Look who's TWO!

I can't believe you're two years old! On the other hand, I've been referring to you as our 2 year old for so long, it doesn't seem that strange.

You are still so much fun and full of life. You learn new things everyday, and I just being around for all of it.You say 4-5 word sentences on a regular basis and it's almost like we have little conversations. You always want to 'come too'... whenever anyone leaves, or even looks like they're leaving. You love to get the mail with dad, talk to (and hang up on) family on the phone, and play with your toys. You've started lining up your toys, which I just get a kick out of. Especially when you line them up, just to knock them down with one of your bigger trucks.

You still are a great sleeper, despite a week where we had to play around with your nap time. You love saying your prayers at night and wake up happy, saying "Good Morning" every morning. You also love getting and giving hugs and kisses, and can't have one without the other.

You're in love with Thomas the Train, but still like watching Super Why, Curious George, and Elmo. You love playing the piano, and helping me cook -even when I don't want or need the help. We still go on walks everyday, but we're stuck in the mall now because the weather.

You're quite vocal about your likes and dislikes, "I happy now", "No hitting me", "No pushing me", "Too scary", "No kissing me", "Cookies", "Peaches", and "Eggs and Pancakes", and everyone's favorite, "That's MY mom". Your dad likes to aggravate you with this one, which will probably come back to haunt us once you really do have to share your mom.

I hope that you do well with this huge transition that is coming up. We're so glad that you're in our lives and excited to see how you take on your new role as "Big Brother".

Happy Halloween Party

Those are your words, not mine. You were SO excited for your Happy Halloween Party today, I could hardly get you to go to bed last night. I'm not sure how much you understood what a Halloween Party was, but I'm guessing you've been to enough birthday parties that you understood there would be kids and treats. Which there was.

Here's a few pictures from the party...

Not quite ready

So... we gave potty training a go this past weekend.

I'm not ashamed to say, you're still in diapers today.

I gave it my best effort, read half a dozen books, tried a few different things, and came to conclusion, this just isn't the right time.

I was grateful that it was pretty obvious that you weren't going to understand it, since it was a fairly stressful couple of days for the both of us. We started on a Friday, and you could just see it in your face when you woke up on Saturday and we were still 'talking potty' that you weren't thrilled.

You did have a few successes, but I think they scared you, more than made you excited. Your dad and I decided that you're just to verbal for your own good. You have a great memory and love learning and saying new words, which made us think you actually understood a bit more than you do.

So, for now, we're content with the fact that you know the entire alphabet, learn new words and get better at pronouncing your words every day, can count to ten, and you know most of your colors. I think we're going to try and kick you of your morning bottle habit instead. You're going to be a little upset, since its so much apart of our routine, but I think it's time for that step forward at least.

You're so much fun right now, by the way. Grandma and Grandpa Hardcastle came over for dinner last night and you were just so excited to see them. You tried to get Grandma to take you home to her house, and we probably would have let her, but she had to work today.

Sometimes I can't believe you're not actually two years old yet, you're just so big and smart. I'm excited (and just a little nervous) to see how things change in the next couple of months, baby number 2 is due in 10 weeks now). But for now, I'm happy that it's just the two of us (and dad).

At your cousin Nolan's first birthday party. You loved all of the yummy treats your aunt Shondel made and the pinata!

Pinata from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

ABC's

You're almost 22 months old. Not that I usually tell people that, I've given up on how many months you are, I usually refer to you as my two year old, or that you'll be two in November.

You love corn on the cob

You just love life right now and love learning new things. I think the few tv shows you like watching have really paid off, because you can now recognize ALL of your letters, and can count to 10 with a bit of help. We really didn't even teach you that, I'm thinking Super Why and Sesame Street did most of it, but now we work on it. We actually don't have a choice, you LOVE picking out letters, even when we're driving in the car. You have your 'favorite letters', like B, O, P, Q, and Y, but you know all of them.

With Gordon at the cabin

Your love of buttons hasn't diminished at all. In fact, you insist on opening and closing the garage door, you've learned how to push the buttons on the dishwasher (which drives me CRAZY) and still can't stay away from mom's computer.

Family portrait on a dinosaur

I think we might try toilet training at the end of the month. I'm not sure you're quite ready, but you've shown a few signs that you might be ready, and it's very appealing to try it before you're really in your 'terrible twos'. We're working on the new vocabulary you'll need, and reading a few books for some ideas. With a bit of luck, we might have you out of diapers (at least during the day) before the baby comes. But if not, we'll give it a go sometime next year.

With Grandpa Hardcastle at the Dinosaur Park

Some of your other favorite things to say is "What happened?" I need to get this on a video, because it sounds so cute, except that you say it ALL of the time. If you fall, if something else falls, if something looks different or wrong, if something happens on the tv. It's a question we get at LEAST 100 times a day.

You also love "Hyrum's turn", and you really understand what it means too. Mama's turn, Hyrum's turn, Daddy's turn... even when you're playing with other kids, you try to get their toy by saying it's "Hyrum's turn".

Big Matt at the Dinosaur Park

Speaking of other kids, you've done great in nursery ever since we stopped being out of town so much during the summer. The last two weeks I've helped in there because one of the nursery leaders hasn't been there, but even before that, you'll cry for a minute or two, and then I guess you do great.

You've also moved to a Big Boy bed. Well, an even Bigger Boy Bed and a new room. I haven't taken any pictures because the move happened a little sooner than I had planned (thanks to your dad) and I'd like to decorate it just a bit and get some new sheets to go with the Red Sox theme I have planned. Hopefully soon.

With Grandma Lafeen in her backyard.

I think that's all for now. I'm excited for Halloween and your second birthday, Christmas, and of course, your new baby brother or sister. I'm sure this fall/winter will go by quickly for the Lafeens.

Your new favorite game, Hiding.

What our life is like...

Hi Buddy from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.