Wheels!

We've had a fun few days with some new and exciting toys. Amelia, Abigail, and Gabriel finally have their own set of wheels! These pictures aren't the greatest, but they do show the lastest addition to our toy collection and the latest cause of non-stop entertainment. On Sunday Garrett blessed me with an afternoon off, so I got several hours with which to run errands, play, and enjoy some peace and quiet. One of my errands was to go to Toys R Us to spend Nana's birthday money for the kids. She had picked out these riding toys and the kids absolutely LOVE them. They have insisted on sleeping with them for the past couple nights. I finally put the kibosh on that tonight after they ransacked their bedroom, from their cribs, at naptime today. They had their "bikes," as they like to call them, in bed with them and I think the things just kept them awake and wired and looking for trouble. Anyway, they may not get to sleep with them any longer, but I have a feeling the riding toys will be a hit for some time to come.

In addition to the inside riding toys, I also pulled out a couple tricycles for my kids to play with at the playground today. I mentioned in an earlier post that we had one tricycle, and Garrett and I found a second one on the side of the road a week or so ago. We have no room in our apartment to store these tricycles but I figured I would at least take them to the playground and leave them there. Hopefully they will stick around, and if they don't at least we can play with them until they get hoisted. It's better than leaving them in our apartment or car waiting to get some play time. Amelia absolutely loves the trikes, and Gabe is a big fan too. Abby enjoys a joy ride here and there but luckily she seems to be okay with forfeiting a turn so her siblings can take a ride, so having only two seems to be working out so far. It's been very fun letting them get their hand at mastering some new skills with the ride on toys. They really love it. In fact I've had a couple pretty easy days this week because the kids are completely absorbed in their new toys. I haven't had to do much in the way of entertaining. It's a nice break!

No major news in the potty training arena this week. Amelia and Gabriel have had a few more successes, and Abigail continues to show her interest when the others do. I have decided, at least for now, to take a very laid back approach to this potty training thing. I'm in no rush, so I'll just follow their lead and see where it takes me. It's pretty cool to see them taking the initiative on it really. I mean, you hear all this hype in the parent world about potty training--how it's horrible, or long, or time consuming, or takes a ton of planning and clock watching or whatever. I suppose it's like anything else. You can tie yourself in knots about how to do it "right" or you can just take it as it comes. I've come to the conlclusion that in general, parenting is best taken as it comes. I have enough on my plate without inviting more stress, and so far my kids seem pretty capable of letting me know what they need and when. So for now, I'm pretty proud of Amelia when she tells me she has to go potty and then she actually does it when I give her the opportunity, but I won't put any expectations on her that she has to progress at any certain pace. They'll get it when they're ready.

If only I could be so patient with their language acquisition skills. Sometimes it seems to take so long for them to really talk! They are doing great, don't get me wrong. They each have a lot of words in their repertoires and their receptive language is clearly improving. But I'm still impatient to really see that exposion of language that everyone seems to think is right around the corner. I see hints of it. Gabriel especially seems very astute at picking up nuances and inflections. The other day Amelia got into the elevator in our apartment building by herself and traveled to another floor (long story). But while she was gone and Gabe and Abby and I were waiting for Garrett to find her and bring her back, I was asking the little ones where Amelia was and Gabriel looks at me and lifts his arms in a questioning shrug and says "where?" I said "I don't know" and he looks down and says "don't know" in his cute little baby voice. So he's getting it. They are all getting it. I just wish it could all happen a little faster, especially in the moments of frustration that still seem all too frequent when someone wants something and is about to have a tantrum about it and I can't elicit a single request. Seems like, when your world consists of stuffed animals and crackers and milk and diaper changes that it wouldn't be too hard to convey what you want. But I suppose that is a simplistic view of my kids' world. Perhaps what they wish to convey is that there is so much more to their world than stuffed animals and crackers and milk and diaper changes. I still have so much to learn.

Unexpected developments

So just last night I was on the phone with my friend Kim, whose daughter just started potty training over the weekend. I swear my kids must have been eavesdropping because this afternoon and evening was a virtual potty bananza! We've had a child size potty in our hall bathroom since around Christmastime and the kids sit on it from time to time, but we've never pushed them to use it. Amelia in the past few weeks has started consistently asking for diaper changes. Abigail asks for one every once in a while, and Gabriel just likes to say "poo poo." But tonight all three of them jumped on the potty bandwagon. Amelia actually asked to sit on the potty after their bath so she did, and she peed! Very exciting! And pretty cute. It couldn't have been easier.

