Who knew toddlers could be this much fun!! Yes, it's work but for now they are really fun.
Let's see. Where to begin. The 18th month was a fun one. They are learning more words and can understand and follow direction well. (When they want to!) The biggest thing for ME was that I started playing tennis regularly again and have gotten a lot of the rust off from my 2.5 yrs. leave of absence.
Initially, Alison didn't like the rec. center "playroom" (nursery). We discovered that if we drive in with the stroller, she'll sit and have a snack and watch until she's ready. We eliminated the tears of my departure that way. It's been BEYOND great!!! I have really needed the break and to do something for me - especially when Jim is out of town. He's been playing too when he's around and can restructure his lunch time to come play.
Martin and Alison play very well together and can make each other laugh like nothing else. It's music to a Mom's ears!! We've been getting to the zoo very regularly and they seem to really like it there, but I have the most fun!! You'll see the picture of the baby lion (10 weeks old at this picture) playing with Mommy and Daddy. The other baby was sleeping. So sweet!
We made our annual family outing to the pumpkin festival at Chatfield on Saturday and got some very big pumpkins. We got to ride on hay bales being pulled by a tractor. Martin LOVES tractors and trucks and cars (ok, anything with wheels still) so we was fascinated by the real tractors. It is really fun to see him watch them. They ran around in the pumpkin patch and Martin was yelling "ball!" "ball!" at all the pumpkins. He's really funny and loves to make people laugh.
His favorite book right now is "My Big Truck Book" I have to look at it with him about 6 times minimum a day. 
Ali's favorite books are all of them. She loves Baby Beluga and all the peek-a-boo books.
They are really quite sweet to one another. If I am changing Martin's diaper and he happened to see a truck or something on the way to the table, he'll say "truck!" over and over and Alison will go get it and hand it to him. He will also do the same for her lovies. (You can see "Slob Frog" in the picture of Alison.) If she steals whatever he's playing with, he pretty much just finds something else to do rather than fight her for it (I hope this lasts!!). Then if I say "Alison, you know that Martin was playing with that." She GIVES IT BACK!!! I know it's far fetched to think it could last, but I want to remember this before the 2's take effect! :)
They are still on a great schedule. We went to one nap at 18 mos. (roughly) and they do fairly well with it. They go to bed at 7:00 p.m. and might talk and laugh with each other in their cribs for a little while after we read "Goodnight Moon", but they poop out and go to sleep shortly. So far, so good. We are very fortunate to have very good natured little kidlets in our midst.
On October 23rd, I am going to be watching our nephew full-time when Jim's sister goes back to work full-time. It's going to be a challenge for sure, but we'll figure it all out. I have been very nervous about it, but decided not to stress anymore till it's time.
We plan to go to San Antonio for Thanksgiving to see Papa Jim and Gigi. That will be fun. The kids are at such a great age, that we want them to be able to see them now and enjoy them for a little while. It might be a while before they can get out to Colorado again.
As I write this, Jim's in Omaha and it's snowing here. All the grassy surfaces are covered and it's coming down pretty steady. We'll just tuck in and keep warm inside!
Word list:
- Truck
- book
- hat
- ice
- please
- apple
- bubble
- dog
- duck
- mom
- dad
- want down
- up
- oh wow
- oooh
