Quotable T & B

Some of my favorite quotes lately:

Me, after nap: Theo, time to take your diaper off. You don't want to have stinky butt.
Theo: But I WANT to have stinky butt!

One morning, the first thing I hear upon waking:
Beck: (screaming, crying) Daddy, whatchoo doin? Whatchoo DOIN? (Jeff was sleeping soundly in the next room)

Theo, crying and whining about something not going his way
Beck, looking earnestly at Theo: You gonna live.

Beck, about his new Mater firetruck: This is my favorite toy. My favorite toy in the whole world.

Beck, to Mama: You not going to eat that (wild rice stuffing).
Mama: Yes, I am going to eat it! It is yummy!
Beck: If you say so.

Theo, during a scene in Polar Express when there is no action, only lengthy conversation among the characters: (laughing) What they talkin 'bout?

Mama, talking to Haylie, our cat: Hi Kitty! How are you?
(boys, approaching kitty in chair)
Theo: How are you, cat?
Beckett: Talk to us, cat! Talk to me!
Beckett, walking away, shaking head: You can't.
Theo: You listening, cat?

Potty training update

We're going through about four or five diapers a day these days, so we've stopped using cloth diapers (an 8-diaper load every other day didn't seem eco-conscious). We go diaper-free on all but the longest excursions. Beck goes without a diaper for nap about half the time (at his request), but Theo usually requests a diaper right after lunch so he can poop in it, then needs a new one to pee in for nap. We have lots of underwear but Mindy noticed that the boys seem to have more accidents in underwear (maybe because they feel like diapers) so they go commando almost all the time, except when they insist on wearing their cool train and car underwear. We still have accidents frequently, usually because the boys don't realize they need to pee until too late, but they are doing really well. Theo still resists pooping in the potty. We're trying to encourage it by telling him that he can play with Max's helicopter when he finally goes poop in the potty (Max donated it to the boys at the end of our Ann Arbor visit, but we haven't let on to them that we have it). Theo seems less developmentally ready for it yet, because he's still wet after naps and very wet in the morning, but he also tends to drink more than Beckett does, so that probably works against him too. We're just very happy to be out of the every-other-day diaper washing, line drying and stuffing schedule, and the limitations that put on our travel. We do spend more time during time out of the house pestering the kids about whether they need to use the potty, and helping them use public restrooms. It's great to see them feeling proud of their progress and of growing up!

Fingerpainting

The boys have been napping 2+ hours in the afternoon lately and then have been giving us a hard time at bedtime at 8, so we are trying to experiment with different things to make bedtime easier (and earlier). Today's experiment was no nap, but for a 20 minute snooze in the car for Beckett on the way home from a visit with a friend. They were a little crabby this evening and it appears they are still giving Jeff a hard time on their way to sleep....

This afternoon we broke out the fingerpaints and easel to while away the time....

Merry Christmas Part II

We spent lots of time on Christmas simply lounging, letting the boys play with their new toys by themselves, with each other, and sometimes with us, before encouraging opening something else. 

There was also lots of time for reading Christmas books and singing Christmas carols.

And taking a nap before dinner with Grandma Joanie.

Merry Christmas from the Lovebos!

We hosted Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Greg, Uncle Jon, Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Stu for a two day celebration of Christmas. We enjoyed a unique and joyful service at St Lucy's Church near our home, spending time thinking about those less fortunate and surrounded by a diverse and welcoming congregation.

Christmas brought fantastic treats for the boys, including more supplies for their new kitchen and remote controlled construction vehicles. 

Our friend Jess came over for dinner Monday. The boys love Jess and Jess loves them right back, snotty noses, coughing in her face, and all.

First "Warm" Cocoa

Mama and Dada have no voices because we've been coughing for days so we can't read today as much as usual. We gave up after dinner and watched half of Polar Express, this time with hot cocoa. But Beck and Theo are very sensitive to things being too hot, so they called it "warm cocoa". Also, Jeff has not become a serial killer; he just looks like one in this picture.