Press the Buzzer

Avi's favorite grown-up song is Press the Buzzer by Dar Williams. He wants to listen to it over and over. How appropriate. I think my favorite song at that age was Day in the Life by the Beatles. Neither feature content even remotely comprehensible to a three-year-old, but intriguing rhythm and melody is where it's at, especially if there's a catchy repeating phrase in their somewhere.

Solo trip to Sundance

Can't forget to note that Noah made his first solo trip to Sundance last week. I don't know many other moms who would have allowed their seven-year-old to do so, but he was fine. He did a great job and was so proud of himself. I don't know what I would have done for dinner that night if he hadn't have gone either. Here's to independent confident kids.

Literary appetite

Ezra loves books. To eat. He is as uninterested in books as Avi was at this age. What doesn't mean much in terms of predictions as Avi is practically reading to himself these days and loves to be read to book after book. But whenever I try to read to Ezra, he just wants to grab the book and get it on his mouth. Actually, that's what he wants to do with anything, blocks, toys, our hands, faces, food, spoons, musical instruments. Just about everything I can think of except the talking Elmo doll, which he expresses his appreciation for in the more traditional way, with giggles and smiles.

Always something to entertain him

Ezra meanwhile has discovered what great noises his tongue can make. Not letter sounds exactly, but clicks and slaps and bubbles. He likes to wave it about and push it out and in until he gets attention for it. Then we laugh and then he does too. Great fun. Such simple amusement. He continues to be very fascinated and entertained by his brothers. They keep him smiling. He doesn't roll over much, but he is sitting quite well now. I'm not ready to have him sit on the hard floor yet, but close. I figure his lack of mobility is due to the fact that there's always something to look at even without moving anywhere else, what with a dog, a cat, and two crazy brothers romping about.

Comics: the gateway drug to the morning paper

Noah has taken to reading the comics every morning now. Before we know it he will be reading the rest of the paper too. I remember it progressing like that for me, but it was much later, maybe middle school.
Speaking of reading prowess, did I already mention that Avi is reading three-letter words? Not all the time, and not without support, but far more than the average 3 1/2 year-old. I promise I'm not pushing him in this area. He wants to learn and asks to practice with me.