New developments this week have occurred but first, Malin and I both managed to avoid catching the bug that took down the male members of the family.  Go Girl Power!

Anyway, alas, I have no pictures to share but we will capture these events on film.  Don’t you worry.  So, Dexter has learned how to look contrite.  When we yell at him “No throw – now tell your brother you’re sorry and pat his back” after he’s thrown a toy in Nicholas’s face, Dexter will freeze in his tracks.  He will look down at the ground and not make eye contact with you.  He will then tilt his head to one side and pout something fierce.  Of course we melt.  Who wouldn’t?  The little bugger may be an actor yet.  We will repeat our request in a nicer tone (man – does he have us trained) and after some it’s ok – give your brother a pat on the back, Dexter will comply and then smile HUGELY.  Dexter knows how to work the system.

Two baths ago, I gave Nicholas a pail to play with in the bathtub.  Laura, you would have died.  The next minute, Nicholas is standing up in the bathtub in his naked splendor, pouring the water over his head.  It looked just like the scene out of the movie Australia with Hugh Jackman.  Seriously, Joel and I almost rolled over in laughter.  Then he repeated it over and over again to Dexter’s utter delight as he SCREAMED with laughter at Nicky.  Tonight’s bath had more reenactments of the notorious water scene and Dexter demanded to have his turn.  He just can’t pull it off though.  Dexter, I’m sorry, but that big grin and subsequent laughter that follows just makes you more of a loveable goofball.

Bribery – as a Boeing employee, we sign a code of conduct that basically states we will be outstanding citizens and not be unethical.  That said, if we have to use bribery in order to get our boys to eat, are we violating that code of conduct?  Case in point: the last couple of nights both Dexter and Nicholas have upon frequent occasion, thrown a fit and won’t eat the meal I have fixed for them.  Tonight Nicholas would eat the tuna pasta and fruit but WOULD NOT TOUCH UPON PENALTY OF DEATH the slightly mushy broccoli I made for them.  Dexter wouldn’t touch any of it.  He was waiting for a different menu, I suppose. 

Joel and I drew a line in the sand and I got out the big guns – fruit chewies – figuring that they would do anything for fruit chewies.  With bribes, Dexter had a little of the entree and sides.  Bribes work great for Dexter – he’ll keep eating as long as the bribes keep coming.  Quite the corrupt little despot, isn’t he?  When the bribes ran out, so did his ability to eat.   We told him then – go hungry.  Now Nicky would make Boeing proud.  Even when offered something he can’t get enough of, he would not budge.  One bite of broccoli – something he has liked eating in the past – he would not touch.  His screams of indignation and frustration got bigger.  Whatever happened to our quiet Nicholas?  Those days are long gone.  ;)  Sure, his cries are still fairly quiet, but not his screams, or his shreaks, or his bellows.  Then, when I put the remaining fruit chewies in the pantry – you would have thought I killed him.  Nicholas was NOT HAPPY WITH ME.  One of many tests of will between the two of us, I suppose.

Oh, and then there was the time Dexter played dead in his high chair.  It was lunch time and right before their nap.  We had pushed it that morning and you could clearly see the boys were super tired.  Dexter ate a little and then closed his eyes when Joel tried to feed him another bite of pureed squash.  He looked like he had fallen asleep – not the first time he’d done this in his high chair.  Finally I relented and told Joel “fine, Dexter doesn’t have to eat anymore vegetables” and boom, Dex’s eyes shot open, a smile emerged, and he shoved a couple handfuls of cheerios into his mouth while Joel and I laughed.  Actor – working on his Oscar nod.

We have more stories to share, but I’ll save those easy tales for blog posts later in the week.  We’ll try to include pictures too.

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