The Golden Tooth and Static Clint Surprises

Avery

“chiggen nuddets” – chicken nuggets

Since there is a gap in his mouth from his missing tooth, Avery has been experimenting slipping food through the space, such as spaghetti.  He thought himself to be quite funny by using a corn kernel for a “golden tooth”.

We went to eat at a restaurant in which there was a folded sign on the table advertising new foods on the menu.  Avery noticed that it looked somewhat like a sticky trap and asked “Is that where they catch the mice?”

Almost daily he builds forts and “hideouts” (a new word he has taught Aileen to say) out of pillows, blankets, black mats, couch cushions, etc… for Aileen to crawl into.  Sometimes he tries to trap her inside.

Lately he has decided that he wants to be a “teacher” when he grows up that “teaches people how to play video games” or a person who makes video games.

“Mom, am I good at dancing?” Avery asks, then he furiously dances as fast as he can, stops, and then looks in my direction for my response.

Avery gets a chapter or two from a book read to him each evening to help him fall asleep.  He has really enjoyed the “Fudge” series books.  Most notably, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing”.  Currently, he has been finding “The Magic Treehouse” series interesting as well.

Aileen

Thanks to static cling, Clint often finds one of Aileen’s itty biddy socks in his shirt sleeves after being laundered.  One time when he was teaching class, he felt an itch and pulled out one of Avery’s tiny socks from his wrist cuff, which his students found hilarious.

Both Avery and Aileen get excited to watch “Curious George” together.

Aileen got carried away having fun crawling in the indoor tunnels at the McDonald’s Play Place.  So much so, that when she realized where she was, at the very top and in the middle of all the tunnels, she stopped, became scared and started crying.  We sent Avery up there to rescue her, but he was having so much fun too that he “forgot” to find her.  Since we couldn’t just let Aileen stay up there scared and crying, especially with several other little children around too, I had to take off my shoes and crawl up and around to get her to slide her down to safety.  Then, she wanted back up there as if nothing had happened.

She is still so small, that when she tries to play her toy flute, her gentle, little puffs of air barely make any noise.

“I try” – still refuses to allow us to help her until she has tried first herself several times

She is still fascinated with babies, “kiddy cats” and most other animals.

Thinks zucchini bread is “cake”.   However, she does not like any type of jam or jelly.

Surprised us by asking for seconds on her red pepper strips and cucumber slices.  She seems to like crunchy and cold foods.

Despairagus and Tip Toe Walking

Avery

“DESPAIR-agus” = Avery’s nickname for asparagus (which he detests)

As a funny insult (aka innocent, competitive “trash talk”), Avery made Clint a “last place ribbon” out of scrap paper, gave it to Clint, and then challenged him to a wrestling contest to see if he could beat Avery for a first place ribbon.

Avery constantly talks about his Donkey Kong video game all day long.  It’s the first thing he mentions if he sees even a complete stranger.  His Sunday School teachers have even had to make a rule that he cannot talk about Donkey Kong until play time.

March 3^rd, 2014 – Avery finally loses his first tooth!  After eating his lunch, he noticed it was missing and we figured out that he accidentally swallowed it.  He and Clint wrote a letter to the tooth fairy to explain the situation, however.

Aileen

She likes to give her “gigi” (blankie) rides in laundry baskets and the swivel chair.

“I no like it”.  An expression she uses if she does not like what is on her plate as she pushes it away from her.

Likes to walk on her tip toes like she is prancing.

Birthday Cake and Art Ribbons

Aileen's 2 year birthday cake

She is probably the sweetest thing that has ever fit into our mini cooler.

Aileen and Bear enjoying a blueberry muffin.

Aileen's current favorite toys are Duplo Legos.

Avery's Art Show ribbon!

Avery using watercolors in learning math.

Aileen - Two Year Developmental Notes

We are practicing regular habits of hygiene such as:

-brushing teeth with toddler toothbrush and paste 2x/day

-combing hair

-washing face

Can take off her coat, socks, pants and diaper

Feeds her “babies” (2 pink baby dolls) and takes them to bed with her having us kiss them “good night” too

Learning and speaking new words, names things in books and around the house

She can speak some simple sentences such as, “More juice please?”

Draws on her magnadoodle, plays with her toy kitchen, shopping cart and cups, plates and silverware

Protests more often, is more easily frustrated

Very affectionate with hugs and kisses and “Hello there!”

