Sunday, July 13, 2014

Mobile Moments, 7/7-7/13

After spending over a month in Maryland, now, I suppose there were bound to be some milestones logged here. We've already had the honor of watching Mia's transition from halting stepper to bona fide toddler. We've also been privileged to see Abby advance further in her understanding of letters and numbers and how they work, and to observe Michael gain in confidence, little by little, as he makes occasional attempts to increase his verbal communication capabilities.

In the last week, however, I've seen more than just the evolution of slow change. Quite suddenly, after many weeks of hiding beneath a thick layer of gum and the faintest hit of white along the edge, a new tooth has popped out of Mia's lower jawline- her first canine. Though the other three canines and four one-year molars still cower just below the surface, this one brave addition has shot its way through as though it had been there all along.

Michael's sudden milestone is an achievement that only the reluctance of his tired parents have kept him from for this long: the move to a Big Boy Bed. Once a second twin was installed in his and Abby's room here at Mima and Granda's, however (and another has been secured back at home, waiting patiently for the installation of Abigail in her brand-new sleeping space), Tom and I could no longer deny him his great wish, one which he demonstrated every night as he curled up in his big sister's bed to await story time and the completion of the bedtime routine.

On Monday, after foam barriers were placed to prevent accidental rolling, Tom and I took the plunge. As we predicted, we had no trouble getting him to stay in bed once the lights were out. He's long been a cooperative napper/sleeper when it came time to settle down. However, mornings have been another story.

I had a faint hope that he might sleep so much better in his new digs that we'd actually get a little extra time before the chatter started up at break of day, but the opposite has actually been the case. And now, we get a little more than chatter. We hear the pitter-patter of little feet right above our heads, which sounds thunderously loud from the bedroom below.

But it had to happen sometime, right? And no going back now. My little guy just won't stay little, no matter how much I will it to be so.


Just lounging around.





No caption. Just cute.




Snug as a bug in a rug.




Mei Mei makes the best chair.





Because this is how we carry our crayons now.


Overheard this week:

Between Abby and Mima

A: (Observing a woman walking with her umbrella on a clear day) "Why is she doing that?"
M: "To protect herself. When the sun is too hot, it can burn you. That's why we don't let you play outside when the sun is too hot."
A: "Well, then I'll use an umbrella to protect myself!"

Between Granda and Abby

G: "is wonderful and brilliant."
A: "No! She's wonderful but not brilliant."

Michael

"Why?"
"No, mine!"
"Meow"

Mia

"Dora, Abre (open, in Spanish), pretty, sheep, baa"