Here's Johnny!

Dylan has a new "friend", Johnny. Johnny has actually been around for a little over a month now and is usually responsible when something bad happens (usually to Lukie!). We first met Johnny a while back after somebody pushed Luke down and made him cry. As I was explaining to Dylan how doing this upset Luke, he told me that Johnny did it! Ever since then, Johnny is the usual suspect. He's not a bad kid, he just does bad things sometimes...poor Johnny just can't help himself.

I've entered the boys in a cover model contest at Parents.com. Please go over and check it out and recommend and rate the boys. We could win a trip to New York for a photo shoot and the big winner gets to be on the cover of Parents magazine. I figure at least one of them should make the finals...we're only up against 75,000+ other kids, but MY kids are just adorable ;-)!!

Boys

When I found out I was having a boy (each time) of course I was happy, but part of me was scared. Scared because I really didn't (and still don't) know that much about boys. I never imagined I would be the mother of two boys!! Of course I love them immensely and wouldn't trade them for anything... but I'm still scared. I'm scared by what I don't know, and of what I do know (see below). I know that there are also fears with raising girls, except I know more of what that entails. Anyway, I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead with my boys (and also dread some). The video below echoes one of my biggest fears. The link is to a well-written post by another blogger who hits on a subject that I imagine we'll have to deal with someday.


This one really hits home! New ad by MoveOn.org

Other things to worry about with boys...

Sleepover in SF

Fun times at Children's Playground, Golden Gate Park, SF

Earlier this month, the boys had their first overnight experience without Mom & Dad! They spent several days with my parents in San Francisco, while Rob and I had a nice trip to Newport Beach. Surprisingly it went quite well for everyone. Dylan & Luke were superbly entertained and had a great time with Sitie, Papa & Aunt Brie. It's great to know that they can do so well when we're not around. I think I may have missed them more than they missed me!! Anyway, a huge thanks to Sitie, Papa and Aunt Brie for being such wonderful and generous hosts to the boys - I think everyone had a fantastic time!!

Happy Father's Day!

To all the men who love my boys..

Happy Daddy Day!

Happy Papa Day!

Happy Grandpa Day!

I love that you love them so much!! Thank you for everything!

Summer Fun

Well it's really starting to get HOT around here. As I get older I have found that I hate the hot summer months, but at least the boys don't seem to be bothered by the warm weather. In fact they love it. We have the "pool" (small plastic kiddie pool) filled up and they love to splash around in the water. Luke is getting bigger every day and starting to hold his own with Dylan. Of course Dylan is still bigger and more able to do everything, but we are constantly amazed at everything Luke attempts to do to keep up with his big brother!! I was the oldest and I am just starting to get a glimpse of what it is like being the younger sibling. However Luke is a very strong-willed kid with a positive attitude, so hopefully he'll persevere without too much trouble. Lately they have been playing together a lot more. Their favorite game is chase, scream and giggle; which goes something like Luke chasing Dylan (who is holding the wanted object), while screaming/shrieking and they both giggle uncontrollably. The game usually entails running wildly around the house. While it's so cute to watch, I'm just waiting for someone to get hurt (all fun & games until someone crashes into the wall or falls on their face or worse). So I have to be the bad guy (a role I have learned to accept as part of parenthood) and slow things down when they get too rowdy. Yesterday Luke had the wanted object, and he motioned to Dylan like "here you want it?"; but when Dylan reached out to grab it, Luke pulled it away with a smirk of pride and accomplishment. It was so cute to see him be the one in control; he got a big kick out of it (although minutes later Dylan was successful at snatching it away from him). Luke is a great sport, so he wasn't really phased and continued playing (I think he may prefer to be the chaser).

Luke is also starting to understand most of what we're saying. I ask him to do things and he responds. He's not really talking yet; although when asked what a cow says, he replies "Boo." Dylan is the King of Why? He is so curious about everything and asks a hundred questions. I love that he is thinking about and understanding everything on a deeper level, but the questions are starting to drive me crazy!! I can't even answer them half the time! I'm learning that often the best way to respond (and get him to stop) is to let him come up with the answer. He has also started "reading" to us. Really he has memorized his favorite books; but it's great to hear him tell the story in his own way. They are both changing constatly, it's really difficult to chronicle everything here.