I think it must have all started when the kids saw someone riding a motorcycle and remarked that the man on the motorcycle was wearing a “hat.”

“It’s a helmet,” I told them. “It keeps your head safe.”

From that point on, every time we saw someone riding a motorcycle, both kids were thrilled to announce that the person was wearing a helmet.  And that Gramps (my dad) wore a helmet on his motorcycle.  Keeps his head safe.  Then, they noticed people on bicycles were wearing helmets, too! Would you even believe it?! Oh, the excitement that can bring to two-year-olds!

At any rate, my mom decided to get the kids a pair of tricycles for their birthday (blessedly with attached parent-push-bar to save my back).  I assembled them yesterday morning and they were thrilled with their new toys. I decided to pull my car out to block the street end of our driveway and let the kids ride their bike on the pavement.

As I brought them over to ride their bikes in the driveway, Rebecca became rather distressed. “Need a helmet! Need a helmet!”  Daniel chimed in, “keep-a head safe.”

Damn. Guess they were listening.  You know, it’s not like I saw a motorcycle and thought to myself, “hey, there’s a teachable moment, I’d better capitalize on it!” No, I just kept talking and explaining just like I always do when they’re in the back seat of the van. Looks like they take it in, huh?

At any rate, it took a couple of different stores, but eventually we located toddler-sized bike helmets. Purple for Rebecca, Sesame Street with Elmo for Daniel (it was slim pickings, let me tell you).  They kept them on for the rest of the afternoon.

Today, my kids are two years old.

I don’t have the time to properly reflect. We’re back for a moment at my dad’s house, but I’m frantically re-packing for this afternoon’s 6+ hour drive up to northern Wisconsin. We aren’t leaving until after their nap. Pray for me.

We took the kids to one of my favorite breakfast places this morning for a special birthday treat. We ordered things they love: oatmeal for Rebecca, pancakes for Daniel. They elected to eat some of the raisins that came with Rebecca’s oatmeal, all of the whole blueberries out of Daniel’s blueberry syrup, and a wedge of lemon, each.

Seems about right, don’t you think?

Anyways, we’re off to the north woods, so posting will be sparse if at all this next week. I’ll probably use Twitter from my phone, but that’s about it.  Have a great week, everyone!

I’m back at my dad’s with functioning internet service, so I thought I’d do one last recap before tomorrow’s birthday…

May, June, and July 2009

To be sure, late spring and early summer had their fair share of ups and downs. On the up side, we had a lot of visitors: my dad, my mom and stepdad, and M’s parents and grandmother. The kids got smarter and smarter and funnier and more independent. Rebecca gave up her pacifier with almost zero drama. We had playdates with friends and fun in the sun.

We also had what felt like six straight weeks of 63 degrees and raining. Major cabin fever in the middle of June and early July. Limited options for outings since everything was mobbed. Stir-crazy and cranky toddlers. It certainly wasn’t the easiest phase we’ve had to deal with.

Year Two had a lot of ups and downs. Yes, the challenges have been substantial and exhausting. But the flip side of it is that they are so much more fun and interactive and clever and interesting. Maddening, too, but also so much fun. What a year.

April 2009

I’m telling you, Spring could not come soon enough. Unfortunately, it also brought a really rough developmental patch and a few more viruses, for good measure.  Ah well, at least it was warm enough to go outside some of the time.

We’re in transit today, but the last few days of the 2nd birthday retrospective will be brought to you by the glory of scheduled posting! Enjoy!

March 2009

March was ups and downs. Lots of illnesses, snow and rain keeping us indoors, general toddler (and mommy) crankiness. We tried to make the most of it, but didn’t always succeed. Blech. But it also included some big milestones: first (real) haircuts, saying goodbye to high chairs, and a much-needed return to the playground.

February 2009

February was not pretty. The most notable feature was a positively hellacious trip to Florida in which both kids got ear infections and were generally sick and ill-tempered the whole time. Blech.  Yet somehow, in the midst of all that, I got bit by the baby bug and started to contemplate child no. 3.  (Still under discussion, no decisions made.)  On the plus side, we started our new gymnastics class and it even got warm enough to melt some of the snow. Ah, 18 months, I don’t really miss you.

January 2009

The new year brought cold, cold weather and more snow. A first trip to the Aquarium. A new music class. An ill-fated Inaugural adventure (just me). A dislike of barrettes (Rebecca). Lots more words (Daniel). And the end of our slow transition to a single nap.

Year two retrospective continues, barely a week until the big birthday!

December 2008

Most of December was spent in Chicago, where my family took care of us after I had foot surgery.  It was lovely to see everyone and we had much fun at the holidays, but it certainly wore on us to be away from home for so long.  Though the kids did make a new best friend in my mom’s dog, Beau (Bo-Bo! Bo-Bo!).  Once Christmas was over and my foot was healed enough to wear a normal shoe again, we were glad to get home.

Cruising right along through the second-birthday countdown!

November 2008

Weather turned colder. Kiddos got more fun and more trying. Bumps and bruises all around, temper tantrums galore.  Adorable antics, new words. Playing and giggling together.  Oh, and Daniel got his first haircut, and I turned 30.

October 2008

We went through a cranky phase at 14 months, as is to be expected.  Words and signs attempting to sprout, walking but not quite steady, and general toddler developmental stuff.  Daniel joined the club of new walkers, though it took him a little longer to make that shift from a step here and there to full-time walking.  But we had good fun outside, a great visit from my dad & stepmom, and, of course, their first Halloween costumes.