Mommy Hair Cut = Fail 2

A big oops on the bangs.

She came. She snipped. She failed.

Again.

And it is with intentional irony that I reword Caesar's own infamous phrase to describe mommy's second major haircut debacle at the expense of poor Lucas. Because now he resembles a Roman official back in the days of yore. Or Moe of the Three Stooges.

Mommy claims Lucas was too cute and could afford to be humbled a little. But since anyone who looks at Lucas instinctively knows who butchered his hair, it is mommy in the end who is humbled.

And on that note she is on her knees praying for the speedy passage of time - and supernaturally quick hair growth - to rectify this major faux pas!

See this post regarding the previous haircut fail. Lucky for me mommy seems to save her biggest haircutting disasters for little brother. I've been spared at least until now.

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Since we're Talking about Family...

Here comes trouble!

Uncle Matt took Lucas for a ride on the swing - after
spending about 30 patient minutes with me on a swing

The last few months and the one coming up was and will be characterized by family and friend visits. That is always a fun prospect since most blood relations live very far away from here.

Uncle and Aunt M&M came to visit and got to watch us in action - which was sometimes very terrifying for them as we displayed our prowess balancing on dangerous heights and flinging ourselves to the floor. Our Kiwi friend Sharon also dropped by for a visit from a faraway land, which was fun mainly because she is baby savvy and she even let us use her iPad. And next month, Mimi and GongGong will be coming to see us because, as GongGong says, their lips miss our succulent cheeks. Completely understandable.

But because of this distance from most family, mommy and abba have had to take that burden upon themselves to provide us with entertainment. Thus, we are awaiting the arrival at some point in early January of another sibling to keep us entertained!

This seemingly has necessitated a whole new slew of demands for us as we graduate to even bigger brothers now. Mommy has a long list of expectations that tend to bring a smile - nay, a smirk - to our mischievous but cute little faces:

1. Use the potty
2. Dress ourselves
3. Tie our own shoe laces
4. Feed ourselves
5. Prepare our own meals
6. Pour our own drinks
7. Wash our plates when done with dinner
8. Climb the four flights of stairs on our own two legs
9. Put our toys away when we are finished with them
10. And finally, clean the apartment floors vanquishing any trace of baby drool that turns into black sticky spots on the tile after we traipse through said puddles with our shoes on. Every day. 

Of course all of this may not happen by January even though we've been "working on" some of these concepts for about 6 to 7 months now. It looks like 3 babies under 3.5 years of age is going to be replete with all of the stereotypical cuteness and foibles that one can imagine. Sorry mommy and abba!

Auntie Sharon let us play with her iPad!

Uncle Matt found new and exciting ways
to entertain us

So in keeping with the spirit of things, we devised our own counter list of expectations for mommy and abba as we await the arrival of Numero Tre:

1. Get a bigger apartment or upgrade to a house. With a backyard.
2. Neither of us are giving up the stroller just yet, so bear that in mind
3. Good luck making three meals per meal now: one for Lucas and I, one for abba and you, and one for an infant when solids are introduced.
4. Oh yea, and we hate vegetables. And meat. 
5. Instead of sharing our toys, please make sure there are three of each so we don't have to fight.
6. And finally, we refuse to share our boys' room with a girl! So please solve the space issue and make sure she keeps her pink to herself!

Next time we take this photo, where is
little sister going to fit??

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Not Your Average First Visit to the Dentist

A smile like this at the dentist's office?? You betcha!

Despite my parents' worst fears and their very low expectations, my first visit to a dentist ended not with tears or me unraveling in a fit, but instead with yours truly leading the lovely dentist in a rendition of Gangam style!

It took a baby and a Brazilian immigrant to turn a routine dental check up into a dance party. And that is not surprising, is it?

There was great cause for celebration since the dentist determined I apparently brush well enough to have healthy teeth (even though she doesn't know I mainly just suck the toothpaste out of the bristles) and I show no sign of using a cheechung (pacifier in Italian dialect). Good practice for my career as an undercover operative!

Despite the oral intervention, I maintained my cool

Abba was also very excited, if not shocked
by my exemplary behavior

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The Danger Zone

When I asked mommy why she hasn't posted a blog of mine in so long, her response was, "My first priority is to keep you and Lucas alive. That leaves no time for blogs."

So after a long bout of holidays which basically ate up the entire month of September, we have all been safely back at school, ensconced in our daily routine. And when I say "safely" I mean our apartment is now slightly more safe from the destructive force of toddlers. And we are slightly more safe from windows, bookshelves and electrical equipment.

And that long, destructive month has extended well into October on the weekends.

Yes, we turn ordinary household items into WMDs as we gravitate toward danger and look for more effective ways to speed up the aging process of our parents.

Here is a pictorial essay of our last few weeks:

Lucas squeezed himself into a toy meant for
about half his age and size

Look mom! I can climb - and probably leap off!

But I won't (yet)

Lucas might. We discovered we can move the
toy basket into the living room so we could
climb it there as well

Lucas learned how to shampoo my hair

Oh look! A grill! The things we can do...

Lucas being self-disciplined - spanking  himself

This use for the potty gives new meaning to piano "stool"

Why would one sit on a moving bus when
they can do something more dangerous?

We were not limited to our own apartment as we brought our devious ways to Nene and Dede's home.

We learned to scale
their kitchen table!

Never leave food within baby's reach...

...Or put baby's reach near the food. Stymied!

Please note who appears in the majority of the photos. I believe that makes me the less naughty baby.

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