Over-thinking

OK...for the new year....a resolution:
to QUIT over-thinking the need for each blog post to be poetic, and a thorough rendition of our life and the kids' milestones. I need to just get on here and record things -- for the occasional reader and for our memory's sake.

BEN: at 8 months, 2 weeks: full on army crawling, with coordinated arms and legs and PULLING UP to stand! He is so impressed with himself when he can get up at the music table or the coffee table or the ottoman...you name it, the boy wants to stand near it!  He's doing really well with his jar foods, taking 2 jars each day and cheerios/puffs/yogurt melts. He also will mash on bite-sized bananas, too. Still no teeth in sight...but, that doesn't seem to stop him.

RACHAEL: Her language is exploding and she's doing well at learning Spanish words as well as signs in American Sign Language at school. By 22 1/2 months, she finally finished cutting all 4 incisors...thank goodness that's over...they were painful for her. And, on December 17, 2011, during the bedtime routine, instead of just muttering her usual "wuv" to Daddy, Mommy and Ben on her way upstairs, she said, "Wuv you, Daddy. Wuv you, Mommy".......OH. MY. GOODNESS.  Heart melting....all over the floor. She has no idea how sweet those words are to hear -- I don't think it'll ever get old.

Pictures next time, promise!

7 & 21

Let's start with a recap of month 7 for Ben, shall we?
He really became an 'expert' sitter this month! And with the ability to sit, comes the ability to play with Rachael's toys in new and annoying-to-her ways! His steady body and solid hand dexterity really make a difference in the way he explores the world. And, watching Ben makes me realize how different Rachael's skills were at the same age. As we knew then, what she had in gross motor, Ben has in fine motor skills. Everyone's different, right?
He also continues to work on his pre-crawling skills and will absolutely breakout in belly laughing if you giggle right along with him or tickle any of his numerous tickle spots!

And, moving right along to month 21 for Rachael:
Rachael started "running" more this month...really picking her knees up and moving with more speed when she wanted to 'run'. She continues the language spree -- really trying to figure out the possessive -- is it blankie Rachael or Rachael's blankie? And, sad, but, true, the TV has entered her field of view. (Rhyme unintended there, but, fun, nonetheless!) So, she can now sit and watch a 1/2 hour program without being distracted. This can be helpful when you need to feed Ben or cook dinner, but, can be a slippery slope. We try our best not to encourage this habit and find that she probably watches an hour of TV a week.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't tell you that there's an innate love of Elmo and it has presented in our daughter! I swear, we hadn't watched him on TV before and until Nana gave us an Elmo book for Halloween, didn't have him in a book -- and yet, she knows who he is and says his name with great adoration! Hence, the immediate shift of pending birthday party theme from mommy's choice of the Very Hungry Caterpillar to ELMO! :)

Enough 'talking', here are some pictures: