The Day You Turned 2 1/2

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?--every, every minute?”
― Thornton Wilder, Our Town

The one big thing that happened today that there won't be pictures of is potty training. Mr. Linus, you totally nailed it today. I won't get into the specifics because I don't want to embarrass you (more), but you did better on day one than any potty rookie I know of. I'm so, so, so proud of you.


First things first, watching some morning cartoons right after you woke up. Today you asked to watch Cars 2... AGAIN. So we did. Right before this picture, you ate your cereal bars. You guys love those things - Kashi Ripe Strawberry. I buy two boxes every week at the grocery store, and sometimes we still run out.

While I was making breakfast, Linus managed to find a stray crayon and created this wall art in the play room.

Secret: part of me enjoys seeing crayon marks on our walls. It's a sure sign that I'm a mom. But, I still marched you to the closet to get the magic eraser. Here you are scrubbing it off the wall. Logical consequences, folks. 

 For breakfast? Oatmeal with strawberries, your favorite. Lately you've been requesting a layer of cold milk on top.

Just in case you're thinking that looks like a lot of oatmeal for such little people, yeah, it is. But you both cleaned your bowls out. Veda needed a little motivation from Linus, who was on the prowl for her oatmeal, but she ate every bit of hers.

After breakfast was tooth brushing. I always do a more thorough brushing once you've finished, but you two really enjoy practicing first. 

Next up, some chores. While I did stuff like clean off the table from breakfast, put in a load of laundry, and put toys away, you guys ran around like little wild people, intermittently helping.

Daddy had the day off thanks to the 4th of July holiday, so you guys climbed into our bed and talked to him for a while.

Next up, it was time to do the official unofficial height check for the growth charts. (The official official height comes from the pediatrician.) Veda, you were pretty compliant. And 33" tall. Linus ran away. We'll get to him later.

A big part of every day at home is little Mimi. You chase her, you pet her - gently and... not gently, you like to drive your cars over her, and you sometimes even throw the occasional object at her before I can get to you. Poor little Mimi. She really does like the chasing, though.

Time for playing...

Arts and Crafts Time. Today was the first day that we worked in your Kumon books. You wanted to do the coloring and stickers/pasting ones.

The directions on this page were to color ketchup on the omelet (??? I think it said omelet? Who eats ketchup on an omelet???). Anyway, you did. We talked about colors and what color we should use for the ketchup. Linus also colored some ketchup on the little man's face. Makes sense, since you two usually end up wearing a little on your faces, too. Then he wanted me to get a paper towel to clean up the man's face. Sorry, dude. Crayons don't work that way.

Our finished products. Veda's work is on the left, and Linus's is on the right. We decided to be fancy and add a little glitter glue.

More playing...

Snack time! Veda chose graham crackers, and Linus went with a Kashi cookie. Normally I really do bake the cookies for you, but it's been in the 100's lately. Not turning on the oven. Nope.

And then something unusual happened - a Veda on Linus attack. I suspect that Veda may have been a little jealous of all of the attention Linus was getting for using the potty. Look at this pitiful little face. Time out for Veda.

Veda, you are super sensitive to being corrected. When I came in to talk to you post time-out, your little lip quivered as we talked about how we shouldn't hurt brother because we love brother. Then you told me you wanted to have some time by yourself. I get it, girl. You set yourself up with some books and enjoyed a little reading alone time.

Linus was ready to be measured for his growth chart. Today's measurement was a bigger deal than normal since allegedly you double a little boy's height a 2.5 to know how tall he'll ultimately be. You were almost 36" tall, so maybe you'll be about 6' tall. We'll see.

With Veda reading alone in your room, Linus and I cozied up in a chair and read a stack of books together. But not this whole stack.

Lunch time! Today's lunch was a pasta salad with peas, lactose-free cheese, and turkey along with a generous serving of applesauce. 

After changing into diapers and reading a book (Fancy Nancy), it was nap time. I took a gamble and snuck back in to take photos of you guys sleeping. 

But then Veda started stirring. Escape! Escape! Phew, nap time disaster narrowly avoided.

While you guys slept, I set out to work on laundry and clean up the living room and kitchen.

Your nap was blessedly long today, so I also had time to break some beans for dinner.

Turns out the nap wasn't quite as long as I thought, though. Here's what you two did to your room before you came out.

While I made dinner, you watched some music videos with Daddy.

Dinner was mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, and fried okra. Veda found a pair of tongs and decided to try eating her mashed potatoes with them.

Bath time! Before the bath, the two of you are responsible for putting your clothes in the hamper. Veda usually does it enthusiastically. Linus's interest level in chores is highly dependent on how tired he is.

Linus, you are so, so handsome.

Veda loves it when I wrap her up in her towel after the bath. She always admires herself in the mirror. With good reason - look at that cute little ladybug!

Lionus.

All finished up with the bath routine, it's time for bedtime stories. We usually cuddle up in the rocker in the nursery, but tonight you wanted to read in our bed. We read Fox in Socks.



Good night, my sweet, sweet little man.

And my precious little pudding pop.

Then I turned out the light and made sure the night light was projecting the planets and stars on the ceiling and signed goodnight and "I love you" as I backed out of the room.

Then it was time for me to clean up the kitchen, pick up toys, sneak in about 10 minutes of exercise, and take my own bath.

And finally it was time for this.

 

I can't wait to see you tomorrow.