Jett Everett and Calvin Judah turned TWO today! It has been a whirlwind and a fast two years since they arrived, but already I can barely remember our family dynamic before these buddies entered our life. We are such a family of 5 (6 counting Mango the puppy pants) and though it was a surprise, I can't imagine it any other way. Piper and the boys play so well together. Piper is a great big sister and leads them in fun imaginative games usually involving baby dolls and building houses. They love to play along and are starting to be able to communicate better which is adding to the fun.
What a special opportunity to be twins and have a built in buddy to experience life with. I am so happy that they get along well and love playing with each other and at the same time, seem to be fine on their own doing their own thing as well.
Calvin is funny, I can see him being the family jokester. He is quick to laugh and loves telling jokes. Even if we don't totally understand what he said, he will just laugh and laugh because he knows he just said something really funny.
His body movement is super loosey goosey. He is always jumping and hopping and bopping around. As a baby he was a pile of mush and now he can lounge like no one I have ever seen, super chill, just melts into the couch or my arms and snuggles so cozily. Even his cheeks are squishy which make them so pinchable.
Calvin is very social, and comfortable around new people. He is quick to give high fives or hugs. He likes hanging with other kids and seems to join right in to be a part of a group.
Calvin is getting pretty vocal and starting to string 3 to 4 words together. He asks lots a questions and wants to know what something is if he doesn't already know. He loves to help and be a part of what ever is going on, whether it is cooking or yard work or sweeping. He wants to understand how things work. "I do it!"
Unfortunately Calvin can be quick to whine which is a never ending battle with all our kids, but Calvin can also be pretty reasonable. Sometimes if I just calmly explain that he can get "whatever he is about to freak out about" his way at another time, a lot of times he is like "Oh Tay Mommy."
Calvin has always been good in the pool, he loves to swim and jump in and has no problems going underwater. He is brave with climbing and jumping off things. Pretty coordinated catching and kicking balls (going to be a lefty). He loves books, riding bikes, playing hide-n-seek, playing with balloons, driving cars and trains and holding baby dolls. Calvin has just started to count to ten, which he learned from playing hide-n-seek. He is very squeamish towards bugs and squiggly things. Calvin loves accessories, you must remember the blue Easter bonnet he wore almost nonstop this spring and summer. Around the house he is always sporting necklaces, has fun wearing tutus and recently has taken to a little purse.
Calvin has pooped in the potty several times, but I think we are still a ways out from actually being potty trained. But Calvin is very proud of his "Big POOPS!"
Calvin likes putting his hands in his pockets and drinking from a cup with "NO top on, Mommy."
Calvin is gentle and polite, as well as very sensitive and sweet with other people. Though he seems to be a bit dominate over Jett (this is a twin A/twin B thing) but over all he is good at sharing. He has an opinion about the way he wants things done, and can get pouty.
I can see his imagination being really great. We play "Big Bad Wolf" and blow the house down and the kids scatter and run away. Calvin always has an actual look of fear in his face when the wolf is chasing him. Even though he loves it, he cant take much before he says "No thank you Daddy."
Calvin Malvin you are so cute, we love you!
Jett E Juice Box, Jetty Spaghetti, Juice, Juicifix, all silly names for buddy boy number 2. Jett is also super sweet. In a way he has a softer voice and seems quiet but he has this surprising ornery side that comes out occasionally. Maybe it is just him being two, but he has gotten into lots of mischief lately. For example taking ornaments off the tree and putting them in the toilet, pulling over the xmas tree, pulling out all the blankets and socks out of his drawers, dumping out the basket of blocks. Sometimes he will unleash this furry and swing toys around or throw them, loves to knock over blocks.
But then, well actually most of the time he is super easy going. If Calvin or Piper wants something he has, he has no problem handing it over or trading. He is always getting two toys and bringing one of them over for Calvin to play with. Or getting Calvin his shoes and jacket when he is getting his own too. He has this soft, yet deep voice that kind of sounds like Fozzy Bear. His voice always makes me laugh. Jett's words are a little harder to understand. Recently he told a friend "Thank you" and she said he sounded like Mork and Mindy. He still has his high pitched scream that he has had from day one, but thankfully he uses it very infrequently, like if he is really hurt or mad. When Piper slammed his finger in the door jam is the last time I remember, and wow that must have HURT.
Jett is independent and confident in group playing. He is not usually that interested in the other kids, but content running around exploring and doing his own thing. He is not easily won over by new people, even Santa did not get warm fuzzies from Jett.
Jett has the exact opposite body movement type than Calvin. When Jett runs he holds his body high and tight. He is efficient, his feet move super fast, and the rest of his body is stiff. Sports wise he is pretty coordinated. He can swing a bat, catch and kick a ball, and has a pretty good arm.
Swimming just clicked on his birthday when we were at the pool. Every other time we would take him swimming, he was super nervous, usually had a death grip around my neck, and here is where he would use his high pitch scream to let everyone know he did not want to go in the water. Today it clicked, and once he decided he liked going underwater that is all he wanted to do. Throw his head back and go underwater backwards with his eyes wide open. He held his breath and loved it every time. Come to think of it this is how he learned to walk. He watched and watched and watched until he knew he could do it, then he just started walking.
Jett is super sensitive to sugar or lack of sleep. He visibly just gets crazy and is punch drunk. He does shaky face, starts acting really cheeky, more likely to push or hit his brother or sister.
Jett likes to line up toys in a row, blocks, cars, whatever, seems he likes to organize. He LOVES music and dancing and singing. "Happy Day, Happy Day" is his favorite thing to sing. Reading books is another favorite, he will bring book after book after book over to be read.
"Oh Man" is Jett's favorite word. He says it with such emotion, it so cute. Jett is a happy kid. He loves dolphins and whales and stuffed animals and blankets to snuggle.
Jett, you are sweet, we love you!
Calvin and Jett you are a JOY and have brought so much laughter, love and good energy to our family. Thank you for always keeping our life interesting . Happy 2nd Birthday boys!
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Here are a few pics from the group birthday party for Calvin, Jett and Mae. The Plantenbergs hosted a spaghetti feed. We played play dough, ate cake and colored t shirts for a fun mellow TURNING TWO party. It was great.
