This is what Stephen and I have been calling the twins lately. They seriously act like untamed animals much of the time. Miss Shawn and Miss Heather say, “Oh, that’s just boys.” But I don’t recall Houston ever being such a crazy beast.
One theory is that it’s because there’s two of them. When one starts to act up, the other’s competitive nature kicks into full gear, and he must outdo his brother’s antics and/or screeches. Although, sometimes it’s just one heathen (usually Gabriel) causing the trouble. Another possibility is that because I often have them sequestered in their room, they behave in such a wild manner to get my attention.
However, their lack of civility persists when I’m playing with them on the floor, when they’re hanging out with the family in their pack-n-play, when we’re working with them in the living room, when we’re holding them, when we play in the back yard, and when I’m feeding them, so that’s probably a bum theory.
An adorable, yet oftentimes mischievous squinchy-eyed grin is Gabriel’s favorite expression these days.
They have made some improvements, though. For instance, their spitting during meal time has all but disappeared, and they’ve gotten much better about not pulling hair and earrings. Yet every advancement seems to be replaced by another brute behavior, such as Gabriel’s hard-fought battles during virtually every single diaper change — not a fun thing to deal with considering that he is one tenacious little boy, who delights in sticking his hands in doo-doo.
Another one of the twins’ favorite acts of rebellion is opening their dresser drawers and pulling out all the clothes — not a fun thing to fix repeatedly throughout the day, especially considering that the clean apparel often land in puddles of puke, adding to Mommy’s already significant laundry load.
I’m sure our efforts to quell such misbehaviors will eventually pay off. But for the time being, my hands are just overwhelmingly full. That is why there are barely any photos from November (click the photo of Zeke below to view the few moments I was able to capture). In the midst of intermittent household chaos, I simply didn’t have the time to snap the millions of cute shots that my darling kids offer up throughout the day.
SpongeBob SquarePants & Stephen Ezekiel: Separated @ birth?!?!?
I know one day when the boys are men, Stephen and I will reflect back on this time, laugh and say to ourselves, “I’m not sure how we did it, but those sure were the glory days.” Granny’s great, great Grandma Hettie said it best: “When they’re little, they’re under your feet. When they’re grown, they’re on your heart.”
Yep, things are challenging now, but at least I know where all my youngins are: safe and sound here at home with me. I can’t even imagine the anxiety parents feel when worrying about where their adolescents, tweens and teens are, what they’re doing and with whom they’re doing it. Guess I better get ready ’cause it’ll be here before we know it, and I’ll be pining for the barbarian-baby days!
A few recent twin highlights:
- The boys finally started sleeping in separate cribs in late November and are loving the extra space. (Thanks to Miss Shawn for lending us Dixie’s old crib.)
- Gabriel’s walking really took off over Thanksgiving at Granny’s house and improves by leaps and bounds every day.
- It sounded like Gabriel said “Heather” today when she was here helping out.
- Zeke enjoys waiving. In fact, he waived to Heather through the window when she left, and it even sounded like he said “bye.”
Houston, giving his version of a “thumbs up,” settles in for potty time w/ some reading material.
Houston is currently into:
- Knock-knock jokes;
- Building blocks;
- Mr. Potato Head;
- Helping Mommy unload the dishwasher and load the washing machine;
- Playing peek-a-boo with Gabriel and Zeke;
- The shows “Super Why,” Pingu” and the “Iron Man” cartoon;
- His beloved Ho-Ho blanket;
- Christmas DVDs “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer;”
- Occasionally beating up brothers;
- Doing pretty much anything with Daddy;
- And, of course, giving Mommy a hard time.
Unfortunately, Houston is no longer into using the potty. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
The picture of Zeke and Sponge Bob is amazing; it is too cute for words. It must be nice for the twins to have their own beds; it is so nice of Shawn. You are so lucky to have such a nice neighbor. The boys are really acting like boys, and children in general, have acted from the beginning of time. And it has always exasperated mom’s and dad’s because our expectations might not be fufilled to our liking. The most difficult job in the entire world is rearing children.
But the most rewarding, although at this point you may not be able to fully comprehend. Good days, bad days; that’s the way it goes, even when they are adults. All the little things like waving, smiling, showing their pearly whites, it tugs at your heart. Enjoy them. And eventually Houston will want to use the potty. When the twins get old enough they will probably be easier to train because they’ll see big brother and want to emulate. Hang in there!