And all of a sudden...

a) Isaiah is two and b) Braylon is crawling.

Yep, Isaiah is two. I'm delayed in posting a blog to share pics of the momentous occasion (although my pics are few and far between because SOMEONE I know decided to turn the flash off to take them and the resolution is too dark and blurry, unfortunately), but I thought it worthy of mentioning regardless.

He's two! He's full of words, a vocabulary that grows more sophisticated day by day. He goes potty every time (though soils the diaper between trips to the potty too). His will to be independent is strong. You should've seen him desperately wanting to skate on his own, both at the Toyota Christmas party and on Sunday at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. He is very affectionate and incredibly bright. He is learning his colours easily (especially pink, for some reason) and can count to fourteen (that's how many stairs we happen to have). Things he does and says often make Greg and I shake our heads in amazement and smile proudly. Few people believe he is only just two!

However, with two years come new challenges, apparently. He flails into a limp spaghetti position when he does not want to do something and shows severe signs of jealousy now that Braylon can reach his toys. Two-year-old temper tantrums appear to be upon us in full force. He has mastered a high-pitch shriek/scream that I cannot for the life of me silence.

Both boys are growing up so quickly! Braylon, after months of slithering backwards and spinning in circles, finally decided to crawl out of nowhere. There was no up-on-the-knees-and-rocking for days, and very little reaching forward for toys. He just up and went. And can he motor!! Gone are his frustrations over getting stuck, though now that he's climbing as well his patience wears thin because he hasn't quite mastered that.

So yes, he's turned into an incredibly active child. He's actually standing and beginning to cruise from one end of the coffee table to the other. He's desperate to climb up to standing, but often gets caught on his knees. He'll figure that out too, in due time. I'm finding few "walking" toys successful in helping him advance, however, because they move to quickly, rolling out of reach.

He loves watching his brother play (though doesn't quite appreciate when Isaiah spreads himself out on top of him) and wants to do everything Isaiah is doing. As of late, his favourite thing is to climb into Isaiah's ball tent, throw the balls out, and chase the rolling balls around Isaiah's room. And he loves to be outdoors (even though he can't skate either).

Now it's going to be about sharing in this household, because soon enough Braylon will be big enough to hold his own against Isaiah. And when Braylon wants to play with toys that used to belong solely to Isaiah, as is beginning to happen, Isaiah is quick to use the word "mine." Fortunately for Braylon, Isaiah has been spoiled for years, so of the 5 ride-on "vehicles" he has, Braylon managed to climb up on Lightening McQueen for a quick ride around the living room.

Oh, I don't want maternity leave to come to an end... I can't imagine not being home to share in their daily lives. T minus 8 weeks.

What's the rush?

I know, November is grey and ugly. But why do we have to rush from one holiday into the next? Please, someone tell me. My neighbours are all in a hurry to string the Christmas lights (understandable in order to beat the weather) and LIGHT THEM AT NIGHT ALREADY (apparently they've got the money for the increase in their hydro bills?!)! They've thrown away the pumpkins, stored the gourds and decorations and exchanged leaf wreaths for holy and pine. Why can't we just take a little break from holiday overload?! I am. I'm on decorating strike, save for Isaiah's birthday party this weekend. No, I'm not a Scrooge. In time, folks!

Rebelo cousins

So every month, Janice, Stacey and I try to get together with our children and take a photo. They were all born within 3.5 months of one another, so they'll likely grow up to be very close. And it's been nice to keep up with a monthly playdate as I think socializing children is incredibly important. If we stay where we are, as in Strathroy, Jasmine (in orange) and Braylon will go to school together, and likely play soccer together as well. So although they won't be into roughhousing like Greg and Darryl were, let's hope, they're sure to know one another fairly well by the time they go to school.

Anyhow, usually we can easily encourage Braylon, Mateo and Jasmine to comply, and sometimes even Isaiah manages to sit still for a picture or two. I think it's neat to mark the monthly progression between them, and observe the family genes inherent in all of them. I think right now they're too much a blend of both parents to note distinct similarities between them, but hopefully they'll cooperate long enough for us to continue our monthly photos!

Lately, though, I've noticed that, despite all claims to a "Rebelo nose," my boys have got my nose. It's the very same shape on both of them. The eyes are different, yes; Isaiah's are crystal clear blue and Braylon's have changed to what I suppose is hazel. Most people remark how alike they look, and though I agree they look like brothers, I find them to be very different. I wonder if, years later, I'll look back and question which child is which when I pull out the photo albums!

One thing is for sure, neither Rebelo boy looks much like their cousin Mateo! He is taking after Isaiah in body size - the Faria side's height, most notably - but both my boys are fair skinned, for one and he's definitely got the olive-toned skin. It's funny because Greg and Stacey look so much alike, but when you add in my background and Ermal's as well, it changes everything! I wonder what the new "Rebelo" baby will look like - and no, not ours! Hopefully Stacey has a little girl next, though, since so far our family has only grandsons!

