The 4 Webbs thrived (not just survived) through the terrific two's (not terrible two's). We are 6 weeks away from being the proud parents of three-year-olds and such a momentous occasion deserves a year-in-review recap. Parenting consists of the moment by moment interactions with the kids which snowball into days, months, and years. I can summarize my year of work into 5 or 6 major accomplishments, but it is very difficult to summarize a year of parenting. I'll do my best.
We dealt with only 6 or 7 sicknesses all year, no broken bones, and no trips to the hospital. Those are major accomplishments considering our adventures and how frequently Easton and Layla interact with other sick kids.
Potty training proved to be more elusive than I expected, but we are certain to reach this milestone for Easton and Layla in 2011. Layla is already taking care of business intermittently and I expect she'll be in her big girl bed within a couple of weeks once she masters the consistency aspect. Easton is on deck right behind her.
Layla kicked the pacifier habit, cold turkey, and hasn't taken a single nap since that day. Talk about bitter-sweet... I consider it a partial success because although we limited the bad effects pacifiers have on her teeth and pallet the hour break sure was refreshing.
We made three trips to Sacramento in the second half of 2010 for a combined total of 13 weeks out of 26 (50% of the time). We could almost claim partial California residence if there was any value. I'm afraid California may start taxing us for each week we stay in the state. We also took one trip to Missouri for vacation and we are already planning our next trip there for some time in 2011. We hope 2011 is "year of the home bodies" but I'm certain we'll take a few trips here and there.
As for the past few days I finished up 14 days straight away from work. The last time I took that many days off in a row was 7 years ago during my first sabbatical. Needless to say I've spent more time with Easton and Layla than ever before, which amplified the blessings and challenges of my normal week with them.
The most noticeable change is Easton's growth in confidence and maturity. Now he steps up to unknown situations without hesitation or fear. He's first to try a new slide or figure out a new toy (whenever Layla doesn't beat him to it). Opa and I took him to the artificial turf soccer field because it was the driest place in town to try out the new stomp rocket. He blasted it up in the air, ran to recover it, reloaded and repeated about 30 times.
Dress up at home is more exciting because now Easton has his own gear to pretend. He and I put out the fire in Layla's castle and saved the princess. What a hero! By the way, his hat is not turned to the side as a gangster style. It's just the result of a work related hazard. Saving princesses is tough on gear.
Alexa spent an after with the twins at the park and home playing together. She became the favorite cousin of the trip because of her willingness to jump in participate in their world.
Occasionally we pretend Easton and Layla are babies. I say, "awe... do baby Easton and baby Layla need their bottles?" They start whimpering like little babies and suck their thumb. Layla says she's sucking her thumb although it is really her index finger. They respond by saying, "Waaaaaah, I need my bottle." Then I pick each one up and cradle them like babies while rocking back and forth.
Because of the incesant rain we did several other indoor activities over the past few days. I took Layla and Easton to the Bounce O' Palace. The same one where Easton and I went last week without Layla. They wore each other out running and sliding and jumping. Layla went down the slides so fast my camera only shows a pink blur. She literally jumps off the edge of the slide and speeds down the slick plastic. As you can see by Easton's smile he was satisfied with the average speed limits of a body in motion.
The extended family (almost all of them) went bowling just for fun. We showed up at the last frame to say hello and go to lunch. The cousins were kind enough to give up a turn for Easton and Layla to try it out. Cousin Kelly lovingly showed Easton the basics. The ball took about 30 seconds to reach the end of the bumper where the pins were and then plopped into the gutter. We still cheered him on and gave high-fives for the effort.
Oma helped Layla aim and release down the lane. She watched intently as the ball slowly rolled towards the pins. She picked up 4 pins and cheered as though she'd won an olympic gold medal.
Oma and Opa made it most of the way through a game of Candy Land. Easton and Layla's attention span didn't even make it to the Chocolate Mountain, but they basked in the fun up to that point.
Layla received her beautician license for Christmas, or so one might think, given the number of make overs and time spent pretending to put on makeup. All of her tools are properly positioned on the couch for just the right combination.
I do my best not to overthink parenting, but I'd rather be accused of caring to much than not caring enough. One such example is the correct use of compliments. Here are two compliments:
You look beautiful in that dress!
That dress looks beautiful on you!
Are they the same? 99.99% of the world would say yes, but I say no. I believe the first one leads to Layla only feeling beautiful if she has on the right clothes or the right makeup or the right whatever. The second compliment is more appropriate in my opinion. I don't want Layla to get her self-worth though material things and the first compliment sows the seeds of exactly that. I don't want her to feel the need to do anything or wear anything in order to get my compliment about how beautiful she is. Maybe I'm crazy and need to lighten up, but that shows how conscious I am about every word that comes out of my mouth around the twins.
Logan's girlfriend Bree has a collection of necklaces like the tight black one Layla is wearing. Layla even referenced how she looks like Bree in this picture as we were looking through them together. :)
The twins have been healthy throughout the many adventures of the past few weeks, but it looks like the bug caught up with Easton who is running a little fever. He's normally mellow and cuddly, but when he gets a little under the weather those traits are amplified. The silver lining of the cloud is that I get more cuddle time where he sits on my lap to read about the "hot lama" (hot lava) in his new volcano book.
Kendra and I agree New Year's Eve celebrations are less attractive every year. We hit the point where a successful celebration is when we are able to stay awake long enough to see the New York rockin' celebration come to a close at midnight. It's not that I care less. I just learned to focus my "care" on what's important and where to burn my calories. Here's to the new year and more adventures with the 4 Webbs!
See you soon.
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