I've recently added the ability to submit new posts to the blog via text message. That explains the recently added, unusually short postings. But, on the other hand, its nice because I can submit posts as they happen; whereas, in the past, the kids would do something "noteworthy" and I'd say to myself, "I need to add that to the blog", but forget about 10 minutes later.

Apparently we use the term "what the heck?" too often in our house. Zoe now starts with "what the" and Ryder finishes with "heck?"

Ryder @ 22 Months

Its Christmas eve and I took our framed picture of the kids with Santa from Ryder and he got mad at me and said "Daddy take it".

Zoe has recently coined the phrase, and says it the same everytime: "sparkly, crystal, rainbow, unicorn ballerina powers". I'm not sure what it refers to.

A few updates:

• The pacifier weening is coming along well. He's at the point where he doesn't really put the pacifier in his mouth anymore (cuz its too small) so he now just holds it in his hands.
  
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• Zoe has been using the following phrase of late: "Sparkly, crystal, Rainbow Unicorn Power". She says it the exact same way, flawlessly, each time.
  
• When Ryder heard another kid crying, he mocks them by saying "Cry baby, cry..." like in the movie "A Christmas Story".
  
• Ryders vocabulary continues to improve. He's forming 3 and 4 word sentences; like "I do it too"
  
• Ryder has been getting more into reading books of late. He now demands to read a few books before bedtime.
  

Current events:

• Congress voted to repeal the Militarys Don't ask Don't Tell policy.
  
• Unemployment is at 9.8%
  

Yesterday, Ryder was screwing around in Zoes room and slipped on a random puzzle piece. He fell and hit mouth/teeth on the side of Zoes bed. He bled from his gums a little bit and his teeth may have been a bit loose.

Because of this incident, we didn't want him using his pacifier as it could lead to his teeth growing in improperly (at least thats what the internets say).

So, initially we were going to cut him off cold turkey. He protested (i.e. didn't go to sleep and just laid in bed calling for "Momma". So, we've decided to go another route... We've clipped off a piece of his pacifier and will continue to do so until the pacifier is of no more use to him. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

I got the following email from Kia yesterday regarding Ryder:
He said "Hi, Ryder!" to himself very clearly today! And kept saying it over and over while looking at himself in the mirror page of a book. Then when I was in the kitchen, I heard some crying/whining, so I go to the play room to see what's going on and when I say "What happened?" Ryder looks at me and says very clearly---"Ya ya did it". LMFAO. It was so funny, I looked at Zoe and she clearly and honestly was like "no I didn't."