I can't even tell you guys how relieved I feel to have found this forum!
ColinsMum - I know exactly what you mean about the maybe reading words before 2. There've been a few occasions where it seems like J might be reading an unfamiliar word softly to himself. I used to laugh at myself for imagining things, but now I've taken to saying out loud "I didn't see that. That didn't happen." Even typing this out right now, I'm shaking my head thinking "No way". I don't know. So far, they only quote along with me when I'm reading to them. If I pause, they'll often finish the sentence, especially if I stop on a rhyming word. Sometimes I get the feeling they really don't want to get it wrong, KWIM? Your son acting out stories with toys sounds adorable! We haven't really noticed that the boys have their own language, but they do appear to have some private jokes that we don't know about. DH & I joke that we should probably be glad we don't understand why they're looking at us and laughing!
Kickball - I've definitely noticed that sharing stories about the boys sometimes gets some really negative reactions. Here I am thinking it's just a "cute" story, and someone's jaw drops, or worse they say "Every kid does that, especially if you work with them". Yikes!
When I was at the library this weekend, I actually found a Ruf book I've seen mentioned here. I picked it up, put it back, walked away, went back, picked it up again, hid it under the other book I was carrying, put it back, etc. I couldn't bring myself to check it out because I was sure the librarian would think I was nuts!
Thank you guys so much for the welcoming responses!
Julie
