Birthday Boy!

Birthday Boy, you're TWO today! I will say this every year - to both you and your brother - how did this happen? You keep me so busy and there is much that has happened over the last 730 days, but I'm having a very hard time understanding how it is possible that you are now two years old. I promise not to treat you like a baby forever, but I'm not sure I'm ready to give it up. Unfortunately for me - you've made your decision - you are a baby no more.

You are talking more and more every day ... lots of words from the English language and lots of words in "2talk." When you are saying something that the rest of us don't understand you will climb up into a lap, hold their face in your hands, and say it again about an inch away from their face. You could be pointing out a flower or solving world peace - no getting around the fact that you mean business! You are also counting to ten - with help and laughs. Apparently you've got 1, 2 and 3 down pat since that's what you hear me yelling the most ... usually to your brother. Last week during our daily end of the day meltdown, #1 was getting the final warning when I said, "ONE" you looked at me with an ear to ear grin and yelled, "TWO!" Your brother got an automatic pass since we all laughed out loud over that one. My favorite phrase of yours right now is "come on!" You take my hand, or Daddy's, or #1s and say, "Hum On, Mommy!" while leading me to the next adventure of the day.

On to the business of growing up. Our nightly routine is starting to change a little bit and I love and do not love the changes. You've started asking for your brother to tuck you in at night and it is breaking my heart. But you LOVE your brother, so how can I be anything but happy about that? And, you are such a rockstar with bedtime and putting yourself to sleep without much protest - something that is new to our family with you - you deserve a brother tuck-in until you figure out how to use it as a stall tactic. Speaking of #1, the two of you are starting to spend a lot of time playing together instead of next to each other. You both are showing me every day, in different ways, that you understand how great it is to have a sibling. You each are the first to go find the other in the morning. The first to run to the other's classroom at school. And the first to throw some sort of physical movement toward the other that will teeter right on the edge of play and pain. I can only imagine what is ahead ... Overall, you love, love, love your brother (and he loves you, too).

I wonder what side of your personality will grow most this year? You are most often HAPPY and laughing ... and you are learning that being a little jokester earns you extra attention and reaction from others (and you like that). You also have quite a temper and are not afraid of laying down in the middle of the floor and making a good tantrum when you find it appropriate. You enjoy your friends and name everyone each morning during drop off. It's a little bit like you are making sure everyone is accounted for so the school day can officially begin. Your blonde, blonde hair is still fuzzy - thank goodness. Whenever you run or dance (something Momma encourages often - you and your brother WILL have rhythm and know how to cut a rug), your hair bounces like a Fraggle and just makes me smile. And your and cheeks that are so yummylicious ...perfect for zerberts and so perfect for the story of Chubby which I will teach you one day so you can entertain the entire family at gatherings.

At the age of two you are an engineer like your father, grandfather, uncles and your Aunt Kiki. You take everything apart and then put it back together - usually new and improved by your standards. You also like to dump everything in a pile on the floor and inspect things one by one. You love all things "choo choo" and there hasn't been a day during the last several weeks that hasn't involved building a new track and lining up the train cars ... "choo choo ... Choo Choo ... CHOO CHOO!!!" You also enjoy your "bike", hours in the sandbox and "Elmo" (which is Elmo as well as every other fuzzy animal/monster). Your brother loves the TV and begs for more than his weekend ration, so you've started asking for Elmo on TV. We put it on for you, you watch for 30 seconds, then you're taking apart an Automoblok in a world far, far away from Elmo - and I thank you for that. Reading ... let's talk about the reading for a minute. You are taking after your Momma on this one ... you really don't like it. You love books, but the whole sitting still and turning page after page ... not so much for you. You sit down in "listening" position like a champ. But on page 2 you bust out with "Yea!" and lots of clapping - as in, excellent story, THE END. We still try, but you're not falling for it. You got a new puppy book for your birthday, so maybe ... just maybe. Last, but not least, you are very into hiding and continue to be into climbing everything.

You had a rough time calming down tonight - no thanks to cupcakes a plenty over the last 24 hours. We rocked and rocked and discussed the day. You reminded me that maybe my last ounce of "baby" in you comes when we're snuggling or in the rocking chair. Tonight I zoned out, staring off into the darkness while listening to some calming night tunes and you grabbed my chin with your hand. You pulled my face until I was looking down at you in my arms ... so peaceful and like a lump. It's almost like you were telling me to take a good look because this little mini is about to explode into a little boy and I should be savoring this moment. And I did ... And I will.