Recently...

* They're continuing to combine two words in new ways. They like to repeat short phrases they hear on their videos. And they often use possessives (daddy's chair, mommy's shoe, Emma's bowl) and colors to describe objects (green truck, purple ball, black shoes). Their pronunciation is getting better too. For example, they used to call butterflies "lie-lies" but now they call them "bubberlies."

*Their progress in talking is great and all but neither one of them has ever said the word "Yes" in any way, shape or form. Not even a head nod. I have no idea why but I think it's very strange.

*Jack said his first 3 word phrase this week: "big fire truck" (except he can't pronounce f's so it sounded like 'big tire twuck"). A few weeks ago they were still calling fire trucks just "fire" so this is definitely an improvement. They both also say "I don't know" but it sounds nothing like it, I'm probably the only person in the world who understands what they're saying ;-)

*I just LOVE living within walking distance to the library! We could walk to the library at our last apartment too and I don't think I ever want to live more than a couple miles from a public library. It's so wonderful to just put the boys in the stroller, get outside for some fresh air, pop into the library to pick out some books and then walk home and read them together. Bonus: the boys were actually (amazingly) well-behaved yesterday and not shouting "fire truck," "choo choo" and "tractor book" at the top of their lungs (like last time). I had about 5 minutes to quickly pick out a few books for myself too, lucky Mommy!

*Less than 2 weeks until we're on a plane to Seattle! We are so excited for Scott and Ashlee's wedding! And I'm so anxious to see Jack and Cullen as the most adorable little ring bearers ever! I spend a lot of time thinking about the odds that one or both of them will actually make it down the aisle. Anyone care to make a wager?

*Cullen is still very much into his "I'm a baby" phase. Every time he gets upset about something (and sometimes when he's in a great mood and just wants to cuddle) he says "I baby, I baby, I baby" and snuggles up to his Mommy. You won't hear any complaints from me!

*They've been trying to "help" dress themselves lately and it's highly amusing. They usually end up putting both legs into one pant leg or putting their shoe onto just the tip of their foot. When I ask them if they want help they frown and shout "NO!" So independent!

*They discovered they can climb into and out of the bathtub. So now instead of asking to be taken out, they just swing their leg over and climb right out.

* If we ever forget to give thanks before our meal, Jack reminds us by shouting "PAY!" over and over until we do. Both boys always say Amen at the end too. They love to pray. Except at bedtime that is, because they know it's time to turn the lights off and go to sleep. At the first mention of prayer, Jack bursts into the most pitiful wailing and sobs all the way through it. Cullen usually joins in at the end when we tell him to go lie down in his bed. I don't blame them, their life is so fun, why would they ever want to go to sleep?

*Cullen's recently been insisting on having a certain color plate, cup, toy, shirt, etc. If I haven't already given whatever it is out, I'll usually let him choose (since Jack doesn't care at all yet) but if I've already placed a cup/plate/whatever in front of him, I don't let him choose the other one. I figure that's a good balance of letting him have a preference but not catering to his every whim. I also don't want to ever get in the habit of letting either of the boys think they can take something from their brother just because they want it.

* They know the names of everybody in our family and they also apparently know who belongs to which family. When we talk about Violet, they ask where Auntie Ne Ne and Uncle Jon (or Non as they call him) are. When we talk about Uncle Scott (Hot or Bot) they immediately start saying Ashlee (Ash-shee). They can also finally make some sort of pronunciation of everybody's names, even Rachel (sometimes they'll call her Way-Way or other times they say Way-tell). And they get so excited to skype that as soon as we mention talking to somebody on the computer they ask about it every minute or so until it finally happens. It's definitely the highlight of their day and they turn into the biggest little show-offs every time. They want all their grandparents and aunts/uncles to know just exactly how smart and accomplished they are. (I always feel like the biggest dork when I try to phonetically spell out the way Jack and Cullen pronounce words, so I really hope you all get a feel for the way they speak).

*They're getting quite bossy with the cats. They love to tell them to come by leaning over and waving their hands directly in front of the cats' faces. They also shout "move Huck!" or "Eat!" and like show them where their water bowl is "right there, Huck, right there." I guess they just like having someone to boss around, even if it is only a cat who ignores them most of the time anyway.

*They weren't having any luck opening doors while they had a childproof cover on the doorknob so they got creative instead. Cullen just took the doorknob cover apart, threw it to the ground and walked out after he woke up from his nap yesterday. It was kind of funny at first. Not so much today...

*They've been doing really well drinking out of real cups lately. I only do it at mealtimes when they're actually seated at the table but they love it and are pretty careful with them (although I still find myself cleaning spilled milk off the floor at least once a day). Here's a picture of them eating their lunch today, such big boys!

And a few more recent pictures:

Too cool for the breakfast table

We babysat their friend Nona Lee on Friday, the boys loved having her here!

At the airplane park on Saturday night!