A little information can go a long way :-) I'm actually glad I didn't think too much about norms. Honestly, I knew zero about kids. I still can't believe the hospital let me take the first one home - I've never been around babies or little kids. It ended up helping because I just always assumed the ages put on toys were low. Keep following their lead. Don't worry about age recommendations that aren't intended for safety. And I hate to sound paranoid but many of us here have learned to be cautious with our conversations with friends about our kids. In Davidson's book Genius Denied I think they write about how there needs to be a tit for tat in talking about kids accomplishments... and when the one side says my kid arranged alphabet blocks in order and the other side was previously excited to say their kids stacked three blocks... well... it can eventually get uncomfortable.
Reading some gt lists and books can be like looking at a horoscope - folks see what they want to or don't want to. But I remember the first book I bought was Your Gifted Child. I hide it because my dd was the age of your twins - and I figured people - even my husband - might think I was nuts. But I'd go back and look at lists and what nots in it now and then - instead of the Your Baby's Second Year or whatever in terms of development.
Your post reminds me of the day a letter toy from leapfrog came in the mail before dd turned 2. I thought it was cute and was a bit surprised she already knew the letters. Yes, to your question, it isn't the "norm".
Keep checking here... don't feel bad for lurking or posting... I think most of us started out that way. We just didn't all have the internet to aid us when we started on our journey. But mostly, just keep on doing whatever it is you are doing. Following their lead and not trying to "norm" them into what they "should" be doing.
Welcome.
