At Heather’s DIY Life I read about yogurt finger painting for toddlers. Skipping the food coloring – and taking her up on the bath suggestion – I put two naked boys in the bath and slathered some yogurt on the side of the tub.

(And you have another think coming if you think I used my homemade half-cow/half-goat milk yogurt for this activity. Oh no! This was Dannon!)

I demonstrated what they could do with the yogurt and after making sure I understood that it was “cold,” Jonah took to it quickly. Benjamin just started shoveling it into his mouth.

(and by the way, why isn’t Heather’s kid COVERED in yogurt himself in the pictures, were they photoshopped or what?!)

Benjamin is currently in the habit of telling you what things are not.  As in:  "Cup blue, no.  Cup green."  (The cup is not blue. The cup is green.)  I think this is just an excuse to speak more words during the day - if that were possible for Benjamin - because, really, when you start thinking of what things aren't....

Jonah is currently enamored with hanging. That is, holding on to playground bars, low-hanging tree limbs, and kitchen counters, and lifting up his feet.. all while singing little “doo-doo-doo” melodies.

photo credit:  Heidi

And I have neglected to mention that when we took the boys in for their two year checkups last month, Jonah weighed nearly 22 pounds – as much as the average on year-old – woo hoo! And the doctor is not concerned that Benjamin’s belly is the first part of him to enter a room – and his butt is the last part to leave it – he’ll supposedly grow out of that posture (possibly created from much time in the walker?).

Jonah also thinks it’s hilarious to wiggle his nose like a rabbit. Except that he doesn’t really wiggle his nose. He just blinks hard several times in a row. So he comes up to you looking like he’s having some type of seizure, says “rabbit!” then starts giggling.

When one or both boys do something particularly dastardly - which I can tell is happening from the other room by the hysterical shrieks of glee - and usually involves the drapes - I get down in front of them and cup their chin in my hand while explaining to them WITH MUCH PATIENCE AND LOVE that if they do that again they will beaten with giant sticks. 

I was holding Benjamin yesterday in the living room when Jonah requested to be held.

"You want me to hold you, Jonah?" I asked him.

"No.  No Mama hold you Jonah.  No,"  said Benjamin, cupping his hand under my chin and moving my head towards his.  Perceptive, this kid.  And quite the communicator.

And at one point when we had to part ways with someone a couple weeks ago, I explained to the boys that the person had to go home to their family. Since then anytime someone (or something) leaves, Benjamin explains to me that they are going home to their family. So when I gave him two Cheerios yesterday, telling him to share one with Jonah, he shoved both in his mouth so quickly I laughed. “Benjamin, what happened to the Cheerio?” I asked him.

“Cheerio went home family.” he said, matter-of-factly.