Relaxing Saturday

Anna and Alexander enjoyed hanging out with mom and dad Saturday morning. Mikel and I just sat or laid on the floor with the children playing and letting them crawl on us.

Nothing Cuter

It's such a delight to see the children learning new words and phrases and mimicking actions on a daily basis. After brushing her own teeth, Anna sometimes will brush her doll's snaggle-toothed mouth. The children also love buttons, which means they're naturally drawn to remotes and phones. Sometimes, it's not at all obvious that they know the difference. Here, Anna looks like she's having a very serious conversation through the remote control. I've mentioned some of her words and phrases in previous posts. Others are: "Morning," which actually sounds like Morning. "La Lu," which is supposed to be Love You. I guessed I've drilled into their brains so much that they need to leave their bedroom door open that even Alexander this week started saying "Oben." (He can say the word, but he doesn't get that I want the door to stay open.)

If Your Sister Jumped Off A Bridge, Would You?

In true younger sibling form, Alexander pretty much does everything his older sister does. When he saw me snapping a photo of her playing under the dining room table, he had to see what all the fuss was about.

Vacuum Phobia

Our son is deathly afraid of the vacuum. And yet, he's drawn to it. When I turned on our new vacuum cleaner the other day I kept waiting for Shreve to go nuts. Instead, I hear over the vacuum's motor a shriek from down the hallway. I look and see my son beet-red and wailing and tensing up all his muscles — in other words turning into the mini Incredible Hulk, just like he did at the doctor's office when they tried to draw blood last month. There was no consoling him. I held him and even brought him face to face with the contraption (in the off position) and touched it to show him it wouldn't hurt. I think he'll come around to it in time. Now, at least he'll voluntarily go up to it and touch it even though he's crying his eyeballs out. Mikel and I both jokingly wondered if he had some sort of bad experience with a vacuum cleaner while in the baby home.

It's Funny When It's Someone Else

Anna got a real kick out of placing her new doll in the timeout chair. She even went back over to the doll a few moments later and said "Sorry" (which comes out sounding like "Ahhry"), putting words in the doll's mute mouth no doubt.

Home Alone

Anna was home alone Thursday morning. At least, she was the only child home. Mikel took Alexander to the eye doctor, which meant Anna got some one-on-one bonding time with mom. We took Shreve for a walk and then came home and read books in peace. Anna loves books and is respectful of those with the paper pages, which are the kinds of books we have to keep away from her brother for fear they'll be shredded. Here is she, thumbing through a box of books and trying to read one of them. No doubt she looks so perplexed because the book is upside down. She also played with the imagination box and is particularly fond of the side with magnets. Our pediatrician thought Alexander might have amblyopia or a "lazy eye" ... but thankfully the eye specialist didn't see any problems and said it may appear that way because the bridge of his nose and face structure aren't fully developed.

Like Father Like Son

After the excitement of Christmas presents had subsided a bit, it was time for Mikel to watch some sort of sporting event (which could easily be mistaken here for the Towering Inferno). Alexander was game, too. At least for a few minutes.

Christmas Doggie

Santa didn't forget Shreve, who indulged mama and daddy by wearing this hat for a few minutes. Shreve received gourmet treats, a big bone and a honking goose, which made him feel like a working bird dog even though he's truly just an indoor lazybones. He's a good dog. And, as mama likes to tell him all the time, one gorgeous specimen of a canine.

Push Toys

Anna and Alexander received plenty of stuff to push around and around and around. They had fun just circling the dining room table, the living room coffee table, their beds and pushing up and down the hallway.

Doll Central

Santa set up Anna in style when in came to dolls. Here she is attempting to feed Dora a milk bottle and opening her baby Cabbage Patch Doll and the stroller in which to sit her new dolly. Alexander gave Dora's friend, Diego, a big hug.

Big Rider

One of Alexander's favorite gifts is this fun riding toy, which he hopped onto before all the wrapping paper had been torn off.

Traditions Carried On

The children's first Christmas in America began with two Sunday Christmas Eve services, which they didn't get much more out of than fun play time in the nursery. Just before a later-than-normal bedtime, we read the Christmas story. The next morning, Santa had arrived as promised. One might think that, having come from orphanages, the children would be overwhelmed with getting so spoiled all in one shot. But receiving so many cool gifts -- everything from toys with small figures to dolls and toys that push and ride -- didn't phase Anna and Alexander a bit. It just wasn't that difficult for them to open so many presents. Instead of gifts in stockings, Santa left a few gifts in pillowcases at the ends of their beds. It's an English tradition Mikel and his sister enjoyed at Christmas time as children, one which their mother brought across the big pond. Here, the children are shown having already dragged the goodie bags into the living room.

Little Mommy

Anna loves playing with her "potty" doll, which we keep only in the bathroom next to her little potty. She asks for "more" water in the baby's bottle (and even says "peez", for please). Though she's shown here feeding her doll, she's taken to drinking the water herself. In the true spirit of giving however, she'll often then hold her own milk-filled sippy cup up to the doll's mouth. She also sometimes cradles the doll, rocks and sings to it.

Who's This Guy?

