Tracking March

Big rolling laughter. Belly aching giggles. Grocery aisles filled with sunshiny squeals and joyous fun in race-car carts. Echoing farts on wooden stools that leave toddlers bodies shaking in absolute surrender to the silliest of moments. Welcome to the world of Ryder and Rory. Pull up a stool and let the good times roll, we are happy you stopped by to join in the excitement.

March did not disappoint in its ability to bring new adventures. Rory and Ryder are continuing to become best of buds and all that comes with it. Working lunch breaks on the back porch discussing the spellings of “s-u-n” and “m-o-o-n” and how both live in the blue sky (okay, it was more Ryder explaining and Rory stealing his lunch).

Or very serious adventures on a ship that it is sinking and “how will we ever survive!” One solution was to measure the sides and rebuild them. Rory had other ideas:

I frankly thought her approach fantastically dramatic and completely called for. Do you see that furry monster approaching in the waves? Twice the size of your own body, you betcha I would have had a similar reaction!

Excursions to the beach where they tasted, er, tested the sand, dug for buried treasure, and became the king of the wave while soaking in all that is breezy and bright. Grand lunching with seagulls, cousins, and Oma, 1st street delivered.

Ryder is taking his responsibility as my at-home co-worker very seriously. He has started processing thoughts in his sleep that carry him sleep walking through the hallway and falling asleep in odd places (like wrapped around a door jam). He is dedicated to sitting beside me on his wooden stool for hours on end while I hammer at the day’s duties.

His current favorite shows, documentaries, play in the background (Dolphins, Whales, Dinosaurs, and even Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey) while he masterfully Crayolas his way through all paper surfaces available (nothing is safe: bills, cards, important paperwork). Discussions of numbers (“four is half of eight”, “May is the 5th month” and “I’m 21” (his birthday)) and shapes (“octagons have eight sides” and “triangles have three”) are  just a few of the many topics of interest to him. His never ending desire to learn and build upon it never ceases to challenge and amaze me:

R: “Why is my pancake wrapped in paper?”
Me: “Its actually plastic. Its to keep it safe from dirt until you eat it.”
R: “What’s plastic?”
I explained
R: “Ok, why are my shoes blue then if they are plastic?”
Me: “Because they colored the plastic.”
R: “That’s true. Makes sense.”

Rory is determined to change her world by finding her feet. She is walking with assistance but is so close to going on her own. She has shown a will determined to achieve greatness. Rory is probably most proud and tickled to be brushing her teeth (I guess I would be too if it took eleven months to grow them!).  I swear she has been studying You Tube videos of how to master the habit ’cause this girl means serious business. She is even more excited when I scrub them, she would let me do it all day.

But another exciting adventure was meeting her new baby cousin Elliot. Welcomed to her Uncle Ben, Teta (Ukrainian for Aunt) Sonya, and furry cousin Eegor (Rory’s third word spoken), baby Elliot has made his debut into our lives with a sweetness unlike anything else in the world can achieve – babies are just awesome like that:

We are excited to see what adventures Elliot will accompany us on and what brilliant ideas he will bring to the equation. Congratulations Ben and Sonya! Welcome to the family baby Elliot!

As I was wrapping up this post I heard Rory crying herself to sleep. I went to check on her only to find that Ryder had snuck in and put another blanket on her feet, grabbed his stool from the bathroom, and turned her overhead light on for her. I peeked in his room to find him “reading” and asked, “Did you do all that for Rory because she was crying?” to which he replies in a soft whisper (he probably thought he was going to get in trouble for getting out of bed), “Yes, that’s my Rory-girl.”

I love these kids!