We celebrated George and Clara's half birthday yesterday. Two and a half! Wow! These two toddlers sure are looking more and more like kids as the days pass by. Time flies when you're having fun...or chasing toddlers.
Clara weighs 32 lbs and is 36.5 inches tall. Clara is still Mommy's little firecracker. She has a big personality. She makes funny faces, imitates you, and seems to relish in the giggles she gets in return. Clara also wants to do things HER way. She is a strong willed little thing and often says, "I DO IT!" loudly. I love this strong independent streak in my little girl but it has also pushed me to find even more patience throughout the day. Clara is our more hesitant child and can get scared in new situations.
I've noticed this more at her swimming lessons. She will yell, "Don't
do it!" at her swim teacher if she is feeling uncomfortable. I somewhat cringe as she screams her little head off because the rule is she has to try everything once with Ms. Dawn. Clara is also very sweet and nurturing. She is the best Mommy to her baby dolls and tries to help her brother whenever she can. If he falls, she hugs him, kisses him, and asks if he is okay. Another thing I adore is how she becomes so excited when Mommy does something she likes. For example, if I tell her we are eating pasta (aka "noodles") for dinner (her absolute favorite) or if I tell her we are going on a play date with her friends she will exclaim, "Oh! Thank you Mommy!" It is possibly the sweetest thing ever.
Clara can count to 10, knows some colors, and sings most of the ABC's. She loves to color, paint, sing, and dance. I love this creative streak I see in her. She talks in full sentences and I can now understand most of the words she uses. She is able to help dress herself although she gets frustrated with shirts and socks. We are starting to potty train. Her interest in the whole thing ebbs and flows. Even though I ask if she wants to sit on the potty many times each day, I am not pushing her and have decided to follow her cues. It will happen when she is ready. Clara is the best little eater and will try anything you put in front of her. She likes to be reassured that she is a "big" girl and is already asking to do things like drive Mommy's car!!! Although she wasn't when she was a baby, she has become a good sleeper. She sleeps eleven hours at night and takes an hour and a half nap in the afternoon. Clara still enjoys going to school and loves her teachers. She loves spending time with friends and finds social situations easy.
George weighs 32 lbs and is 37 inches tall. George is a rambunctious, rough and tumble, full of energy boy. He loves to ball play. He is great at throwing (his aim needs some work) and kicking balls. He swings a golf club pretty well and has taken to swimming with relative ease. I've heard George yell, "I have feet! Run feet!" and also "I do exercise!" He will run in circles or back and forth on driveway for a long time. When we go on our greenbelt adventures, he is often jogging ahead of us red faced and sweaty. George loves bugs, lizards, and animals. He wants to hold or touch them all. He is definitely ALL BOY! George also loves to watch Disney movies. He can pay attention for about 30 minutes at a time. We restrict how much he sits in front of the TV, but he is always asking, "Watch movie Mommy?" I wonder if we have a little movie buff on our hands.
George can count to 12, sing most ABCs, and knows some colors. He talks non-stop and to our surprise is more of a chatterbox then his sister. He has an amazing memory and recalls things that he did weeks or months ago. He definitely gets this trait from his Dad, not his Mom! George is a picky eater and won't touch anything that is green. He is selective in the meat he eats too and prefers carbs to anything else. We are slowly broadening his horizons by always putting these things on his plate and asking him to try it. He usually will but then won't take a second bite. We sometimes end up in negotiations at dinner time about how much he has to eat to earn dessert. George likes to help dress himself and can do most things except his shirt. George is a potty training rockstar! He is doing so well and will tell me when he has to go potty. He yells, "I did it!" when he is finished and seems so proud of himself. We will soon do his boot camp weekend where we trade his pulls ups for big boy underwear. He is very excited about this and is already asking for the kind with spiderman. George is still a great sleeper. He too sleeps eleven hours at night and takes an hour and a half nap in the afternoon. George enjoys going to school but sometimes clings to me before I leave him in the morning. He takes some time to warm up to social situations but eventually jumps right in with the other kiddos. George is still a "guys guy" and prefers Daddy, Pop-pop, and Uncle Jay over all the ladies in his life.
The thing John and I love the most is the relationship they are building each day. They are best buds. They are rarely apart but if they are then they constantly ask about their twin. They check in with each other, love on each other, and have so much fun with each other. I look forward to watching this relationship grow as they age. It is something I know they will value for life.
To celebrate their half birthday, Grammy Quinn invited us over for some swimming, dinner, and GiGi's cupcakes. We had a fun night celebrating yet another milestone for our two sweet monkeys. They bless our days!
Happy Half Birthday My Sweet Monkeys!!!!!! We love you!!!!
