My "baby" is two!! Two!!

Twenty-four months ago (that's 730 days), my little Tank was born.

September 10, 2010

It sounds silly and trite to say, "I can't believe its been two years already! Where does the time go?"

After all, that's what I said last year, and that's probably -- if I am honest -- what I'll say every year on his birthday until he's 65 and I am too old and senile to actually remember that it's his birthday.

So instead of rehashing the obvious, I am going to focus on all the things Scott has accomplished in the past 12 months, the things I am so proud of, and all the little details I am noticing about him now. So here's your annual birthday letter, son.

Dear Scott:

Today you are two! Happy Birthday! Hopefully the actual day won't feel like too much of a letdown. It's a Monday after all, and I am dropping you at school (aka daycare) because Mommy has a really busy day at work.

We've been partying all weekend. We had cupcakes with your daycare class on Friday, a huge Elmo party for you on Saturday with 30-some people and 10 or 12 of your little friends. You opened presents for 45 minutes straight. Then, after conking out for 11 hours, you woke up Sunday morning and played with EVERYTHING again for four hours non-stop.

Sunday morning, and checking out your new tool set.

Choo-choo trains!

Sunday night we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house and opened more presents. And you ran around and ate cupcakes again.

It's now 8:42 on Sunday evening, and you are asleep and mommy is utterly exhausted. So again, I hope the "lack of activity" today - your actual birthday - isn't a bit of a letdown.

It's hard to believe that at this time last year, you weren't even walking. Truth be told, you weren't even taking your first tentative steps. You stood up and cruised the furniture, but you much preferred crawling.

Post cake-smash, birthday #1!

Twelve months later, and you don't really walk now either. You run everywhere. You LOVE baseball - and you throw your bat with glee whenever you make contact with the ball and dash around the couches and the kitchen in the house -- circling your own make-shift bases.

Mommy and Daddy can talk to you now, and that is so cool. You understand us (even though sometimes you ignore what we say) and we understand you. You know hundreds of words, and can ask for milk, juice, snacks, books, and "one more" of almost anything. You tell us when the water is too hot in the bath and when you want to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

We are so happy that you are finally using your words because we went through a major issue with you misbehaving at daycare - kicking, pushing, hitting, throwing - your teachers and the other kids (and yes, your mommy too!) whenever you got frustrated and didn't know what to say.

You amaze us with how much you've learned and how much you know. You know which sounds are associated with which animals; you can say "ABC" (though not the rest of the song yet), identify fruits and vegetables, match shapes and recognize colors. You love tools and puzzles, and are already adept at putting things together.

What else have I discovered about you this year? You absolutely HATE getting your fingernails and toenails trimmed/clipped. The only way I can get you to sit still long enough to do a handful at a time is to put you in my lap, let you watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and give you a lollipop to suck on (you call them pops.) All of this must occur simultaneously, and typically gives me a 3-5 minute window to work, before you've had enough.

Your favorite meal is In N Out burger - one cheeseburger, cut in half, sauce only (you eat almost the whole thing), plus half a chocolate shake, and, of course, fries. If I had to pick your second favorite food, I'd say its fish sticks. You are good about eating fruit, but are a horrible (utterly horrible!) vegetable eater.

You've already learned the fine art and pure joy that comes with dunking an Oreo in a cold glass of milk. It's your go-to dessert, and you take one bite off the cookie, then hold the rest in the milk until it gets nice and mushy and then shove the entire thing in your mouth.

You are very much a little boy -- and less and less a baby -- with each passing day. You are independent and funny, willful and stubborn, and a big kid in so many ways. In fact, that is how mommy is already thinking of you as the "big kid"...especially with your baby sister scheduled to arrive in three short months.

I already know you are going to be the best big brother ever. You are sweet and gentle with the little girls in your class - you even helped one get out of her chair last week when she got stuck - you share your toys with your cousin Peyton, and give kisses freely to friends Chloe and Addison.

We are working to "transition" you to big boy things. There's a toddler bed in your room now, although you've so far shown no interest in sleeping in it, choosing your crib, instead, every night and at naptime.  You occasionally ask to sit on the potty in the bathroom before bath-time -- an indication that it may be time to start potty training soon.

But as big as you are, sometimes you still give me flashes of the baby boy who is rapidly disappearing. You still sometimes curl your fingers around my hand while I am reading you a story, you fold yourself onto my chest and want to be rocked when your sick or have had a bad dream, you lay your head on my shoulder to give me a hug when you need an extra bit of comfort.

I cherish these moments, even as I look ahead with great anticipation to everything you are going to accomplish in the next year.

And I know big things await you. You are naturally observant and curious, and everything excites you. You are constantly seeking out new things, trying to figure stuff out.

Stay curious, my little man. Enjoy your day. Enjoy your year. Enjoy being two and enjoy being you. Happy 2nd Birthday. Mommy and Daddy love you always!