Da, da, da, da...translated

When did these kids get to be so smart? I can see their brains working a mile a minute as they try to learn how to communicate, how to behave and, most of all, how to get what they want; especially without getting into too much trouble. And since they don’t have a wide vocabulary through which to express themselves, we have begun to witness some interesting versions of communication. When Taylor is so hungry that he can barely even wait another second he begins to rock in his high chair so violently that it begins to back up against the wall and I fear that he’ll come flying out at any minute. At that moment I realized fully the need to have straps and the importance of using them when feeding dinner to your hungry toddler. When Benjamin is full or simply not interested in eating anymore he begins to sneak bites of food under his tray and proceeds to drop them on the floor. He’s even found some hungry doggies that don’t mind cleaning up after him.

Don’t let their innocent looks fool you. These boys are ornery. Taylor knows what I’m saying when I tell him “No, don’t steal Benjamin’s toy.” Yet he proceeds to yank the toy out of B’s little hands. While Benjamin begins to wail Taylor gives me this innocent, questioning expression as if to say “What are you going to do about it?” Oh my! These kids are already making up excuses and diffusing blame and they can’t even talk yet. Benjamin, however, is the closet bully. You wouldn’t know it by his looks but when angry Benjamin makes his appearance he lashes back at Taylor by gnawing on his arm. This is usually preceded by a string of pushing and hair pulling that often requires immediate intervention.

There are some forms of communication that have triggered visions of future things to come. Benjamin and Taylor have begun pushing away as a visual cue for “no.” At first, I found this to be endearing. They had learned how to communicate they were “all done” with a sweep of their hands as food flies from their trays and scatters around their high chairs (again, thankful for our four-legged scavengers). They now use this forceful push of their hands to communicate a variety of things from “I’m not thirsty” to “I don’t want that toy” and, the most disheartening of all “You’re getting too close, Mommy.” It is important to little B that I keep my distance from him. Meaning “You can hold me close, but not too close and I’ll let you know when you’ve crossed the line.”

Meanwhile, Taylor has grown fond of food. You might think, “Well, what kind of food?” I haven’t yet met a food that Taylor didn’t like (well, except for banana bread). Taylor chows down on just about everything, stuffing his face to the point of choking at which time he proceeds to regurgitate the big blob of food in his mouth. And don’t put the cheese curls away too quickly or you’ll find Taylor pinching at the air and screeching for more. I find myself thinking “I’ve really got to work on their manners. When did these kids become so rude?” I’ve realized, however, that I can’t take it personally. It’s the only form of communication they have. So, I’ll sit back and wait for the day when I can have conversations with my boys. When I can reason with them. And, most of all, when I can teach them some good, wholesome manners like “It’s not okay to take half-chewed food out of your mouth and throw it at me.” In the mean time, I’ll have to remember not to laugh at their antics for fear of encouraging these little monsters to be just that…little monsters.

Past meets Present

It’s strange driving through the scenery of my past with the family of my present.

This trip was the trip of many firsts for the boys. Their first flight. Their first visit to Colorado. Their first taste of Mexican food. Their first time in the presence of the beauty of the flatirons. Of course, they were much too little to appreciate the change in their surroundings but we dream of future trips in which the mention of the mountains will excite their soul and they will look forward to other firsts. Their first hike. Their first time skiing. Their first hunting trip with Grandpa. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

I’m sure many parents will share in the anxiety that is felt as you approach the airport for the first time with kids in tow. We hoped that we had remembered to pack everything that would be needed for our four day adventure. We prayed that when the kids cried (because they surely would) that strangers would be compassionate and the boys wouldn’t scream too loud. Check-in went quickly and boarding was even quicker. When you travel as a family with little ones, you get special perks like boarding the plane first. What no one explains to you is that once you board you are stuck in a tiny, cramped space with two crazy little ones pulling your hair, climbing over the seats and startling you with random screeches and screams as they test their little vocal cords in this new environment. And the most important point: there’s nowhere to run. You’re stuck. And stuck we were for 3 ½ hours. Thankfully, after some forceful holding and loud shushing the boys fell peacefully asleep. Taylor slept on the floor in front of our seats and Benjamin in my arms. Troy and I looked at each other and mouthed the words “don’t move.”

I can’t even begin to explain how thankful we were when we finally landed in Denver. It had been two years since I had visited my hometown. To come back after that much time and with my 13 month old twin boys was exciting. I couldn't wait to see what it felt like to enjoy time with my family at the local hang outs that held so many memories from high school and college. It was my past meeting my present and when that happens you see how drastically things have changed. You can visualize more clearly how God has played the leading role in your life. We visited my old stomping grounds: Pearl Street Mall. It’s the perfect people-watching environment with its mix of street performers, yuppies and Boulderites hand-feeding squirrels. Oh how I miss this place.

We took in the mountains with the little time we had. Enjoying the views from the front range and even getting up to the mountains for a nice 5-mile run at an elevation that makes you feel like you’re breathing air out of a paper bag. We were running with the locals and I felt like I should have a huge sign on my shirt to explain “we’re from sea level.” But the view was worth it.

However, the best view was that of my little Benjamin reaching out for his Grandpa. When your parents live 2,000 miles away, watching them interact with your children is a real treat. I couldn't get enough of it. Many of you may know that Benjamin is very particular. He’s a sweet and sensitive little boy who loves his Mommy. In fact, he often refuses the attention from others and clutches even harder to my arm if he senses me handing him over. So, when Benjamin reached out for my Dad and refused to let go, I knew I had met my match. I like to think Benjamin can sense something just as sweet and sensitive in my Dad that makes him feel at ease in his arms. I want to get inside Benjamin’s head so I can visualize this intimate connection between him and my dad. Whatever it is I love it. And it makes my heart melt with joy.

I believe the boys truly enjoyed their first visit to Colorado. I know they found the locals just as interesting as we did. And because they’re still little kids they can blatantly stare at them without getting into too much trouble. We’ll have to work on their manners for our return trip.