So many new things, so little time!

I realize that it has been awhile since I wrote a new post. I have many excuses for this, not the least of which are two busy, beautiful, boisterous little girls that keep me too occupied to post to my blog. However... they have finally hit the "learning" stage. When I was a nanny, the sweet little Meghan was about the girls' age, and I remember being so amazed that she would literally do or say something new every single day that I watched her. My friend Melinda said the same of her little cutie Grace at this age, too. And it is so true! It seems that Aubrey and Claire are growing in cognative ability by leaps and bounds. Here are some of the latest, and the cutest:

Aubrey:
My little observer and helper. About a week ago, the girls were playing outside on the deck. Spring has been rather cold here, but trying to take advantage of the sunshine I sent them outside in short sleeves hoping some vitamin D would sink in. A few minutes later Aubrey comes running in, beelines past me, and zooms to her room. The girl is fast. She must get that from soccer-playing daddy. She runs back out with her coat, wanting me to put it on her. I do. Instead of running outside, she runs back in her room. And comes out. With Claire's coat. And I put it on Claire. And Aubrey runs back again, this time to return with Claire's pacifier. Ok. Are we all set? Yes, back outside again.

The following day, Claire was having a particularly loud and drama-infused whining session around the dinner hour, before dinner, of course. Well, Aubrey had had enough. She ran back to her room, to escape, I thought. And then back out she came, ran over to Claire, and shoved Claire's paci right in her mouth. Peace and quiet for all, for the moment. Later that night, about an hour after we put the girls to bed, I hear a voice.

A little, sing-songy voice. They usually konck out within about 15 minutes of bedtime, so this is rare. Did we lose a paci? Did Little Pink fall overboard? I creep in to check on my sweethearts. Claire is completely passed out, snoozing away in her nest of blankies. And little Aubrey is sitting in her crib, cross-legged, shoulders wrapped in Little Pink. And she sings "bob-reeeee, bob-reeeeee, bob-bob, reeeeeee!". (She was singing a song to herself, about herself. Absolutely darling.)

Since our spring has been rather rainy, we've taken the opportunity to enjoy some snuggle time. For example, the other day the girls and I checked out Gigi from the library and popped it in the DVD player. It was pouring, stormy grey, and gloomy outside, but we had a divine time sitting on the couch, singing along and relaxing together. Aubrey sat on my tummy and leaned back against my chest, and Claire settled snugly into my arms. Is this bliss, or what? Amazing.

Latest Words: I'm tryint to teach my darlings some manners. They are getting really good at saying Thank You (thub-thub -Claire- and doop-doop -Aubrey-). Please is the occasional haaaaaa... Aubrey is fluent in ni-ni (ni-night), amem (amen), bye, mummies (yummy, as in food) which she repeats like a calling bird until she gets fed. Shuushhhh (juice), ssssssuh (shoe)

Claire:
my tender hearted drama queen. Another night, I again heard a sweet voice fill the nursery air. This time, it was Clairsie. My eyes literally welled up with tears as I crept in to see her sitting in her crib, cradling her stuffed puppy, stroking its ears and singing softly to it. She wasn't affected at all by my entrance, she just glanced up, smiled, and kept singing to her little friend. The next morning, she toddled out to me while I was making breakfast and showed me her sweet baby: she cooed and rocked it and stroked its head. Beeee-beeee, she said.

She also is the go-to gal for over-reactions in our household. If we have to take something away, or it is bedtime, or she is hungry, or even mildly depressed, we all are prevy to a fantastic display of shrieking, flopping, rolling, re-flopping, stomping, kicking, screeching, and re-flopping. Tornados and hurricanes have nothing on this force of nature.

Latest words: gucky (ducky), buh (bye-bye), and lots and lots of babbling. The most adorable sweet nothings you'd ever hear. She gets the expressions right - furrowed brows, intonation in her voice, timing, etc, but no inteligable words yet. Hearing her "speak" is such great entertainment.

My girls love to keep track of the school bus. It stops right in front of the condo, and they daily wave hello and goodbye to the kids. If they hear a bus or loud car, they immediately start to wave and say buh (bye?).

If they want to be picked up, Aubrey will run up and stick her skinny little arms straight up into the sky and stomp her little feet until you pick her up. Claire will come along, whine, cry, and hang on your pantleg until you surrender. They love to hug and kiss. Claire loves to "hug" Aubrey; she'll run up and tackle her and little Aubrey will just take it, until she gets bored of being hugged and whimpers to be released. It is so sweet to be kissed by a one-year-old! I can't get enough baby kisses.

When we're out and about, their personalities really come out. Aubrey is content to sit and watch the world go by from her stroller, and Claire can't stand it until she gets to get out and push the stroller. Aubrey likes car rides, and I have to wrestle Claire into her seatbelt, every time.

They have tasted, and loved, their first steak and rice-a-roni. I gave them new haircuts (darling little stacked bobs). The adore pushing their baby strollers around the complex. Well, about half way around. The rest of the time I carry the babies and the strollers while trying to hold each of their hands. We're working on this.

All in all, I think I could write a book (and have; thank you for hanging in, dear readers) about the new things my girls are doing. I will try to post more often, as this blog is mainly so I don't forget!