Theo and Beckett are having more and more interesting observations of and reactions to the world. Monday and Tuesday this week they attended Vacation Bible Camp at their nursery school. We had heard from friends that their kids (not Catholics) had enjoyed it a lot last year, and the activities sounded somewhat fun. Each day they cried and screamed and had to be pried from my arms in the morning (Theo on day 1, Beckett on day 2), and then at the end of the morning at pickup reported having had fun, then within ten minutes said they did not like it and did not want to go back. It turns out the camp was WAY more churchy than their nursery school at the same school, and Beckett came back saying things like "God will provide" and "God will comfort" and relaying stories like "The mean king told Elijah he had to leave, so Elijah went up to the mountain and didn't have any food but an angel came and brought him bread." Theo, meanwhile, gazes out the window the whole way home, then looks at me and says, "Is God real? Or is he just pretend?" Wow, that's a good one, Theo. Ask your father.
It's so fun to return to the playgrounds we went to last summer, because everywhere there are activities they couldn't do or steps they couldn't reach that now they can. I am not even sure they remember that they couldn't do them; they just try now, and can do them. We've been swimming twice at the city pools so far, just at the Burnet Park pool near the zoo, and they are thrilled they can use their puddlejumpers (like water wings but with a floatie across the chest and belt across the back so they're US Coast Guard approved). They love being independent and swimming all over the pool by themselves (with me close by). Theo is a more natural swimmer and can propel himself very well all over, with a great kick and effective pulls. Beckett doesn't try as hard and wants more "butt pushes" to catch him up to Theo. I even got a chance to go to our pool in our park last night but got kicked out after only about 10 minutes due to a vomit incident in the pool.
There's also lots of imaginative play, and acting out stories they especially enjoy. An example: we have inherited a hand-me-down Cinderella nightgown that gets a lot of use. The boys also have Batman pajamas that look rather regal with a gold belt and accessories painted on the shirt. Their favorite Disney-fied story is Cinderella, so one wears the gown and the other wears the Batman jammies, and they act out the last part of the story, where the Prince (Batman) and Cinderella dance at the ball, then Cinderella realizes it is midnight, the clock strikes twelve, and she runs away from the castle with Batman in hot pursuit. They act out pieces of other stories they read, and use exact quotes from many of their books.
Reed has been smiling big smiles for about three weeks now. He smiles with his whole body--his mouth gets wide, his eyes get squinty, the corners of his mouth crinkle up to his cheeks, his torso squirms and his arms and legs get going in all directions. It's such a joy! He still only giggles in his sleep but has many alert periods during the day when he's very interested in engaging me and other people in smiles. Also lots of cooing--all the "ah-goo"s of this stage are so amazing, it really seems like he is communicating with us. He LOVES watching his brothers and at this moment has been in his chair for about thirty minutes watching them build a train track and now move the trains all over the set. Beckett has so far shown more interest in making Reed smile, and more excitement over his small milestones. But yesterday at nap I had Reed tuck in the boys (I clasped their blankets with his hands and brought the blankets over their bodies) and had Reed "dance" along while I sang songs, and then Reed gave them sloppy wet kisses before we left. It's so fun to think about the relationship all three of them will have as they get older!
Reed's been sleeping 6+ hours every night now for about two weeks. He usually falls asleep around 9pm and sleeps through til between 4 and 6am. Then he nurses and goes back to sleep in his bed (a rock and play) til between 6 and 7. This morning he slept in bed with us from about 6:30 until almost 8am. I can tell you that my big boys did not sleep six hours at a time until they were more than a year old, so this is absolutely delightful. Reed usually naps in the afternoon around the same time as the big boys, so we can all get a nap in around 2 or 3pm, but Reed usually won't nap in his bed during the day so (oh darn) I have to lay down next to him and sleep (or read) too.
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