A House for Mr. Biswas Page: 360

Today was a busy and full day…as usual. I had the usual routine of taking care of the boys, trying to get reading done etc. But I also did extra housework, some writing, and hosted book club. Then, after my fellow book-clubbers went home, Jared and I set the iron footings for the pergola (awning) that is going over our patio. Because, you know, it’s completely normal to do hard labor after 9pm. Anyway, the patio should be looking pretty good next week. For all you those who were not here tonight, the book for our next meeting, in two weeks, is Code of the Wooster’s by P.G. Wodehouse. It should be a light-hearted time. If you don’t laugh while reading Wodehouse, your broken. Have someone send you back to the factory for repairs.

I was talking to my Mother in Law the other day about the myriad of amazing little things that the boys do every day and she told me that I might be surprised by how few of those things I actually remember down the road. Now on the one hand I am really unconcerned that I might not remember the exact day Alex walked or the the week Luc got his first teeth. Too often I’ve seen those details turned into a one-up-man-ship game with other moms. So I haven’t bothered to record the “milestone” moments. But there are many other things I do want to remember so I’m putting them down here in preparation for recording them elsewhere.

A few days ago I heard Luc fussing a bit in the hallway, not very loud or desperately. Alex came running up to me, grunting in his usual expressive way but very urgently, and then he grabbed me and started pointing toward the hallway. I followed him and found that Luc had pulled the safety gate over on top of himself. Alex’s concern for his brother was so sweet.

Luc likes to eat leaves. Disgusting child.

Speaking of Luc, he was chewing on one of his brother’s board books the other day and I took it away from him. He fussed and fussed. I tried giving him another toy, his pacifier, a bottle, holding him. NOTHING WORKED. I gave the book back to him and instant peace. I might have a little bibliophile on my hands. Now he has to have the pacifier in his mouth when I give him a book so he doesn’t chew on it but it seriously makes me happy to think that he likes them that much.

Alex and Luc adore each other. If Alex comes running up to Luc his little face just splits wide open with a smile. If Alex is doing something (no matter how mundane) and Luc can see him it just gives that little baby the giggles. This started when Luc was about four months old and Alex was jumping off the bed into Jared’s arms and continues now with simple things like Alex coughing. Luc’s laugh is so infectious.

Alex is so kind to Luc in the midst of typical careless toddler roughhousing. If Luc is fussing Alex will find his pacifier and very deliberately but very clumsily concentrate on getting it into Luc’s mouth. He does the same with a bottle with no regard to whether it is his or Luc’s.

Alex has a little, floppy canvas hat that is adorable on him. After a brief stage where he would take it off all the time, now he looks for it when he wants to go outside and puts it on. A skinny, sweet little boy in his diaper and hat is a funny sight at 6:30am. He also takes it off when he’s in the shade and puts it back on when he’s playing in the sun.

Alex loves his little Dr. Seuss board book Mr. Brown Can Moo. His favorite page is the “Knock Knock” page and he loves to knock on the door, wall or table when you read it.