Let's start with Ben as he is the oldest.
Ben is the happiest little boy I know. He is constantly laughing, smiling, talking, singing or jumping about. He is also the most active, nutty child I have come in contact with. He loves to jump, run and, in all other ways, remain moving at all times. When he gets tired it is as if his energy level increases exponentially and I end up trying to keep him from literally bouncing off the walls. He is so delirious as he is running pell mell around the house that he doesn't always watch where he is going and often finds himself running into walls, chairs, tables, etc. This is also the time when it is easiest for him to get upset. Most of the time when he is denied something he will keep asking in a mischievous sort of way and then eventually give up and go about his business. However, when he is tired he will either do whatever he can to get what he wants anyway or he makes a terrible fuss and has to be left in his room to calm down. Neither is a fun experience for either party. Luckily, this is not a super common occurrence; as I said before, he is a very happy child.
On normal days when he is well rested and all is as it should be Ben likes to play with his trains and cars. Now, if you have had children who really love trains you know that all things become tracks. You also know that many conversations must be had about what are appropriate things to use for tracks. Ben uses everything and has, on occasion, tried to use myself, Michael and his little sister as tracks. These are the times when he and I have those conversations I was talking about earlier.
Train books and movies are a hot commodity in our home as well as Curious George. This fits well as I believe that if Benjamin were let loose as often as that monkey he would probably end up in trouble just as often or more so.
He is so independent and loves to do things his own way. Ben can get a bee in his bonnet about practically anything: who turns the lights on, who says the prayer, whether he has a fork or a spoon for his pasta, which red block his sister plays with. Mostly he just wants things done how he wants them done. Not only that, but he needs to do it; taking advice, help or suggestions from his parents is a sign of weakness.
Ben is too smart for his own good and seems, at times, to notice everything. It seems as though his mind becomes a steel trap and everything done or said within his vicinity is observed, pondered and locked safe in his head until a time comes when he finds a "good use" for the information.
For all the energy and mayhem Ben embodies he is also extremely sweet and is most always willing to give hugs and say "sorry", "thank you" and "please". And though he wiggles the entire time, he loves to sit on my lap or lay next to me on the couch (not necessarily for very long). He's my Silly Monkey, Mr. Goof and Bubbalou, but mostly he's my Benny.
As for the young lady of the family... she's following in Ben's footsteps... literally. Elsie is approximately nine and a half months old and recently she learned to walk. She is now standing up on her own, walking from room to room and able to carry with her something in each hand and sometimes her mouth as well. Needless to say she is very active. She is so active that getting her dressed should be considered an olympic sport.
Ben also learned to walk around nine or ten months. So all this walking and activity wasn't too much of a shock, it is everything else that surprises me. Ben may be curious, but Elsie is ravenous. She eats everything! She is constantly looking for something new to taste and, because she has teeth, chew on. Ben's trains and cars have lost paint, books have lost bits of their pages, even the walls and windows have felt the insatiable appetite of her tongue. And because she has tasted everything she can immediately get her hands on this leads her in search of more exciting flavors. So naturally she gets into everything. Every moment someone has to watch her or she runs towards the laundry room where clothes are soaking in Oxyclean or to the bathroom where Ben's potty seat is situated at just the right height for little Elsie fingers. Happily, we have been able to prevent any real mishap with either rooms, but I am constantly on alert.
Besides being obsessed with taste testing the house and walking, Elsie loves playing with Ben, looking at her favorite books, eating actual food and being held (unless she would rather walk). She is also quite a vocal little thing. She loves to make all sorts of noises. Her tongue is amazing and she can do quite a number of tricks with it. With this wondrous tongue of hers she can make a noise like a baby wookiee. She also can growl and this she does often, especially when she is playing.
There are times when she reminds me of Godzilla. With her arms up near her head to give her balance and these weird growling noises coming out of her mouth she descends upon whatever track or block structure her brother is trying to play with and destroys it. This, as you can imagine, is very distressing to Ben. However, he gets her back often enough. Ben believes all toys in our house are his, and because of this he is often taking them from Elsie. When this happens one of two things happens, she either looks a little bewildered then moves on or if it is something she was really enjoying she yells and proceeds to try and take it back. The latter method hardly ever ends well.
Elsie and her brother do get along. Ben watches out for her and lets us know if she needs more puffs to eat or a toy to play with. Elsie is always trying to follow Ben around, which can be somewhat dangerous as he often will run in circles around our table and has run into her full force more than once. She also loves to yell at him. What I mean by this is they yell at each other. Back and forth... it's a bit too much for Michael and I so we never let it last too long, but they love it!
The thing Elsie hates most of all is sleep. This has made us very sad on many an occasion and continues to do so every now and again. As many people do, I love sleep. Elsie has decided that she only really needs to sleep if she is coerced and even then it doesn't have to be for long. After many attempts we finally have got her to the point where going to bed at night is not a bad thing, though she still wakes up two to three times a night. If she is not promptly picked up, she cries until someone comes to retrieve her. You might be asking "why don't you let her cry herself to sleep?" This is of course a valid question. The answer is that we have tried this, with little success and many very sleepless nights.
Elsie is also quite the charmer. She is very social and likes to be apart of things. When we enter the room she always greets us with her radiant and toothy smile. She has the most striking smile, which she is willing to give anyone, no matter how unfamiliar, who sends a smile her direction. However, if that same unsuspecting soul attempts to hold her that beautiful sunshine of a smile quickly clouds over and a storm of cries and tears begins. I tell myself that she just loves her mommy too much.
Yes, my little girl is very opinionated and tells you all about it. She is lively and sweet. She is my Gooshie, Goose and Lady and I can't imagine life without her.
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