Update on the Dynamic Duo, Suzanna 2 1/2; Harrison 13 months

Shockingly, it's been too long since I've posted. Shame on me. Harrison is now 13 months old. We had a blended birthday party for him and Tobin who turned 30. We had a yummy ice-cream cake. Ryan and his girlfriend Nicole were there along with Uncle Scott and Grandma and Grandpa Sue and Randy. It was on the non-eventful side but I'm sure that will change over the years.

Harrison started walking at 9 months! He is very different from Suzanna. He is very rough and hits his large head all the time and never cries. Not that Suzanna was not a tough cookie, he just seems to be less aware and careful than she was.

Suzanna is an amazingly sweet young thing. She gives gentle kisses and huge, dramatic hugs which just about knock you over because she gets a running start. She started playing with fake food which she has been carrying around.

The pediatrician claims that Harrison should be talking more by now. He knows the word dada, cat and dog. We are getting his hearing tested in a few weeks just to make sure that everything is processing. We are thinking that because he started walking so quickly he developed more on the physical side instead of the verbal side.

Both of the kids love to play with Ollie who is as docile as ever with then. Every once and a while they get knocked over and swacked in the face with his tale. Suzanna's favorite movies are Annie and the Care Bears. Long gone are Tinkerbell and The Little Mermaid for now anyway. Both kids like the Baby Einstein Numbers DVD.

Harrison is a tremendous eater. Both kids are carb junkies and we are working on introducing more protein into their diets. Suzanna will eat chicken breast that we have been steaming. She will also eat raw spinach and other green things. Harrison mainly sticks to noodles and Grandma Sue often cooks rice noodles which may be healthier. Both of them love toast with butter in the morning and when they stay with Grandma Chris and Grandpa David they get the treat of jelly on their toast.

We have also been introducing Time Outs for Suzanna. Most of them have been for attacking Harrison or throwing objects in his direction. She seems to "get it". But we shall see. She throughs temper tantrums every now and then. But generally she is well behaved. We are still working on not running into the street. She has no fear about that, so it's definatley something that we have to be always aware of. It's quite scary that she doesn't get that yet, but we will keep on working.

And ah, the potty training. I haven't been to forceful or consistent. I just figure she'll get it when she's ready. She's really too big for diapers and deserves to go on the potty. So this is definately an area of work that we all need to work on.

I am training for the bar again and it's a hurdle I plan on conquering this time around. We are actually moving in with Randy and Susan so we can save on rent and not worry about that for a little while. Hopefully with some patience and understanding we can all live together without losing it.