Speaking and Swimming

Noelle and Lucas have just pushed past 20 months. And boy are their arms tired.

Over the last few weeks Noelle has gradually been participating in the talking game. Lucas has been at it for some time, by now accumulating an impressive vocabulary of several dozen words. Noelle, however, was content with "dad", "bubble", and the occasional “muhm”. Of late, she’s ventured further into Enunciation Land, though still needs a guidebook. While Lucas has "snowman" down almost perfectly, to tiny baby Special it’s still a "noh-muh". When asked to identify an object, Lucas hits the mark nine times out of ten; things he doesn't know usually default to "puhtaytoh”.

We are considering signing up Babies A and B for swimming lessons. Last summer NL, and in particular Noelle, exhibited a surprising love of aquatics. It’s evident they miss the hydro-hijinks in the wintertime. They’ve been forced to transfer the sport indoors. Past bath times meant mostly sitting and splashing. Now, both lay on stomachs and kick their legs as if trying to swim out of the tub. They fail at that, but do succeed in splashing a good portion of the tub's water onto the floor, and occasionally land a toe on their partner's face.

Here’s an astute observation: NL are noticeably morphing from babies into kids (some would prefer to say “toddlers”; those people are free to start their own blog). Yes, I noticed some time ago that the kids no longer crawl, have a tooth here and there, and enjoy solid foods. I mean that witnessing their alertness to their world and responsiveness when addressed add up to the flashes of intelligence of maturing individuals. The kids are conscious of themselves, acknowledge their relationship in our family, and are developing preferences in their behaviors. Though from birth it was evident they took comfort in routines, now it’s neat to see them seek their favorite toys and activities. And parents (me; who else?).

For the record I note that my sister Sylvia has equaled our tally of kids by delivering to the world--and notching Canada another warm body--one Alyssa Elizabeth Silvestri. The darling child (I haven't met her yet, but since she's related to me she is doubtless a model specimen) will one day hold the other end of the string while cat's cradling with Noelle, and whisper to Lucas that her brother Ethan smells.