Life Sitting...is Just Boring!

Bath time has taken on a new flavor. There is no sitting...only for a break to rest the legs. It isn't surprising that they get cold and shiver!

My friend let us borrow her walker that is nearly identical to the one they got for their birthday. This means a lot less fighting. It was so fun to watch them walking (and riding) together. 

The only problem with the walking is that I am constantly having to turn them around when they run into the wall or a piece of furniture. How exactly do you teach them to steer? When they are both walking, I think I am moving one of them every 10 seconds or less.  They love it, so it's just too cute.

Ethan also has tried to 'ride' Syd like a horse lately. For some strange reason, Sydney doesn't think it's fun to be a horse. I should count how many times in one day I am pulling him off her back while she drags him around the kitchen crawling. Poor Sydney.

Laundry Baskets

On Thursday I got a very exciting thing in the mail...my real estate license!  After starting classes in July of last year, I was grateful to bring that chapter of life to a close with that piece of paper.  It sounds so odd at first and many family members and friends have asked me what I plan to do with it. I have been working for a real estate company (started at the front desk) since 2008.  This isn't your traditional real estate office--instead they specialize in investment real estate.  While Ethan and Sydney nap and when Doug comes home at night, I am making phone calls to investors (mostly in California) interested in purchasing investment properties. 

The next question I hear is: "Isn't real estate a tough place to work right now?"  While it may be tough to sell your home, it's great when you're an investor because property is on a great sale (and I love a good sale!). I am mostly selling developed lots in different areas across the country and am currently picking a lot for Doug and I to purchase inside a Roth IRA.  I am really excited.  Maybe someday we'll be able to help Ethan and Sydney with college expenses or something with the profit we make from selling it...or we may just use it for retirement.  We'll see how lucky they are.

Until that time, I am working to teach them to say "hi".  I think that Ethan is actually saying it as of Thursday's bath time.  I'm not entirely sure, but it definitely sounds like it!  They don't chase balls around the kitchen nearly as much lately.  They have found something more exciting.  It is the new game called the "push-the-laundry-basket-around-the-kitchen-until-you-run-into-something" game.  They are really good at it and are learning teamwork from a very young age. 

Ethan especially enjoys the occasional pat on the head or brush of his arm from his sister.  I caught her touching his head yesterday--wish you could hear the giggle he lets out every time she is affectionate in any way.

We gave them snack containers for their birthday and they are just barely figuring out how to get the food out of them.  It must seem like I am torturing them giving them a container where they see their favorite snacks, but can't seem to eat them.  Sydney just puts her mouth on it and tries to eat.

I think I am picking up every DVD we own and putting back on the shelf about 6 times per day lately.  They think it is amazing how the cases are so shiny with pictures and how they all go crashing to the floor.  Lately, they pull themselves to standing using anything--even a bare wall.  We're about to reach a whole new level of child-proofing in this house.



Slurping

I love Groupon. Back around November, I purchased 4 Groupons for Blurb.com to 'slurp' my blog into books. I knew I would want one for Ethan as well as for Sydney and a copy for us. Today, my books arrived in the mail. I was too excited--I had to show a few photos (while E&S are eating yet another saltine cracker...their favorite).

We love it! What did each 156-page book cost me, you ask? (If you didn't, pretend you did.)  $27 each!  Without the Groupon I purchased, it would have cost me $67.  That is still a GREAT deal compared to "scrapbooking" and buying a binder and paper.  I think my book has about 400 photos included.  Highly recommend it.  (Doug thinks I should contact them for a giveaway for this testimonial...maybe I should?)  Tomorrow I'll receive the book I made of our newlywed stage. It spans 2006-2009!  So excited.

Food Fight

Ethan and Sydney have declared a food fight.  Three weeks ago they opened their mouth right away when I fed them...anything.  There were very few things they wouldn't eat.  Well, now I find myself jumping up and down (literally), making faces, and giving them toys just so they'll be distracted and take one bite. 

Yesterday, I was eating one of my favorite foods, falafel, for lunch.  They were reaching for it while I set them up to eat so I thought, "why not let them try it?"  I didn't think they'd like it.  It's a whole wheat pita with hummus (homemade by me), guacamole, and falafel (chickpea and veggie mix with some pretty strong seasoning for kids) sprinkled on top.  There is also a salad and dressing on top of that (but I scraped that off to let them try it).  Doug and I love it!  We had it at my friend's house for dinner this past summer.  Well, they LOVED it!  In fact, while I write this, they are eating it again for lunch today.  Who would've thought??

You will notice in the photo what the whole pita I made them today is half-way gone.  They've eaten that much in just 2 days (plus some of mine).  Amazing.

We're pretty sure that they are starting to want more solid foods that they can feed themselves vs my pureed food I've been giving them for months.  I am starting to get more creative.  What used to be sweet potatoes mixed with applesauce has become: sweet potatoes, apple sauce, pure maple syrup, and Earth Balance (butter alternative)...just holding the marshmallows. 

Playing INSIDE the Box

Last night Sydney was reaching into their toy box for a specific toy.  She has gotten into this habit and has fallen in 2-3 times.  You can imagine her legs kicking in the air.  It's hard not to laugh, but I still feel bad.  I decided to pick her up and try to have her show me what she wanted.  When that didn't work, I moved some toys around and put her in with all the toys.  Ethan was acting jealous as he tried to do the same, so I thought they could have a party for a bit.  Doug asked me, "what do you think the bottom of that is made of? Do you think it will hold their weight?"  To which I responded, "I don't know."  I then continued watching them play.  They loved it!  I now know a cure for some grumpiness (not mine, theirs...but I guess it could cure both)! 

On a side note, when Doug came home with this walker for their birthday present, I didn't think they would be able to use it for a little while.  Boy was I proved wrong.  They love it and have already learned to take some steps.  This spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E for me.  I think I need to tell Doug to stop tutoring them in the fine art of walking. 

Doug's sister, Michelle, gave E&S a Valentine's Day present on Friday. Sydney especially loves it.  It is a book with a finger puppet in the back.  She thinks it's crazy that it moves all over the place.  Michelle is very thoughtful in the gifts she picks out for them.  Thanks Michelle!