Anyhow, we're expecting Janice and Jasmine for a walk, so I'd best get my boys ready to go!

Halloween '08

I could've sworn I said I wasn't going to truck the kids around for Halloween this year, I know I did. But I didn't stick to my intentions at all because I couldn't resist showing off my little jungle creatures, and I rather enjoy visiting family and friends, even if it was brief.

Our day began with some pictures at home - not 150 like Kelly (just teasing, Kel), but I try to get shots of moments I'd like to remember! And I of course bought Halloween shirts for the boys, even though it's just one day (so was my wedding, and I don't seem to recall the dress costing $5 like the shirts were!). We headed over to my in-laws to share some candy with the daycare kids, and then back home for Braylon's lunch.

Then we went 'round Strathroy with Janice and Jasmine (the pumpkin), Stacey and Mateo (Tigger, of course), and then to London where I picked up Greg. And, after driving through the city at 5 pm (not intentionally, it just happened to work out that way - ill luck on our part since Wharncliffe was packed like sardines), back out this way and finally home for 7:30. It wasn't record time, since we started at 2 pm, and it was exhausting, but Isaiah didn't really need to trick-or-treat around the neighbourhood this year. Next year he'll enjoy going door-to-door, I think, so don't count on us making the trip again. Although Halloween falls on a Saturday next year, so maybe we'll do the rounds early. We'll see!

We did at least agree that Braylon is moving out of his infant car seat! After taking him out and bundling him back in about 50 times yesterday, in his big belly monkey suit at that, we decided it is time to move up to the normal seat. We'd been debating about doing so for the past while anyhow, particularly since the weather has dropped and he's been wearing a winter jacket, because it is a struggle to get the seatbelt done up at times. So these will be his last few days in the carrier car seat (thank god, because it's getting rather heavy as well, and I do not have upper body strength to say the least; skating built some good strong legs but my arms are weak). I will miss the ease in transitioning a sleeping baby, but I think I can give in for the other advantages of the in-car seat.

Braylon is also showing signs of growing up into a big boy in that he's shown a clear sign of wanting to eat our food lately. He may just skip the veggies alone deal altogether, though he's good with creamed corn, sweet potato and butternut squash not having to be mixed into his cereal. He's been eating banana, cheese, yogurt and such for some time, but lately he's been wanting to eat what the three of us have on our plates. So, despite a lack of tooth eruption in his gums, I think I'm going to have him eating what we are. He had some spaghetti the other night and grilled cheese today, so slowly we'll get him through this next stage!

He's also begun to take one good lengthy nap in the afternoon, and sometimes I'm fortunate to have both boys napping simultaneously. I've definitely got to work on that, because when it does happen I afford myself a little free time... although sometimes I find myself taking a little siesta then as well!

He's standing alone well lately too, fairly well balanced on those tree trunk thighs; not yet crawling (though VERY frustrated that he can't as he'll go from sitting to crawling position, but then gives in to the backward slide across the floor to get where he needs to go, until he gets stuck that is). He may in fact walk before he becomes truly mobile on all fours.

As for Isaiah, he'll be 2 in less than 2 weeks! Hard to believe at times! No one believes he's not yet 2, though, mostly because he's quite tall. Greg and I both have remarked lately how big he's getting, and how grown up. Sometimes the changes in him are so subtle, and you don't realize he's growing into a little boy until it all of a sudden hits you. The other night, after his bath, he wanted to go downstairs and he came running into the bedroom where I was folding laundry and said, clear as a bell, "Mom, open the gate." Perfectly pronounced, perfectly paced. His language has actually come along so well, though he wasn't into saying "trick or treat" on command last night, no matter how many times we'd rehearsed!

I must admit he was one of the cutest kids (and yes, I am biased) I've ever seen last night in his elephant suit. It got me every time!

Anyhow, the other thing I learned this Halloween is that my husband bears a striking resemblance to Borat. Seriously. I'd post the picture of just him dressed up from last night, but it's on his Blackberry and I've yet to figure out how to upload photos from our phones (if you know me, you know how computer illiterate I am - it's amazing I've learned to blog!). I'm not sure it's a good thing he looks so alike Sasha, but it is more than a convincing costume!

Okay, well I sense all 3 boys and the dogs beginning to stir from their late afternoon nap (yes, late - it's after 6 pm but the candy consumed last evening changed Isaiah's daily routine in that he slept in this morning due to a ton of running with the neighbour kids around 8:30 last night so his afternoon nap began around 5:15 tonight), so that means I'd best sign off!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! I'm headed out this evening myself... I'll MAYBE post a pic of my costume next time! No clever disguise for me!

P.S. The spacing will not stay when I go to publish the post, so pardon the craziness when reading. I've tried to return to edit, but it will not keep the spacing for some reason! Grr...