PART I: BABY!

We hadn’t thought about re-addressing babies in this blog now that our girls are toddlers. However, there’s been a massively exciting development in the family. The girls have a cousin!!!!!!!  Welcome to the world!  We couldn’t be more excited to be auntie/uncle/cousins to this lovely little boy.

The girls are practicing to “be gentle” in high gear now. Hard to tell. Fingers crossed for you, cousin:)

PART II: TODDLERS!

Yes, two-year old twins are a ton of work. And the tantrums have aged us (Lara at least, Neil seems more impervious to the roller coaster that is toddler emotion!). However, toddlers come with such joy, curiosity, and cuteness that we find ourselves filled to the brim with joy, curiosity, and well, grey hairs. At the end of the day it’s a damn cute age and we are on board with the old adage, “wouldn’t change a thing.”

So here’s Tash & Kat at 26.5 months (they should actually only be 2 years old today if Kat hadn’t been in such a rush to enter the world!).

They are full fledged little people who now ask for milk or banana, choose their own shirts, and tell us to sit down and read them a book in a no-nonsense tone (“sit…here…read”). They could not possibly adore Elmo and the Sesame Street characters any more . They mimic our actions (sweeping, dancing, marching) and words (“Oh sweetie”, “Oh puppy”, “no no no no”) every chance they get. Sponges.

One of the highlights of the past few months was the family trip to Hawaii. We visited Kona again with Grandma and Grandpa Diener (no Anton & Vinaya this year, sniff sniff, but refer to Part I for reason). In terms of kid outcomes, this trip was mountains improved over last year!!!  Flawless nights and naps, no infections contracted, and enjoyment of the beach (last year it was evil sand and terrifying tidepools). Sweet memories this trip.

Tasha was a little more cautious than Kat about using words, but she’s discovered her voice since Hawaii to the say the least. Lots of chatter with an emphasis on puppies, Elmo, and Cookie Monster (Sesame Street has superseded the baby fixation). Kat has an extensive vocabulary and startled us the other day by reciting numbers up to six.  Sometimes I wonder if they’re at last starting to listen to each other. They have sweet moments looking over a book together, reading the story obviously with their own interpretation and pointing emphatically at each character. These are unfortunately outnumbered by moments of frustration over sister taking toy of the moment. Or getting too close. Or using the spoon the other wanted. Or laying face down over a jigsaw puzzle so sister can’t place the last satisfying piece. However, as far as I know adults don’t tend to splay themselves over board games to prevent plays so we’re hoping that one is just a phase.

Really the videos portray the sounds and movements of toddlers best, so here goes…

Reading & Singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWPRpoj3Ec

Reading & Dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eFG8_-KTWU

Just dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGfLvMaugoI

What’s that on your head, Kat? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVoCFe_nH_U

Squeaky shoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSgiEXmoBI

Sliding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baqhKxDSonk

Bubbles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZizc61pWpA