Leaps and Bounds

Both Samuel and Shira have made so many developmental leaps and bounds in the last couple of months, it is impossible to keep up and remember all of them.

They both amaze, charm and delight Steve and I on a daily basis.

Shira has entered that stage where she doesn't walk, but runs, almost everywhere.

Samuel has become quite the builder. His most used toys are Legos, tinker toys and Legos. No, that wasn't a typo. Legos deserve an extra mention nowadays. At bedtime Steve has to remind Samuel on a nightly basis that if he doesn't stop building Legos and come to bed, then he's eating into his story time.

Shira is very attached to her "babies", picking a new doll or stuffed animal to carry around every few days. Lotta, her "red baby" and gift from Grandma Susan, still plays a prominent part, but recently Shira has been quite taken with a random stuffed mouse that she found in the toy bin last week. She also enjoys the "blue baby" that Auntie Suzette originally made for Samuel, and the dollie that Steve's English aunt and uncle sent us. She insists on sleeping with some combination (or all) of the fore mentioned dolls.

Shira, like Samuel, has become an avid fan of books. She is picking up language constantly, and has acquired some of Samuel's favorite phrases. She is wont to pick up a book, follow Steve around the house and yell, "Read! Read! Read!" over and over again. Charming the first time, not so much the 50th (especially if she is sitting in your lap and you are actually in the middle of reading to her, as happened to Steve yesterday.) Current favorite books include Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Bark George, Red Hat Green Hat and Moo, Baa, La La La. Sandra Boynton continues to play a strong role in the household.

Bikes are also high on the list of favorites for both kids. A couple of weeks ago Shira managed to do a bit of "riding" on the balance bike, which she was quite pleased about, but she loves to ride on the front of my bike in the Ibert even more. We have begun to ride to the Farmer's Market on Sundays in order to make the trip a little less exhausting and time consuming than walking, which thrills both of the kids. Samuel loves to ride on his trail-a-bike behind Steve, and as soon as I mention that we are going to ride bikes, Shira sprints for the door yelling "ride bike!" repeatedly.

I don't think I have mentioned yet, Samuel has started receiving an allowance. It has been a great experience for all involved. He gets ten cents a night at bedtime after he clears the table and helps Steve load the dishwasher. What I love about it, is that now when Samuel asks to buy something, I just say, "Do you have enough allowance for that?" It takes all the control issues away. Awesome. So if he wants to buy himself to yogurt covered pretzels out of the bulk bin at WF, it is totally up to him. If he wants to get a bouncy ball out of the little toy machines, go for it. I think he's learning a little about money, he definitely knows what a quarter and a dime are, now. The whole saving up for a big thing later on, though, is too tough.

Shira turned into a little girl last week. What with the brushing her hair, putting barrettes in, and getting the 2T clothes out, a number of moms commented on how grown up she has gotten. Not such a little baby anymore.

I am happy to report that we seem to be winning the war against the pink princess menace that seems to have befallen all of the girls that we know. We definitely have a leg up with the big brother action in the household. Every morning when it is time to get dressed, Shira asks for "cars" or "balls". She is referring to the designs she wants her underwear. No pink princess or cupcake undies for this girl.

Crazy thing Samuel did today. We were riding up to the house, Shira in the Ibert, Samuel on the Trail a Bike behind me, and Steve was walking down the driveway to meet us, as he had just gotten home from work. Steve points behind me, and says, "Did you know he did that?" And I turn around to see Samuel standing on top of his bike seat, while the bike is still in motion. He then leapt off the bike and ran for the garage door (which Steve had just pressed the button to open so I could put the bikes away.) Samuel jumped up, caught the garage door handle, and held on as the garage door continued to open, feet dangling in the air as he rode the door upward. After momentary shock, Steve and I yelled for him to let go before he got stuck in garage, he finally dropped to the ground and walked over to us grinning. I must say, it did look like fun. Did seem rather out of character, though. Steve says it must have been his super hero cape that made him do it.