Newborn

1 year

2 years

Showing me that he is "2!"

Two years ago today our world changed in a way we never could have imagined. I have felt joy, love, frustration, excitement, pride...all in a way I had never experienced.
This age is the most challenging yet, but it also can be the most fun. He talks without ceasing. He wants to touch and experience everything in sight. He is as stubborn as I am. He is fearless. He loves music and dancing.
He likes watching "Go Go" (Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That on PBS). He loves Elmo dolls and books. He surprises us with new words and complex thoughts every day. He understands far more than we want him to sometimes :) He loves drawing and so far we have managed to not have any wall art...yet.
He is happiest when outdoors. It doesn't matter if it is cold or hot, he wants to be outside. He loves exploring and finding rocks. He loves pushing his own stroller or tricycle and only rides because he has to.
He is totally in love with his little brother and plays so well with him. When Nate cries he will say, "Baby no happy" and will try to give him a kiss or some other smothering technique to calm him.
His favorite color is blue (the only color he recognizes and can say) and when asked a number of something he will say four or eight (don't know why). His favorite letter is B (again, the only one he recognizes and will say). Instead of saying "ABCs" he says "ABs." It is so darn cute.
He loves cooking with items from his cabinet and now many items from my drawers now that he can reach in. He loves on his baby doll and his "doggies." He burps them and puts them nite nite. He has a book of shapes and recognizes the heart and oval the best. He tries to say oval for all the shapes but when we actually get to the oval he gets so excited!
He helps me with everything possible. He folds laundry by wadding it up and gently patting it on the couch. He likes to get a chair in the kitchen to be up with me when I cook. He prefers to dump all the measuring cups and stir. He says "ah oh" a lot when we cook because flour tends to be all over the counter by the time we are done.
If he sees water he will want to splash in it. He regularly asks to play in the sink and "wash" my dishes. He often can be found standing on the toilet and brushing his teeth in the bathroom. In the car he will point out all bodies of water, usually apartment complex ponds.
Potty training is still going well. I have a great dislike for public restrooms, but have found them in almost every store now since he always needs to go at the most inopportune time. Most days he does well and uses the potty. When he gets too involved in playing he will often have an accident and come tell on himself immediate after doing business in his pants.
Sleeping has been a huge issue recently, but that will get its own post soon.