Then, after dinner when we were heading toward diaper changes and pajamas, Abby asked to sit on the potty. She camped out there for a while, and a couple times even said "pee pee" and stood up to check if anything was in the potty. Nothing was there, but I have to give her kudos for wanting to make it happen. While Abby was lounging on the little potty, Amelia decided she wanted to go again. The normal toilet was the only unoccupied potty in the bathroom, so I held Amelia over the big potty and she went again, for the second time in one day! I was so excited! Then of course Gabriel wanted to get in on the action, so he asked to sit on the big potty too. And he actually used it! I couldn't believe it. Even though he was more interested in unrolling the toilet paper than giving himself a reason to need it, I was still impressed and pleased with their newfound interest in all things potty. Although I admit I am a bit stricken with anxiety at the idea of potty training all three kids at one time. The good thing is I think once one kid starts, the other two will be dying to try it too. Nothing like peer pressure to motivate change. The bad thing is potty training is a lot of work! And three at once is a lot to juggle. It was hard enough this evening keeping everyone's hands and faces out of the toilet while trying to hold Amelia and Gabriel so they didn't end up taking a swim in the toilet bowl. Everyone was peering into the bowl, captivated by this new and intriguing process. I'm not planning on any grand new program to get them potty trained all of a sudden, but I figure there's no reason to fight it. I just hope I can survive it.

Celebration

One more big happy birthday to my toddling two year olds! This weekend we had Amelia, Abigail, and Gabriel's birthday party. I admit that Garrett and I were not totally organized. We thought we were. We tried to be. But we certainly underestimated the complications of getting all the necessities from our apartment to the playground across the parking lot. And the length of the lines at Party City on Saturday morning. And a cooler would have been a handy item to have. But I have to say, at least in my opinion, it was still a complete success. Our guests were gracious in the face of our last minute bumblings, the weather was fantastic, and it seemed that everyone had a nice time. It felt really good to throw a party that people seemed to enjoy. Or maybe what felt good was seeing that we really do have friends to invite to enjoy the special milestones in life with, and it was nice to have confirmation that Garrett and I are indeed making friends and making a home here in Mount Kisco. Not that I have really felt like that's not happening, but building a life somewhere new always takes time. It was really satisfying to connect with friends and neighbors and realize just how fortunate we are to be in social networks with some wonderful people, and recognize so much potential for rich friendships in the people God has introduced into our lives.

The kids got some amazing and very generous gifts, so I'm thinking it's time for me to do some serious house cleaning and toy swapping. It's neat to see them all moving into more "grown up" play, engaging in toys that involve pretend play and imagination (like baby dolls and doll houses), as well as play that involves more motor skills (like Gabe's new set of golf clubs). They also got some great puzzles and books and crayola art supplies. They're really moving away from the baby toys where texture and lights and visual stimulation are the name of the game. They still enjoy those toys, but they are getting much more interested in their choo choo trains and trucks and dolls and farmhouse with barnyard animals. And their tricycle! I got them a hand me down tricycle a couple months ago and they barely fit on the thing, but they are crazy about it. Most of the time I keep it in Garrett's and my bedroom because it's been known to cause more than one battle over whose turn it is. I hang on to it because I know how they love to play with it and I'm telling myself it is a great toy with which to learn taking turns, since we only have one. I'm not sure if that's more optimism that is called for at this point, given that we live in an aparment where we hardly have room for one tricycle, much less three. Not to mention it would take a journey the likes of a pilgrimage to mecca just to get all three kids with trikes outside to an area where they can safely ride them. But I maintain my insistence on hanging on to the thing, if only to assuage my own feelings of regret that we don't have a backyard in which to pile lots of riding toys where I can set the kids loose to figure them out. Right now I should probably focus on a few more practical things, like getting the no longer used toys out of this little apartment so we do have room for the new ones coming in!

Gosh I love being a mom. So much work, and all of it so worthwhile. Happy birthday little munchkins!

Unashamed

Sisters

My favorite little boy

Little mamas

Garrett and I got Amelia and Abigail baby dolls and doll size strollers to push around for their birthdays. They absolutely love them, even more than I expected. I knew the strollers would be a hit--they always are when we go play at DeAnna's house where her daughter Riley has two strollers and the four kids are always fighting over them. But I had no idea how they would really take to the dolls too, doting on them and giving them their bottles like good little mamas. It's been fun to see.

Part of what's fun is watching how my girls' personalities shine through as they practice their mothering skills. Amelia is a careful and conscientious mother, holding her baby often, offering the bottle and making sure she's strapped in to the stroller properly. She is gentle and remarkably attentive, in my opinion. She handles both dolls lovingly. Abigail, on the other hand, is a bit more impulsive. At first she doted on her baby as well, holding him in her lap and feeding him his bottle happily. But when she's tired of him, she's tired of him, and she doen't think twice about tossing him on the floor or dumping him out of the stroller. At one point she and Amelia were sitting with their babies on the couch. Abby dumped her baby on the floor. Amelia waited a moment, but when it was clear that Abby wasn't getting up, Amelia dutifully put her baby down on the couch, slid onto the floor, picked up Abby's doll and handed him back to her. Abigail promptly dropped him back on the floor. Yesterday, in fact, Abigail decided that she did not want her own baby at all, but she wanted Amelia's. She spent a significant portion of the morning wailing over wanting the girl doll instead of the boy doll. Today, apparently, the boy is just fine again. Somehow I think this says more about Abigail than the doll!

