What else is there to talk about?

I sure as hell don't want to talk about the election. I am in denial? Am I refusing to face reality? Am I withdrawing from the world? Yes. So let's talk about the kids.

It's hard to believe it was only a month or so ago that Max started walking. The house looks very different when you have two toddlers compared to having two babies. Danger lurks everywhere -- and if by chance I've missed one of these sources of danger, I can count on Max to find it for me.

They've become very agile over the last two months. They quickly scurry around the house and yard, picking up any new thing and exploring it. They carry large, cumbersome objects around -- not caring if they prevent them from seeing where they're going. They climb onto things and then look to see how they might climb even higher. They chase each other, and play strange games that I don't understand but that have them giggling away. Max has learned (from watching Teletubbies) how to 'walk sideways'. He shuffles his feet to the side and wears an enormous grin as he does it. Talia tries to do it too, but only manages to rest her head on her shoulder and walk in a circle.

Talia is learning words quickly. She seems to understand everything we say and repeats the key words (though not very clearly). She's even started making sentences, and her first one was quite funny. They were in the bath and Max was gripping his penis pretty tightly, as boys his age will do. Attention was drawn to this portion of Max's anatomy, and we told them that was his 'penis'. "Peens?", said Talia. That's right, little girl. Now, Talia will say her name and point when she wants something. So she pointed at Max's penis, looked at us, and said, "Ta-ya peens!" No, I'm sorry little girl, you can't have one. "TA-YA PEENS!" I think she's got over the disappointment by now.

I'm sure Max knows as many words as Talia does, but he doesn't talk as much. But he listens. This morning Mama was changing Talia and Max was watching. Talia had her toothbrush in her hand to distract her while Mama worked. Max wanted to see it to, but Mama told him to wait until he was being changed, then he could have his toothbrush. Time passed. I changed him ten minutes later, and I usually give him a toy car to look at and keep him busy. But he wanted nothing of it, he reached out across the sink and said, "too ... too."

It's funny, Max has still never said his name even once. Before, I thought it was because he considered himself 'Da-da', which he said a lot (and Talia said too). But he hasn't said that in a while, and Talia has started calling him 'Tax'. He manages to express himself though, even though he only says about ten different words.

Every parent of a child this age has a 'cute little trick' they like to have their kid do to impress visitors. Mine is to ask Talia if she loves Max. She always walks over to him, wraps her arms around him, and rests her head on his shoulder. It's possibly the cutest thing anyone has ever seen. Until Max pushes her away and she falls over and lands on her bum...

They've started to play a little more deeply than they did before they were walking. They both make brrm-brrm noises when they push toy cars, even though we never taught them that. Talia has become a cuddle girl, hugging stuffed animals and the little dolly we got her. Max is more thing oriented, starting to play with the gizmo toys and find out their secrets. Talia sorts things and Max messes them up. The scientific method is applied to objects by both of them. They push things under water, drop them, roll them, stack them, then change some variable and do it again. They're learning fast. It's a real treat to just watch them go at it.

It's customary in these posts to finish with a picture, so here it is. IKEA has the solution to all your storage problems. IKEA. Proud sponsor of Max and Talia's childhood.

Posted by Bruce Gottfred at July 5, 2004 10:14 AM | TrackBack