Year-end tales

The holiday festivities are dying down and family has gone after a great visit of spoiling the boys rotten. The boys are trying to process the fact that all those weeks and even months of build-up for Christmas is over. Ethan, Mr. Sensitive, is busy "missing" everyone, including Santa. He even "misses" me when I am right there with him. They are both concerned about Bear missing Jonathan's dog Geffi. Ethan yesterday gave him a hug and said, "Bear miss Geffi?" Bear didn't care for the hug but I'm sure he appreciated the sentiment. The vet and all the staff yesterday at Bear's check-up were very impressed with how much he tolerates from the boys. I didn't tell them he doesn't always, nor do they!

Isaac for his part is going through withdrawal from sleeping right next to us. He would say "I want sleep mama. I miss you". He was crying for me at bed time and waking up in the middle of the night, screaming "I don't like my bed". When I told him if he stayed in his own bed all night for seven days he would get a new present, that seemed to help a bit. He has been settling in and sometimes it's just Ethan who wakes up and comes to our bed and then makes me carry him back if I tell him he needs to sleep in his own bed or just cries because he needs to pee pee and wants help.

It is still so entertaining and I know the family enjoyed seeing too, how they interact with each other. Even though Isaac is usually the bossy one, Ethan, when he is grumpy orders Isaac around and throws a tantrum if Isaac isn't interested. We were at a Christmas party one night on a day when Ethan hadn't napped. Ethan wanted to put train tracks together but couldn't quite get it himself. He kept yelling "Isaac, do it", "Isaac help" until he was practically shrieking and Isaac went to help him. Every time it broke he yelled at Isaac to help.

Tonight they discovered that Bear had started chewing on Ethan's new bear from Grandma while they were in the bath. Ethan was emotional about it though he never wants the bear usually. Isaac proceeded to berate Bear and then went over and told Ethan he had told Bear off. Ethan wasn't that interested but when I told him that was very nice, he beamed with pride.

This has been a great year and we're looking forward to more funnies and sweetness in the new year, complete with new baby. Ethan is noncommital and will probably be more jealous but Isaac is keen to hold the baby on his lap while he watches tv and is always telling Ethan to be careful of squishing the baby in mama's tummy.

Identity theft

I can smell trouble already in the school years ahead. The boys already try to play tricks on their teachers and classmates. I went to help at their Christmas party and another mom asked Ethan his name. "Isaac", he said, quite seriously. Their teachers were laughing and said how they'd often tried to do that to them but now they knew the ear trick (Ethan has a dimple). I am so grateful for that so they won't be able to pull one over on me later. Though their personalities seem vastly different to me at this point, even family like Uncle Milo still can't tell them apart.

Besides that, in discussing placental matters with other multiples mamas, I was thinking lately about the chances that they are probably identical. This was further reinforced by my ultrasound that revealed just ONE baby. Probably a loose connection but nevertheless I am thrilled to have only hit the jackpot one time on that one.

The boys have been getting along much better these days. It's a lot of fun to see them organizing things to do together or just showing concern. The other day we went up to nap and Bear had chewed up one of Ethan's teddy bears. Ethan was quite distraught but Isaac kept trying to comfort him, saying "sorry, Ethan". He then helped me clean it all up and put it in the trash. Fortunately it wasn't Ethan's favorite and after Bear tore up a little robot dinosaur he was banished for a while to his cage during sleeping.

Last week when I was exhausted and nauseated and the boys were climbing all over me while I was working, Ethan seemed to sense I was on the verge of losing my temper and said, "Isaac, go upstairs, play train?" Isaac thought about it and agreed and off they went. Ethan is fond of playing with his train upstairs but Isaac won't go up even to get clean clothes because he is scared. The other day I didn't want to go all the way up to help Isaac get new pants. I told him to just turn on the lights but he kept screaming "I scared!". So I asked Ethan if he could help, to go with him and turn on the lights. "Oh, okay, I do it," he said and off they both went.

Isaac was really cute too when I was laying on the couch half asleep one evening. He sat next to me telling me stories for a good 10 minutes or so. I'm not really sure what they were about except fire trucks and smoke. He loves to "read" by himself now. He probably gets about a few words right on each page but that's a start. He will still ramble telling whatever story he wants to go with it.

I think they will be good big brothers, though possibly annoying too! We were out with Keira the other morning at the Burger King with a small playland. They kept telling her she was too small to do anything and were very bossy to her. Charlotte said it's good for her since she thinks she is the boss, but I can imagine with a baby they will be worried about and reporting every small little thing he/she does. That might be helpful sometimes but could get old too I'm sure! On the other hand they were funny tonight putting their heads to my belly (though it's just mostly fat being pushed around, I have popped a bit this week) and trying to hear and feel the baby. We may have to get a doppler so they can hear it well as the baby gets bigger!