sense of fairness, preventive damage control, potential for training

Recently both boys have gotten into throwing things.  All sorts of things.  In particular, throwing things upwards.  You can easily imagine how a window or a glass light fixture would do in a bout against a wooden toy, to say nothing of people's faces and heads.  As usual, Benjamin is more of an instigator of throwing things.  Zev follows suit, not that it takes much.  Today I preemptively tried to convince Benjamin to through things is a particular direction - away rather than up, away from glass things and towards book shelves.  They shelves do contain a vase, but I will take my chances.  

Seems to have worked - so far.  The game evolved into both boys being on the couch, me tossing them a rather soft rubber ball and them throwing it back.  Which means, in my general direction.  Mostly.  Benjamin was much more into it, while Zev went along for the ride.  About seven minutes in, Zev relocated to my lap, put his arms behind his head and lounged, while Ben continue to burn off some energy.  Works for me.  The surprising part, however, was that the idea of taking turns throwing the ball worked.  I was pleasantly surprised that Ben, who clearly enjoyed the game more, actually pointed at Zev to indicate it was his turn.  A couple of times he picked up the ball and handed it to Zev to through. 

An even better (and hopefully representative) example of Ben's behavior took place last week at the playground.  This was related to me by aunt Olga.  Zev decided to make friends with some older boys - perhaps four years old.  He would come over to them and tough them with his palm.  Think a rather mild high-five to the chest.  Not a sign of aggression, exactly, but it was not welcome attention, I guess. After a couple of minutes one of the boys pushed Zevi down - not hard, just enough to make him sit on his butt, to establish a boundary.  To aunt Olga's surprise, Ben immediately ran over and started hitting the boy with both hands.  Naturally, he could induce not much more damage than Zevi did - light weight, using palms, no technique (yet).  Aunt Olga got involved and hostilities did not escalate.  The behavior, however, was commendable.  As soon as boys have better target discrimination (i.e. won't use each other for punching bags), I am teaching them both about palm strikes, knees, and elbows.

some more March pics

Benya contemplating sushi and juice, 3/9/13

A very determined Zev

Combining Udon noodles with apple juice.  Inspired chef or a mad scientist?  You decide.

Benya likes his soup...

...but loves the juice, preferably without a straw

All I can tell you is that the restaurant survived.  By the time we got up to pay, and employee was standing by with a cart full of cleaning products.

not much news, some long-awaited pictures

The past few weeks saw no major changes.  The daylight savings time now has the kids going to bed at 8 and waking up at 6, still by Zev's mighty cry that wakes Benya and the rest of the house.  Other than that little has changed.  The mornings are early and often loud, the evenings are OK (usually) but exhausting, and the weekends are mind-numbing even at their best.

Benjamin seems to like my hat (clearly, after me more than his mother) and say "kapka" - a modification of "shapka", Russian for "hat".  This also marks the first word that Ben says that Zev does not.  Also, seemingly with no direct effort by anyone, Benjamin learned to quickly bow his head when he is asked to say "thank you".

If someone opens their arms and invites him, Zev gives a big hug from a running start.  In a few more pounds, I imagine, he will be able to knock people over.  Huggers beware.

There might be more cute stuff, but I am too tired right now.

Now some much-delayed pictures.

At Spaghetti Factory, 1/26/13

Zev at the playground, 2/1/13

At the end of a slide

Ben exploring

Cautiously exploring

Zev and Quinn

Benya riding a dragon

Zev meets a very nice dog a patient owner

... while Benya prefers to keep his distance.  Come think of it, that dog was pretty patient too -  it did get poked in the eye

new words, new skills, new haircuts

It has been some time (as always) since the last update.  The boys have grown some and learned a few new tricks.  For one, there is less fighting lately and it is much less one-sided.  In other words, Benjamin has learned that hitting his brother is not a great idea while Zev learned that hitting to protect his toy or book is an option.  We do try to keep the violence to a minimum, however.

