Development

I don't know much about development, and I try not to compare my kids to others (except to make sure something isn't WAY off). SO, this may not be so impressive on a comparison scale, but it's amazing to me to watch kids develop.
Eve still amazes me with her ability to walk in those huge high heels. Not that they're super high, but they're WAY bigger than her feet. Heck, she can even walk in my shoes with the big heavy clunky heels! Anyway, the other day she even climbed up in my chair, into my lap, and got back down without losing either one (of her smaller heels...not my huge shoes). I couldn't believe it. Especially given her height disadvantage. She still can't climb on the beds without a boost. Not because she doesn't have the skill, but because she doesn't have the height. The thing that really cracks me up about the shoes is watching her put them on. She grabs the shoe in one hand, and her foot in the other, and uses her hands to put them together. Very intentional with every move.
Eve is developing more and more of an attitude, and can definitely hold her own. We're working on that. Surely some of it is a little harbored frustration from a year and a half of having everything taken from her. We always knew John would get it some day...but she gives it to pretty much everyone. Like I said...working on it.
John amazes me for lots of reasons, but we'll stick to a few that stand out right now. I mentioned his memory before. The other day I put on his school t-shirt. He's only worn it once before. He asked me as he put it on if it was the shirt he wore to the pumpkin patch. Yep, that's the one time he wore it before. That was in October. He remembers what he wore 3 months ago!
I'm also really amazed by the skills he's picking up from the computer game he got for Christmas. It's a Thomas game that tells a story, asks questions throughout, and has games scattered in as well. The first time through he really couldn't do anything. Today was maybe the 4th or 5th time and he did almost all of it by himself...just a little verbal direction and encouragement from me. I was in the other room most of the time. He can now point and click the mouse where it needs to go (impressive since we're nearly positive he'll be a lefty), so it's good for motor skills. It also has puzzles where I've seen a huge improvement on his spacial skills (fitting pieces of track together that are the correct shape, and putting pieces of a picture in the right place to complete the picture) and problem solving. It's just crazy to me to see him doing so well on the computer! He loves it, too, so it really grabs his attention for learning (something I've never been able to do).
In all fairness, we're working on something with him too (don't want to single anyone out). Right now we're working on learning that it's OK to be angry, but we need to obey and be respectful even when we're angry. OK, really in ALL fairness...we're all working on that one :)