July 10-How they grow...

The kids are only allowed to use their paci's in the crib, or on long car/plane rides. Actually, we think they're very smart about this little arrangement. When we pick them up out of the crib in the morning or after a nap, they pull their paci out of their mouth, and immediately throw it back into the crib! They know paci's don't leave the nursery. Sterling may actually be a little smarter than me. I had a box of mementos from the babies first year under the downstairs bed. Sterling found this box, and what to his great surprise should he find but a paci! I had put 2 of their first newborn size paci's in the box (they use a much larger size now). Sterling came walking out of the bedroom with this tiny little paci nearly all the way in his mouth. I had to take a picture so I could compare. The picture on the left was taken in the hospital when he was 7 days old...that paci looked so enormous compared to his tiny little face!
Ella has found a lovey. So far it's not limited to one balnket in particular, but she loves to cuddle with her crib blanket. First I noticed that she had started covering herself up with her blanket in the night, then I noticed that as soon as I would put her down in her crib, she'd pick up her blanket and rub her face with it. Now she likes to carry her blanket around. She doesn't just drag it behind her, oh no, she likes it wrapped around her shoulders. When it gets too twisted u she'll bring it to me to tie around her like a cape...that she really loves.
I had a blankie when I was growing up, so I love seeing her have a blankie to cuddle with. 'If she is still carrying her blanket around when she leaves for college, then I'll take it away from her.' Those were my mother's famous last words. All 3 of her children did in fact leave for college with their balnkies safely packed in their suite cases...and I'd argue that we all turned out to be fairly well adjusted and happy individuals. Actually, my childhood blankie is currently located here in Korea!

I get these weekly e-mails detailing what milestones your baby should be hitting this week. When I received my update this week, it said 'If you hand her a crayon, she'll know exactly what to do with it, but will probably scribble on anything that's in front of her — books, furniture, and walls included — so "coloring" is an activity that you'll probably want to monitor closely.' So today we decided to try our hand at coloring! No kidding, Ella really did know exactly what to do with the crayon! She immediately started scribbling all over the paper! I would hand her one crayon, and when she was tired of that color, she would hand it back to me for a new color. I'm very excited about this new activity! Watch the little artists at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzlbozeLfB4
Sterling is a bit more of a frustrated artist (but aren't we all?). He was a little more prone to trying to eat the crayon than he was to color with it. After finishing his masterpiece, he ripped it off his highchair tray where it was previously taped down, and preceded to have great fun trying to shred his canvas. Well, at least he has a future as a performance artist!
Ella's very first work of art!
With the help of a little scotch tape, I was able to reassemble Sterling very first drawing. I see distinct signs of pointillism here!
In an attempt to stay inside during the hottest hours of the day and enjoy the cool air, I’ve been racking my brain for fun activities. I’d heard through the grapevine that finger painting might not actually be advisable just yet, so I had to improvise. Finger painting with pudding! I made a pot of chocolate pudding and let the kids go to town covering their highchair trays. What fun! I thought that as soon as they got a taste of that yummy chocolate goo on their fingers that certainly the “painting” part would be over. Well, finger painting must be a lot of fun, because very little of the “paint” was eaten. They were an absolute mess by the time this art project was over, but they sure did have fun in the meantime! Watch the mayhem at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP9Z-LIufbQ

and another funny video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57N3j-c5t2oThis picture is so funny. Sterling looks like the little boy who has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar! I don’t think either child could believe I was actually encouraging them to play with their food.
And a happy ending to a hot afternoon…playing with our little friend Evie.