Update on my Offspring

 Jack will be 18 months on the 4th of July.  He is such an adorable mix of cuddly, teasing sweetness.  He is finding new ways to capture Hazel's attention (like screaming and making faces), and they are finally, finally, becoming true friends that actually play with each other.  Jack's always adored Hazel and followed her around, but I suppose now that he can run and joke and sort of communicate, he has become an appealing companion instead of just someone who can't keep his chubby fingers off of all of Hazel's "special things."   

Photo by Deon Bingham

A few nights ago, the kids and I got home from grocery shopping just minutes before we usually eat dinner.  Todd had just arrived home from work.  The kitchen was crowded, with Todd and I trying to simultaneously unpack groceries and throw together a meal.  Jack was up in my grill, begging to be held.  (He likes to watch what's happening in the kitchen.)  But there just was no time or space for it that night.  I said, all hopeful-like, "Jack, go find Hazel upstairs and play with her."  And he actually wiggled out of my arms and ran up to Hazel, giggling in anticipation of what she'd have in store for him.  Not to mention, they stayed up there, happily playing without me until we had food on the table.  It was a miracle and a milestone. 

Photo by Deon Bingham

Another night recently, there was an empty Huggies box in our living room and I put Jack in it and started pushing him around in it, trying to keep him happy and occupied while Todd vacuumed the main level.  He LOVED it.  Five seconds after Jack climbed out, Hazel got in, wanting a turn herself.  Jack immediately wanted to get back in as well, and I fully expected Hazel to protest, push him out, make a big fuss and have the whole thing end in tears.  Not so.  She lovingly pulled Jack onto her lap and used a real sweet voice to talk to him, and the two of them snuggled up tight and went for a ride.  Hazel integrated it into some storyline she was in the middle of imagining, and as she hopped out to go trick-or-treating called out, "Thanks for the ride, Jack!"  And Jack scrambled out right after her, crying and chasing her, wanting her to get back in with him.  Which she did (after putting on a dress-up for her Halloween costume).

I've been praising Hazel like crazy, hoping she'll pick up on how proud and impressed I am with what a great big sister she's being lately.  I think it's working.  Today, after a smattering of compliments from me, she told me she was happy and filled with a warm feeling.  Let's keep it up.  I so want them to be best friends.

Jack still doesn't talk much, but he sure hums a lot.  His most common tune is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/ABCs.  He hums every single note.  He adores dogs and calls out "daw!" every time he sees or hears one.  He's also recently become very interested in trucks and airplanes, and loves to point them out.  He's usually pretty happy looking out his window while we drive around town.  There's a train track we cross over frequently, and he loves it when the train crossing arms come down and the lights flash to warm that a train is coming.  He's been wearing Hazel's shoes all over the house lately, even her dress-up heels.  He will do anything again and again if we think its funny. 

Hazel had her half-birthday (3 1/2) almost a month ago and we celebrated with a half a cake and a couple of presents.  My poor Christmas kids... We're excited to do something for them in the summer so it's not such a celebration drought and flood around here.

Hazel loves to learn new things and has recently taken to the nonfiction section of the library.  After Todd and I got back from our trip to Hawaii, we checked out a book on volcanoes that absolutely fascinated Hazel.  She has been talking constantly about lava, magma, and ash ever since.  This week we got a bunch of books on cheetahs and other wild cats, and it's been hilarious watching her slink around on all fours, growling, hiding behind furniture and then leaping out to take a nibble out of Todd's leg.  She's also very concerned about poachers and making sure big cats don't go extinct. 

Her imagination is really taking off in a fabulous new way that allows her to entertain herself for looooong stretches of time.  It is so fun for me to eavesdrop and listen as she carries on two-sided conversations with herself to keep her adventurous storylines alive.  Right now she just called out, "Help!  I am sinking from a bad-guy octopus!  Help!  I'm sinking.  Please help me." 

Photo by Deon Bingham

She is obsessed with collecting and loving loose change.  It is in piles all over among her toys.  She has her favorite quarters with pictures on the backs that she likes, and at least half of her, I'd say, seven dollar collection is covered in stickers.  Sometimes she lines them up on the ground, sticker side down, and plays a matching game with them, trying to pair up coins with the same color of sticker on them.  She always sweeps the car and the key box looking for new additions.  She will do almost anything you want if you promise her a coin as the reward.  It can even be a penny.  She doesn't care. 

Hazel's taking swimming lessons right now and is doing great.  She has turned into quite a little fish in the pool when she's got her floatie on, so it's time for her to learn to swim without one.  In class they've mainly focused on kicking on her back and her tummy, blowing bubbles with her nose, jumping in from the wall, and trying to dunk her whole head underwater.  (She does not like that part!)   Every day she yells out to me on the bench something along the lines of, "I am loving this!" or "I am having such a great time!"

 The swimming lessons have given her such confidence that she asked to jump off the diving board at a church pool party yesterday.  She had her floatie on and did a great job all on her own.  She didn't even expect me to catch her or anything.  She knew she'd go under the water but pop right back up.  I just about exploded with pride.  She is so brave!