Friday, January 29, 2010

Busy Builders



Busy builders having supper

Busy builders after bath

Goodnight busy builders! Sleep tight!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Brotherly love

Max was fussing in the corner, so I asked Vanh to get him his blanket and picked up the camera:


You have to listen closely and understand "Oord-speak", but there is a conversation happening as well. Once you know that "Eish" means "Here" and "Aulk" means "Beast", this is what you should hear:

Vanh: Here is your blanket to cheer you up.
Max: I don't want my stupid blanket!
Vanh: No really, here, take it, you'll feel better.
Max: Stop, get it away from me, quit touching me!
Vanh: How beastly. (to me) Beast!
Max: I'm a beast.
Vanh: Yes, a beast. I'm going to go play my guitar now.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Skating adventure

You can see the skating rinks from in front of our house.

Max was startled when he tried to stand and his feet moved.

We showed them what skating looked like.

Max was still suspicious but willing to try... Vanh not so much...

...poor guy, his skate was loose.

While consoling Vanh I didn't realize what was happening behind my back...




...Max skated on his own! At 18 months!
(Not recommended for children under two)

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

18 months old

26 pounds
2 1/2 feet tall (77 cm)





Still having two naps a day -mostly. Did you know that 90% of 12-month-olds have two naps a day, but only 10% of 18-month-olds do?

Walking, a little running, curious and exploring but not huge risk takers. Climbing up stairs but nervous of our steep straight ones.

Talking a little and using signs. Playing and eating, mostly serious but sometimes laughing lots.

Darling little boys, we love you so much. Happy 1 1/2 Birthday!

Cakes made of 18 profiteroles

Vanh eyed one suspiciously...

... replaced it, then returned the whole plate to the table.

Max liked his!

To be fair, Vanh had a miserable cold and no appetite. You can hear him in these quick videos of Max:

Monday, January 11, 2010

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Speechless (me)

Just wanted to make it clear that it is not the boys who are truly speechless... remember this video from 4 months ago? It was me who was thinking maybe this isn't something for the blog... but I decided the benefits of sharing this information outweigh the likelihood of it embarrassing them any more than their baby photos when their first girlfriends Google them. Sorry boys.

Anyway, back to 4 months ago. After the initial Uh-oh and Da-da, we expected more words to come, and were not disappointed with the addition of Ma-ma and Elk. (The fact that "Ma-ma"s most consistent meaning is grapes and "elk" refers to a cat didn't worry us.) Then I started to notice The Others.
"Ball," said a little one at playgroup. "Truck."
"Ma-ma" - meaning Ma-ma, not grapes. And all from younger and younger babies... but all babies are different, and everyone knows (or is) someone who didn't talk until well over 2 and are fine now, and our kids heard a different language until 7 months, and I didn't want to be one of "those" mothers... So I didn't worry. But then... "Umbrella," said a little one barely old enough to sit up.
"Elk!" repeated our boys delightedly, every time they saw a cat, or heard the word cat, or saw a picture of a cat, or a dog with pointy ears... "That's a bit odd," said the playgroup teacher. And of course there are the ubiquitous checklists, which our boys kept "failing". So we took them to First Words screening just in case. As I kept saying - better to get on the waiting list now (it takes up to a year to access services), and hope the issue goes away, then to find ourselves a year from now really needing help.

The first step was to fill out a little checklist. Then we met with a Speech-Language Pathologist who engaged the boys in some very social play, and showed us some ideas to promote early language. She evaluated them as doing well with the social aspects of language, but not making the variety of sounds we would expect by now. So they have been referred for the next step in the process, with the opportunity to be fully evaluated by a Speech Therapist coming over 6 months from now in September. Unless... Do we have private insurance? She also said: they are right on the edge of being eligible, the checklists are subjective, the lack of background info in our case leaves gaps in the validity of her screening, and that there is a good chance they will be fine, but why not get into the system just in case...

Which was exactly what I thought and wanted. So why aren't I happier?

Friday, January 1, 2010

Sleeping Bunnies

See the little bunnies sleeping, sleep 'til nearly noon

Come along and wake them up, with our merry tune

Why are they so still? Are those bunnies ill? No, they're just resting...

Wake up bunnies!

Wake up little bunnies, hop, hop, hop,

Wake up little bunnies, hop, hop, hop,

Wake up little bunnies, hop, hop, hop,

Hop,

and stop.

(I can stand on my head, too)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(I know this would be more effective as a video, but you really don't want to hear me sing)
PS Max with right sleeve pushed up, Vanh with left sleeve up)