"Chandler James"

Charlie asked me today why I keep calling him by his first and middle name. Maybe that's because I only call Charlie by both when he's in trouble. Anyhow, I told him, because I like his name. Then Charlie tells me, "I wish Chandler was back in your tummy, Mommy."

Why?

"So I could feel him kick again."

Poor baby. I don't have the heart to tell him there will be no more babies in Mommy's tummy.

Anyways, I took Chandler to the doctor today, due to 4 long nights of not sleeping well. During the day he's pretty much a happy camper, so could it be ear infections? Why yes! Got one in the right, and there's fluid in the left. After dealing with persistent fluid in Chance's ears for his first year, it's hard to not get ahead of myself - call the dr, schedule to put in tubes!! LOL. Ok, I guess it is only the first time, let's hope it doesn't persist....

But also the doctor noticed that he's got a tooth coming in. Growing up too fast, already. But Chance and Charlie did the same thing, so I had some warning. He's also up to 15 1/2 pounds, little chunker!

Despite all of these ailments, he's happy and cooing all day long. And laughing. It's so much fun.

Speaking of fun, we've been having lots of that lately. Our friend is back to work his magic with our backyard. They've put up a border and put in pea gravel under the playground. Tomorrow should bring a crushed granite pathway/track for the boys to ride bikes on. I do feel sorry for our friend, having two little contractors (Charlie and Chance) micro managing. Ha! They love to watch. Charlie has set up his kid chairs to just sit and watch the bob-cat in action. Chance usually covers his ears and runs away from the bob-cat, but whenever it's off, he's up there watching them use their tools, and plays in the gravel ("woks" = rocks, as he calls it).

We've also been swimming again. I feel like life is finally returning to some semblance of normal (pre-Chandler normal). We went to a friend's kiddie pool and Chandler loved it!! He kicked and splashed the whole time.

And starting Monday we have been able to go to the gym again, which also has a pool. Today while I was sitting and nursing Chandler (aka "time for the boys to get in trouble, Mommy's busy") at that pool...Chance explored the area and took the lock off the gate and was halfway up the walkway of a huge 2 story water slide by the time I got to him. Poor Chandler, I had just stopped him mid-meal and tossed him in his carrier, to run and grab Chance. It was one of those, "I am definitely over my head with these kids" moments!

But overall, we're doing great.

Chance is saying longer sentences. I still have no idea what he's saying sometimes, he still doesn't enunciate much, but he's getting better everyday.

And about Chance's speaking...Chance imitates anything Charlie says. So one day when Charlie was mad at me, he said "You're a bad mommy!". Awhile later when I told Chance to go to sleep, as soon as I closed the door I heard, "Bad Mommy!" So I went back in, explained he's not to say that. Close the door again..."Bad Mommy." It was all I could do to keep from laughing. So I gave him a spanking, he cried a little, I hugged him, told him not to say that, closed the door... and I hear "Bad Mommy!" again. This little episode has happened nearly everyday for a week now, and he's even done it to Daddy - although he usually waits until we leave the room to say it. He's definitely two years old, what can I say?!

And as far as Charlie goes... Charlie is working hard on learning the alphabet and how to read. He's always asking me how to spell words. His favorite shows right now are the Leap Frog "Letter Factory" (movie), and Super Y, and sometimes Word Girl. I had wondered if getting him interested in reading would be hard, but it's coming naturally to him. He also loves to "read" books during rest time each day, although he's becoming frustrated that he can't actually read the words on the page.

And he's also becoming a jokester. His favorite is: "What do you call a snail on a ship? "

"A snailor!"

What about you? Know any good preschooler jokes? He's constantly asking me for new ones...