In any case, I love watching my girls and seeing how their different approaches to life are manifesting in more and more of the things they do and the ways they play. Sharon started working with Amelia during her speech therapy sessions last week and it's even been eye opening to hear what she observes. Amelia has sat in on sessions for Gabe and Abby before, so she's not new to being around Sharon, but she is new to the one-on-one work. I have not gotten to watch a session yet but Sharon reports that Amelia is more self-directed than Sharon expected and that she really is pretty opinionated one-on-one. In a group she's pretty cooperative and submissive, but when it's just her she's more inclined to refuse to follow direction or object to being guided or prodded. Maybe she's gotten so comfortable in the group setting that she's not quite sure how to respond to individual attention and direction. I'm interested to hear how her personality is coming out in these sessions, but I'm not worried about it. Mostly I feel relieved that Amelia is finally working with a therapist I really trust, and that she is finally getting the individual attention that she needs and deserves. It's all right with me if takes her some time to adjust to the newness of it. Every kid deserves special alone time and I know that after the transition Amelia will be a lot better off with our new arrangement.

Fun at the pool!

I dug out our old digital camera to take some pictures before we get a new one. Amazing how spoiled I have become with newer technology; using a camera that's six or seven years old gives me just enough time to roll my eyes with impatience between pushing the button and actually having the picture take. But I have some gems to show for the trouble, so I am happy to have a temporary fix. And to have these pictures of my poolside beauties to show off! The girls are not fans of the water still, though we have yet to make it to the pool at a really hot part of the day. Gabe loves getting wet and doesn't care if he's blue and shivering by the time he gets out. That's my boy!

Two years!

Today's the day! Amelia, Abigail, and Gabriel turn 2 years old today. What a milestone! In moments of reflection, which are few and far between given that I have three two year olds to take care of, it's absolutely astounding to me to note all the changes, transformations, accomplishments, and blessings of the last two years. I'm not sure what I expected two years olds to be like. I don't suppose I ever really thought about it at all. But whatever it was, my kids are infinitely more fun, more amazing, more captivating, more lovable, and more challenging than any of my preconceived notions suggested. Dare I say I feel like we are on the far side of a tough parenting slump? This thing called toddlerhood has been a rough road for me, but the past week or two I do feel like I am slowly gaining my perspective again. Not that I ever lost it entirely, but my disposition seems sunnier, at least to me, and it makes a big difference. I am really enjoying my kids and whereast the tough days felt almost impossible a month or two ago, I feel like I'm once again more able to take the tears and tantrums in stride and ride out the waves without too much turmoil of my own. I am determined not to dwell on or pout about any "terrible twos." I don't believe they exist outside of people's expectations. Certainly this is an age of trial and error, frustration and upset. But every age has it's struggles, and while two year olds may be testing their limits and learning some tough lessons, they are also talking more (yay!), snuggling more purposefully, sharing more thoughts and opinions, offering unexpected pearls of wisdom, and making people laugh. So far, given my half day of experience, two is a really great age!

This morning the munchkins had their two year doctor appointment. I hesitated to subject them to shots on their birthday, but given that this is one more year, and possibly the last, when their birthday means more to me than it does to them, I figured I might as well get it done and overwith and then have fun the rest of the day. The appointment went well. The main thing I'm always interested in is their growth. It was confirmed this morning that the Cunnington kids are still miniscule, but as always, they're moving right along. Here are the lastest stats:

Amelia
Height: 33" (25th percentile)
Weight: 21 pounds, 14 ounces (3rd percentile)

Abigail
Height: 33 3/4" (close to 50th percentile)
Weight: 20 pounds, 14 ounces (less than 3rd percentile)

Gabriel
Height: 34" (25th percentile)
Weight: 24 pounds, 4 ounces (10th percentile)

The heights are off a bit, specifically Amelia's. I know Amelia is taller than Abby but Amelia would not hold still for the measuring so it's very approximate. The only other notable thing was that Abby's weight pretty much flattened after her last appointment. She only gained about half a pound in six months. That's not much. But I'm not worried about it. She's been having those tummy aches and digestive problems, which for a while had dampened her appetite, but I've no doubt she's healthy and on the right track again. In some ways it's been pretty handy having such tiny kids, especially since they all love to be carried so much, and now they even have the words to ask for it I can still carry two at a time without too much difficulty, but three has been out of the question for some time now!

We're going to have a birthday party for the kids, but not until a week and a half from now. We decided this year not to have it this weekend in case people are busy or traveling for the holiday, but come next weekend we'll have a little shindig to mark the occasion. We've contemplated how to have a fun time with friends without turning it into a birthday party blowout. Seems like people in New York really go all out for birthday parties, hiring entertainers and passing out party favors and renting out fancy venues. Seems like a crazy amount of expense and work to me, especiallly for kids who don't even understand what it's all about. So we are having a party at our apartment complex, complete with playing on the playground, crawling through tunnels on the lawn, and eating some good old fashioned BBQ. What more could a kid ask for? I just hope the weather holds up. You'd think we'd be safe in July in New York, but this spring/early summer has been remarkably overcast and rainy and we're not out of the woods yet. Now just watch, come July 10th I'll be saying it's too hot!