She can talk on the phone a little more by somewhat understanding what the other person is saying and then trying to respond

Still wants to do things on her own, especially eating and walking (she can carefully make it up and down steps if she had a rail to hold on to) and will want to run off and explore by herself – really resists being restrained

We had a low key birthday for her.  We invited a friend her age and her family over for dinner.  During the party, we ate homemade pizza, sang “Happy Birthday” and had carrot cake birthday cake with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles for dessert.

Interested in using the potty, but still doesn’t understand

Seems to prefer the color pink

Still loves to listen to books and music

Her favorite character is Elmo

Will pick up things she sees that she has dropped on the floor – enjoys being neat most of the time

Not afraid of the tall twisty slide at the park anymore - seems to enjoy taking risks climbing and playing on playground equipment

Desires to imitate her mom

Can name some shapes, colors, sometimes count a sequence of a few numbers and sing some songs

Can point to head, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, tongue, teeth, arms, legs, feet, toes, elbow, tummy, back, hands and fingers

Seems to be right-handed

Has almost her full set of teeth except second molars

Has tried riding her trike, but her feet aren’t quite long enough to complete a cycle of pedaling yet

Can complete her peg puzzles with a little help

Enjoys playing with Avery’s toys as much as her own

Loose Teeth and Worms

Avery

He is at a stage where he is obsessed with a “Donkey Kong Country Returns” video game he received for Christmas.  Whether you are interested or not, Avery will tell you about the latest level he unlocked and about barrels, bananas, puzzle pieces, etc…  Avery laughed and told me that he overheard some of his girl classmates whisper “All Avery talks about is Donkey Kong”.

Avery began taking Tae Kwon Do lessons with his Dad.  It was a chance for Clint to spend time with him during a very busy work season and to give them both a common interest and exercise to share.  He learned that it is not respectful to “salute” his instructor.

Our little boy told us, “Do you know something I’ve always wanted to do?  I’ve always wanted to come in you and Daddy’s bedroom in the morning before you wake up and jump up and down on the bed saying ‘Wake Up!  Wake Up!”

Each afternoon, Avery has been reading some of his TAG books to us, without the pen, to earn Lego pieces.  We’ve bought a set and have told him that he can earn pieces to build with for each book he completes reading to us.  When the set is complete, he may have it as his own.  So far, Avery has enjoyed reading over ten books to complete a set.

2/22/14 – Avery’s first loose tooth!  We were watching 101 Dalmatians together when Avery walked over and said with a grin “Feel this!  It’s loose!”  He was so proud to be a “big boy” by having a loose tooth like other kids in his class.  He even was excited to brush his teeth that night to see what it felt like.  He and his Dad had just read Double Fudge in which one of the characters talked about getting money from the tooth fairy for lost teeth.  This book had peaked his interest in losing teeth to where he was anticipating the day when it would finally happen.  The next morning, Avery excitedly told everyone (his teachers, the greeters, complete strangers, etc…) about his tooth.

Aileen

She became upset after a bath when she first noticed her wrinkled fingers (from playing for a longer period in the bath water) because she did not understand what was going on with her hands.

It was cute to watch her fascination with worms on a wet sidewalk after a rain.

Aileen wants me to kiss her “boo boos” and “ouchies”, then sings “Thank you!” afterwards.

Avery and Aileen were riding in the wagon for a walk around the block together.  It had snowed earlier this season and that day the snow had finally melted.  Aileen, with a puzzled look on her face, looked down at the ground and asked “Snow?”  A little while later, she looked up, smiled and pointed at the white clouds in the sky and exclaimed “Snow!” as if the snow had just floated from the ground back up to the sky.

It’s sweet to see her petite little hand safely grip my finger when we cross a parking lot.

The musically sweet sound of Aileen’s voice saying “Hi there!” to people we meet in the store usually makes others smile.

A Great Daddy

Like father, like son; like brother, like sister.

Dad takes time to play board games with Avery before bed.

Dad takes time to play and read stories to Avery and Aileen.

The kids are blessed to have an amazing Dad.  Despite a work season with a lot of demands, their Dad still takes time to be with his kids, despite being exhausted.  While it would be much easier just to turn on the TV and zone out, he makes a decided effort to engage with them and share in what they enjoy.  In turn, these kids adore the attention and will remember it for years to come.

Avery January/February Fun

Avery reading books aloud.  We are so proud of his progress and he has come so far since the beginning of the school year!

Learning about hand anatomy through paper, straws and string.

Having fun with his fake mustache.