Thomas is 3, Sophia is 22 months

Sophia's "Crazy Hair"

Sophia is really communicating with her words these days. Matthew said to her, "We're going to go to Barnes and Noble now. We're going to sit down and read magazines and have a bagel!" Sophia brightened up immediately and said, "And a cookie!" What a bright little girl. She remembers our routine very well! Later, I was changing Sophia's diaper and singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider song. Sophia shook her finger at me. "Spider no no nooo! ABC song!" she demanded. Sometimes when I'm too late putting her down for a nap or bedtime, she'll wander around with a book in her hand saying, "so tired....rub eye" while rubbing her eyes. And then a couple of days ago, I was trying to lure her out of the chiropractor's office so I said, "Sophia! Would you like to go to the park?" She got a huge smile on her face and said, "Park?!" She bent over as if electrified with excitement, clutching her hands to her stomach, and said, "SOOO HAPPY!!" And I said, "say bye-bye!" And she turned to the doctor and said, "bye-bye, Doctor!" She knew the word doctor, and how to use it! Her favorite phrase that we hear constantly is "go Baba Jiji old hoooooouuuuse" which is how we refer to their place in Wisconsin. She says it so often that whenever Thomas pretends to be a baby, that is what he says in a baby voice along with all of his nonsense words.

Thomas is getting tall enough to wash his hands without standing on a stool, and to pee standing up, too! Boy, does that make things easier, especially when we're doing last drops before a car ride, or bed, because he used to have to take off his underwear and pants all the way, then climb up and sit facing the tank. It made him feel very comfortable up there, but he still had to watch where he aimed (sometimes a problem when sleepy) and then climb down and laboriously put them on again (by himself, on a good day!). He would frequently come out either half-naked or wanting me to put them on for him. Boy, did that get old when I wasn't in the mood. He's much better these days about putting his clothes on by himself, in general! Especially if it's after breakfast and he's pretending to be a responsible engine like Edward or Diesel 10, he'll reply to my request to get dressed: "no problem!" and dash off, coming out a few minutes later all dressed! WOW that makes the morning easier!

Love those little legs

One day I threatened to leave Thomas at home if he didn't hurry up and get in the car. He said a little anxiously, "Do you really leave me at home?" And I admitted that I wouldn't. Then he had a little think, and said, "If you leave me at home, I would do all the things you wouldn't want me to do. I would put lots of stickers on my potty chart, and I would ..." I couldn't hear the rest because I was trying too hard not to laugh! Ooh! I wonder what else would have been on his "forbidden fruit" list. What do almost-4-year-olds like the most? Probably having lots of cereal, candy and TV. And stickers on their potty chart, apparently.