What's going on with your kid(s)?

feels like ILPM could use a general updates thread.

* lots of language acquisition going on, which is amazing - she's got at least 10 words she says spontaneously (without hearing us say them) and does lots of repetition or attempted repetition as well.
* being really picky about food all of a sudden, only wants to eat "cheese" or "cookies" (two of her words), will only eat a few bites of anything that isn't cheesy or sweet
* finally more teeth coming in, we were stuck at 4 for a long time
* 15-month doc's appointment on friday, she's in the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight, which is great considering she was in the 10th percentile or lower for most of her first six months

Walked down the stairs Saturday evening and saw Beeps sitting on the couch, wide-eyed, watching something on TV. I could tell it was something holding her interest, but her expression was very different than what I'm used to seeing when she's watching Nick Jr or Disney.

She was watching this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk6iI1Fh4VQ

I came in right around the time the skull is laying on the ground on its side. Sat down next to her and put my arm around her, asking, "Sooooo, whatcha watching?" It was about this time that a sea of blood came crashing around two ivory monoliths and hell, I started to get a little scared myself.

She told me it was a scary movie, especially when the monoliths went up into space, and I told her that I was a little scared myself, but it was just a music video. And then we talked about how it was funny some things are real scary like bats and werewolves and then there's shit like this. (in so many words.)

I told sunny this later on, and we both agreed that yep, that was probably going to one to root down in her brain stem for awhile. No harm, no foul though. yet.

Dalton will be a year in a little under two weeks. He's getting very near walking (two or three steps at a time, can walk for a while holding onto my hand with his left hand or pushing his little cart.) No words yet but plenty of verbalization (die-die-die, ba-ba-ba, muah-muah-muah, ad infinitum). Seven big teeth and a voracious appetite for basically any and every thing right now. And he has a big love of metal still (I've been playing various Black, Doom, Death classics to calm him down in the car.)

they like to fart and they are crazy?

current favorite expressions from L (will be 3 in june):

"that's impressive!"

"that's a lovely shirt, daddy"

"OK, i will do that"

"he's not going to eat me?"

Our 2.5 yr old daughter has built up an impressive repertoire of expressions from Peppa Pig. She called me a "cheeky rascal" the other day, which I only realised this morning is one of Grampa Pig's standbys. When we went camping in September she exclaimed "More boring trees!" while walking, which I later discovered is a quote from Peppa's own nature trail adventures.

Howie has started school and is loving it!

Archie has (all in the last few months), FINALLY learned to talk, moved to his big boy's bed, toilet trained and started playschool. It's VERY quiet at home when they're both at school.

keeps asking for "stories," mainly punk farm. big punk farm fan. heard my wife say "i know" on the phone yesterday and immediately said "i know ... i know ... iknowiknowiknowiknowiknow" ad infinitum. however she also keeps saying "kayaka" and we have no idea what she's trying to say.

Daughter is 18 months on from graduation, still living at home, making jewelry but not selling much. After the craft fair next weekend we're going to gently remind her "HEY GET BACK OUT THERE AND LOOK FOR A FREAKING JOB OK"

this is happening
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6333133851_fcf0e91092.jpg

Ava (6yr 9mo) is still a voracious reader - just stacks and stacks of books, I can't keep up with her. Tallulah (just turned 5) is finally getting the hang of the reading/writing thing and actually shows signs of understanding arithmetic better than her big sister. Ava is in Year 2 at school, Lulu is in Reception; both full-time now, on packed lunches (the canteen lunches really were not working out for Lulu - she wouldn't try anything), so they're out of the house 8:40-3:30. Which is...very strange but very good, I think.

They play together fantastically well - building entire cities, giving every minifig a character, etc... Ava is currently obsessed with Hong Kong Phooey (Honk Honk Phooey as little sis calls it) after we found a VHS tape in a charity shop and made/designed a 50-page book with different kung fu moves on each page ("sossidge", "bendy legs", "geser"... "What's 'geser'?" "A mix of "magic fingers" and "punch mushene" for when you have TWO robbers." OK...). Lulu is much less of a tomboy, swooning over dresses and princessy stuff (though we do NOT indulge her much).

Lulu is going through an ultra-disobedient, reckless phase, especially at bedtime. She's so hilarious and disarming it's really hard to remain stern with her (or it is for me) but she's seriously needs to cut a lot of that stuff out. Ava remains queen of whining and sulking.

Oh, and they're still pretty small. Can't fight the shortarse Irish Galvin genes. Ava's best female friend is the tallest in her year, so they look ridiculous together - like a 10yo and a 4yo have decided to hang out. Lulu may end up a bit taller. Oh, and we got chicken pox out of the way in May. Shame that their faces will always show some evidence of that... :(

Abby (13 months) has really started to stand and walk in the last week. For the most part last night that's all she wanted to do. She'd stand herself up, scream really loud, and take 5 or 6 steps forward. Repeat until tired, look at a board book for a while, get up and do it again.

I'm worried about her not having teeth yet though.

2 1/2 year old going through a (slightly creepy) polite phase. "Shall we listen to music, daddy?" "May I touch this, mommy?" "Kind of think she's putting us on.