translations

I thought to myself the other day just how often your words/pronunciation changes on a daily and weekly basis, and some of your words are just so dang cute, I had better document them! So here goes..

dunda ~ which means thunder. It has rained a few times in the past few weeks, and there's been some big thunder, which doesn't really scare you.. moreso intrigues you, and your eyes get huge and you go DUNDA!

dia twaits ~ which means Dire Straits. Yes, the 80s band. Your Aunt Kelly burned us a new cd a few weeks ago, and a Dire Straits song was on it that you LOVED. So, at first you said 'like that song!'.. and you called it that, for about a week.. 'play like that song!'.. til I wised up and labeled it, not knowing the name (just the band), you now ask for DIA TWAITS every. single. time. we get in the car.

bwoken ~ broken. Our dvd player is on it's last limb, and lately a lot of the dvds we use for your naptime routine have been pooping out. So I'll say 'it's broken'.. and you go 'oh no! it's bwoken! watch elmo 'stead?'... which brings me to.....

sted ~ instead. If we can't do something (and you happen to react normally to whatever it is we can't do rather than turn red and throw a fit), or you'd rather not do something, you'll offer up something instead.. EXAMPLE: I ask you if you want to go to church, you say 'no no, go to Cabelas sted?' (*we did not go to Cabelas, we went to church.)

A-bu-suns ~ Albertsons. It's amazing how you recognize places we go, you recognize Albertsons, Kohls, Lowes, Target, Chik Fil A, Petsmart, church, Hobby Lobby, Ulta.. and more I can't recall

blue doors ~ means Target. See, they have blue doors, and you LOVE them.. you also love the green doors on the other side, but not near as much as the BLUE doors. So, Target isn't just 'Target'.. it's Target BLUE DOORS!

turna up ~ means Turn It Up! When a song comes on with a good beat, you immediately say TURNA UP!

lose-it ~ when you can't find something, you will name the lost objet and add 'lose-it'. Say you lost your block.. you'd go 'block lose-it!'.. I have tried MANY times to get you to switch out the phrasing, but I think saying the noun/object first keeps you focused somehow!

eat-em ~ Which is the same concept as the 'lose-it' thing, but for eating.. when you see birds eating something outside, you'll say 'birds eat-em food!'.. or 'cat eat-em snacks!'

What was dat? ~ what was that?? For every unfamiliar sound you hear (and for a two year old, there are still plenty of unfamiliar sounds in the world), you always say WHAT WAS DAT? If it's something even I don't know (if I can't pinpoint where it was coming from), and I don't respond quick enough, you just repeat What Was Dat over and over and over... til I just say something, anything, to offer an explanation. Sometimes I find myself being a real smart-ass, on long trying days with you, and there's a noise I am not sure of, and you're repeating WHAT WAS DAT?? and I'll find myself saying 'that was the last shred of mommy's sanity being slowly destroyed by your will to break me down'.. and you'll pleasantly go 'oh ok'!! 

dis one ~ this one. You like to be very specific with books/toys, handing me something and saying DIS ONE.

wis ~ with. You loooove to play this one game (oh how games are still so simple right now) where we say 'do you want to ride an elevator with peacocks on them???' and we switch out the animal each time we ask you, and you get SO excited. You'll respond with 'Andrew ride elegata (elevator) wis caaats on dem????'


There's a ton more, but this is all that I jotted on my post-it note over the course of two days!

2 YEARS

Dear child of mine,

You are two years old today. I find myself wishing that I could go back in time and have a cup of coffee with.. myself, one year ago today. I wish I could tell myself to not worry about so much, that it's really all petty stuff that I was fretting over. (Really, who gives a flying fish when you got off the bottle???! Seriously!) I wish I could tell myself how much fun I was going to have, and that yes, yes there would be plenty of sleep issues, but in the grand scheme of things it just wouldn't matter. I wish I could go back and tell myself that my mind was about to get completely blown away with how damn smart you are and how sweet you would become. I spent so much valuable precious time worrying over this and that, and had I known how it would all just drift away into nothingness, man, that would have been nice. But, I won't waste any more time on things like that, wishing that I hadn't wasted so much time... because that itself is a time-waster. HA! I will spend time cherishing you for just how amazing you are. And how I know without any shadow of a doubt that you will keep amazing me, one day/month/year after another.

