My boys at 3 and 16 months

I find it so interesting having 2 boys 18 months apart. It's so fun to see all the ways in which they are similar and the many more ways in which they are different. It blows my mind on a daily basis how, two boys, from the same parents and so close together can be so very different.

Barrett loves fruit. When he eats a burger or a sandwich, he eats the insides and discards the bun or bread. He hardly eats (it seems). He will eat anything for the most part, just not very much. He favors any fruit or berry, yogurt, carrots and sweets...the kid has a sweet tooth which clearly didn't come from me.  He loves to help, with everything. He can build with legos for a long period of time. He really is a self directed kind of kid. He plays in the sandbox, in the yard, in the house without needing a lot of intervention. He is also stubborn and hates to go down for naps (and always kind of has). He loves to cuddle and needs some time to wake up in the morning. Generally, he likes to sleep in. Sometimes I have to wake him up for preschool and he will say "lighs off mama! Sleeping." He sleeps mostly calmly and right next to Nick (like glue). He is pretty controled emotionally but when he is tired he gets naughty and does everything he knows he shouldn't do. He is busy and active and very good with his body (jumping, running, kicking, swinging a golf club, etc). He is like a cartoon character. He will do things like a full belly flop off from the swings and onto the grass, grin really big and get up and do it again. He smiles often.

Gentry loves food. Any food. Doesn't matter. He eats. A lot. Fruit, veggies, bread, spaghetti, meat - I mean seriously whatever. The kid just likes food. He feeds himself and he is very enthusiastic about it. If he had a theme song it would be the "food glorious food" song from Ice Age the Meltdown. He is fast and mischievious but the biggest cuddle ever. He is so easy to put down for naps but then wakes right up when he is done and is so cheerful and happy and ready for the day. He also wakes early and is spritely and ready to go! (insert the poor mama face here). He wants to do what Barrett is doing. He also wants to do things himself. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. If he is mad, he cries - loud - and hard. He is busy with a capital B. He is tough - like really really tough - like kind of a badass he is so tough. The things that Barrett has done (intentionally or not but mostly just wrestling too hard) and Gentry has just taken like a man are countless. He is the most terrible person to share a bed with. He twirls and kicks and moves and pushes. I call him "the bad citizen" for his sleeptime antics (he goes to bed in his crib but always ends up with us...) He loves to be chased. He runs fast for how little he is and giggles and laughs and thinks it is like, the funniest thing ever.  Lately he has been doing this "evil" laugh all the time and it seriously is the funniest thing. Muahahahahahah!

September Update

Oh my - where does the time go! Life with young boys is crazy. Fun but crazy. Time for blogging seems to be at a minimum. Then when I do consider it I'm think to myself - do I update from now forward? Or try to go back... But honestly, I don't think I have the brain capacity to go back. It's lost in diapers, meals, trying to get out the door in a timely manner, worrying about whether I am being a good parent, codling too much - er maybe not enough. Should Barrett be getting himself dressed by now? Should I worry that we aren't potty trained? Or that both kids sleep in bed with us? Nah - or whatever I guess. I have 2 happy and healthy boys so perhaps those questions are unnecessary. When I drop Barrett off at preschool, he waves goodbye and happily goes off to play and learn...seems pretty well adjusted to me! When I send Gentry to the gym Kids Club, he generally takes a nap.

So what are we up to lately?

Barrett started preschool at Resurrection Catholic Preschool in their 2's program. Because his birthday is in September he will always be oldest in his class, but he was ready for some type of preschool so we found one that had a 2's program. He LOVES it. He gets to paint, draw, play, ride trikes, do music, learn pouring and mixing and all kinds of useful things like waiting his turn, washing his hands, following directions! He goes in happily and it is always hard to get him to leave. He seems more mature and seems to have picked up some fun new skills/phrases. He can sing part of twinkle twinkle little star. "Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what ...doo...rar!"

He started gymnastics one day a week and loves to follow the teacher and jump in the foam pit, hang from anything, run around on the floor and do the warm up song. It is a great way for him to learn direction following and waiting his turn.

Gentry continues to be a spirited little sprite! His favorite and most frequently used word is "Go!" He follows directions really well (when he wants to), can say "down" and some other words but like his brother is really a man of few words. He likes to do what Barrett is doing (and Barrett doesn't always appreciate it).

For the most part the boys love to do things together and when Gentry isn't with us, Barrett will ask where Gentry is. Barrett loves to help me cook and will bring his chair into the kitchen every time I start to cook. They both love to play in the yard and love going to the pool to go swimming. Both boys are pretty funny. Barrett has a more dry humor that can be a bit harder to get. Gentry is just a ham.

So obviously a lot more has happened since my last post ages ago...but a mama has to start somewhere. And has to finish quickly before the boys tear the house apart during my brief "break."