Onto more fun stuff.  A couple of weeks ago our wonderful nanny was helping the boys up from their daytime nap.  In the daytime gloom (remember, Oregon, January, darkened room) Ben grabbed a book.  Aunt Olga told him "It is too dark to read, Benya.  Go turn on the light."  To her shock, Benjamin did.

Zev has gotten very good at saying "вот эту" (this one) while pointing to a book or a toy.  He continues to love to point at letters and have us repeat them.  Last week he pointed to a letter and asked "что вот эту?" (lose to 'which is this one?').  Few days ago I presented him with a choice of two new cars and asked which one he wanted.  He pointed to one and said very clearly and confidently "вот эту."

Interestingly, Ben, the more aggressive, is also more willing to share.  Not always, of course, but very often I will ask him for a toy and he will give it to me or to Zev upon request.  Benjamin also is now a master of shape sorter toys.  Zev is pretty good with them too, but he rarely has the interest to go through all shapes, while Ben will get them all in, dump the shapes out, and start again.  Occasionally he gets frustrated when he cannot figure out how to turn the shape to make it fit into the right slot.  But he manages.

Both boys now recognize the letter O.  Zev at least also knows A and E.  In general, Benjamin says less but does more, while Zev is more interested in watching, letters, and numbers.

The split is also apparent in their attitude towards new people and animals.  And here "new" means anyone the boys have not seen over a week.  Zev is much more trusting and willing meet the new entity.  For instance, he loves meeting dogs and petting them.  Ben, on the other hand, takes time to warm up to people and prefers dogs from a couple of feet away while sitting on my knee.

Most recently Ben surprised us by learning to say "thank you" after a fashion.  When someone gave him a new toy, Alla said "Benya, say 'thank you!'" without really expecting enything beyond a smile.  Ben turned to the person and bowed his head slightly.  He then repeated the gesture immediately and again, in front of me, the next morning when Alla asked him to thank me for something.

Some time ago the boys also got their first haircuts in the special place.  All I need to know is that everyone lived and I am glad I was not there.  I was told it went relatively painlessly.

Sleeping continues to be a challenge.  Zev wakes at 5:15 to 5:30 like clockwork, and then wants to sleep some more with mom.  Recently, however, he wakes up Ben who then does not go to sleep.  So, there is really no point to try to get Zev out of the room quickly.  Thus, Alla and I decided to bite the bullet and get the boys to sleep till 6.  This morning, after two rounds of blankets flying and some serious yelling, for about five minutes it looked like Zev would actually go back to sleep and let his brother rest too.  Then reality set in.  Onward we go.

Pictures?  Where are the pictures?  One day at a time, people.

Good morning!

Yes, Zevi said that.  Not very clearly, but twice.  A couple of days ago I was playing with the boys (read: anxiously waiting for mom to take over) and Alla walked in and said "Доброе утро!" - "Dobroe utro" - "Good morning".  Zevi, then, replied "добое уто" - doboe uto.  And then repeated it upon request.  He swallowed the r's, but we'll take it.  Bot boys continue to be enthralled by the number 3 and call it more and more clearly.  Zev also says "Вот эту!" - "This one!" when he points to the book he wants.

The morning greeting result has not been repeated so far, but we can wait.

For extra points: what exactly id daddy wearing on his head?

Some more recent changes and part 2 of December pics

Recently Zevi got into a habit of saying "oi" when called for.  Both of the boys have also developed a taste for feeding mom, dad, or aunt Olga, and occasionally each other.  Benjamin especially enjoys feeding stuffed bunny and making eating noises.

In other news Benjamin pretty much asked me to change him today.  Not sure what that means yet - the diaper was not particularly wet.  Maybe he figures it is a way to get me all to himself.  Regardless, as Alla put it - we cannot miss this opportunity and will see of Benjamin would like to be potty trained.  Not holding my breath.

Zev enjoying the lighting of the Hanukkah candles.  12/16/12

Benjamin taking it very seriously.

Zev: look, they are all lit!

Benjamin: yea, they are nine candles. Eight days of this in a row and I am still supposed to be impressed?