On Christmas Eve we finally got around to letting the children meet Santa. Despite a little girl right before them boo hooing as soon as she was placed next to the guy in the strange red suit, Anna and Alexander posed nicely for a photo. As you can see they weren't overcome with excitement, just wonder. ... They were such good sports, Mama then treated them to another first, Candy Cane flavored ice-cream Dots! I think it was their first time at ice cream. As soon as I shoved the spoon full of cold treats into their mouths, they looked a bit shocked but quickly warmed up to the yummy flavor.

Storybook Island

We strolled the children through Storybook Island on Saturday night to see what must be thousands and thousands of Christmas lights. The island is actually a park (OK ... in the nighttime it appeared to possibly be enclosed by a moat) not far from our home which features outdoor play areas themed around storybook fantasy charcters from the Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, Peanuts, etc. ... Pretty cool.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Friends came over to the apartment the other day with gifts for the children, including this educational phone for Alexander, who knew just what to do with the receiver upon opening the gift.

Beauty Sleep

Anna sleeps more heavily than her brother (didn't even awake after I flashed a bulb at her a few times). Must be why she's so pretty. She loves to sleep with a book, which is kind of cool -- though we try to put up all the toys at nap time and bed time so as not to distract them.

Sibling Love

I've been teaching the children how to give kisses, and they're more than happy to give some sugar when prompted. (And, sweetly, even sometimes when not asked.) Alexander is still learning how to properly pucker.

Decorating the tree

With one week to go, we finally got a Christmas tree for the children. Anna's favorite phrase the past month: "Oooh Ligh" (pretty close to lights). (Kind of off topic but one night when the children were supposed to be sleeping I heard "Oooh Ligh" in that cute little-girl voice coming from their room. I opened the door and Anna was looking out the window and talking about the parking lot lamps.)

Double Take

We had another playdate on Monday. Here is Alexander and his friend, Caleb, who is, though taller, actually about three months younger. They both have about the same colored hair with a few curls in the back and just happened to be wearing orange shirts. Caleb's mom, Mindy, and Fran had to do a few double takes when looking at them from behind.

Stair Masters

Mama's real glad the children can go up the stairs on their own. Especially since we have to go up two flights of stairs when we park in the garage, which is pretty much always. Anna can walk down them on her own, also, but Alexander needs a little help coming down without a) him taking forever on two flights (especially excruciating when you've got about a 100-pound diaper bag on your shoulder); or b) taking a nasty tumble.

Hooray! Our Stuff

The kids didn't know any different but Mom and Dad sure missed their own furniture, as it makes apartment living feel a little bit more like home. It's nice to sit at your own table for dinner, and Anna seems to endorse the big-screen TV. The children watch no TV, however. Honest. Even though this photo clearly indicates a children's PBS show. Seriously. I offer them Sesame Street only in the mornings, and they may watch a few minutes of it in between their exploring and grabbing the dog's fur.

But Paw Paw's Always Smiling

Despite our own many family outtakes, Paw Paw rarely saw a camera that didn't like him. Here he is at Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Saloon # 10 in Deadwood, S.D., where Wild Bill Hickok was killed playing poker back in 1876, and with the children back at the apartment.

Christmas Card Outtakes

Our sightseeing with Dad was two-fold, including taking advantage of a built-in photographer to get family photos for our Christmas card. We intended to send a photo of the new family at Mount Rushmore. But at as you can see in these two photos, getting two toddlers, two adults and a dog to all look at the camera and smile at the same time is next to impossible (not even mentioning the wind blowing the hair horizontally at times). So, we tried at our next stop, the Badlands, about a 45-minute drive from the house. Similar situation, but at least we were able to make due with one shot.

Getting To Know You

The children had plenty of time to get to know Paw Paw the next day, as the movers showed up (barely, but that's a story best not vented about) and he got to babysit them for most of the day. While Papa went to work and Mama supervised movers at the storage facility and, later, at the temporary apartment, Paw Paw changed diapers, fed the children breakfast and played, played, played. He also set up a table to put in their still mostly-empty room.

The Second Wave

Despite the late hour, the whole family traveled to the airport to greet Paw Paw, Fran's father who flew into Rapid City from Mississippi on Wednesday, just days after meeting their paternal grandmother and other family members on Mikel's side. Anna and Alexander were awakened from their night night sleep, but all was made right with the world when Paw Paw arrived bearing gifts.

I Saw Papa Do It

Part of learning is watching how others do things. Ever since Alexander saw Papa blow up the beach ball for the children to kick around, his mission has been to figure out just how his Papa accomplished such a feat. He finally succeeded in pulling out the nozzle, but of course instead of blowing air in he let it out. With those cheeks, though, who wouldn't have guessed he was puffing up the ball.

First Family Meeting

Anna and Alexander met their first extended family members during an overnight stay in Detroit on our way back home from New York. Nanny Pat enjoyed the children sitting on her lap and Rachel and Megan were thrilled to have new cousins. After hosting a evening of friends and their children at their home, Aunt Maureen, Uncle Paul and new cousins babysat Anna and Alexander the next day while Papa dragged Mama along in his quest to purchase University of Michigan and Detroit Red Wing clothing for the kids. He became inspired after seeing how overjoyed Alexander was to receive a Wolverine sippy cup from Aunt Moe.