New mobility

It has been almost a month since the last post.  There have been a few changes.
The greatest change is mobility.  The boys crawl rapidly, especially Ben.  Fortunately, they usually crawl together  - one investigates what the other one found.  On occasions when they do not, all I can do is call to Alla (the likely destination) that she has "inbound crawler" and there he is.

The boys also stand up with confidence and hardly hold on at all.  Today Ben was observed playing with a toy while standing up and using same toy for balance.  The other hand was simply at his side.  While the toy was spinning at satisfactory speed, he would just stand there, balancing, watching it spin - 5-10 seconds at a time.  Zev does not stand quite as confidently, but cruises very well along any furniture, wall, or other support.

Recently our nanny brought Zev downstairs, went to get Ben, only to find Zev greeting her from half way up the  stairs - where he climbed on his own.  This act resulted in a near-heart attack for poor aunt Olga and some assembly work for me.  By morning the boys had a plastic cage to contain them as well the second gate, this one at the bottom of the stairs.  Late today, while supervised, the boys were offered the stairs.  They took to the challenge gamely.  Ben surged ahead, with hardly any help, and only paused to investigate the light fixtures.  He topped the stairs and proceeded to try to rip down the hanging scroll at the landing - something he has been after for a while.  Zev took his time, needing no more help.  He got to the last step and made it known he was done climbing for the day.

Playing is another change.  Zev pushes at the ball rolled to him, while Ben picks up a smaller ball and, when in the mood, throws it to me.  Both boys love to play "peekaboo", which they can do indefinitely.  The boys are still quite far from playing together, but they continue to be more aware of each other, at least in terms of trying to get at the same toy.

Ben continues to be more talkative.  When the mood takes him he will say that cow says "moo", as well as emulate sounds of a dog and a car (sort of).  Zev is more shy with words but his laugh is loud and infectious.  When placed in a (relatively) new environment, Ben will be off exploring and playing in a flash.  Zev, on the other hand, may spend good five minutes just watching carefully, and then joining the play.

Sleeping is OK at present (t'fu-t'fu).  Ben tends to sleep through the night, while Zev wakes up once or twice, demanding attention.  If picked up he falls asleep instantly, at which point he is plunked back into his bed.  Naturally, he objects for about a minute, then goes to sleep.

Eating seems to be going well, though here there are differences as well.  Zev is a pickier eater, but sucks his  formula down twice as fast as his brother.  Ben is the more adventurous eater, but taker forever to finish 6 ounces of formula.  Each has something of his dad, I suppose.

Another runny nose. Early bargaining.

Another exciting night, mainly complements of Zev's runny nose.  Oh, well.

What boys have been getting very good at lately is shaking their heads when they don't want something - for example, to eat.  At a recent trip to a store, Alla was holding Ben who was having fun yanking Alla's hair and earrings.  Alla looked him in the eye and said:

"Don't do that!  That hurts mummy.  If you do that again, you go back in the stroller.  Do you want back in the stroller?"

Ben held Alla's gaze and vigorously shook his head.  He kept his word.  For about five minutes.