While we wait for summer to officially begin (and the kids to stop asking why they STILL have to wear jackets - thanks a lot for nothing, Wisconsin), Roman is wasting no time growing up gangbusters. He has been rolling over and around and trying to scoot forward for the past month or so, and just last night we had him not just chortling but actually LOL-ing -- check out this video, and never mind Reni asking for a stroller, he just wants what everyone else is having, thank you very much for whining.
He made it through his first ear infection without so much as one little complaint (typical Roman style, bless him, as I didn't even KNOW he was sick and only caught the infection because he had a leaky eye duct and the doctor checked his ears as a precaution) and is back to his smiling, bouncing self. He's like Tigger without the annoying laugh, just bouncing and boinging whenever he gets the chance, and kick-kick-kicking those legs in a way not unlike a puppy wagging its tail; he's happy and he shows it. He's starting to fight sleep because it's so much more interesting being awake, but still goes to bed easier than Reni does.
Speaking of my nearly four year-old, he is either wonderful or awful. There seems to be no in-between and I'm not sure if it's the stage he's in or the fact that I can't predict what he needs and always seem to be one step behind him. He is lovely and intelligent and EXHAUSTING and if he doesn't make me a better parent, no one will. He will tell you it's June and smile that heartbreakingly beautiful smile of his when he announces that his birthday is June 25th, just 21 days, mama. He is obsessed with collections of any kind -- cars, small squishy toys called Mashems, superheros, power rangers, rescue bots, puppies, monsters, rocks -- you name it, he can line it up and count it and categorize it and tell you what he's missing. There is an inherent order and fairness to things, and if you mess up or something is unfair, he will loudly inform you of your erroneous ways. He is doing well in day care, taking pride in his art projects and stating that he enjoys the rest time with his Spider Man blanket. He and cousin Amalia are now daycare BFFs and it's so sweet to watch them together, holding hands and smiling and running off to a new adventure, usually with Anika in the lead. This past weekend saw many family gatherings thanks to Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jamie's nuptials, and Reni showed his new friend Gus all of his toys with pride ("That's awesome!" I could hear Gus saying. "You can play with it if you want to," Reni replied. "And I have THIS one as well.")
Anika is also loving time with her cousins and her school buddies. She was THRILLED to have everybody around the house for wedding festivities ("We get to have parties here? We are SO LUCKY!" she announced). She was beyond excited to have her hair done and to be a part of the ceremony. She's sad that 4K is coming to an end next week and excited for her gymnastics class and summer school to start. This girl is happy and excited about nearly everything, and only allergies and sheer exhaustion seem to bring her down when she has her weepy or clingy moments. Mostly, though, I worry that she gets the least amount of attention from me because she demands the least. I'm hoping to take her on a few mama-Ani dates this summer, because basking in that girl's smile can bring joy to even the most downtrodden soul.
Speaking of downtrodden, we're trying not to get all down and stuff as we face the realities of the job market and the start-up communities. I'm so proud of Armando and the work he's doing, and at some point we will have a community to call our own again. For the time being, we are taking stock in the things we have to be thankful for and enjoying and laughing as much as we can. Mostly at each other, but I'll take it :-)
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