and wu-fu's*.

You still love your drum and swaying to a beat or song. You enjoy making art, but mostly on yourself.

Your favorite color is orange and your favorite number is 6. You still use both hands equally to do everything. You are learning to be a good helper and you especially enjoy helping with laundry. You surprised me last night when I asked for help tidying up the nursery so we could have stories before bed. It was kind of a first, but then you really love your stories – especially Snuggle Puppy, which oddly enough ends up with a big smooch at the end.

Big smooches to you today, Nate. I hope you have the happiest of happy birthdays.

All my love,
Mommy