The boys are starting to get a few bits of sign language down well.  Nicholas especially.  They can say “please”, and “more”, and “all done”, and “open.”  We’re trying to teach them how to say “sleepy”, “drink”, and “stop putting my college savings funds in low-yield municipal bonds – THINK people.”  Mostly the signs are used during feeding, or when they want us to get the shapes out of the shape sorter, or the blocks off of the dining room table.  They either sign to us, or shriek, depending on the moment.

The reason I mentioned it is that today was the first time they surprised me with using a sign appropriately, but in a new context when I wasn’t expecting it.  After lunch, Dexter squatted in the family room for a few minutes, and before long the fumes were getting to us so I took him to the Living room to change him.  It turned out to be a fairly icky one, requiring more than the normal amount of scrubbing, and of course I had to get out the steel wool and pressure washer to get the rest of it off.  Dexter squirmed like a little bugger for the first minute or so, and then sat calmly for another minute – but then he signed, “all done.”  And then he did it again, somewhat more urgently.  It was kind of hilarious, I just didn’t expect it, but I suppose I should have.  I’m not exactly sure what my tolerance level would be for having somebody aggressively wiping my bottom, but I’m sure I’d be insisting that they stop rather quickly as well.

Later, we took the boys for their first hair cuts.  I don’t have any pictures yet, but I promise to take some just as soon as the bleeding lessens a bit.  We only took a little from around Dexter’s ears, but hacked off most of Nicholas’ crusty-the-clown curls.  He looks so grown up now.  Anyway, about two minutes into Dexter’s hair cut, he started signing “all done” again.  Smart little guy.  It’s hard to say “no” when he asks so sweetly.  And then he shrieks.

Every once in a while I go through all of our recent photos, categorize them, and upload them to a series of draft blog posts, just waiting on us to find the time to write them up and publish them.  And then time passes, and I realize it’s been over a month and I still have 9 or 10 draft posts in the queue, and no evidence of making progress any time soon.  These shots were taken in early November, for example.  Go figure.

Anyway, the boys love windows.  It’s like TV, but with less glare and no commentary.  They like looking out the back windows at the squirrels running along our fence, and especially the front windows.  Out the front windows they’ll watch for traffic, and wave excitedly to neighbors and especially the garbage truck drivers.  They seem to know when Katie or I are supposed to be coming home, and like to go to the window and watch for us.  They know our cars and will get all excited when they see one of us returning.  They’ll wave and blow kisses.  If  visitor is coming to the door, you might find the boys peering out of the two windows right next to the door, inspecting them before allowing them entry.

And if a neighbor happens to be passing by, the boys’ waves and smiles are like a siren’s call for play time.  Two days ago they convince Lauren and Allie to come inside to play for 15 minutes, and back during November, they caught our neighbors Janice and Alexandra in a game of peek-a-boo over the half-fence between our yards.

So here are some pictures of the boys, waiting for someone to stop by and say hello.