Here's to the new!

We're back. Today was the first day of being in a real routine again.

Of course, the kids are still totally thrown off from our travels and didn't sleep and chaos reigned ... but you gotta start somewhere, right??

Despite little sleep, Nate was in a surprisingly good humor today. I think maybe the latest round of teeth growing has finally ended (the latest one broke through on our last day with my parents).

He's actually quite fun to be around these days, with the whole language development thing and all.

In the last week, he's learned to say: hi, eek, stuck, help, got it, why and mine (can you tell who he learned the last ones from?).

Or at least, versions of those words that I can understand. I was in the other room today and actually could understand him calling "Help! Help!" (he was stuck in the bumbo).

At this rate though, he just might pull ahead of the Meemer Jeemer. He was actually making a "sssss" sound this morning and that's something she's still learning!

Another way that they're different is that he actually tries to do something more than once. If he can't get it one way, he tries again and then will even try a new approach. Compared to Ms. Instant Maximum Frustration, it's a lovely change and is exciting to watch. He has more patience than I do!

Mela has her strengths, too, of course. For example, right now she's really strong at "testing" (i.e. breaking) rules and being truculent. Which is exactly what two year olds (especially ones with lots of travel and stressed-out moms) do, so good for her.

I am looking forward to a ceasefire someday, though.

So here's to a new year (and new decade!) full of lots of talking and learning to do new things ...

Say click:

Today's pictures are brought to you by Ms. Mimi. She's finally gotten the hang of taking a picture with her little camera!

Dad plays guitar:
Awesome new apron from Aunt Lisa & Uncle Sam:
You can almost see us!
And here's a video of the boy and some of his words .... it's pretty boring but the goodbye is good.