These past few weeks, and the weeks to come, are much about anticipation. Emmett starts school on November 1st; Riley turns two on October 23rd; and I, Tessa, am on the cusp of a bunch of milestones. And Halloween is right around the corner! Everyday is fun and full of cute, sometimes new things. But soon, a ton of stuff will change.
After a couple of weeks of neanderthal-like behavior, Emmett has calmed down and has settled into his role of the learner. Although he is super smart, he still hasn’t been speaking a lot. But in the past two weeks, or so, he’s been picking up a bunch of new words. Riley is the real talker, and Emmett copies him. I think it makes it easier for Emmett, since he feels he can tell us all what he wants. His favorite is “no, no, no!” He almost never says the word just once. It’s always repeated in triplicate, with a slight Italian accent. Don’t ask, we aren’t sure why. Emmett also now says Riley’s favorite word (poop), but not in conjunction with potty training, which is what Mom and Dad are really hoping for. When he starts school he will be going for four mornings a week, for two and a half hours a day. Lots of learning! And also lot of playing. We all think that he is going to LOVE it!
Riley, we all agree, is a little bit of a show-off. He is clearly very smart. While Emmett watches and figures out how everything is working like a scientist, Riley repeats everything he hears trying to get the laugh. He is very expressive verbally. He will say a word over and over and over until you repeat it for him, thus validating his learning. He still thinks that everyone is poopy and will tell you so. But when asked, Riley do you have poop? He emphatically shakes his head no, even though many times he for sure needs a new diaper. He acts out parts of Finding Nemo and Monsters vs. Aliens, two of Emmett’s favorite movies. He really is quite silly. (He has also just evidenced behavior of a two-year-old. He’s defiant, easily frustrated when he doesn’t get his way, and often mad about it all. We hope this passes quickly.)
While Emmett is poised for a huge leap in his learning, and Riley is becoming more and more of a goon each day, I am quietly making headway through all of my first year milestones. Like Riley before me, I am an army crawler. I am thisclose to crawling, though, that it seems like it could happen at any moment. I am also pulling myself up on things, but not furniture surfing just yet. I am eating like a champ, still, and trying my hardest to talk Mom and Dad into letting me have some solid food. When they feed the boys, or even themselves, I stare at their food longingly. Mom has started giving me thumbtack sized pieces, but I would like more…
We all have our Halloween costumes. Emmett is going to be Spiderman, Riley is going to be a white, spotted dog, and I am going to be a kitten. We are going to wear our costumes to Riley’s birthday party, and then again, of course, on Halloween. We are going to Grandpa Bob’s (or Pop-pop as well all call him) to trick-or-treat. Emmett and Riley have already been practicing. It’s going to be fantastic.
I’ll have Mom post pictures after the 31st, but check out the ones that I just put up. All great.
Talk soon.
Love, T
