Baby dolls!

This week the kids got their first dolls ... Thanks to Grammy and Gramps!  They're a hit :)  Amelia kisses them all day long and this morning (a rainy, cozy day) Luke wanted to be covered with a blanket and snuggle with them both :)

Shadows

Last week the sun was shining (gasp!) enough for the kids to get interested in the shadows that were forming on the living room wall.  I had to post this video because Luke is just SO cute saying "Hi!  Hi!" to his own shadow.  There are so many moments throughout the day where I just stop and am amazed by the simple pleasures that come along with watching kids learn and grow and play.  This is one of those moments.

Round two ...

Of the pumpkin patch!  Scott wished he'd been able to make it last time (and the fact that he loves things like taking the kids to the pumpkin patch makes me smile) and since it was a crisp and beautiful fall morning ... Why not?!

Love languages.

My children have different love languages.  Different than my own and different than each other.  Of course, this should be no surprise to me, I certainly didn't expect them to be the same (or even similar) type of person.  But it scares me that I won't know how to love them in the ways that they will understand.  A book became very popular when I was in college called The Five Love Languages about how people give and receive love in different ways, some through gift giving, some through quality time or words of affirmation or touch or acts of service.  I've heard that there's a similar book about understanding the love languages of children.  I'll have to start reading!  Until recently, Luke and Amelia's needs have been so basic -- healthy food, shelter, touch ... Maslow's hierarchy.  I can do that.  They are showing us new sides of themselves all the time now which is mostly exciting but quickly making me realize just how different they are.  I read today that, "We are students of our children – they don’t all need the same thing." (From a great blog called Chattingatthesky.com).  
 Last night I went to a mom's prayer group that was held in the prayer chapel.  A space that is beautiful and quiet and calm.  All the things (except the beauty ... life with kids is extra beautiful) that life with two toddlers is not.  The lady leading the group gave us the word "comfort" and then gave us a hour to pray about comfort for our children and to write our children letters.  In silence.  I used to love silence, I still do.  But the longer I've been a mom, the more it scares me.  There is a lot of space in silence.  And our house is anything but silent!  But "comfort" brought to mind the idea of "presence" ... How comforted I am by God's presence, how comforted our children are by our presence.  How I may not know how to love them perfectly but if I keep showing up and keep praying and keep loving ... they will get it.  They will know just how deeply they are loved.

What a ham!

It's official, Luke is a HAM!  He is such an animated and active boy.  It's so fun to watch his personality emerging more and more.  Since I was painfully shy for at least the first half of my life, I think I can be pretty sure that this part of him came from Scott's side :)  This week we got a fun package from Grammy and Gramps full of fall goodies -- Halloween decorations, rain boots (which we put to good use already since the Oregon rain has come back!) ... Luke had so much fun opening the package and playing with the box.  Here he is ...

Beep beep!

Amelia just cracks me up!  She is a kid who will do things on her own schedule and in her own way, thank you very much!  I've been trying to get the kids to say, "Beep beep!" when they're crashing their bikes and cars into each other in the yard.  Neither of them had said it yet until Amelia is driving right at me and says with a total straight face, "Beep beep!"  Scott brought this Quad riding toy into the house one night and the kids loved it!  (On a side note, I've been noticing my trim is always chipped ... hmmm ... maybe the two toddlers have something to do with that?!)

21 months!

Happy 21 months dear Luke and Amelia!  This week you ...

... Played dress up with Caroline in practice for Halloween!   Here's Caroline the flower,
Amelia the elephant and Luke the Dinosaur!

... Had a blast playing with Auntie Elizabeth and John, Hava and David!

... Figured out how to open the top dresser drawer and pull out every hair bow, lotion, etc.  Here is A offering
L an open tub of vasoline.  Perfect.  And I thought they were so nicely talking quietly to each other
bright and early in the morning!  Not so much!

Loved your new table!  It was Grammy and Great-Aunt Linda's when they were little!

21 months is getting so close to TWO ... We love you both so much!