DIY

Grandma has been having a great visit with O and Z! O was very excited to meet her at the airport, pointing out all of the planes (and counting them: "1, 2, 9, 10, 11!") as we approached. There was a nice weekend featuring all of the kids' usual activities: playing with trains, cars, and O's newfound fascination with cooking (just in time for Thanksgiving!). And all three of the grandparents and Meh came to cheer on my orchestra's fall concert -- it was so wonderful having them all attend, and the whole audience was very supportive.

For the rest of the weekend, grandma got to come watch swim lessons (both boys were talking about and waving at her during their swims), and in addition to some wild playtime at the local mall, we got to have lunch here (O was ferociously chomping on the crusty bread, while Z was clearly ready for a nap and kept snuggling into the poor woman sitting a little further down the bench). It's been a very fun visit, and O in particular has been increasingly vocal about 'gamma' and the activities/toys he wants to share with her.

Speaking of increasingly vocal, also in the news (and the title of this post), O is starting to assert his independence to us. When I offer to help him with a jacket zipper, putting on shoes, or opening a "red cheese", he'll often say "do it yourself! do it yourself!" Sometimes this is followed by a very cute plea for "help.... plee-ayz!", but almost as often he manages all alone. And so it begins!