1 Year, 3 Months

The little dudes are constantly astonishing me with how fast they're learning. I just wish I had the energy to keep up with and challenge them.

Jack

Jack frequently makes sharp declaratives, which I'm sure he believes to be very clear, but we have yet to get with his program. Perhaps his most notable comprehension demonstration this past month was when I played Raffi's "Baby Beluga" song for him for what I believe was the first time. We also have a Baby Beluga book, the words of which we sometimes sing, sometimes speak. Upon hearing the song begin, Jack excitedly went to the bookshelf, threw down several books until he found Baby Beluga, and he brought it back to me, looking quite thrilled with himself. 

I solemnly swear I am up to no good: 

Enjoying his finger decorations (plastic beads I played with as a child):

Jack is quite good with those beads, and likes to disconnect and re-connect them.

Jack is becoming a more adept walker, and continues to be a daredevil climber. This is after he climbed up on to the back of our couch, using our curtain tie-back as a pull-up bar:

Little troublemaker:

Finding new ways to enjoy his iPad (my old first-generation tablet, loaded with kids music and a couple simple games):

Henry
Henry tends toward long strings of excited babbling, sometimes complete with dramatic arm-waving. Perhaps his most notable comprehension demonstration this past month came when I was reading him his favorite truck book. As background, Henry is an enthusiastic pat-a-cake aficionado, his favorite part being "roll it." He often does "roll it" hands when he's very happy about something. One of the lines in the truck book is "the work trucks are rolling by" which, after I read it the other day, Henry did his "roll it" hands.

Happy Henry:

Henry is an accomplished walker, on the verge of running. It's a terrifying time.

Pleased to have found some loose socks:

Henry also has the adorable habit of patting his own chest if someone says to him "you're Henry," as if to say, "yes, it is I!"

Henry is definitely not a morning dude...

... maybe a few stuffed animal friends will help.

Rocket Henry:

Lounging Henry:

Why, hello there!

A Halloween picture I missed that I felt was pretty darn adorable:

Adventures Together
The boys enjoy a touch-screen display about ocean life during Leatherback Turtle Day at a local marine education center (Henry background, Jack foreground):

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge, helping reorganize the tupperware cabinet:

Playing an exciting new game: Sock Hands! (after getting into Mom's laundry)

(Jack above, Henry below)

To summarize life as it is now... Mom, literally being pulled in multiple directions while trying to eat dinner: