What the Pumpkin and the Unicorn are Up to

I went into Ezra’s room this morning and, as I looked down in his crib and greeted him with a “Good Morning!,” he responded “Help me.”  Ezra’s vocabulary is certainly blooming lately, much of it thanks to having a very verbal big sister. He still doesn’t volunteer a ton of words, but loves to mimic what she says. He definitely knows the words “truck” and “cars,” two of his very favorite things. I was so happy the other day when he pointed to something and said “green,” then to Ella’s shirt with the word “pink!”

Ella is working on writing her last name at school now and I was so proud to watch her write it the other morning. It looks as though she’s finally solved the “which hand will she use” dilemma and is consistently writing with her left. It’s a bit odd, though, because she still tends to favor her right hand for eating, throwing a ball, etc. Preschool continues to engage and delight Ella. We’ve already gone on one fun field trip to a pumpkin patch and this week we’ll visit the local small-town airport.

 Ezra’s disposition continues to remain a bit of a mystery to me. In fact, when Tim and I prayed last night I found myself slipping in, “Please help Ezra learn to control his temper.” He is definitely a roller-coaster of emotions, with a strong mix of stubborn “I can do it myself” (even when he clearly can’t) and I will throw a fit until I don’t remember why I’m throwing one to begin with. I know he’s not quite two, so I’m not in any panic. But I am continuing to work on language skills with him, including a tiny bit of signs, because I believe that this will go a long way in easing his frustrations. I’ve felt for a long time that his comprehension is very high, making it very frustrating that he can not communicate all he wants to say in return.

Miss Ella’s newest love is swim lessons. She’s always been drawn to water, but simultaneously afraid of it. I generally don’t take my kids to a pool without Tim unless I know a friend will be there who can help because I’ve got Ella the “hold onto your neck for dear life” and Ezra “Let go of me, I can do this by myself”. To help remedy this a bit, I decided to sign Ella up for swim lessons now that we’ve joined the YMCA. I couldn’t be happier with the results – and we’ve only had two lessons. Ella’s teacher, Miss Connie, is about 75 and merciless. She’s perfect for Ella, though, because she somehow manages to verbally encourage her and physically manhandle her in a way that now has her going under the water, blowing bubbles, swimming on her back (with help), and even jumping into the water if someone holds her hands. Every day Ella asks if it’s swim lessons day.

My favorite thing about the stage that both of my kids are in – 4 and nearly 2 – is that they are really beginning to enjoy each other. He hero worships her and she is much more engaged in helping him, showing him how to do things, and soothing him. She reads to him, they play together, and she even speaks for him. I like how he mimics her – unless she’s being naughty – and the way they are clearly more of a team now.