Bobby and Gee

This is the post title I've had in my head for a week now. Who are Bobby and Gee you might ask? We have no idea who/what they are, but Maggie talks about them all the time.


The communication gap never seemed like an issue. I could usually guess what they needed, or it would be obvious. Now that they are starting to have thoughts/feelings/opinions? Much more of an issue to understand what they mean. I always thought the idea of not knowing how to communicate with your kids was weird, but not going to be an issue. Until Gee happened.

Most of the time, Maggie says what she wants. She asks for Kee. She calls for Mama when she is tired, or sick, or sees me coming home. She says Hi and Bye-Bye when people come and go and when I am on the phone. She says puppy when the dog is around. Baby when she is talking to herself. Maggie. Something that sounds like Lily. Kitty. But then a couple weeks ago, something like this started happening pretty regularly in her highchair.

Maggie says "gee". I say, oh do you want your Kee? No response. Milk? No response. Yogurt? You get the picture. Then I repeat you want gee? And she laughs this "ah ha ha ha ha" laugh like something is hysterical. Same thing with Bobby. It sounds something like Bobby, Hoppy or Boppy, but it doesn't mean anything I can think of. The only thing that is close is like she is talking about Ben. But Ben or Bug as we call him half the time sounds nothing like Boppy. Or Bobby. And while happy seems kinda likely, what are the chances? We don't go around saying it all the time or anything.

Speaking of Ben, he is also starting to say hi, bye-bye (although usually in a high-pitched voice or a chorus of bye-bye-bye-bye) and for sure knows his Mama and Dada's. But most of the time what he says over and over is Ba. Ba-ba-ba. I've started to burst into choruses of Barbara Ann that he thinks is hysterical and will mimic a little.

Other than the communication advances and confusions, the biggest news around here involves walking. Ben is really starting to get it more, and while he still toddles very slowly and cautiously most of the time, he is steadier and steadier. He goes halfway across the room, claps for himself and grins like a fool and then drops to his knees and takes off.

In other news, 14 days of school left, and two of them I will spend on an overnight field trip with the 5th grade. Oh boy, fun times. I cannot wait for summer, and I am so ready to spend some more time with my babies.

Project 365 time:

April 18 - This is the one I missed last time. I came downstairs this morning to find Andy and Ben asleep on the floor. Ben had been cranky and Andy took him downstairs to try to get him to sleep. He said he was cuddling with him and they both fell asleep, but I have no idea how Ben ended up facing the opposite way. Love the snack cup by his feet too, silly boys.

April 23 - I managed to get Maggies hair in a single ponytail. We refer to them as onions around here. She is also wearing Ben's black turtleneck from his Halloween costume. Doesn't she look very adorably artistic and angry?
April 24 - Andy with his nephew. We had gone to brew beer on this day and while Ben and Maggie stayed with my parents, Ryan came to his first brew session. He slept through most of it, but this picture of him with Andy I thought was adorable.
April 25 - We had gone to my parents to pick up the babies on the 24th, and I left my camera there. I told my Mom her job had to be to take a picture for my project. She took four. One of the backyard, one of the dog, one of a basket of laundry and this one of their dinner. This is one of my favorite meals every, pork and dumplings with sweet and sour cabbage, one of our family favorites. We weren't invited that night for dinner, but I had leftovers the next day.
April 26 - One of the last rides in the swing. She looked so big, and so sweet and so, just, peaceful this day to be swinging in her swing. It made me think of just how far we have come, just how big they are getting. This thing was such a Godsend when they were babies, Maggie slept through the night for the first time in that swing. I realize not many one year olds still fit under the weight guidelines of their swings, but my peanut does. She looks so grown up. That's my baby girl in there.
April 27 - Maggie talked me into these little bathtub stacking cups at BRU. She loves them. Filling them, emptying them, dumping them out. Ben likes to fill them with water and throw them out of the tub. Very helpful. We've been getting very wet lately in the bathroom.
April 28 - An old friend of mine came over with her baby for a playdate and dinner. He is 11 weeks old and he weighs more than Maggie! Such a cutie, and she must make magical milk.
April 29 - The dog and I fell asleep on the couch, and my Mom thought it was hysterical. But, what a cute photo of us, and so reminiscent of the old days :-)
April 30 - We love wagon rides! Andy's parents got Ben and Maggie this wagon for Christmas and they love it. We have started taking them for walks around the driveway and the neighborhood. The dog thinks it rocks too.
May 1 - Proof that the cats really do get along. Enjoying the open window - the days are getting so nice around here!
May 2 - Mommy is getting better at pigtails :-)
Something about this one was just adorable to me. Walking with Daddy with that little pink shoe untied.
May 3 - Our new dining room floors look awesome. DH did such a good job. We even have new potted plants. Slowly but surely this place is getting ready to sell! And of course, looking nicer and nicer. Why didn't we make these changes sooner?
May 4 - Another trip to the park! I think it's so crazy to see myself in photos these days. I really, genuinely, look happier than I did before. I guess I didn't realize how depressed I must have looked to other people until I started seeing myself in these recent photos. I look like a different person, and I am so glad I made the change. I want to be happy, I want to feel the kind of joy I used to. I think I'm getting there.
May 5 - Working on being more eco-friendly, small steps. I ordered these adorable sandwich bags from Etsy. They are so cute and make me feel good about packing my lunch! Then I look at the individual applesauces, the 100 calorie bags and realize I have a long way to go.
May 6 - Just babies here begging for ice cream. Yum! They were gathered around me and the dog looked so jealous. They love ice cream, and I can't wait to give them their own cones this summer. Have I mentioned I am excited about summer? It is coming so soon! The only hard part is that once again, we have reached the time of year where I don't know if I have a job next year. My prncipal doesn't seem to hopeful, and there are so many districts making cuts. As much as I want to stay home, I don't want it to be like this :-(