21 Months

Today, Eli and Micah are 21 months! (At some point we will stop counting months, maybe when they're 2. We're getting closer everyday...) But for today, they are 21 months and we are loving this time with them! They are very fun (and funny!) to be around. For a couple of weeks now, we have had 2 small echos that follow us wherever we go. They say what we say through most conversations. They even put the same inflections in their voices! It's funny and a little scary to know they are paying such close attention! Just this week, we realized they are also listening very closely to the radio--repeating spoken words on occasion.

Both boys speak too many words to count and are learning more everyday. Most words are very clear, although ice, fork, and sit sound like we're teaching our boys dirty words. I promise we're not.

Both boys still love to read. Their favorite trip is to the library--okay, they get to play with beads, cars, and puzzles and eat "cookies" (animal crackers)--but they sit and listen at story time very well. They know the songs we sing each week and are starting to do the hand motions too. We are certainly going to miss our library, but I am already searching for another one closer to our new house. My favorite part of the library is letting the boys each choose a book to take home. I usually pick 5-6 while they are playing nearby. Letting them choose a book lets me see what they are interested in. This week, Micah chose a book about estimating groups of objects. The cover is covered in jelly beans (aka "eggs") and he loves looking at all the colorful pictures. Eli chose a book about Grandpas, and loves to practice saying his new word--"Gampa."

Both boys still love singing, although they've become very choosy about what song we should sing and when. Some of the most requested songs include: "Zacchaeus," "Baby Beluga," and "The Alphabet Song." It's really cute to listen to Eli walk around the house singing "A-B-C, A-B-C, A-B-C." That's all he knows right now, but he repeats several letters while I'm singing it. He'll know the whole song in no time! They still love it when Paul gets out the guitar to sing. They've also had some practice playing the piano at friends' houses. Micah especially likes to sit on the piano bench to play!

They also still love playing outside and request we go outside every day. Their favorite activity right now is "spash, spash" which is splashing in any water. They love getting "nakid" and putting on "shoo-shoot" (swimsuit) and "sha-dal" (sandals). They often bring these items to us asking to go out. Good thing we live in Texas--we'll get to splash for a long time!

At 21 months, Eli:

• likes the colors purple and green.
• likes to eat spicy foods.
• loves watching Daddy mow the yard.
• gives lots of kisses!
  
• laughs easily and often.
• loves to play peek-a-boo.
• likes to play with trucks and balls.
• likes to get up from nap early to have one-on-one time with Momma.

At 21 months, Micah:

• likes the colors red and blue.
• likes Daddy's fruit and veggie smoothies.
• likes to tackle Daddy and get tickled.
• gives lots of hugs!
• likes to clean up and have things in order.
• loves to color.
• likes to play with blocks and balls.
• likes to help Momma start the washing machine and see all of the bubbles.

They both:

• like to help feed the fish and Buddy.
• like to sit on the counter and watch us cook, especially when they get to lick the spoon!
• love playing with stickers.
• have a lot of fun at the church nursery during Sunday School.
• know most of the basic colors and a few shapes (octagon and circle are their favorites).
• like animals of all kinds.
• have gotten pretty good at climbing up and down stairs.
  
• love to jump in their cribs (or on the couch or our bed).
• have learned to do somersaults with a little help.
• can hit a ball off a tee.
  
• wake up laughing and talking in the mornings.