Robinson & Harper Basaldu: 2 year update...........by Auntie Linda

Year Two
Bumps & Bruises

Harper can climb anything and everything. She is a dare devil and the most courageous 2 year old we have ever known. Her bumps and bruises all tell a story but doesn’t stop her from going higher. Robbie follows yet is a bit more cautious, unless you get him in a swimming pool which brings out his bravery in a way Harper cannot. In May, Harper sits with only her feet in the water and says, “Harper cold,” while Robbie is splashing away. Harper has a thing about getting her face wet and is working on tipping her head back in physical therapy.

Haircuts & Pigtails

Robbie's second haircut was done by dad in a close shave with mixed reviews. His smile and charm can wear any hair style. Harper is able to showcase pigtails, barrettes, fashion hats, and bows. She certainly is a girly girl in so many ways but with a tom-boy edge. We let her pick out her clothes every day and she can "almost" dress herself. She always picks out a dress or swim suit. We tell her how pretty she is and she loves to see herself and her brother in pictures and videos on our smart phones or just glance at herself in a mirror she is walking by.

Wagon as mode of transportation

The new mode of transportation is the Radio Flyer Wagon. They buckle themselves in and away they go.... the park, farmers markets, the zoo, cruising around the neighborhood. Parked inside the house they climb in and out, in and out. When they realize they buckled themselves in, they scream to be let loose only to buckle it again.

Books, Books, Books, and more Books

The twins got their first books from my cousin Chrissy Kometer who visited them in the NICU. Since that day, their love of books surpasses any other hobby and they still love to read their first nicu books. They get so excited to pick up their favorites and tell you all the object, animals, colors and shapes they have in them. They are incredibly smart and are thrilled to show off their new found words. The first favorites were "moon!!!", stars, airplane, ball, mama, nana and Robbie. Their first big words were "Guacamole!" and "Watermelon" and "Hippopotamus." Harper's first sentence was, "Duckieeeeeeeee where are youuuuuuuu?" It eventually became, "Robbieeeeee, where are youuuuu?"

Robbie's first sentence was, "Harper be careful." He loves to chat up a storm. In the mornings they have long, meaningful conversations in their cribs which their parents listen to on the baby monitor, but they say they really have no idea what the twins are talking about.

We can feed ourselves, thank you.

Nana continues to help with feeding time and wants to ensure they get more food inside than on the outside of them. But if you glance in at dinnertime at the Basaldu’s you will find Robbie and Harper very determined to keep the food on their fork all the way up to their mouths. They will try and try until they get it right. Or, if really hungry, dig in with their hands and maybe their toes too. Bowls often look like hats and will be tried on even if full of food. Didn’t think that one through did you Robbie? He will wear anything on his head except the adorable baseball hats we have all bought him.

Whatever you say, we can say too!

Think the kids are busy playing and aren’t listening to your conversation? Think again! The best multi-taskers ever, they repeat new words they hear coming out of your mouth. From "daddy don't do that" to “oh crap.” They are putting words together and continue to blow us away. They have 100s of words in their vocabulary. The nanny had started to write them down, but stopped after the first 100.

Spinning

Who can spin the longest without falling down? Robbie and Harper of course. I’m not sure who showed them or taught them but they are expert spinners. Robbie likes to flirt with girls who come over by showing off his spinning moves immediately. Enough said.

Switch!

Robbie likes to steal Harpers toy and take off running. Harper screams and runs after him. You would think Harper would get back at Robbie but she does not. She is so sweet and protective of Robbie, she shares, kisses and hugs Robbie, and when given a treat, says, “Robbie treat too” to ensure he will get one too. “Switch” is the term used to share or to give the other child a chance to play with the favorite toy of the day.

Robbie’s Timeouts

When Robbie is naughty, he knows to put himself in timeout which is the cutest thing you will ever see. He knows when he’s ready to come out. Technically it was taught to him after being warned to stop doing something like pulling someone's hair and he had to sit on the floor for 60 seconds. But eventually he started wondering, "Would I go to time-out for THIS behavior?" So he started asking, "Time out?" after spilling his milk, running outside without shoes on, or pushing his sister. "No Robbie, you don't have to go to time out unless you do it again." Sometimes he goes anyway and sits down and looks sad.

Harper, a born gymnast

Every curb, plank or chair arm is a balance beam and did you know that under tables, there are uneven bars for swinging your hips off of? The day Harper goes to her first gymnastics class, we may have trouble getting her out. Grandpa Gary introduced her to a balance beam when he built her one just 3 inches off the ground. She loved to walk on it back and forth and back and forth until everything she saw became a balance beam. She also loves summer saults and cart wheels but hasn't mastered them yet.

Eating is fun

Robbie loves to eat! He still uses the sign for “more” even though he can say it too. Their favorite snacks are “booberries” or raspberries and will down a pint in no time at all. Nana feeds them fresh fruit for snacks and when it's hot outside, a popsicle is their favorite treat. Robbie is a protein guy, wants summer sausage, cheese, hamburgers (no bun needed). Harper loves carbs, breads, pastas, and has a taste for more upscale food, the nicer the restaurant, the more she eats.

Manners

Harper has the best manners for a 2 year old. She says things like, “Thank you Robbie,” and “Please mama." It is shocking to hear a 2 year old say, "Thank you dada" when he gives her a bite of his ice cream. She always has good manners and doesn't miss. Robbie is learning, but can tend to use his adorable facial expressions to tell you how grateful he is for you. The kid melts hearts.

March of Dimes 2 year walk

Our family is grateful for the March of Dimes because they funded the research that helped develop the lung medication that is allowing so many more preemies to survive today. Since the lungs are the last organ to develop, it is the main reason a preemie may not survive or develop lung issues and asthma later in their lives. At the March of Dimes walk this year on the twins 2nd birthday they wanted to walk like everyone else, (sometimes walking backwards, something they love to show off). We did come in last place and the policeman asked us if we could move to the sidewalk so they
could open the street back up. But we made it to the finish line with much pride.

Jump, Jump!

Harper and Robbie LOVE to jump. My mom and I picked out the perfect birthday gift and put it together with help from the little ones. They now jump on their fully enclosed trampoline day and night.

Temper Tantrums.....:(

Harper seems to be experimenting with what she can get away with and just how much she is worshipped by her parents. She no longer wants to sit in her car seat ("Front seat Mommy") and she doesn't like to sit in a high chair. She is an independent girl but it is not time for driving and it's not good manners to stand at a table, so she is redirected daily, and does not like it. Her tantrums can last 20 minutes or so, and she has a lot of determination, but she eventually does the right thing when she is ignored and Robbie is getting all the attention from mom and dad.

Baseball

Of course Pete is still playing baseball and now it's a family activity almost every Sunday. The twins have their own T-Ball set and like to take turns swinging and putting the ball back up on the post. Robbie seems less interested in the game than Harper, he would prefer to strum a guitar or bang on his drums. But Harper throws the ball, then runs around pretend bases and always gets a home run apparently, because she does not stop running until she gets back where she started. She will even tap her bat on the home plate before she swings, apparently as she has seen her daddy do.

Twinkle twinkle little stars, do you know how loved you are........