Music

I  really need to make more of an effort to play music.  We listen to music in the car, and a couple of times a week but we're not in the habit of having music playing while we do other things in the house.   It's something I should work on because these kids respond so well to music.

Willow will listen in the car and pick out instruments, and the number of singers, things like that.  She'll notice when she hears a voice she really likes.  She likes to know the names of songs and artists.  Toby has always been a good dancer and now has started to sing.  He mashes together all of the lullaby's he knows, he'll hum and mumble along to a song on the radio or try to sing along with me.

I took them to see some live music at the folk festival this past weekend.  They loved it.  They watched and listened, danced and sang.  Willow, who will barely dance in front of me in our living room was asking me to dance with her in front of the stage - and a hundred people or so.  We met friends there and the kids played like they never have before- I can't help but think the music and atmosphere there brought them together.

I'm looking forward to having them in piano lessons in a couple of years- and then having them choose from there which instrument they'd like to play.  I wish I'd gone further in my study of music- not necessarily piano though.  I hope to give them that option and have them find something they can get really enjoy.

As much as I wish I had some photos to remember the day- I'm glad I wasn't preoccupied with the camera.  I took it all in and had some really special moments with the kids.  At one point we were looking at the moon in the blue sky, and Willow pointed up as a flock of geese flew overhead in perfect V formation.  We laid down on our backs on the grass and watched the geese, as we listened to the band play.  What an amazing day.

Conversations of Toddlers

On the deck, playing make believe.............

Willow:  Toby, where do you live?  Where is your house?
Toby:  Here.
Willow:  No, is it close. or far away?
Toby:  Away, here.
Willow:  NO, is it far away, or is it close?
Toby:  Close.
Willow:  OK, so where is your microwave?  Your fridge?  Where is your fridge, is it close, or far  away?
Toby:  Away.
Willow:  Toby, it's in your house.  How is your house close, but your fridge is far away?  Your fridge is right here, you silly boy.


In the car.............

Willow:  I'm thirsty, I want some cold water from the fridge when we get home.
Toby:  Water, too.
Willow:  Do you want cold water Tobe?
Toby:  Cold water.
Willow:  Water from the fridge Tobe?
Toby:  Fridge, water.
Willow:  No Toby, do you want cold water from the fridge?
Toby:  Cold fridge water.
Willow:  MOM!  Toby wants cold water from the fridge when we get home!!!


These two crack me up.  Just ordinary, everyday, gold.  This is the stuff I want to remember.  I love that Willow is learning to play with Toby and teach him things, and she is helping him with his vocabulary.  I love that he plays along so well, looking up to her and wanting to play whatever game she invents.  They just get along so well- when they aren't biting or hitting or stealing toys.

Wordless Wednesday (Gram Gram got married!)

19 months, 7 days.......

TODAY 

19 months, 7 days ago.......

19 months, 7 days before that......

I can't easily explain why today is such a significant day for me.  Today Toby is exactly the same age as Willow was, when he was born.  It marks the passing of time- brings me back to Willow at that time.  It seems so long ago..... yet, like it was yesterday.  I've been thinking that Toby seems a lot younger than Willow seemed then.  But looking back at those chubby cheeks, how small she looks I think I'm wrong.  Now I have a big 3 year old to compare Toby to, so he still seems like a baby.  SLOW. DOWN. TIME.  In 19 months and 7 days from now, Toby will be 3 years 2 months and 14 days old!

hugs!

I can't resist taking comparison photos- here are the kids at the zoo sitting on the bench beside the elephant exhibit- in June 2011, and again this week- June 2012.  They are getting so big!

   

Dear Toby (My big boy!)

Dear Toby,

Last weekend you decided you didn't need my milk anymore.  It was Thursday when I noticed you hadn't asked for it.  Friday I did not offer.  And that was all.  I'm sad, and relieved, and proud and terrified.  You're not a baby anymore and that makes me sad.   I'm glad you're getting big, becoming independent and not needing me so much.  I hope soon you won't need me to fall back to sleep at night.  Please?

I'm so proud of you!
Love Mama

P.S.  I took me a week to write this, I was a blubbering emotional mess and just couldn't manage!

Wordless Wednesday

18 Months!

It seems like just yesterday I was writing this post.   It was a year ago.

Today, Toby is becoming a boy; a silly, handsome, affectionate little dude.  His favorite things are playing with his sister, dancing to anything with a good beat, watching cars/trucks/buses/planes.... anything that moves.  He is quiet but social.  He's always smiling, busy, watching, curious.  He likes to climb, run, move, copy everything that Willow does.

Toby is becoming more verbal everyday.  He will copy anything I say and sometimes it sounds nothing like the words I said but the syllables and annotation are right on.  He is just beginning to put words together- there you go! is a favourite phrase.  He can name most of his body parts and knows quite a few animal sounds.  He likes to refer to animals by their sound before their name.  The way he is learning to speak is so much different than how Willow did it.  She wouldn't say a word until she knew it would come out perfect.  Toby likes to experiment with sound, practice words, play with noises.   He is slower to speak than Willow was (she was talking full on sentences, conversations at this age) but his non verbal communication is good.  He can be clingy and whiny, especially when tired, I think this comes from his lack of communication.

I don't ever want to forget that when I pick him up his right hand finds the hair at the back of my head, and his left thumb goes in his mouth.   He rarely sucks his thumb at any other time (besides sleep).   I love love love when he grabs my face and pushes it into his, nose to nose and scrunches up his face.  I think he's saying "I love you!".  And the sweetest look of surprise when he hears something new, when a door opens,  or when he's about to get a treat.

 

This morning Toby ran to wake me up and told me "bird! bird!"  I opened my eyes and we listened to the birds.  "Chirp! Chirp!" he said with the biggest smile on his face.  I love this age and don't want to forget a moment.

What they're saying, April 13 2012

Willow: Daddy took my booger with him to work today.

Me: Why would Daddy take your booger to work?

Willow: Because I wiped it on his shoulder.

Wordless Wednesday (My baby is 3!!!)

in her special birthday shirt.

excited to open her bubbles from mom and dad.

not impressed with the attention when it was time
to blow out the candles.... she needed a little help from mom.