You just do so much, that I can't keep up. If I were to write all night long, I still wouldn't scratch the surface. You're not a baby anymore, and yes I know you haven't been a baby for quite some time, but that's a hard pill for a mother to swallow. It's so very bittersweet to admit that your one and only, your firstborn, is a KID. Some days you're still a toddler, wanting hugs and assurance and constant guidance as you make your way, and some days you're just an all-out kid, wanting to do absolutely everything yourself and giving me these looks that I wasn't prepared to get for at least another decade.
The amount of things you now know is just staggering. I was never around many toddlers growing up, aside from my sister. And I hardly remember a thing about our childhood as young toddlers. So I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you are quite the advanced little man. Yeah yeah, I know all mothers think their precious gems are advanced and gifted and just absolutely perfect, and it's true - they are all perfect. And you are no exception! You repeat entire sentences to me, when I stop reading a book that you have obviously memorized. It's impressive to hear this not-yet-two year old recite grown up sentences.. not just 'Sam I Am' crap. Real sentences. Your memory is amazing. I tell you something and you somehow remember it weeks later. I sometimes stare at you like 'whaaaat??' then I have to slap my forehead like OH YEAH, that's right! You truly keep me on my toes.You are a handful at times, but we're slowly learning how to react/not react. When we know a shriek or tantrum is inevitable, we simply point to your room (the toddler room you have yet to inhabit) and say 'you know where to go'... and you trudge off, sometimes still screaming. Then maybe 30 seconds or 1 minute later you come out, saying I'M SORRY the whole way back to us. I bring you closer and you have to make eye contact when you say you're sorry.. then I say 'what for?' and 9 times out of 10, you say 'for yelling'. This is a system that works for us, right now. I know that you could change the rules of the game on us very quickly, as you often do, so I'm ready (haha, not really) to change the plan if necessary.
As much as a handful you can be, you are also super sweet. Sometimes I test you, to see if you instinctively know what to do, and sit on the floor and pretend to cry - dramatic sobs and funny honking noises and such. You always stop whatever you're doing and come over and kiss my head, or drape yourself over me in a huge full-body hug. OH how I love it!
You can count to 30 now. Yes, 30. Counting from 1 to 10 came out of the blue.. then you soon wanted to go to 20.. then you realized that the sky is the limit and shot for 30! I suppose you learned this by osmosis mostly, as I count to 30 when you get a time-out. You say 30 soooooo cute, by the way - more of an 'err-eee' than anything else. Everything else is pronounced pretty spot-on, but for now I think I'll let you say 'err-eee', because it's just cuter. Sort of like how I let you believe it's Darth ALLIGATOR... well, that's just because it drives your father absolutely insane. You will come to learn over time that that is how we find a peaceful balance in our marriage.. by driving each other insane.
Just the other day, you took your juice-box straw out of the box and held it up and proclaimed SEVEN! Because, you guessed it, the bent straw made a perfect number seven. It's awesome how so often I don't have to even lift a finger to see that every day, all day, you are learning. My sponge!!!
We are realizing just how very many words you pick up without us even knowing it.. yes, you repeat things like a walking talking parrot - hearing 'bastard cat!' in a cute toddler voice was as special a parenting moment as you can imagine - but you now use words appropriately, that we never formally sat down and taught you. Yesterday, I gave you some of my pickle - one of your favorite things ever - and you took one juicy bite, shivered (pleasantly) at the taste and looked at me and said SOUR!! And I was all 'yeeeeeah, it sure is sour!!! omg you're going to be smarter than I am in a matter of a year!!!' Holy moses, it's true. I know I have my work cut out for me. Let's just say your algebra assistance will likely come straight from a good friend I have, named google.
You like to add the phrase 'don't worry' to a lot of things...  as a toddler who falls often and gets frightened of random things pretty much daily, I suppose I have started to use that term a lot, as a form of reassurance to you. If you get scared from a loud firetruck, I'll say 'no more firetruck, don't worry'... and you go around the house the rest of the day (or week!), saying 'no firetruck, don't worry!'.. It is pretty cute!
It's not all about what you do either, it's what you have taught me over these past two years. I have learned so SO much from you. How to appreciate such very little things.. even though I yammer on and on about you counting to 30, really, I am just so damn grateful you talk at all. I am grateful you know me as momma.  I am grateful that you can do puzzles and stack blocks and follow directions. And it's not even something that I have to remind myself to stop and be grateful for. I can honestly say that I take stock on a daily basis with how lucky we are. You have taught me that there's more to life than a clean home! You treat toys as they were meant to be treated, pulling out as much as you possibly can before you decide what to focus on. And this is ok. As much as it stresses me here and there to always have a less-than-perfect home, I am glad you're teaching me to loosen up a bit. No one likes a uptight mother.
And I could go on and on and on with all you do and all you say and the little amazing things you just put together all on your own. It squeezes my heart - it makes me want to stop time and just stare at you. I wish I could keep you at this age in my pocket, to bring out decades from now, when I long for this stage again.
You are TWO, my love. TWO! I couldn't be more proud of who you are, and I couldn't love you more.
Momma.

