We've already had a lot of activity this month which we posted earlier; visiting the Knoxville Zoo and hiking to a waterfall. One of the other favorite activities include Easter egg hunting, we called it treasure hunting. Here is an observation about egg hunting. They can see so many detailed things but they kept walking over eggs. They could see the eggs further away better then right beside them. Eventually we held the basket for them and they started searching two handed. Thank you Diana for arranging this for us and hiding them twice. What fun!
Both boys legs and arms are growing longer and will soon catch up with their torso and head size. They look more like little boys. They have completed their 23rd month and so next month we will start counting in years and quarters instead of months. They can now both climb stairs while holding onto a hand or hand rail, kick a ball (Andrew already has some power in that right foot), stack a block tower at least 6 blocks high, eat some foods with a fork without much mess, and drink orange juice from a "McCoy" (6 ounces) cup.
Andrew's special achievements include speaking one syllable words more clearly though it is still hard to understand him without momma to interpret. Andrew is extremely loving as well as quick tempered. He loves dogs and to slide down the small slides on his own. He loves to help so will be helpful in getting dressed, will put things in the trash, and put an item away.
Ethan's special achievements are greatly in his speech development. He is easy to understand and has started to use two or three word sentences. He now says, "I do it", "hold it", any two syllable word like "swimming", "dizzy", "wiggle". He will say a new word over and over until he has it right and laughs. The most astounding thing is his numbers. Thanks to staying on the 11th floor and watching the elevator numbers light up Ethan now say numbers 1-11 without prompting.
The boys have a love of instruments and music, greatly attributed to watching Baby Einstein and Little Einstein DVDs. I bought them a baby grand piano at a consignment sale that has two 1/2 octaves as well as some pre-programed sounds like beats, demo music, and some animal sounds. Ethan prefers to start the demo music and dance while Andrew will use a couple fingers to play his own music and then maybe add a disco beat as filler. Sometimes it seems like noise but overall I love that piano. They both have learned to turn it off when they are finished playing though sometimes it takes a reminder. I wish the video showed Andrew's playing more but I had to pick one to post. Enjoy!
