Words and Wherewithal

Henry and Audrey are both verbal now, Hank for quite a while, Audrey more recently "controlled" to having MaMa actually mean Mommy. Henry is very imitative, and can spout back 3 syllable word-like sounds, even 3 note fragments close to pitch. Audrey doesn't care as much about that yet, and can convey everything she needs with gesture and sounds. She is using more expression in her sounds, less for needs and more attempts at communication.
In the bathtub, Henry has been "swimming" for a month, meaning lying down on his tummy and kicking, sometimes putting part of face in the water. Which can be kind of a pain for Audrey if she's in the tub with him. Meanwhile, Audrey has done her own tub-learning of filling containers with water from one to the other. Quite happy with this, it occupies her well, until it is kicked over by Henry. Tonight they were in the tub together and I asked Audrey: Do you want me to take you out first? Slow shake of head. Do you want me to take Henry out first? Rapid nod of head. I had to call Melissa in to have her see it. Henry was swimming, oblivious, but I can't believe he didn't hear.
Audrey seems to occasionally let Henry take things away from her. He's a bit stronger or more coordinated, and does this sometimes. She used to growl and try to get it back, but lately she seems to let him go if she can't hang on, find something else to play with almost immediately, and bides her time to push him or bite him at a later time. I figure the best course is to let some of this work itself out, know that they both have the capability, and know that I'm probably only seeing a small-to-medium percentage of the occurrences of this sort of thing. Contrapuntally, they really enjoy playing together, running from room to room laughing as they just seem to like following each other. And at their Eye appointments this week, Henry came over to check on Audrey as she was crying, being held down, had lights shone in her eyes. And it didn't seem to be self-interest or assumption that he would get the same treatment next, as he had just had the same. Maybe they just like having each other around, for good or evil?
Audrey picked out her own clothes last week. I got out a sweater, then put it back and came out with another. She started crying and pointing to the closet. You only know that she was after that first sweater because of my first sentence - it took me five minutes of looking, holding things up, then bringing her over to the closet for her to grab the soft sweater and hold it to her face for me to finally understand. She forgave quickly and went off to eat cinnamon toast.
Henry has more patience for books and TV shows than Audrey. Both have their favorites books and lobby for them during their lap time before bed. They are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their means of getting me or Melissa to read the book they want when they want it. Bait-and-switch, running to be first, slowly putting their book on top of the one being currently read.