I had one of the scary parent moments today.  I had just finished feeding Dexter and Nicholas and Dexter was the first child cleaned up and out of his high chair.  As usual, I set him on the floor and turned my attention to Nicholas.  Joel was in the den, cleaning up, sorting pictures, and working on his computer.  I finished wiping down Nicky, and said, let’s go find your brother.

I should have guessed that Dexter was up to no good by how quiet the house it.  Why is it the quiet proceeds danger?  Anyway, Nic and I turn the corner towards the front door and no Dex.  Hmmmm, where is he I thought.  I then notice that the gate to the stairs is not latched.  Crap!  I look to the stairs and there is Dexter on stair #4.  He had changed his mind about going it alone and was turning back right at the exact moment Nic and I showed up at the scene.

Dexter has not figured out how to go down the stairs yet.  He just learned to climb up them a couple days ago.  So, his version of coming down was to turn around and lean out.  That’s when I caught him over the gate with Nic held firmly in my other arm.  I shouted JOEL!!!!! and he came running.

I think I need to put bells around these boys.  And maybe ankle weights…

Three giants steps for Dexter!!!

Yes, that’s right.  Dexter took his first three unassisted steps this evening.  It was amazing.  Dex and I were just going to show Dad our new trick of standing unassisted for 15 or so seconds but Dexter pulled a fast one on me and walked!  HOLY COW.  We all clapped, Nicholas included, and cheered for Dexter.  We tried to recreate the event but let’s just say, Dexter had other things on his mind.

That’s all for now.  Just wanted you all to know.

Alas, I have no pictures of the feat I am about to share with you.  Laura was in the kitchen making dinner for us (YOU ROCK LAURA!) and Joel was out in the garage doing what men do, getting plywood.  I was alone with the boys and needed to go up the stairs to get a blanket.  We’ve recently gated off the bottom of the stairs from the boys just in case.

Well, I opened the gate and Nic stuck his hand in it before I could close it.  Fine, I told him.  Climb the stairs then.  And he did.  He made it just fine to the first landing and was quite pleased with himself.  Dexter started to yell from the other side of the gate.  ”I want to climb too.”  Fine Dexter, start climbing and I lifted him over the gate to see what he would do.  Slow and steady up to the first landing.  As soon as he got there and saw his brother, he laughed and started to climb the rest of the stairs.  Nicholas was not about to be left behind and away he went.  Up, up and up they went until they reached the second floor.  I felt like I was in a video game “You have reached the next level.”

Lordy, we are in trouble.

This summer I was determined to get the boys in swim lessons.  OK, maybe I jumped the gun and they were a little too young for the class.  I do believe they were the youngest in the class but that didn’t matter because by the end of the 4 week, twice a week class, they were almost enjoying themselves.

Joel and I took them for lessons at Forest Park Swim Center – the same place I took all of my swim lessons way too many years ago.  It was quite nostalgic for me.

The first class was held outside because of the 98 degree weather day.   The boys could stand up, wondered why they were surrounded by lots of little people and why mom and dad kept dripping water on their head.  The following pictures are all from that day.

Look, there’s Robyn and Alex.  Alex is a total water baby.

The remaining classes were held inside where the boys turned blue and froze to death.  After all, they were playing in a lap pool.  Let me tell you, changing back into our clothes with two tired & hungry babies was a challenge.  By the second week, we learned to bring snacks with us.

A big shout out to Laura and Heather who had the pleasure of going to the classes with me when Joel could not attend.  Can’t wait to do this again when the boys are a bit bigger.

Well, it finally happened.  After a year of being on “lock down”, we opened our house up for a couple play dates and went to visit others.  Then last Thursday, the runny noses started.  Yep, Joel, Laura, Nicholas and Dexter all caught a cold.   I’ve lucked out so far and have not succumbed to the runny nose which is quite strange because I’m the one who was on immune suppressing drugs last week for a rash around my ankles.

Anyway, of course I kind of freaked out that first night, but the boys have sailed through this cold just fine so far.  They slept a bit more and sounded congested – that was all.  It’s funny.  I always thought the puking would be the bodily function that did me in.  Nope – the first time I grabbed the Kleenex to wipe their runny noses I almost gagged.  It was disgusting.  Then Joel suctioned Dexter’s nose out with a bulb syringe.  We thought he would yell his head off.  He got the belly chuckles instead.  That kid is weird.  Nicholas runs away from me when he sees a Kleenex in my hand.  The power of the little white tissue.

Not too bad.  No sickness for one whole year.  Amazing really.  I’ve never before gone three months without a cold.  Washing your hands and gelling them with hand sanitizer really does the trick.  Thank you all for being considerate of our germ free needs.  We’ll probably revert back to a lock down mentality during cold and flu season for one more winter in order to keep Dexter healthy (his lungs are still not 100%) and then we can treat these kids like normal walking germs.  :)  Won’t that be exciting.