Milestones

On this vacation I have noticed a few new milestones in the kids that I think are pretty major.

First, they are now able to go through the bed time routine together and sleep together.   No separate beds in same room, but really sharing a bed and making it through the night.  Amazingly no one has fallen out of bed yet; although the photos testify to the odd sleeping pair they make.  And DS2 hangs out quietly after DS1 falls asleep, even if I stick my head in and he's still awake. But DS1 is oddly proud to have responsibility of sleeping on the outside edge and taking care for DS2.  There was a time, really only weeks ago, that I thought this day would never arrive.

Second, they are interacting with each other and others.  The boys are playing together, but also fighting over toys.  I think this is good.  DS1 is now willing to not share sometimes, which I think means he is now out of polite mode.  Also they are both more willing to make friends for the day at the beach.  Even with DS2 getting in the mix without speaking. 

Third, DS2 has finally started to run.  He was walking quickly, but I always thought it was a major step for a kid to finally trust leaving the ground for a split second and run.  He is doing it!  He chases me up and down the beach.  He runs after his brother.  And today I even got him to copy me in hopping.

Finally, DS2 has added a powerful word to his vocabulary; "mine".  It is coming from friends that are visiting us.  Their daughter is 2 and half and at the "mine" stage.  With DS1 it was  a short stage, so I'd forgotten about it, but I'm glad to see DS2 finally figure out that he can express ownership.  I would like to believe the more he understands that words help others give him what he wants, the more likely he is to speak.

The milestones sneak up.  One day I realize they are doing something I haven't seen before, but then I don't always remember what started it, or to mark the accomplishment.  But in the last 10 days, the boys have enjoyed the family time, pushed all my buttons, but still made me smile at their silliness, love and ability to grow.