Day to Day...

We thought it would be a good idea to write down what life is like with two two year olds:

Daily routine: Usually the twins wake up around 7:15am, but we don't get them out of their cribs until 7:30. It is fun to hear them talk to each other. After 10 or fifteen minutes of jibber-jabbing Roman calls out for 'DAhhh'. Capri also calls out but she says 'Maah'. We then take them down stairs to eat breakfast. They don't need any help feeding themselves anymore. Breakfast usually consists of cereal, or their favorite of oatmeal, fruit and yogurt. Then we get them dressed, which Roman fights every time, and start to play. Playtime usually consists of taking a wagon ride to the park just a few houses away, reading books, building blocks, drawing, playing with their little people house and car track, ball time, pushing the stroller, playing in the tunnel and tent, tea time, and large beads and string play. Lunch is around noon and includes pb and honey sandwiches, quesadillas, chicken nuggets, or mac and cheese, more fruit, and milk. Down for naps at 1:00pm and will sleep for 2 and 1/2 hours usually. Yeah! They wake up for more play time until daddy gets home at 5:30 and dinner is served. Even more playtime and maybe a show (Charlie and Lola is Capri's favorite and Pingu is Roman's favorite) to follow and then it's to bed at 8:00PM.

Weekly activities start with swimming lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings with Mom and Dad. We then have music class on Tuesday mornings with Mom and sometimes Grandma (a post on that to come!). Next comes park day with Mom's friends and their kids at Aviara Park on Wednesday mornings. And last but not least, puppet shows at the library on fridays with the same group. Fortunately, we usually have great weather all year-round to do these fun things, but Barnes and Noble is always a great substitute with our friends if it's raining!

Roman is one observant little boy! He loves to figure out how things work. His parents think he is brilliant even though his vocabulary is limited at this point. Recently he spent about 10 minutes with his Dad learning how a door works and why it won't open once it is closed all the way. He can't quite turn the knob and it is very frustrating for him because he knows that's what he is supposed to do. Roman loves his bath and anything to do with water. He is such a daredevil and loves to climb just about everything. Every once in a while we hear a faint "stuck, stuck," and we know to run and save him! Being 110% boy, Roman loves to run and kick a soccer ball and play catch with any other ball.

Capri is also a smart cookie. She is much better at communicating how she is feeling than Roman is. Everybody knows when she is frustrated or happy or sad or angry or a combination of all of those things. Capri loves to draw and holds a pen like an adult and has for some time. She adores animals, especially dogs, and knows all of her animals and sounds. Although her "meows" and "baahs" are adorable to hear, nothing beats the way this girl dances. There is nothing cuter as she waves her arms, jumps about, and does lots of arabesques!

Roman and Capri share everything happily 95% of the time. One of their favorite activities is swapping suckers, eating utensils, or straws (things you don't normally share). Very occasionally one of them will want what the other has and gets upset. Recently Capri had a toy car in her hand and Roman wanted it, she hurried away with Roman in pursuit with arms outstreched like Frankenstein. She quickly found a ball and turned to him like it was the greatest thing ever and said "Baalhh", offering it to Roman. It was a great sell. Both of them will do this but Capri is especially good at it.

Being Naughty: Both kids misbehave on occasion, they are two and all. Capri has a few different ways of dealing with getting caught. Sometimes she pretends nothing happened and becomes extra cute by putting on a big smile and saying "What's that?" while pointing at nothing in particular. More recently, she shuts her eyes tight and puts on her best grimace-remind me to post the video . Both methods are cute and equally effective.
When Roman gets in trouble, he reacts by running away (hopefully before he gets caught) or laying himself on the ground-he used be much more dramatic by throwing himself down, but has since realized that that really hurts his head.
Sometimes the twins will hit or throw something at the other intentionally, this is grounds for an immediate time out. Capri thinks the time out rug in the corner is just another place to play as she skips on over for her "punishment." Roman rolls around in a fit until Mom or Dad pick him up and give him pats-our sensitive little guy. Both however, have recently realized that being naughty will land them in time out and they would prefer not to be there, so this behavior modification technique is finally starting to work.
They both love their blankets (not just any blanket but the soft fuzzy ones), especially Capri who still sucks/chews on the corners. Roman simply lays his blanket over his face when he is ready to go to sleep.

Both are very protective of each other. One time Mommy was disciplining Capri (who was very upset) when Roman came over and threw a water bottle at her. If Roman is in time-out and screaming, Capri will come over and try to comfort him by patting and rubbing his head - It usually works.

Roman loves going down slides and is even going down on his tummy now. Capri is much more cautious and has decided that for now, slides aren't her thing. Roman's favorite thing to do at the park is find older boys to play with. Capri likes to be pushed in the swing and likes to hang and swing from any bars she can reach. Both have conquered the big 5' ladder up to the slide.

Other random fun stuff:

*Playing tag or hide-n-seek with each other or mom and dad-this is an absolute favorite and the laughing that ensues is contagious

*Singing songs with actions-they have mastered "Popcorn Popping," "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," "Eency, Weency Spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus."

*Joining Mom and Grandma for some serious kickbox videos

*Both know all of their facial features and body parts

*If we say we are going to the park or outside, both will smile from ear to ear (maybe even a gasp or "wow") and run for the door-considering we go everyday, I am amazed that they still get so excited.

*Both are crazy strong-just ask the nurse trying to check their ears and give them shots!

*Getting swung around by anyone that will oblige-Capri will say "turn" when she thinks it's time for her to have some fun though she won't go nearly as high as Roman

*Reading books-"Goodnight Moon" is their favorite book to simply read, but "My First Word Book" is their favorite when we ask them to point to all the different objects. Both Roman and Capri have been found several times reading to themselves as they point and talk and turn pages-very sweet.

*Goodnight routine=Saying "Night, night" to everyone, Mom and Dad kiss, Roman and Capri kiss, and then Mom and Dad both kiss Roman and Capri-one of our favorite moments of the day.

That was a bit of a marathon, but now you can see why we love these two so much. Thanks for hanging in there!