The boys are not quite walking and I don't think they'll get there before a year and they're not really saying anything yet. Max does say "mamamama" (I take this to mean mama) and "ni-ni" (night night?) and "nom nom" when they're eating. They do follow some simple commands, like when I tell them to put their pacifier down in the morning, they'll drop them in their cribs or spit them out. They don't really understand "come here" or "bye bye" yet, but they are getting their fair share of "NO", even if they choose not to pay attention! I know they understand me because they'll get this "you mean you don't want me to touch this? This riiiiiiiight heeeeeeeere??????" (as they're slowly reaching and touching) look on their faces as I say NO, Alex (or Max), NO!
They are happy boys and they go to sleep on their own fairly easily and they sleep through the night most nights now (only took 10 1/2 months!) and wake up happy. They play together with only moderate hair pulling and toy stealing. Max has started pulling this "no, mama, don't leave" pitiful routine when I go to work in the morning, my little drama queen!
I registered them for the pre-school they'll start going to in January. I think it will be good for them to be with other kids in a setting where the teachers know to teach them things like high 5 and pat-a-cake (which I didn't realize they should be doing by now). The pre-school also has web-cams in all the rooms so that I can log on and see what they're doing during the day. I'm guessing that I will spend at least the first week watching them pretty much all day long!
I made invitations for their birthday party. We're having a little get together just for cake here the weekend after their birthday and a little family get together up in WA when we go there in a couple of weeks. I've also arranged to have their 1 year photos taken up there so there will be fall foliage and trees and green...all things we don't have here!
Here's the invite:
