Developmental Update

What goes in-and out: Theo is usually more willing to try new things, but sometimes has startling aversions to things he has liked or tried other times. Theo seems to really relish eating and even enjoys trying many new things. He likes a much greater variety of foods. Beckett would prefer to eat fatty carbs most days, all day. He likes some fruits and vegetables and will tolerate occasional meat or fish but give him toast or a bagel with butter and he will be happy. Beckett is a little less tolerant of sweet stuff and though he likes the idea, he often takes a couple of bites of a cookie or cake or sugary cereal and says it's too sweet for him. But both boys have learned to be polite and to say something tastes good even when they do not like it and do not eat more, which is gracious but doesn't help us figure out what they actually do like and dislike. When they do not like anything that is offered at dinner (which is definitely some nights), we offer them a banana or an orange or an apple to eat instead, which they sometimes do. Both are huge water drinkers, Beckett even more than Theo, which I think will delay our night-time pottying for some time. Usually Beckett will drink 12 ounces of water at each meal, plus more between meals, but sometimes he asks for a refill during a meal and ends up drinking even more. Beckett is interested in using the toilet at night and has a couple times woken up in the morning before he usually gets out of bed to ask for his diaper to be taken off so he can pee. He's worn pull-ups a few times and has liked being able to use the toilet at night. Theo sometimes says he doesn't have to use the toilet right before bed but then, while we're reading stories, says that his diaper is wet and he needs a new one. He's obviously a little less interested in the night-time pottying than Beckett. Both boys have mastered the potty but Beckett still has accidents, and Theo does only seldomly, when sick.

Helping out: Theo has been getting himself dressed for several months now, but Beckett has asked for help until the last couple of days. Suddenly he seems interested in putting on all of his clothes himself, and is very proud. Both boys like to help with cooking, measuring ingredients, turning an appliance on or off, and stirring things in a pot on the stove or in a bowl. Both boys like to help empty the dishwasher, handing us the plates from the bottom rack, or emptying the silverware into the drawer. They also like to sort the dirty laundry and transfer wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. They occasionally help out with putting clean clothes away in their drawer, though mostly I scurry around putting clothes away after they've gone to sleep. Theo does an especially thorough and focused job of cleaning up toys, staying on the task until the floor is totally clear. Though to be fair, Theo is also a champion "dumper"-taking any toys that are in a bin or bowl and lifting it high above his head before he dumps it out. Both boys will bring their dishes in to the kitchen when asked (we're not very consistent on this) after a meal.

School: The boys are going to a nursery school program at the local Catholic school two days a week, 8:15-2:30 Monday and Wednesday. They seem to like the open play time the best, but there are definitely a few classmates who they enjoy seeing and playing with. Neither was very excited about starting school again this week. The biggest problem for us is that they have a very short nap period right after lunch, and then the teacher wakes them up and they have to leave right away-either to the afterschool program or home. From their reaction and anticipation of school, I think this is the biggest source of stress for them. They are used to taking a little bit later, and a little bit longer, nap at home. Then when they get up we put on a 20-30 minute TV show (favorites are Cars, Cars 2, Daniel Tiger) so they can zone out for a bit after waking up. At school they are abruptly woken up and then they have to pack up their stuff and get shuffled out of the room. For about two months we've taken them out of the afterschool program which seemed to be exacerbating the transition problem, and we've had a great babysitter, Amanda, pick them up from school and bring them back to our house. Today is her last day, but Mindy, our old favorite babysitter, will be picking them up Wednesday and next week. Then they are probably back to afterschool because it's hard to find someone who can work just 2.5 hours twice a week!