Benjamin exploring heights.  12/22/12

Zev taking off toward mom.

Some more pictures, December

Enjoying frozen yogurt.  12/1/12

All sugared up now...

with mom

Ben hangin' with mom, 12/9/12

Nineteen months and counting

The boys continue to get more sophisticated in their perception of the world.  They easily point out mom, dad, aunt Olga, themselves, and each other.  Zev recently started showing interest in letters and numbers - he loves pointing to letters and having me say them.  In fact, he prefers that to looking at pictures.  Ben has gotten much better at letting Zev sit in my lap, and usually gets a book and 'reads' on his own.  After a few minutes, however, Benjamin decides he wants some of my attention and brings over a couple of plush toys to offer me.  The boys are also getting much better with the toys that involve fitting geometric shapes into the appropriate holes.

Both Zev and Ben are getting very good at navigating stairs up and down.  Recently both of the boys have shown interest in dragging around a broom, which we naturally encourage.  Beyond that - there is the usual running (and falling), climbing of adults, and changing eating habits on daily basis.

Over Thanksgiving the Boston grandparents visited us and all together we went to the Children's Museum.  The water section was a clear hit.

Getting started.  11/23/12

All geared up with Grandma

Zev having fun

Grandpa Misha, a lecture in fluid dynamics

Ben is having fun

Onto light studies.

Yes, the sleeve is wet.  Get over it.

Ben diving right in

Zev playing with a train set

Wheel.  A *big* wheel!

The 18 month checkup

The boys had their 18 month checkup.  Zev came in at 24 lb 3 oz and Ben at 24 lb 7 oz.  Both measured 34 1/4 " in height.  In other words, 50th percentile in weight, 90th percentile in height for both of them.

In other news: Zev has his first introduction to the timeout corner for repeatedly pulling on mom's hair.

The boys (and their parents) wish Grandpa Misha speedy recovery.

the boys turn a year and a half

Yes, they did.  Yesterday.  Now, you may wonder, my gentle reader, why is it that I did not address the occasion in the more timely fashion.  Well, I'll tell you.  That is because yesterday Alla passed out at 8:45 pm and I did at 9:30.  Simply because, every morning, if Benjamin slept - Zev woke.  If Zev slept - Bnejamin woke.  On the 6th, true to form, pretty much no one slept since 5 am.  Which is why ... see above.

I suppose a year and a half is a milestone of sorts.  Thinking back I am trying hard to avoid words like "miserable", "angry", and "resentful" - yet here they are.  At least I have been for the previous few mornings.  Today, on the other hand, Alla's mom spent the night and, true to form - for her the boys slept till well past 6.  It is only for the mom and dad do they reserve the misery of the 5 am wake-up call.  There is that word again.

In other news, the following incident was reported earlier today.  Zev was playing with a light-up ball (thank you, physics; go electromagnetic induction).  Ben wanted the ball badly.  His was reaching for Zev's hair... yet Ben remembered that just this very morning I put him in the corner time-out for yanking on Zev's hair.  So, Benjamin restrained himself.  Several times he was tempted to violence, and thought the better of it.  Finally, he decided to win his brother over with love.  He came over and kissed him, over and over, hoping Zev would share.  To no avail.  Zev may not be as cunning, but he Zev knows very well what Zev wants.  Zev wanted the ball, Benjamin wanted to avoid another time-out.  The ball remained with Zev.

Well, it is just after midnight as I write this.  Ben has just woken up crying and I was unable to get him to sleep.  Alla has been deployed.  I suppose I should try to sleep while I can.

Brief update: Ben wet his bed, which is not a frequent event, but happens.  That woke up Zev who yelled briefly in my ear, quieted down, then yelled again when I put him in his bed.  And quieted down again in a minute and a half.  Ben, on the other hand, threw a absolute fit about being changed.  Now, 12 minutes later, Zev is asleep, the bed is changed, and Alla is working on getting Ben back to bed.  From what I can hear downstairs, without much success so far.  I think I can safely take a shower before things settle down.