S-H-I-T Together

Good afternoon, friends, family and kindly strangers.  Although you must have enjoyed my substitute, I apologize for the prolonged absence in which Matthew commandeered the blog with random complaints revolving specifically around what TV he can and cannot watch on his time with the kids. 

It's not that winter-time is boring.  We actually have been doing a lot of things with our friends despite the cold.  I have no real excuse for neglecting you, Avid Reader, apart from the fact that I like the blogs to center around one comical point and extrapolate from there.  Much of the comedy around here repeats.

I've also been getting my shit together--although I will admit, my brain functions better when there are a thousand things left to accomplish.

Some updates from the field:

Thaddeus said his first two-syllable word (it bears noting that Aurelia was killing vocabulary when she was 16 months old, but we must congratulate T.J. for his accomplishments--even when his sister is smarter).  My snarky commentary there may be in part because the two-syllable word he says is "daddy".  To be fair, he also says "uh-oh" and said "thank you" for the first time today.

Aurelia is like a little mom.  She talks to Thad in a high pitched voice, such as would be impossible to convey over type.  For example: Thad may trip and fall.  She notices and asks "You okay, buddy?" in that tone reserved for mom-concern.  She brushes her dolls hair, all the while saying "I know, I know.  You're okay."  Just now, she rescued the boy from his nap, saying "You awake, buddy?  Have a good nap?  Want to play a game?" 

We are having a bit of a "MINE!" struggle the last couple of days, but thus far, I've been taking advantage of her mothering instincts to entice her to share.  However, Thad has no such quality.