Sands of Time

The boys are doing well lately. Mack is crawling around with this big dopey grin and a pool of drool and snot around his nose and mouth. But his positive energy is amazing.

Nate -- not without his meltdowns from time to time when he's tired -- has been funny and chatty ("You play me Mommy? You play me?? Five minutes? You play me?"), his language hilarious and relentless.  This morning, as we were leaving for school, we were in the hallway, Nate in his orange stroller and Shana and I rushing around in order to get him out of the door. 

"You got you keys?" Nate said.  Shana and I laughed.  

"Yes, Nate." I answered.  

"You got you phone?" asked Nate sweetly, not trying to be funny. 

We laughed again. "Yes. OK, Nate, let's roll..."  

I closed the door and said goodbye to Shana and Mack.  We strolled halfway down the hall.  

"You got you book?"  I stopped.  "Wow. No Nate, I.. uh... forgot my book.  I'll be right back."  

Hilarious.

I took this picture at school, Nate looking at the blue sands of time. They don't stop falling, do they? I want to stop them sometimes, or slow them down, or at least appreciate them. These days -- the ages of the boys, the youngness and sweetness -- feel precious and lovely to me. Once in a while, it's good to pay attention to the time going by. 

Mack's balls

We learned from the doctor that Mack’s undescended testicle (which he was born with) had apparently created a hernia and he had to have surgery to correct both. He bravely underwent the knife last Friday morning and as it turns out there was no hernia. But the balls are back and Mack was a superchamp. All the nurses in the hospital gaga-ed over him and he was an angel in the waiting room even though he hadn’t eaten anything for hours. 

He recovered easily and was happily playing the next morning.

In fact Mack’s happy outgoing personality is really showing lately. Today we went to Frolic where he charmed every mom and nanny—one mom even told me he made her day by giggling when she made funny faces at him. He follows little kids around just wanting to play with them and smiling hugely when anyone looks his way.

He is also very physically energetic—making his way everywhere, under chairs and tables, unafraid of getting hurt or stuck and not too concerned when he does. He is strong and hard to contain sometimes, especially when trying to get him dressed—which he hates. I remember Nate bring much more mellow—sitting on a lounge chair in Mexico – but Mack doesn’t stay in one place very long and when confined to the car seat or stroller, starts to lose it. 

Nate quotes

Nate closest friens these days are lion, lion and tiger. And sometimes polar bear, which he will be for Halloween…

Nate: Where is everybody?!

Me: I’m right here

Nate: (confused) no. lion tiger, other lion and polar bear!

 This morning, Nate waking up:

Nate: Mommmmmy! I’m done with this bed already. I want to get a snack already. 

Dentist

Nate was the best patient that Williamsburg Dental Arts had all week! seriously.

The crawl

Mack has been teetering on crawling for a couple weeks now and finally seems to have gotten it. He’s not quite a pro but is definitely grasping and concept—arms and legs moving together. And getting around! He’s very eager to explore and great on his own for long periods of time just trying to get toys and playing with them. 

Sea Lions

Since Nate's actual birthday fell on the second day of school, his class, the Sea Lions celebrated with cupcakes, but no candles. Look how cute he is.

Nate started school five days a week and the only kid from last year’s class is Sasha which makes it challenging for him-no Remi or Ronan. So far he’s doing great though there are days he doesn’t want to go, he usually gets himself ready and has a good day. After school we play with Remi sometimes, and the two take soccer on Mondays. Mack is with me a couple afternoons a week when I pick up Nate and all the kids, well mostly girls, love to play with him. Mack loves it too—he’s becoming very friendly and social, very happy to be among others and play. And Nate is very proud to have his baby bro in the classroom—his teacher said she’s never seen a 3 year old as loving toward his sibling.

Big Boy 3!

We had an early, small family bday party in Love's Folly with the Moshans, Gessers, Liebmans giving him loads of presents and helping Nate (me) make and eat the cake.  He was excited but a bit overwhelmed and wound up napping immediately afterwards, as he did on his first bday party as well.