Life with Jack & Zach: Happy 23 Months!

Aww...my love bugs are 1 month away from turning "2"; how exciting! [drying eyes]

Since they have turned "1", they started walking, took their first plane ride, testing, got all their teeth in, talking, well, you know, just being boys. Since they have turned 1, they have definitely started to act like boys, and personalities really started to take shape. I will never forget when I took the boys to the doctor at about 15 months. I swore they had ear infections. They had EIs only once and it was shortly before their 1st birthday. Other than that they have never been sick [with the exception of a little head cold]...knock on wood. The doctor checked them over and said clean bill of health...WHAT! was my reaction, no they have been so cranky, not sleeping great, not eating, so they have to have EIs. :) Well, you know, even though they are not 2, they could be experiencing terrible two's. Great! Thinking as I pack them up and head back home. All I could remember was that smirk on his face.

Nonetheless, we have had a year of rollercoaster rides....lots of ups and downs. But hey, to be expected when your babies reach the stage of becoming toddlers. All I have to say is beware! :) Hang on tight and enjoy the ride. HeeHee. The boys bring so much joy to our lives even though there are many days when you say, really, now, c'mon...give me a break. Trust me...it will happen...for those just entering the toddler stage. Just wait and see...heehee. I will say the older they get it seems like the LESS time we have to get anything done. When we do have down time, all we can do is just sit and relax, which feels great after a long day at work and a fun filled evening, wink wink. I will always enjoy watching them sleep as I check on them before I go to bed. Heaven.

Our situation is slightly unique in that we do have multiples and boy oh boy do they love the infamous game of Monkey See Monkey Do [I know I have mentioned this before] and it always is when they should not be doing something...AHEM! However, they are the most loving boys on earth and have a heart of gold. I have a classic story to share. So lately, yes, terrible two's are upon us and fortunately it is not every day. We will see the disturbing side about once a week that includes a MAJOR MELT DOWN for about a half hour, no explanation. It might be that Zach wants Jack's bed but Jack is content being in his bed and Zach will put up a fight. Yep, true story from the other night. Zach cried for a whole hour because he was absolutely right that he should be sleeping in his brother's crib. When I kindly asked Jack to switch beds with his brother he just sat up in his bed, grabbed his stuffed animals and shook his head "NO" and laid back down. Okay...well there you have it. However, a couple nights before Jack felt bad for Zach so he picked up all of his things [pillow, stuffed animals, blankey] in his bed and said "up". He allowed Zach to take his bed for the night; sweet brother. We then have moments when Zach gets frustrated and if Jack is having too much fun and is not sharing, then Zach gets mad, although I would like to insert a 6 letter word that starts with "P" and ends with "D" and begins to bite down; yep, a biter in the house. Jack will have a tatoo of Zach's teeth from time to time. So, folks, we are a household that is not white picket fences and red roses; we are what people might consider "normal". :)

The boys love being each other's brother and show it in many different ways. I had to start implementing time out. They do know what it is, they already know the counting of 1, 2, 3 (I say it with force and only on occasion I get to 3), and they know what it means when toys are taken away; so I think we have done good setting the base. In any event, I have had to use time out a lot this week. :( What that means is I sit with them in my lap because obvisously they will not sit still. The goal is for them to realize what they did. I use the hall that leads us to the garage because there is really nothing there and we sit facing the wall. I tell them time out as we sit down. Zach will try to squirm his way out, but I hold him close to me and I continue telling him that it is not nice to bite, biting hurts, or if it is Jack, taking toys away is not nice, it hurts people's feelings, etc...you get it...whatever the situation is. So, the boys are so in tune when someone is hurt [they really are sensing emotion] that when they say sorry they pat you on top of the head and give you a kiss. [it is sweet]. Last weekend I had Zach in time out for biting Jack. As I was holding Zach, Jack walked over to pat Zach on the head (basically saying it is okay, sorry). Then, yep...you will laugh, Jack pats me on the head because he thinks Mommy is in time out. :) HA! All I can say is thank you, please go play. Zach then looks at me and gives me a kiss and then I tell him to say sorry to Jack. So he walks over, pats his brother on the head and they both kiss. They truly do LOVE each other and we are so fortunate the boys care about each other; they are best friends. We understand that they can not express themselves when they are mad/frustrated, or even though they know better, they really do not comprehend some of life's lessons.

Every day is not a walk in the park, but each day we learn how to be parents, each day we walk in the front door from work taking a deep breath, each day we smile, and each day we are glad to be parents to such wonderful boys! Jack and Zach, we LOVE you SO much and are really proud of you in so many ways! Happy 23 months. We are looking forward to our celebration next month.

Here are some pics of the boys over the past month. Enjoy!