Lavender

We have a lovely lavender plant on our dining room table right now. Eleanor takes great joy in rubbing the leaves between her fingers and smelling the lavender's gentle fragrance. So, this morning while the kids were eating some granola, I stepped out of the room for a moment and as I came back down the hallway, I heard, "Now Henry, put this up your nose..." What? I rounded the corner to find Eleanor holding a small lavender leaf to her brother. I promptly grabbed it and explained to her that we don't stick things up our noses, at which point I noticed that she was trying to stick her finger up her own nose. I realized that she had probably tried this out on herself first. After a couple of minutes of me holding one nostril down and her blowing, the little green culprit made its way back out. Kids can get into things faster than you can say "Jack Robinson."

Singing, Dancing and Other General Fun

We woke up this morning to Henry serenading us with "baila, baila baila!" Our Music Together class gave us a 20th Anniversary DVD featuring the original band and singers that play on their CDs. "Uncle" Gerry does a very lively rendition of "Don Alfredo Baila" on the DVD and Henry has been obsessed with it ever since.

I haven't written in a while, there has been lots going on though. We took a trip to Florida to visit Nonna, Uncle Bobby and Uncle James (pictures soon). We have been preparing for the annual Puppet Show fundraiser at Eleanor's school, which is today. We have been battling coughs. We have been dreaming about the garden and searching for wiggly earth worms in the dirt. Eleanor has been going to school and dance class. Vince has started tennis lessons. I have been playing basketball. We have been cooking, baking and doing some crafty projects. We just had a visit from Mu and Tada to celebrate my birthday.

The kids are working on lots of developmental milestones as well. Eleanor is using the potty about 50 % of the time, when she feels like it. Henry is also able to use the potty, maybe he will be easy to potty train! Henry is talking up a storm as well. He will repeat absolutely anything anyone says. This is very cute and often hilarious.

Eleanor at Henry's age

I was just thinking about how Henry is the same age now as Eleanor was when he was born. I feel so lucky to have my two little sweets around all the time. I think they enjoy each other, too -- most of the time. Here are a couple of pictures from when Eleanor was Henry's age and Henry was brand new.

Two Amazing Things

This may not be amazing for anyone other than me, and maybe the grandparents, but Eleanor did two things recently that I thought I should make note of.

1. This morning she spelled her name to me. E-L-E-A-N-O-R. No mistakes, hardly any hesitation. I was impressed.

2. A teacher at her school in the other 3 year old class told me that she and Eleanor had been talking about how Vince gets to work. Apparently, Eleanor told her that he takes the Metro. When the teacher asked how he gets to the Metro, Eleanor replied he takes the [number] bus. Eleanor used the actual number but for privacy sake, I've left it out here. She hears and remembers EVERYTHING.

Quote of the Day

I was preparing to make some banana bread this morning and all of the ingredients were out on the counter.

Henry: "Sugar, sugar, sugar! Want it!"

How does he know?! I mean really, how?