A year and a half!!!!!!

It is hard to believe that these two are a  year and a half already.  They have brightened my days and our parenting adventure keeps getting better and better.  I honestly can't remember what life was like before them.  Next to marrying their Daddy, they are the best things that have ever happened to me.  I adore my funny sweet George and my beautifully fiesty Clara!

George:

We had George's 18 month doctor's appointment recently.  He is in the 50th percentile across the board.  Completely average for his age!  He is 32.5 inches tall and weighs 26.1 pounds.  The doctor said he looked wonderful.

George loves to spend his time outdoors.  He plays with his push toys on the driveway or rides in his little tykes car.  He swings his plastic golf clubs and plays in any dirt he can find.  We definitely have an outdoors kind of kid!  Right now he is very much into throwing things inside and out.  He tosses blocks, dolls, balls, and even books.  While we are trying to shape this into an outside behavior only, I am learning to duck out of the way quickly!!! 

George has become a master barterer.  One of the beautiful things about having multiples is they learn to share...well...from the very beginning.  We are constantly working on taking turns with toys.  George figured out that if he presents Clara with a toy that is "better" then the one she has (and he wants) then she may abandon the "wanted" toy for whatever he is offering.  I crack up while I watch him take toy after toy out of the box and offer it to Clara.  He is pretty good at it but sometimes he just has to wait.  I can't wait to see what his negotiating skills are like when he grows up!

George is adding words to his growing vocabulary.  This month he has mastered the word cookie (one of his favorite things to eat).  When asked, he will now tell me the sounds that animals make instead of just repeating them.  He will respond correctly to bird, cow, monkey, lion, dog, and duck.  George also referred to Clara as Sissy this month which melted my heart.

 

On my 18 month birthday!

 

It finally rained in Houston!  George loved walking around in the rain.

I learned how to water Daddy's roses.  I am such a helper!

Clara:

We had Clara's 18 month doctor's appointment recently as well.  She is 32 inches tall which is in the 60th percentile and 25.6 pounds which is in the 70th percentile.  Clara loved her new doctor.  She went right to her and was climbing in her lap when the doctor was speaking with us.  Our little social butterfly.   The doctor said she looked perfect.

Clara is very interested in puzzles right now.  We have about five different puzzles and she is constantly taking the pieces out then putting them back.  She is really good at doing it too.  I was impressed with her ability and understanding to match the piece with the picture and also how to move or turn the piece so it will fit.  Smarty pants!  Clara is an animal lover.  On our morning walks, she becomes so excited when she sees dogs, birds, and squirrels.  She usually squeals with delight and then waves at the animal.  If it is a bird and it flies away, then she will flap her "wings" while it flies off.  So adorable!

Clara is also adding words to her growing vocabulary.  When I ask her to, Clara will say thank you after I give or do something for her.   She will also repeat please which sounds a little more like peas.  She is adding a lot of people to her word list.  The best yet...Momma!  I know this sounds crazy but she hasn't called me anything.  Until now!  She has been saying Dada forever.  I think since I am always around she figures why do I need to call her anything! :)  Needless to say I am so excited that she calls out to me to get my attention.  It's the best sound ever!  She also is trying to say George which sounds a little more like the word judge.  So sweet!  She started referring to my Dad as Pa-Pa and recently called my Mom Ga-ma.  Clara seems to call John's Dad Ga-Ga.  Exciting that she is finally calling people by name.

 On my 18 month old birthday

 It started to rain and she loved it!  Playing in the rain.

 Backyard fun...pirate water table.

Mommy's Favorite Moments of the Month:

-John Travolta was on TV dancing.  Clara looked up from her snack and yelled, "Dada!"  Not quite Clarabear.  Not quite.
-After nap John asked George, "What did you dream about buddy?"  George quickly and clearly responded, "Juice."  Teehee!
-When I get ready for the day the twins generally wreak havoc on our bathroom.  One day both twins were sitting in my closet looking in the mirror.  It got pretty quiet in there (never a good sign).  All of the sudden, George started pulling all of my shirts off the hangers.  As I was correcting him, Clara ran out of the closet.  As I was cleaning up the mess, George quickly followed.  Once I was done, I went looking for them.   I was surprised to find the twins playing in the powder room toilet together!!! So gross and so planned by my two conspiring kiddos!!!!  Can someone tell me why toilets are so interesting to toddlers?!?!  Yuck!!