Updates and Things to Remember...

I have about a zillion little notes and funny things the kids have said written down on sticky notes and random envelopes but I just haven't gotten around to actually posting any of them in a very long time. It's to the point where it's just too overwhelming to go through them all and post it all. I'll just have to store them in a safe place so that I can look back and remember them all years from now. But for now, I just want to write a quick update on both kids off the top of my head so at least I have something published about how they've been and what they've been up to.

Zane and Emmy can't live with each other and also can't live without. They play together, watch TV together, misbehave together, laugh together and on the other hand also take toys away from each other, argue over whose is whose, scream and cry because of each other, etc. Zane eggs Emmy on pretty well and she responds with hurting him or screaming...I know - a phase I hope she gets out of very soon! The good thing is that he barely ever responds back by hurting her. He does know other ways to push buttons though. On the positive side, they really do play well together some of the time. Earlier today, Zane even helped Emmy get undressed and put her swimsuit on for her. They giggled the whole time. They also come up with new games together and can truly entertain each other for long periods of time. They read together too, which I LOVE!
He says the funniest things to her, most of the time bossing, but lot's of other things too...
For example, "You just hit me in the head with that toy! I really did NOT expect that!" "You're really starting to make me feel frustrated."

Zane wants to be completely independent lately. This is a good and bad thing. He is helping so much more and doing so much more for himself and Emmy, but at the same time, it's hard when he doesn't want any help at all when he needs it. Actually, now that I think of it, same with Emmy. Anyways, he is just so old all of a sudden. He and I just talk and talk and talk all day long. What he comes up with astonishes me.

He's also catching onto sarcasm which is cracking us up. He loves telling jokes. On his own, he came up with "Why did the dog cross the playground? To get to the other SLIDE."

He's reading words now, sounding out. And he can read simple books with help. He's starting to form letters better. He can write words with help with spelling and his pictures are progressing.

One of his favorite thing to do is dress up and pretend anything and everything. He's getting more and more creative with what he comes up with to play. Now he drags Emmy into it too and she loves it. One hour he'll be an "animal expert" who is searching for animals and has to wear special gloves to stay safe from the poisonous ones, and the next hour he'll be the "lead detective" on a case with Emmy as his assistant and they'll have a bunch of props to help them. Then later, he may be a "superhero elephant" who knows a special language, etc. etc. etc. It goes on and on and on and on.

He's eating so much more of a variety of foods now, thank goodness. He likes chicken and actually eats his veggies, even if he doesn't really like them. He tries new things and usually will eat what we're eating now.

Emerson is getting so big! She's talking so much more, which is of course fun. It's really fun though, because we get to hear her sense of humor. She teases us and jokes around so much. She is super quirky and silly for sure.

She is soooo loving and passionate. And also strong willed. She definitely shows her emotions on her sleeve. She gives hugs and kisses and love all the time and randomly tells us she loves us. She gives the new baby so much love and kisses my belly if she ever feels like it gets bumped or hurt. When she's feeling naughty though, she'll say stuff like " I just love Mommy" or something like that. Oooooh, I can't believe that a sweet, cute little 2 year old can be like that! When she's happy she's incredibly happy and when she's mad or grumpy, we all know it. Basically her mood affects the whole family.

She loves dressing up in all sorts of costumes and loves just being silly. She talks in silly voices. She cracks all of us up all the time. She wrestles with Zane and asks to play with him all the time.

She says, "thanks" and "no thanks" for everything. She's starting to "use her words" better. For example, instead of screaming at the top of her lungs when Zane is doing something she doesn't like, now she's practicing saying "Please don't do that Zane." Its so cute when she actually does it. They also have to ask the other nicely to have a turn with a toy if the other has something they want. Sharing is a slow process.

She still copies Zane - usually what he says and does. Usually she repeats his sentences exactly and then adds "too" at the end. But she's starting to do her own things more too.

She's super athletic! She can run so fast, jump like crazy, and I think she's pretty coordinated at throwing balls, climbing, etc. She's brave too - she doesn't hesitate to jump in the pool, go down slides or water slides, etc. Even if she gets hurt - she just tries again.

She's picky about her own clothes and wants to pick what she wears. She obsessed with her sleep sacks and wants to wear them over clothes most of the day.

She's s pretty good eater, and likes to use her utensils and drink out of a real cup.

Did I mention she's sassy, sassy, sassy?