Braydon

Note: For the backstory on this, click here to read the “你好 (Ni Hao)” post from November 30.

Most everyone I know probably realizes this, but I just want to be clear: I think it’s awesome that Heather got the boys the Donald and Douglas. Most men would be queasy with their boys having dolls, but I think it’s great. I never held a baby until after college, and I never held a baby that didn’t cry when I touched it until I held K&O. That’s just not right.

I am glad my boys will be comfortable with dolls, with babies and will grow up to be nurturing men.

It’s with mixed feelings that I write this post.

For months and months Kyle and Owen loved to “roll cars with Papi.” That meant they we would sit on the floor in the kitchen and roll cars (or trucks) back and forth. In the beginning they were pretty lousy at it – but at that point they were just over a year old, so it was to be expected. But over time they became more and more accurate and our antics became more and more involved.

We made ramps and tunnels. We used multiple cars. We opened the doors of the cars, we caused crashes “watch out car coming!” In my view of the world it was totally delightful. I loved it and cherish it.

This evening, we rolled cars for about 2 minutes before they were ready to move on to something else – that did not involve me. My boys are growing up. Maybe it’s a phase, maybe they are ready to move on.

On the other hand, before bed, both boys sat on my lap at my computer and listened to music with me – loud music.

We listened to Overture to Candide by Bernstein, Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland and… and… The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky – THE WHOLE THING. Not bad for 2.5 year olds. I am really psyched – because they were really into it. And this was for two boys who much prefer running and jumping to sitting.

So, one door closes, another opens. It’s always something new and different, that’s for sure!

Every night we follow the same ritual for bedtime. Go upstairs, Owen sits on the potty, Kyle stands. Get treats. We wash faces, brush teeth (work on getting chocolate out of teeth), play with water that we should be drinking. Get diapers on, get PJs on.

Then we read books (3 max, selected by the boys) – tonight was “Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you see?”, “Big Green Monster”, and “Airport”. After books, we say prayers, which is a riot to hear.

Then it’s time to go to bed. Heather takes Owen out to his room. I say to Kyle, “ok, time for night nights, do you want to give Elmo a kiss?” He nods vigorously every time and wanders off to where Elmo is.

Elmo has his “own bed”. Which is really a couch cushion at the foot of Kyle’s bed. Elmo lies in repose with his companions: two horses, two dolls and a fish. They are all covered by a blanket. The blanket covers up to their eyes. This is Kyle’s doing, he makes sure they are completely covered up the eyes – every night.

Then he reaches down and gives Big Elmo several sweet little boy kisses on the eye. He stands up smiles and climbs in bed. Every night.

That’s my sweet boy.

Maybe it’s twins, maybe it’s just Heather, but wow is she incredibly well prepared. Whenever you turn around, what ever you need is there. But it’s also more than that.

Today, we were in the car with K&O coming home from Target where we had done a massive diaper & wipe run to restock supplies. It was dark, around 5:30 and the boys were getting a little hungry. Kyle spoke up “Mommy, what’s in your bag?” He repeated the question several times until Heather figured out that he meant the glove compartment.

Owen then chimed in, “I want Goldfish”. Heather’s response: “Ok baby, here are some goldfish for you.” Wait – where did that come from? She pulls a ziplock of Goldfish out of the glove compartment and hands them to him.

Kyle says, “I want bananas.” Heather replies, I only have banana chips baby, do you want those?” And hands him the banana chips. Huh? Wait – did he know that and was asking because he knew, or she got lucky?

I don’t know, but this happens all the time. From a diaper that happens to be on hand at the right time (like an accident in the store), to an extra set of clothes for when that diaper wasn’t fast enough, to a sippy cup with the right juice, to a hat when it’s cold.

But here is the real kicker:
1. Organic, no sugar added banana chips
2. Whole grain Goldfish
3. 100% juice, JuicyJuice
4. Some of the coolest clothes any one can wear (I wish I had half their style)
5. Preemptive readiness for any situation

K&O have really taken to hide & seek. Which means that I count to ten (sitting on the stair), while they go and hide together. Then I call out “10! Here I come, ready or not, I’m going to find you!” and go find them. I go searching around and pretend to not see them, despite their giggling and squirming. When I don’t see them, I look in a spot and say “Nope!” and do that until I run out of spots where they are not. Sometimes they can’t stand it anylonger and say “Here I am!!!”

But when I do “find” them, we all scream like crazy men and I grab them, pick them both up and tickle them – lots of laughter all the way around.

Tonight, when it was my turn to hide, I hear “10! ‘EreI come, re’ee or not! I’m uh uh ghona finooo! And then as I hear them looking for me (I was around the other side of the couch), I hear “Mama?!? Where’s Papi?!?” and then… “Nope!” “Nope!”

I laughed and they found me!

Note: The formatting for this video is off on the blog (it should be 16:9). If it doesn’t look right, please click the title link to go straight to YouTube.

I’ve introduced K&O to Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland. It’s “Trumpets, French Horns, Trombones and Drums!” We have listened to it a couple times in the car. On the CD I have, it’s followed by variations on a Gift to be Simple, and they like that too.

Today we were waiting in the car after little gym while Heather and Janet ran in to get coffee in Panera. I asked the boys if they wanted to listen to music. “YES!” What did they want to listen to?

“TRUMPETS!!!”

It’s a dream come true.

Our boys have different personalities. But they also share many interests, one of which is buttons. By buttons, I mean things that you can push on an electronic device.

Owen gets distinct pleasure from pressing the TV on/off button – much to my dismay. He likes to do it whenever he can – including while watching TV. Kyle not so much. Kyle’s far more interested in pushing the buttons on the Microwave. Over and over and over. Sometimes it gets turned on. Sometimes there is something in it when it gets turned on. Sometimes that something is metal. Much to my dismay.

The boys like to sit on my lap at my computer and have me show them a video I’m working on (about them of course). Owen likes to try to tap the keyboard. Over and over. The video starts, stops and closes (without saving of course).

But maybe the best is that Kyle recently said (as he climbed in my chair and started pressing keys on my keyboard – which somehow immediately shut my laptop down – I just don’t know how that happened): “Not my computer. I don’t have computer [kompootor]. I ask Santa for computer, Papi?”

Now that’s a love of pushing buttons. Most of all, my heart button.