At almost four and almost two, Ezra and Maren are both such a joy. I am trying so hard to live in the moment and love these days of little people--especially before school and soccer and Scouts and ballet interrupt us.
EZRA
Ezra is conscientious, attentive, imaginative, and deep. I have been drawing a lot lately, and he has taken to it too. He is fascinated by ocean life, particularly sharks, whales, walrus, and penguins. Most his art projects involve shark depictions. His "shark" is a circle with many, many horizontal lines for teeth, and two large bug eyes. He loves to play games with letters, such as saying a word (milk, starfish, asparagus, etc.) and then he tells me the letter and the sound it makes. When we read, Ezra will sometimes pick out familiar letters, such as "Mom, that's 'E' for Ezra!"
We are at the library every week, and drag home at least thirty books every time. He combs through the entire stack in the first day, and then spends the rest of the week carefully re-examining his favorite ten. All of our reading has given Ezra quite the imagination. In his play, I hear little snippets of ten books, either by way of character names, plot or conflict. It is highly entertaining. He has also started making up his own songs and belting them out at the top of his lungs when we swing in the backyard.
He takes an interest in cooking, yard work, and all living things. His new favorite toys are screwdrivers, pliers, C-clamps, shop vacuum attachments, bungi cords, and safety goggles. The garage and the tool shed are way more cool than any inside toy.
Learning the gospel is a continuing hunger for him. Ezra has deep spiritual wells, and truly needs to hear the stories of Jesus every day. Recently he has said such things as, "Mom, I feel so good when I read the Book of Mormon with you!" and "Mom, you are a good lady, you read me scriptures!"
Ezra tends to be measured, logical, and the voice of reason with his play group. He is fun, but only if he has silly friends, otherwise he can be kind of serious. Ezra is good at being an oldest child! He understands the rules, and likes to make them clearly understood. He continues to be wary of any new experience, but is also developing more courage.
MAREN
Maren is fun-loving, wild, hyper, and very aware. She has a lot of gusto for life. She screams with delight at the splash park and at the sight of any park. She is quite adventurous. She climbs, scurries, and explores at rapid speed. And, oh is she Miss Independent! She wants to brush her own hair, put on her own pants, put her own dishes in the sink, and climb into her own highchair. At the pool, she has no fear. She refuses to hold our hand, and wades right up to her chin with enthusiasm.
Maren has a just a handful of words, but uses them with great purpose and force. If she is pushing the stroller on a walk, and I am in her way, she will belt out, "Mommy! Beep-beep!" If Ezra offends her, or does something she knows is wrong, she hollers, "Ezra! No no!" At long last she has discovered the love of reading, and asks to have the same three board books read twelve times with, "Mommy! More read!"
Maren has a strong personality, and can be intense in her emotions. She has a great capacity to love and to feel, and shows an intensity of compassion. For example, recently at the park one of her friends fell and got hurt. With a real keen sense of urgency, she dropped what she was doing at the other side of the park, and ran to her little friend, wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed her on the cheek. On another occasion, one of Ezra's friends hurt her head in the bathroom at church. When Maren saw her coming down the hall crying, she ran to her with open arms, and gave her loving pats on the back.
Ezra rarely had tantrums, but Miss Maren has some intense angry outbursts, and usually humor is the only thing that breaks the tension. She adores Ezra, and will share nearly everything with him, if she can sense it will help him feel happier. She is extremely loyal to Ezra. There have been times when she hears Ezra ask for something from another room, and Maren will use all her small girl resources and powers to go and find it and bring it to him.
