Gabriel and Ephraim play this game every once in a while. Gabriel prides himself on teaching little brother, and little brother humors him by repeating what he hears.
I wanted to record a cute conversation I had with Ephraim last night. I was putting him to sleep and we were talking about what's going to happen this weekend as I was rocking him in the rocking chair. I was telling him we were going to see Grandma and Grandpa McMillan and Mike and his dog Ambi. And that Ambi might lick his face again but it was okay to say no or stop. Ephraim recently learned how to say "stop" and put his palm out. So at the end of the conversation, Ephraim was saying "dah" (tongue out for lick) "cheek" (pointing to his cheek and then holding up his toes) "stop" (palm out). He said that several times before he fell asleep. And he even sat up once before he was completely asleep and we went over it together a few more times. So cute that he can communicate!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
December Catch Up
It has been a crazy December, although nothing out of the ordinary officially. Trying to get the blog caught up with a few pictures and videos.
We received a huge box from Grandma and Grandpa Gunn in CO. Can you tell Gabriel was excited to learn it was filled with presents...with HIS name on some?!
Ephraim was happy to rip off the paper too.
Paul's huge company put on a very elaborate holiday party. It was an awesome date! Amazing catered food (Chinese, Thai, and American), decorations of gigantic flowers, several photo spots, and the highlight for me was the Willy Wonka dessert tent. Two big lollipop trees, a guy serving cake, two stations of floats (with alcohol so we skipped those), and two chocolate fountains! Plus many gingerbread platters of cake pops and candy and cookies. We mingled and sipped our ginger ale Shirley Temples, and meandered over to the arcades. Paul took me on an overdue date to his work after hours the weekend before, so we knew what we wanted to play. We couldn't get to the basketball hoop game because of the party, but we had access to the air hockey table and our new favorite trackball golf!
Gabriel's preschool put on a holiday performance. They sang three songs and handed out homemade gifts for the parents. Adorable!!
We received a huge box from Grandma and Grandpa Gunn in CO. Can you tell Gabriel was excited to learn it was filled with presents...with HIS name on some?!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Prep for Christmas
So every year's end since Gabriel was born we have collected our digital photos and home videos and Paul transforms them into a beautiful DVD. That has been occupying our free time lately, not to mention Christmas shopping and wrapping and planning. But here are a few goodies I want to record before I forget:
A few weeks ago, I started putting Ephraim in cloth diapers on and off (to see if it helped his eczema). He suddenly is more interested in the potty. He has asked to sit on the potty 5 times now and peed 3 times while there. He will be 21 months on Friday and doesn't really show other signs of readiness, but it very exciting to know that things might be easier this time around.
Ephraim is using more words every day. Sometimes I think he gets lazy with enunciating, but I can get it with a few guesses. He picks up new signs happily, so we've added please and thank you and sorry and dirty (hoping he'd talk about his diaper with that one). One day we were playing inside and Ephraim signed "dirty" to me and pointed to the backdoor... he wanted to go outside and play in the dirt. He continues to be extremely patient when it comes to toys. He is slightly right-dominant, but prefers to try all things with both hands still. He loves to make his brother laugh (and vice versa).
Gabriel is enjoying preschool. It makes me proud to hear everyone chime his name eagerly when we enter in the morning. His closest friends are girls ("Gianna," in particular at school). I read somewhere that it helps if you give kids this age specific compliments on what they're good at. He has clung on to "you're a great artist" and loves to draw. He describes himself as a "fast runner and good artist." They are definitely his strongest traits right now. He amazes us each day with the things he draws.
(More pics to come, as soon as the laptop/files are free again after we finish the DVD.)
A few weeks ago, I started putting Ephraim in cloth diapers on and off (to see if it helped his eczema). He suddenly is more interested in the potty. He has asked to sit on the potty 5 times now and peed 3 times while there. He will be 21 months on Friday and doesn't really show other signs of readiness, but it very exciting to know that things might be easier this time around.
Ephraim is using more words every day. Sometimes I think he gets lazy with enunciating, but I can get it with a few guesses. He picks up new signs happily, so we've added please and thank you and sorry and dirty (hoping he'd talk about his diaper with that one). One day we were playing inside and Ephraim signed "dirty" to me and pointed to the backdoor... he wanted to go outside and play in the dirt. He continues to be extremely patient when it comes to toys. He is slightly right-dominant, but prefers to try all things with both hands still. He loves to make his brother laugh (and vice versa).
Gabriel is enjoying preschool. It makes me proud to hear everyone chime his name eagerly when we enter in the morning. His closest friends are girls ("Gianna," in particular at school). I read somewhere that it helps if you give kids this age specific compliments on what they're good at. He has clung on to "you're a great artist" and loves to draw. He describes himself as a "fast runner and good artist." They are definitely his strongest traits right now. He amazes us each day with the things he draws.
(More pics to come, as soon as the laptop/files are free again after we finish the DVD.)
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