Thomas is 17 months old. His hair is nearly white and curls at the nape of his neck. He's got a gorgeous, contagious smile. He weighs a load -- about 25 pounds of solid, fat boy! I love to watch him dance. He smiles, cocks his head to the side and spins in a circle, looking at the ground and smiling.
Tom's eyelashes have highlights of gold. He is so peaceful when he sleeps tucked under my arm.
The other night there was a big thunderstorm. The thunder made Tom nervous. Every time it rumbled, he'd turn for me, purse his lips into a little "O" and say, oooh in a nervous voice.
Tom says, boom and will point to his "muscle" which is the red, speckly birthmark on his bicep. He loves to hit sticks or toys into something and say Boom.
Georgia Shalom is 17 months old and much more petit. Her belly is enormous, but it sits atop two skinny soft legs and a tiny bum that fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. She has crazy hair -- long and wispy and usually full of bed head frizz. I put her hair in a couple of pig tails every day that stick straight out the sides of her head. She and Tom love it when I say, Let's go do hair! I put them both up on the counter in my bathroom. I spray their heads with tangle-free and brush their hair. They stick their little fingers in the toothpaste tube hole and lick it. Over and over.
Georgia gives delicious hugs and loves. She can also be brutal. She beats up poor Tom -- grabs his face and pulls his hair. She has a really strong squeeze and will just grip onto Tom is he gets in her war path.
G is picky about food. She'd rather stand in her high chair, precariously balancing, while reaching for the closet door knob, try to climb on the table, etc. Both babies love to make a mess on the floor from their sippy cups, then "clean it up" with a rag. I give them baby wipes and they follow me around the house, helping me "clean"
Georgia melts my heart with her beauty. When she meets a new person, she gets shy and covers one or both eyes with her hand, like she's shielding her eyes from the sun.
Rex Malone is 7 years old. I can't believe he'll be baptized this year. He is gone all day at first grade. A very good boy. I have very few troubles with him. After his long and trying babyhood, he's become a great boy. Having siblings has been such a good thing for him.
Just today, Rex learned to ride his 2 wheel bike. Rex reads on past a 3rd grade level. He can read just about anything, including the Book Of Mormon. He can play piano like a champ. I started him in a beginning class, then bumped him up several levels. He can master a song in about 15 minutes.
I love hearing about his life at school. The challenges, the recess friend issues, the school lunch. He has a whole life that doesn't involve me. After 6 years of being his world, it is weird. Yet natural.
