Smart Boys

Just a quick update before Ben wakes up and while Jack is occupied with Cherrios and some apple pieces...

We have been having a bit of an issue with sibling rivalry. Ben is constantly trying to get Jack to react in any way since he can't really play with him yet. This involves Ben screaming at him, doing a very loud fake laugh, or just walking over and pushing him down (which of course makes Jack cry). He's gotten better though. Rob and I explained to him that if he wanted to get Jack's attention he just needed to say "Hi, Jack!" or that he could give him a hug and a kiss (carefully).
Yesterday in the car, Ben was playing "peek-a-boo" with Jack and making him laugh, so there's improvement. We're always sure to positively reinforce the GOOD behavior!

Jack is just as bad. If I have Ben on my lap or am reading him a book, Jack will come over and try to push Ben away and will get mad and start crying. Hopefully they will be able to play together nicely by the time Baby #3 arrives!

Jack has a new tooth - his first, first molar on the upper right side. His gums are very swollen where the other first molars are coming in and he's been chewing on his hands, drooling like mad, and not sleeping well. No canines yet, but Ben got all his first molars before the canines too. I think I read that was normal.

New Benjaminisms recently:
radido (radio)
pinano (piano)
"Mom, I did it! Booray!"
"Mommy, can you close window? It smells like dog poop." (while riding in the car)

Me: How ya doin' Ben?
Ben: I'm doin' great! (or rarely: I'm just doin' okay.)

Not sure if I mentioned it or not, but Ben is now in a booster seat in the car and Jack has graduated to riding facing forward in Ben's old car seat. The swing and baby car seats just got put in the attic a couple of nights ago for baby #3's use.

Playtime:

Ben has disassembled his tool bench and stripped it down to where there is nothing on it. Luckily he hasn't figured out yet how to take the legs off (or hasn't wanted to). His new activity involves tying things to other things and dragging them around. Like, he'll tie his video game remote (that was given to him - but it doesn't have a power cord so he can't play with it) to Jack's ride-on car and drag it around. He really loves it when Jack tries to get it too. He loves his Playdough play set and will sit quietly for a good 1/2 hour or so with that. He has also been enjoying jumping on his "new" bed. He graduated to Rob's old twin mattress set after he fell out of bed one night. I figured he needed some more room. We have yet to find the bed frame for it, but for now the boys are enjoying it on the floor.

Jack is really good about keeping himself occupied if Benjamin leaves him alone long enough. He loves putting things in and taking things out of other things. He has also been enjoying Ben's Magna-doodle drawing tablet. He is showing some interest in figuring out how to actually ride on his ride-on car that sing and makes noises when you push various buttons. Yesterday he was dragging around one of Rob's old pull-toys from when he was a kid. He was rolling it around in circles and giggling. I got some video of that.

I'm expecting some words from Jack soon other than Mama and Dada. Sometimes when I tickle him and say "giddy giddy giddy" he'll pretend to tickle himself and also say "giddy giddy". I'm so impressed! he he

Jack is also getting a lot more steady on his feet and can practically run now.

We've been playing outside this week since the weather has been so nice in the afternoons. Jack took a spill off the edge of the deck - just enough to scare him. It's a bit of a challenge keeping him in the "safe zone" outside and he'll wander over to where all of Rob's tools and the lawn mower and wood stack are which are off limits. Still, I can manage to sweep the deck and the other day I managed to weed an entire flower bed and re-mulch!

Baby #3 is officially due April 1st, but since Ben was a week early, and Jack was 2 weeks early, I'm expecting him or her to make an appearance around St. Patty's Day. The gender ultrasound is November 9th at 10:30am, so I will update that day as to whether this will continue to be "4 The Boys" or will change to "The Shertzer Kids" or something like that - hopefully a more clever name.

Gotta run. Ben is bored with cartoons (he woke up after I had written the first 2 paragraphs). Forgive any misspellings - I'll try to come back later and update with pictures and maybe video if I'm lucky!