Scrunchy-Face.

Scrunchy-face. It's what the kids are doing these days.

Nate officially got the ball rolling a few weeks ago and then kind of dropped it – right around the time Seth decided to pick up said ball and run with it. Of course, this made it interesting all over again for Nate.

There is never a bad time for scrunchy-face time, so I decided to get my not-so-dusty camera out at supper tonight to see if I could get some good scrunchy-face for you all.

Which I did.

But then things kind of veered off as things often do.

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves (while I add a few captions, of course).

It's scrunchy-face time! How cute is this? 

So cute everyone wants in on the action. At least temporarily...

*scrunch*

*scrunch*

Of course a distracted brother = an opportune moment for the other brother. In this case, there are some serious gears turning stage right.

Which started out something like this:

– Wheee! I is making scrunchy-face!

Which led to this:

– Wait... what?

 Which led to this:

– I is not liking 'dis, everyone!

 Which quickly led to this:

– Hands off my grilled cheese, bro!

Self-policing kids = a win for Mommy.

And no worries – things were quickly resolved when Nate suddenly realized he had plenty of grilled cheese on his own plate (even if poaching from your brother does make everything tastier). He was back to smiling in short order, and Seth was free to scrunch away in the background:

- L.

PS. A parting shot that didn't really fit in with the narrative since it happened earlier in the meal, but whatever is transpiring here... 

... bears an honorable mention at the very least.

This Might Be Part Of The Problem

Oh sure, my camera had a little dust on it from lack of use but I did finally drag it out of hibernation last week to take some pics of my babies.

See all the babies?

No?

Hmm... me either.

Try looking down.

Further down.

No, further.

Not quite there yet?

Are you looking straight down?

How about now? 

Hi, Mommy!

Ah, there we go. Found one baby. 

The other one seems to be rather close by also.

Hi, Mommy! What is you doing up there? We is down here.

And you know, despite the ever-growing vocabulary, sometimes words aren't really necessary. 

Is time to put the camera down now, Mommy.

If the posts and pics appear a bit thin around here lately, this might be part of the problem. 

- L.

Things We Know

At 17 months, we know:

Our colors:

Red, blue, green, orange, yellow and purple. And possibly white. Their favorite color to seek out seems to be blue, but their favorite color to say is "purple". They both love to say "pur-pah".

Our sounds:

All the requisite cow, horse, sheep, pig, goat, and pirate sounds. Yes, I said pirate. Everyone with a pirate ship should know how to say "yarrr!".

Enough said.

Also, courtesy of Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, we also know how to say:

Pop, pop.
Klopp, klopp.
Hoo hoo hoo.
Dibble dibble*.
Bzzz, bzzz.
Boom, boom, BOOM!

Our numbers: 

Nate and Seth have "one" and "two" down pat when stacking things. Also, they are freakishly good at stacking things. Blocks, toys, peas**... you name it. They are stacking it.

And whatever gets stacked on top of "one" and "two", be it three things or twelve things, the highlight is declaring "nine, ten!" when you are done.

Our alphabet: 

Or "abba-bet!" as the case may be. Upper-case abba-bet is no match for Nate and Seth. They are keenly interested in all things abba-bet and can tell you what every single letter is no matter how abstractly it's presented.

• • • • • • •

In case any of this sounds like a shameless brag, it's not. I'm not the mom with the flash-cards.

I enjoy reading to them. And building things with them. Sometimes we count, but more often we don't. We make noises. Often with purpose. Sometimes loudly.

We have fun basically.

And I have no idea what's going on over here lately, but I do know I'm outnumbered because I can also count to one and two.

And quite frankly, I'm a little bit scared.

- L.

*Dibble, dibble appears to be unrelated to this, although it seemed like a likely suspect at first. "Dibba Day!" (whatever it means) is no dibble dibble, in case you were wondering.

**I bet you thought I was kidding, but I'm not. They have attempted to stack peas – with some actual success. Something I learned from my 17 month old boys: with a little bit of careful squishing along the way, it's not entirely impossible.

Conversations With Nate

The vocabulary around here is pretty much off the hook, but I'm only halfway convinced Nate and I had our first conversation today because I'm in heavy denial about how fast my babies are growing up I suppose. Still, here it is (just in case this was the real deal):

Nate: I know! I know! I KNOOOOOWWWW!

Mommy: Awhhh. What you know, Nate?

*pause*

Nate: I no know.

- L.

Oh, hi everyone.

– Oh, hi everyone. Is me Seth. I not impressed at all by our long absence here. 'Dis my not impressed face. I think it sum things up nicely. If 'dis not enough to convey my point, then maybe Nate convince you.

– Oh, hi everyone. Is me Nate. I also not impressed, but I go for tug-at-heartstrings approach instead of side-eye. I hope 'dis cover off our feelings on 'dis matter.

•   •   •   •   •

Mommy note: Er... well... it's been an unusually busy month for a lot of reasons – not the least of which is my guys kicking it into extra high-gear on pretty much every level. And since extra high-gear = extra weary mommy I'm just going to go with that.

I finally got a chance to pull out my camera earlier this week and noticed (sadly) that it actually had a fine layer of dust on it. Not good.

