A Budding Sibling-ship

Dear Nathan and Hannah, 

This week I'm going to focus more about how your friendship-siblingship is starting to blossom. Gone are the days where Hannah simply watches as Nathan plays, or where Hannah just wants to destroy what Nathan is doing. Nathan is actually taking turns, helping Nathan or simply just imitating whatever big brother is doing or saying. I think it all started out with our rug delivery from last week.  You guys started attacking the rug as soon as your eyes saw those 2 giant rolls. Since Nathan has finally figured out how to play gently with Hannah and has (for the most part) a good idea that your job is to protect your little sister, I find myself being mediator less and less. 

 The days of Destruct-o Hannah are over as you are now more constructive and tend to like to clean up messes and throw things away in the garbage. In this little session of blocks, you two were building the towers together, and took turns knocking them over.

 Hannah was even super great at helping Nathan with transferring coins from the dinosaur bank to the piggy bank, again, taking turns.

 While eating meals, you guys shout funny words back and forth to each other and simply giggle. (By the way, we've been eating a lot of meals outdoors lately because the weather has been soooo nice!)

 There were a few brief downpours, though, but the temperatures have been hovering in the mid to high 80's. One day, right as we were about to go bike riding, it started to pour. To cheer up a little kid who was disappointed, we ran out in the rain for a bit.

 One day this week, we met up with a friend at the park. I had to take this picture because Hannah's hair was too cute! It was soo nice to see Nathan's best friend and I think Hannah is starting to look up to her because you were super excited to see her and even yelled out her name as you ran to the playground.

 We went to check out a new kid consignment store the other day to see if we could find some cute accessories for your upcoming photo session. We scored a bag of construction trucks and when we got home, Nathan played with them for 40 minutes.

 Yesterday, we went to storytime at the library. Hannah (in the yogaba cape) sat so nicely, listening to stories beside Nathan.

 As an extra incentive for Nathan's potty training, we've bought a bunk bed that we have yet to set up. As soon as you can keep your undies dry (during the day) for a week, we feel like you will be big enough for a bunk bed. Well, in the meantime, it's just sitting in the playroom and one day this happened...

 That pile at the bottom of the ramp represented about half of the things that you guys sent sliding down the ramp (including yourselves). You guys played together, giggling the whole time, for about 45 minutes!

This morning, we decided to go to Austin's Annual Children's Art and Music Day with some neighbors. While we were waiting for them to come pick us up, we did some exploring outside.

 Played with a rolly polly

 And after sitting through lots of traffic, we finally made it.

 Lately, Nathan, you've been coming out of your room after we say goodnight to you, too scared or "bored" to sleep. We suggested that you sleep with Hannah and you guys were giggling and talking back and forth for about 30 minutes, which at that point, we heard you tell Hannah over the monitor, "I'm going to bed and ignoring you. Don't talk to me anymore." Hannah, without success tried to heckle you a bit before laying down herself and eventually fell asleep too.

This morning at 6:58 I heard both of you giggling. I decided to give you two about 20 minutes before I barged in and you two just had a blast, giggling, squealing, and yellingik th! I think this co-sleeping will work pretty well.

It's exciting to see your relationship bloom as you grow closer to each other and learn more about each other's likes, dislikes, and preferences.

We are also kind of potty training Hannah. Hannah is now able to go #1 and #2 on the potty, and will sometimes tell us when you need to go. You are also pretty good at using "potty" as a delay mechanism, spouting it out right before I put you down in your crib, or when you are bored at the dinner table. One of these days, I'll hunker down and stay home for 3 days, but for now, I think things are good.

Well, that's about it for the week.
Love,
Mommy