quickie

I just have a minute to post something, before the guilt I feel over taking ME time totally overcomes me... sigh.
Today, a few REALLY cute things were said. The last week, you have started to want to get in the car seat all by yourself. We finally turned your car seat around facing forward, and you LOVE it. Not that you ever hated the car seat, but now you call it 'new car'.. which I guess it is, new perspective at the very least. Anyway, when you climb up, it's a long climb up that takes time, and the whole trek you quietly repeat to yourself (a mantra perhaps?) 'all by self.. all by self.. all by self' I truly think you would backhand me if I even attempted to help you! And the kicker: when you FINALLY get yourself maneuvered in, facing forward, you said 'suuuch a big boy!'... hahahaha! I suppose enough times of ME saying this finally stuck in your brain somewhere.
You really are putting short sentences together more and more.. you just today said 'two and zero make a twenty!' .. I knew that you knew 'one and zero make a ten'.. but you put the twenty together on your own! Impressed much.
One little thing I say sometimes when you show your belly is: 'belly belly shake it like jelly!!'.. and you really try hard to say it on your own.. it comes out like 'belly belly.. shaka jelly!!!' :) 
And nowadays, instead of a simple 'poop' (to inform me of your dirty diaper) - you upped the ante and say GOT POOP! And every time, I think of the Got Milk campaign.. 

23 months

One month shy of two years old.. MERCY!

I know that next month's summary will be a doozy of a post, so I'll keep things light this time around.

Lately, as the picture sums up, you have been sticking your hands and fingers (and sometimes almost your ENTIRE fist) in your mouth. Not sure if this means your two-year molars are about to erupt or what, all I know is that I spend my life saying 'GET your hands OUT of your MOUTH!'.  I think the more I tell you not to, the more you're motivated to do it.. but I can't not say anything..  oy.

Speaking of conundrums, you have officially mastered the art of the Terrible Twos Tantrum. Well, I don't know.. I know it could be worse. You could do lots of crazy bad-behaviour things, and I know we're blessed (for now) that you don't.. but damn, child! You have some anger management issues sometimes. You almost growl sometimes, you get so bent out of shape. And it's always such an exhausting judgment call.. do I address it before it gets overblown and coax you to verbalize your anger? Or do I acknowledge that you're mad and that everyone gets mad sometimes and just let you get it out of your system? Each time I have to mentally calculate what went wrong and the best (or closest to) way to handle it. I'd say that 6 out of 10 times I do things right. Not bad! But you aren't a bad kid. Oh no.. you're sweet as pie, really. You haven't yet developed (or maybe it's just not there) the inclination to destroy things when I turn my back or to be a naughty child. I am betting big money that we won't luck out so much with the next child, whenever that time comes!

