Avery
Avery has been learning so much in Kindergarten this year. For example, he can phonetically sound out many 4-5 letter words already. Also, he will talk about new words he is learning, such as the "Gubbermint" (government). In an effort to still keep up with what he is learning and experiencing, we have a daily "Pow-wow" at lunch to discuss the morning. A "pow" is something that happened that he did not like, and a "wow" is something positive he can share. Many days his favorite "wow" part was snack time since sometimes they get to have yummy sweet treats. One instance he enjoyed sharing how his teacher involved the class in making homemade bread. Sharing his "wows" come naturally, yet sharing "pows" has not always been easy for him. Self-control is something he has really been working on at school and at home. This being the case, often his "pow"s have something to do with his trouble in that area during the morning. We think, however, he is slowly showing signs of improvement in this as he matures with age. Overall, we are very proud of him and still delight in who he is.
Avery's disposition is generally pretty happy. Without any reserve, he joyfully shouts and waves from the school doors "Bye my Sugar Plum!!!" to his mommy when she drops him off at school in the morning. Even at breakfast, out little guy sometimes shares his happy dreams that he remembers. He tells us "My brain sometimes takes me on adventures". There are probably adventures happening all day in that creative little mind of his.
Aileen loves having Avery to play with, and I think the feeling is mutual on his end most of the time. When Avery comes home from school, he brings his excitement and enthusiasm to change the peaceful, quiet mood beforehand. There is a bit of an age gap between the two, but he will try to entertain her with his silliness to get a laugh. Aileen likes to have a tea party with the stuffed animal crew, and Avery taunts her by taking them prisoner. So, as with most siblings, we have disputes to settle too.
Aileen
At 18 months, we are starting to see Aileen trying even harder to assert herself. She will tell us "no" to things that she really means "yes" to sometimes, and resists things just for the sake of resisting them. Yet, she is also opening up and becoming more playful, sweet and cuddly. She may not understand what is playing on the television, but if there is upbeat music, she will smile and stomp her foot to dance to it. Her activity is apparent too, and she enjoys dunking the basketball in our indoor toy hoop if she thinks we will clap for her. Now that she notices that she can do more things physically like dunk basketballs, she has also been interested in opening drawers and pulling out items, reaching for doorknobs and locks to turn them, opens closets and piles out the contents, flipping light switches on and off and snatching the TV remote to giggle and run off with it. It is difficult to take her anywhere because she gets frustrated sitting in a stroller or holding onto an adult's hand for very long.
Aileen's language is also taking off now. At the table, she will eye us to make sure we are watching, and then drop a piece of food on the floor and feigns an "Uh, Ohhhhh"..... If she wants juice, she will point to the refrigerator and ask "jooo? jooo? Peeee?! (Juice Please?!) (Her Papa taught her how to take a drink, smack her lips and sigh an "Ahhhhh".) At breakfast, she points to the counter at the bananas and let us know she would like a "bleh blah". If she is in the living room and hears the crackling sound of a wrapper in the kitchen, she runs into the kitchen and says with eyes wide open "Cheeee?" (asking for cheese). (We joke about how she loves to eat and sometimes out-eats her brother). "Momma" has been replaced with a "Mommy". If she hears the garage door, she will ask me "Dada?" as she loves greeting her daddy with happy squeals as he comes home from work. I often wondered about what Avery would say when he was Aileen's age and first learning to talk. Now, Avery talks nonstop and lets us hear the constant dialog running through his brain. Aileen seems to be quieter, but I don't know if it is because that is the way her personality is, or if her big brother does enough talking for the entire family.
Another few things Aileen has grown fond of are animals, coloring and Elmo. She is too curious to sit down for a book for too long unless it has a picture of Elmo or a kitty cat in it. However, she will sit down longer to scribble with crayons, especially the color yellow or red. Sidewalk chalk is even a better option for her since she can get up and move while she creates.
All in all, we have two very different, inquisitive and active children. Although they both are growing at very different rates developmentally, it's wonderfully that as siblings they have the gift of growing closer together as a family.
