The more things change, the more they stay the same

I just realized it has been more than a year since I started this blog. Wow. Lots of changes since last year. In many ways life is easier. In many ways it is harder. In many ways it is the same.

Easier: Um...let me think for a minute. Okay, okay.

Communication--It is much easier to communicate with the boys. They are extremely verbal, and quite opinionated. I certainly know where I stand at all times.

Movement--It doesn't always require a stroller to go to the store. I can sometimes (if I only need one or two things seriously not more than 4 or 5 and it is best if there are two things that the boys can carry so they can "help" me and that makes sure their free hand is occupied so they can't pull everything off of every shelf we walk past.) walk in to the grocery store with the boys walking.

Harder: I'm just going to limit this to a couple.

Testing boundaries--I expected this. I knew it was coming. I know I have a couple of very strong willed kids. (I have NO idea where they get this, ) But I swear there are some days that I spend the entire day saying things like..."If you hit the glass with that clarinet again, I am going to take it away" which is quickly followed by the sound of a purple plastic recorder hitting the glass door while eyes are on me to see what I am going to do next. Which is then followed by me, taking the purple recorder away. Which is followed by screaming and crying. Which is followed by me saying "Why did you lose your clarinet?" Which is followed by "For hitting on glass" Which is followed by me saying something like "No hitting, we do not hit. Time out" (I guess on the positive side, we are understanding (0r else being able to repeat) what we are doing to get us into trouble, and eventually that will lead to what? compliance? complete understanding? impulse control? knowledge that Mommy means what she says?

Whining--Where does this come from??? If I'm not taking toys away I am saying things like "how do we ask for things nicely" or "please use a nice voice" or "I don't understand you when you use that voice"

I spend a lot of my days thinking about Albert Einstein's definition of insanity.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” Unless you are raising children.

The Same:

Eating --Evan is still not eating. Every test in the book, OT twice a week, and in a last ditch effort another round of specialists in hopes of finding some miracle diagnosis.

The Love--I guess this isn't really the same, the love, it grows, and grows, and grows. How is it possible to love two creatures more every second of every day? Sometimes when they go to bed and want one more kiss or one more big hug, life doesn't get any better than that.

And on that note, who wouldn't love these two?

Our "Puppy" class at the Animal Center was a big hit, as were our puppy ears.

Airplanes and helicopters, talk about a boys dream.

Our turkey "art project" came out looking a little Picasso-esque, but the boys had a fantastic time and I gained some confidence in doing things like this by myself.