Bubbles!

Both of the kids' Early Intervention therapists have used bubbles as a learning tool. I don't even need to explain how much fun they have with this! Last week Gavin blew bubbles from the wand all by himself. It was explained to me that this is a big step in terms of control and development of the same muscles that are used for speech.



Whenever we use bubbles, we bring out this special blanket to cover the floor. It was made especially for the kids by Kathi, a co-worker of Francis. The blanket is a patchwork of different characters and objects, and the kids can play a matching game on it. Evie and Gavin never get tired of pointing out all the animals and objects in all the squares. Thanks, Kathi!

(Note: these pictures were taken before Gavin's haircut.)

Gavin's First Haircut

Last week I took Gavin for his first haircut. Grandma Cordes came over to help, since I didn't know what to expect (but I didn't think it would be easy)! As Gavin napped, unaware of his imminent fate, Evie woke up and read with Grandma:




We went to our long-time stylist, Connie, at the salon where we all get our hair cut. Evie loves coming here, by the way! Here is a "before" picture of Gavin, trying to avoid getting in the big chair with me. It took about 10 minutes to get him in it.




While I cajoled Gavin, Evie sat happily with Grandma. I think she would have been thrilled to get her hair cut!



In the chair finally, but we haven't started cutting yet! Connie hasn't even gotten the cape on me and Gavin is totally unhappy. There was no way he was going to wear one of the child-size capes.



Half-way done and still unhappy:



Evie just looked at Gavin like, "What's the big deal?" and kept playing with her toys:

All done. Time for a big hug! You can see how blotchy Gavin's skin gets when he cries.

Back at home - here's the finished look. Connie just cut the back and sides, since those were the longest. I didn't think Gavin would sit still long enough to have the top trimmed (I was right).

"I don't want to do that again, Mom."

On another note, we mentioned last week that Evie was scheduled for a diagnostic angiogram today. That has been rescheduled to February 1st. We'll write more about it at that time.

Uncle David

Uncle David's camera "died" recently, so he gave it to Gavin to play with. Needless to say, Gavin loves it! He has been taking lots of pictures of his fingers and the wheels of his trucks.




Uncle David showed him how to use it:




"Mom, let me take a picture of you!"



They also worked on back-scratching:



Evie read a book with her uncle (if you look closely you can see she's holding a Wii remote in her hand):

Then she convinced him to push her around in her little car. Now, this car is very low to the ground. It is meant for the child to use their own legs (imagine that) to scoot along...but Evie merely smiles at her uncle David or at Grandpa Cermak, and they push her all around the house. No matter how tired their backs get, Evie gets what she wants!

Uncle David needs to take a rest:

"Peek-a-boo, I know I'm cute!"

Sending a text to Uncle Brad on the iPhone:

Microphones

Evie and Gavin have discovered the microphones for Francis' XBox 360. They also have toy microphones, but those just don't seem to be as interesting to them. Here they are, ready to sing and dance in our kitchen:





Betcha didn't know that microphones can double as cell phones!

Singing Tony Bennett songs with Grandpa Cermak:

Dinosaurs!

Auntie Clare has been diligently helping Nana & Grandpa Cermak sort through the items in their basement, and she found a bunch of toy dinosaurs that she and Francis used to play with. Evie and Gavin were absolutely enthralled with them! Grandpa showed them how to pretend the dinosaurs are eating their fingers, which is still hilarious to them a week later.

There was a turtle in the box with the dinosaurs, and Evie was crawling on the floor with it:

Also, the twins received a Sesame Street "Dinosaurs" DVD from Uncle David for Christmas, which is a big hit. Evie actually roared (quietly) along with the video, and then Gavin did it the next day. They also stomp their feet with the characters. Needless to say, we just can't get enough dinosaurs over here at the Cermak house!

Tuesday Cuteness

Gavin is just as charmed with the barking Chrismas dog as Evie is...here he is kissing it:



Evie loves her Big Bird lately. She takes it to bed and likes to chew on the tag:




Evie loves one of the new Christmas books from Francis' co-worker, Pat: If You Take a Mouse To The Movies. It came with a stuffed mouse, and she loves to shove the mouse's face into the book so he can "eat" the popcorn:




Gavin has mastered driving while holding a bottle...



...and while talking on the phone!

Daddy Is Sick!

Early last week, Francis threw his back out. Then he developed a cough and chills. He went to the doctor and he has "bronchitis with a touch of pneumonia." (His back unfortunately decided to act up at the same time but it's not related to the cough.) He has been staying home and trying to get lots of rest. Here are all of his medications:




One of the meds has to be used with a nebulizer. Luckily, we have the one that Evie used when she came home from the hospital last March. The kids were quite fascinated to see Daddy using "Evie's machine:"




"Doesn't taste too good, does it, Dad?"

Gavin and Auntie Clare make sure Francis takes his other meds when he is supposed to:

Luckily, thankfully, neither the kids nor I have caught this from Francis. I am praying that we don't ever get it! Evie is scheduled for a diagnostic angiogram on January 12th and we all need to be healthy for that.

Rice Chex

Grandpa Cermak introduced Evie and Gavin to dry Rice Chex and they love to snack on it (I like the easy clean-up if they spill it). Here they sit, waiting patiently for it - they had already eaten breakfast; this was a snack. Gavin still has morning bed-head... a haircut will be in his near future. I cannot imagine him sitting still for it, but one never knows - the twins have surprised me before!





Gavin gave a piece to Evie:

"Mmm!"

Time to lay on the floor! (Why? Because they're two years old!)

Gavin shows off his new Cookie Monster slippers:

A Visit With Uncle David

Uncle David came over to play with the kids the other morning. Gavin loves the new Sesame Street house so much, he wanted to play with it during breakfast. Uncle David made all the little characters knock on the front doors and windows.





Auntie Clare got Evie a tea set for Christmas, but guess who is more interested in it right now? Gavin loves to pour tea into both teacups, clink the cups together, and gulp down the tea with whoever is near him. And when Uncle David is here, don't forget to burp!

David helped Evie peek at me around the wall - she was thrilled!

A Visit With Dan

On Christmas Eve morning, our good friend Dan came over for a visit. Dan is a pretty good cook, so he and Gavin worked out a little recipe on the Fisher Price stove... don't look too closely but that's Piglet in the pot (it was Dan's idea - Francis)!







Dan and Gavin chill out on the couch:



We all read a Sesame Street story:

Evie relaxes on the couch with Dan:

Dan taught Gavin how to clink their cups together and say "cheers!" Well, Gavin didn't actually say "cheers," but he was in great spirits anyway!

Thanks for stopping to see us during your whirlwind week back in Illinois, Dan. We love you!