Fortunately, someone with a less dusty camera managed to snap the angst-laden/unimpressed shots of Nate and Seth earlier last month when Padrin and I celebrated a belated Kidney Day. And by someone, I mean Uncle P. who – in case you couldn't tell already – is more than handy with a camera. We are big fans of his work.

And despite the very serious nature of said photos, I can assure you a good time was had by all.

All this to say, I think we're back now. Posts might be a little spotty, but *fingers crossed* we're done with the hiatus.

- L. 

Scholarly Pursuits

Mommy note I: If you are a Gamma-Rita type that has a tendency to skip right to the photos, you should know there's also a new video up on our YouTube™ channel that ties in nicely with this post. The video and photos btw, were one of my many, many vain attempts to get a shot of Seth in his "Tuff Guy" onesie – and while I didn't capture what I set out to capture, I ended up with some pretty great material nonetheless. 

•   •   •   •   •

– What you has over there, Nate?
– Oh, just 'dis book I is strangely fixated on all of a sudden. Is about no logos. Or something. I be honest with you Seth, I not really sure what that mean but I know I is intent on figuring it out since I find 'dis book no matter where Mommy hide it. Seriously. I is like dog with bone over it. 

– That bigger answer than I expected Nate. "A book" would have covered my level of curiosities at 'dis point.
– Shhh! I is looking at especially riveting part. 

– Is very exciting all 'dis no logo business. Also is excuse to make interesting faces. 

– OK. I is over it for a minute so I finally think to ask... what has you over there Seth?
– Oh, I has a book too. 

– Does yours has pictures? Mine has pictures. Graphs too. *touch* *touch* *touch*
– No pictures. My book about psychos. 

– Ah, I look through psycho book already. You is welcome to it. Is no "No Logos" book. I just saying.

•   •   •   •   •

Mommy note II: You might have noticed there's a bookshelf in our kitchen. In case that seems a bit odd, I feel obliged to point out that we didn't always have a bookshelf there. We have always had a lot of books however and in the great room shuffle way back when, somehow it became necessary to relocate one of our many bookshelves kitchen-ward. There is actually a third bookshelf, but since it's on the upstairs floor (a Narnia like place the boys have yet to stumble upon) it hasn't appeared as a backdrop here. Yet.

Again, we have a lot of books. 

And quite possibly it's a genetic trait, since Nate and Seth seem pretty obsessed also. In hindsight, it's not surprising that Seth's first word was "book". Or that he has his own library*.

Since the boys were old enough to crawl out to the kitchen at mealtime, the kitchen bookshelf has always been the go-to spot. The fact that they are walking now only means they are able to get there faster. It's not uncommon for a book-raid to take place on any given day before I'm able to get everyone seated, but the fascination over the "No Logo" book is a bit baffling.

For the record when I took these photos and shot the video (seriously, go check it out), No Logo was solely Nate's territory, but Seth is in on the action now too.

It's become a bit of a game and I'll admit I play along because it's really pretty amusing. I really do hide the book, but only on the lower two shelves where they can reach it easily.

And reach it easily they do. I think I might need to start hiding it for real.

- L.

* Much like the Touching Finger, Seth's Library™ deserves it's own post. Which I will get to one of these days. You know, in all my spare time.

All I Wanted...

*sigh*

All I wanted was a reasonably clear picture of Nate and Seth sporting their new onesies so I could wax poetic for a moment about how fast they've grown and what big boys they are now and so forth. Sentimental Mommy stuff basically.

Of course, what I wanted to take a picture of and what I ended up with are two different things. Sadly, the real world tends to trump Fantasy-Mommy-World more often than not.

About the onesies: my 16 month old future basketball all-stars have been sporting size 24 months of late and with that in mind I only ordered them one apiece since I realize the days of onesie wearing are about over.

These will likely be the last ones I ever buy for them. Ever.

EVER.

*sniffle*

Since I didn't have much luck getting any clear pics of the boys wearing them, here they are sans babies for posterity:

And I think this picture sums up why I'm feeling so sentimental: 

Those white onesies are the very first clothing item they ever wore. Ever.

EVER. 

*lip tremble* *lump in throat* *eyes getting misty* 

My wee babies (who will always be my babies just to be clear) have turned into such little boys overnight.

*sob* 

•   •   •   •   •

While I take a much-needed moment to collect myself (and before Gamma Rita gives me a verbal beating for making her look at a pee-stick for the past week), please enjoy my attempts to take some pics of my guys sporting their new attire. For the record, this was my third attempt (as in three entirely separate occasions on three entirely different days) to take quality photos and these really were the very best of the lot. 

Really.

At least Seth finally sat still, even if you can't see the front of his new onesie. Nate however, was busy running laps pretty much the entire time.

Wheee!!!

The one moment where Nate paused long enough he's only slightly blurry: 

Hi Nate!

Seth on the other hand is displaying his enviable posture to the fullest. As far as anyone can tell, this is not an inherited trait from either side of the family (hence our envy). Let us hope he never learns of our slouchy ways. 

– 'Dis my best slouch everyone. Don't worry, I not go over to slouchy dark side full-time. Is only because I is tired of posing for pictures that keep getting photobombed. I is giving good face here and everything! *sigh* Is OK though. In the end, I not get mad. 

– I get even. 'Dis what being a tough guy all about!

- L.

PS. Of course the "Tuff Guy" onesie is Seth's! How could I resist? He is a pretty tough guy after all.