Yes, I'm still alive...

Daniel "missing" me

Hi all. Yes, I'm still here. And I've been checking out all your blogs but just haven't managed to update mine lately. I spent most of the last month traveling. Although technically I'm a SAHM...that isn't so true for the month of October. I spent 5 days in Toronto earlier in the month and then 17 days in Montreal. And during those days, I work a 10 to 12-hour day every day, including weekends. And then of course we have to have some fun...so we also go out to eat and socialize most nights. Needless to say, that doesn't leave much time for blogging.

I got back on Saturday just in time for Halloween. Clarence met me at the airport with boys in tow...in their costumes...Ben was Elmo and Daniel was Cookie Monster. They were totally adorable. It took them a few minutes to get comfortable with me again but were soon back to their old selves. We didn't actually go out trick-or-treating this year since I only got home at 4:30pm and was totally exhausted but they had a great time anyways. They were in their halloween jammies and loved running to the door everytime the doorbell rang. And Daniel would even say "Trick or Treat"...it didn't sound exactly like that but you get the picture.

Other than that, we've just been taking it easy this week. The one thing that I really noticed when I got back was how much their language has taken off. It's amazing. They repeat just about everything you say and are starting to put two words together. And they talk ALL THE TIME! They never stop.

And I would say that they are starting to learn how to share in their own little "twin way". It usually goes something like this. Ben has a toy that Daniel wants. Daniel then runs to the next closest toy and takes it to Ben while yelling "trade, trade, trade". I'd say over half the time Ben is up for the trade and will let Daniel have the toy that he so desperately wants. If Ben doesn't agree, then Daniel just keeps getting more toys until he finally agrees. I've never seen anything like it.

I Heart Faces - "Excited"

This week's them over at I Heart Faces is Excited. I didn't think I had anything good to submit but then came across this photo. This is from one of our morning walks this summer when we came across a DIGGER! They boys were so excited. In this photo, Ben is likely yelling "DIGGER!" while Daniel looks on. Go on over to I Heart Faces to check out some other great entries.

Is anybody out there?

I came across this post today about a child who needs a home. It's a very sad story but there has to be someone out there that is right for this child.

And if you are at all moved by this story, please post it on your blog so that more people see this post.

Thanks.

Growin' on up

The best thing about kids is that you don't have to figure out when they're ready to do something new...they just tell you (in their own way of course). This was something that Ben's private PT told me ages ago. Think of it this way...you don't one day decide that it's time to teach your kid how to dress himself...over the months and years, he just starts to do little bits at a time...like pushing his arms through the sleeves or pulling the shirt over his head...or taking his own socks off. And then eventually he figures out how to pull his pants up or do up a button. Of course this doesn't always hold true for kids like Ben, but it still does most of the time.

Well...my boys are super-interested in all things "potty" at the moment. They've always been super interested in anything that goes on in the bathroom and had figured out what their potty was for. They would often put their stuffed animals on the potty and say "pee" or "poop". Or maybe just "stink".

Well, one day last week, my nanny decided to put Ben on the potty without a diaper...and guess what!?! He actually peed. He was so proud of himself. It was adorable. Since then, Ben has peed on the potty once and Daniel twice. Now I realize that they are nowhere near ready to be fully potty-trained and yes, this obsession may disappear at any time, but it's cool to see them growing up.

Thank God you're so cute...

"Thank God you're so cute..."

How many times have I uttered this phrase in the last 2 years? Too many to count. Usually it's followed with something like "we would have returned you to the manufacturer months ago". Of course I don't really mean it, but Lord does it help that they are sooo darn cute.

To celebrate the cuteness in my life, here's a fun list of some recent cute happenings:

1. Daniel and his "I'm going to back up at you and yell "knee" until you pull me up onto your knee and read me a story.
2. Ben is now able to say Daniel...it sounds something like "Danell".
3. Ben screaming "D" whenever you chase him...meaning that you should chase Daniel instead.
4. Daniel now says "love you" if I say it first.
5. Daniel's squeal when someone comes to the door.
6. The boys insisting that Daddy kiss Mommy too (and not just them).
7. Daniel insisting that you take him for a "walk" too whenever we walk with Ben holding onto our hands.
8. And pictures like this:

I Heart Faces - "Blue"

This week's theme over at I Heart Faces is Blue. I immediately thought of this great photo of Daniel from our summer vacation. He just loves wearing his sunglasses.

What's your favourite fall activity?

The Question of the Week over at Multiples....and More is "What's your favourite fall activity?"

In a recent post, I told you how much I was looking forward to fall. It really is my favourite time of the year. I just wish it wasn't followed by months of cold and snow.

My new favourite fall activity (now that we have kids) has to be apple picking. There is a fabulous orchard not too far from us and they have great things going on all fall. They stack hay bales for the kids to play on, have tractors with wagons to take everyone out to the orchard and even have a market with lots of great produce. It's such a great day.

A few years ago, one of my cousins organized a family apple picking day just for the "cousins and their kids". We lived in NY so couldn't go when it got started but were thrilled to go last year for the first time. The weather was just perfect...sunny and around 18C (about 65F for you Americans). Here's a pic from last year.