The Marshmallow Test

*Let me preface this post by saying that Ian LOVES marshmallows. He often asked for them as a snack, so I was not too sure how this would unfold.*

One of Daddy's colleagues told him about an experiment performed on 4-year-olds. Here's the jist:

A Deferred Gratification Experiment
The marshmallow experiment is a famous test of this concept conducted by Walter Mischel at Stanford University and discussed by Daniel Goleman in his popular work. In the 1960s, a group of four-year olds were given a marshmallow and promised another, only if they could wait 20 minutes before eating the first one. Some children could wait and others could not. The researchers then followed the progress of each child into adolescence, and demonstrated that those with the ability to wait were better adjusted and more dependable (determined via surveys of their parents and teachers), and scored an average of 210 points higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.[2]

Ian was our lab rat today, and I'm happy to report he was able to wait for the second marshmallow. He squeezed, sniffed and rubbed the first one, but he never took a bite!

First tooth!!

Brennan's first tooth made its appearance today! With two babies, I think this marks the beginning of a LONG phase of teething!

Lunchtime Theology

A brief peek into the mind of a 4-year-old:

"God must have a TV that he watches of earth."

"How can God walk? He's too big and the sky can't stay together."

Both comments were, of course, interspersed with other random thoughts and topics. I love four.

Sleep Update

BABIES:
I have hesitated to post about this for fear of jinxing ourselves, but the babies are doing SO WELL sleeping! They both nap well during the day, and are sleeping an average of 10-11 hours at night. Garrett has his moments every now and then (like waking up yesterday at 5 a.m. to chat in bed, then fill his pants!), but otherwise, they're great sleepers! What a blessing!

IAN:
We have decided that Ian no longer needs naps. It's a sad day for this mommy! Don't get me wrong, we have a great time together, but a little peace and quiet in the middle of the afternoon was priceless. If he does happen to give into sleep during the day, he is up until 11:30 at night, and that's not good either! When Daddy was little, he had to have "book rests," and so that's what we're calling his hour or so in his room every afternoon. He loves the time to read by himself, so everyone's happy.

MOMMY:
I figure it's been over a year since I had a good night's sleep! I'm trying to remember how to sleep through the night!

Star Wars

Ian is very into Star Wars these days, which means a lot of role playing. I am usually assigned the role of Princess Leia, but today I was Darth Vader. Here was the line I was directed to say:

"Bring me Princess Leia. I think she's in Menards."

Try to say that with a straight face while breathing like Darth Vader. Not easy.

My Boys and Their Shoes

First Veggies

Last week, we started vegetables with the boys. Ian got to choose which one they would try first, and he chose peas. (Interesting, because he doesn't eat them!) I love to look back at Ian's baby pictures when we first fed him veggies, and I can't get enough of these little faces, either!
Brennan's turn!




Pea-flavored thumbs are good!

Looking over at Garrett, as if to make sure he wasn't the only one being put through this!

Brennan all done!

Garrett's turn! It didn't take him long to get used to the taste, and want more!






Garrett all done!

Power Button

Daddy: "Ian, can you go over there and press the button next to the green light?"

Ian: "Oh, you mean the one that says 'power' on it?"

Daddy: "Yeah, that's the one."

Snowmen (and woman)

Daddy, Mommy and Ian had some fun in the snow today while the babies were napping. A plan that started with one huge snowman became an entire snow family! (Actually, Daddy and Mommy did most of the work while Ian ate snow.)

6 months old!

Garrett Edward and Brennan Paul are 6 months old today!

While these early months have had their challenges, we still can't believe they are already through the first half of their first year! They bring us such joy, and we are thrilled to have them as a part of our family.

Their 6 month check-up went very well. They are finally big enough to be on the growth chart! This is a great accomplishment because up to this point we haven't been able to plot them next to their peers. Here are their stats:

Garrett: 15 lbs. 5 oz. (11th percentile); 26 inches (30th percentile)

Brennan: 14 lbs. 15 oz. (10th percentile); 25 1/2 inches (15th percentile)

Garrett has more than tripled in size since birth, and gained almost 5 pounds in the last 2 months! Brennan has almost tripled in size, and is showing catch-up growth as well. The doctor was very pleased overall with their growth and development.

Here are some pictures that we took today. (Garrett is on the left, Brennan on the right.)