Blessings

You wake up and then remember. The Easter basket is hidden and it has CANDY! This was the first year that Ignacio was able to really participate in the ritual of the Easter Bunny, even leaving two carrots and water (in a plate not a cup because "Rabbits lick water!!!!") out for him the night before. We celebrated with family and friends, ate more ham than was probably good for us and ended the weekend tired but full. Last year Emilio was just a newborn and we ended up shoving food in our face at a Chinese buffet for Easter because it was all we could muster up given our energy levels. But this year we felt better (aka less guilty) because we did our best to pull off the tradition.

Our boys are so beautiful and growing so beautifully. Ignacio, well, Ignacio is Ignacio. Full of energy, VERY talkative, an actor, a musician (rock star as he would say) and very inquisitive and smart. That is on a good day. On not so good days he is challenging, demanding, repetitive and intense. When I say "good day" I am of course referring to my good days and not so good days! He is pretty much the same kid. What changes is my ability to keep up with him! After coming home from church on Sunday he wanted to play church and, of course, he was God. He is excited to start preschool this fall and SO READY!! He is an enthusiastic leader, charging the pack of four year old boys at the park (I mean pirates) to the other "ship" and I just smile as I watch them all follow behind him, sticks in hand held high to the sky.

Emilio, well, Emilio is Emilio. He is walking/running and his little behind is so cute as he makes his way from point A to B. He is smart and, as Ignacio would say, "curious" and ADORABLE. He has been described as those closest to him as spunky, a little man, a handful, a mama's boy and a little stinker. I would say there is truth to all of those. He is expressive, spending most of the day babbling with furiostiy. Good luck to him getting a word in with his brother around. He says oh-oh and hi and I am convinced that yesterday he said mama. He is studious, choosing one book and making his way over to me with it held out. He points and babbles as his way of asking what things are. He squeeled and pointed at the monkeys at the zoo this week so enthusiastically that everyone around ended up watching him rather than the animals.

Both the boys are snugglers and we spend a good portion of our day doing just that and they spend a considerable amount of time snuggling each other. Their relationship is more dynamic. I find if I remove myself from it they tend to get along better than vying for my alliance. Ignacio is intense with Emilio but Emilio can hold his own quite well...and I have observed that he is often the instigator. (Hence the labels of a little stinker and spunky). He is definitely his own little person and there is no current concern of him loosing himself in his brother's shadow. He is his own light.