You manipulate without really knowing you manipulate. You have heard me say the word 'nicely' about a thousand times.. when you ask us something, if it's high pitched and impatient, I always say 'well, please ask us nicely..' SO, now you just come up to me and ask me something, and if I say no (for whatever reason), you say PLLLEASE.. and if I still say no, you say 'NICELY'!!!  haha.

You are now very obviously proud to walk around counting things. Especially stairs. You absolutely LOVE to go up and down stairs while you count aloud each step. You can count to ten, no problem. And just recently you give your best shot at counting to 20. Sometimes if you take it really slow you can get each number correct, but usually, around 14 or so, you get super excited and go 14.. 15... 18.. 20!!!!!! And the number 20 is always shrieked at the top of your lungs. And I just happened to discover you can say your ABCs.. they're mostly all intelligible, but a lot of time you get really shy about it and mumble them. You only do these skills around people you're most comfortable with, so thank goodness we have these all on video!

Oh yes, and the record snowfall this month. Three days ago, it snowed about 12.5 inches total. Which is a huge record. I myself have never seen so much snow here in Texas. I was hoping you'd be super excited to play in it... but I guess I forgot your go-at-your-own-pace nature..  You were much happier just sitting on your bench, watching US play in it. When we tried to get you to walk in it, you simply stood there, arms outstretched, screaming 'carry me pllllease!!!' I wanted you to play in it so badly, but I had to appreciate your concise way of communicating with us.

You repeat and remember a LOT more than I realize. You love love LOVE numbers, especially the number zero for some weird reason, and when you used to see a number 10, you'd SCREAM 'zeeero!', and I'd acknowledge that yes, it's a zero, but I'd always say 'a one and a zero together, make TEN!' .. so randomly the other day at lunch, you sat there and said 'one and zero make a ten!'..  You verbalize things only I would understand, too. Looking through photo albums (still a fave activity of yours), you point out things I've labeled hundreds of times.. one of which are pics of our trip to Turks & Caicos. You point to them and say 'Tur Cackas!' You see a pic of Mamaw w/a big chicken fried steak in front of her (classic Mamaw), and you'll say MAMAW EATING! Or you'll see a pic of Grandpa and go, 'who's dat?? GRANDPA!' Or a pic of a big balloon and go 'big balloon! whoooa!!'..   the things you say..  love it.

And one thing you just started doing today actually.. you have heard me say this a few times, and now you repeat it word for word, so clearly proud of yourself (because we flip out when you say it). You say 'Mommy and Daddy and Andrew .. make a FAMILY!' Clear as day, and sweet as can be. Yes, even at almost two years old.  LOVE!

NO SNOW! NO SNOW!! CARRY ME PLEEEASE!

 We don't see a lot of snow here in the metroplex, so when we do get snow, it's a BIG DEAL. But the Squirt wasn't too into it, in any case. And why would he be? It's something that 99.99% of all kids go nuts over, so yes, we have to be the odd ball. :)

This is the face of mild tolerance. He humors us for as long as he can stand, then the screaming commences. More like the demands of CARRY ME PLEEEEASE. And you know he means business when that 'please' is PERFECTLY pronunciated.

 

We did love to eat the snow..  it was cold and wet. That's about it. :)

Someone was a good sport though, and decided to build a snowman. We watched from the kitchen. Like smart people. 

 

Strawberry eyes and a carrot nose.. and a veggie stick mouth. You make do with what you have.

 

 

He loved his new bench.. more than the snow.

And this would be his 'snow is for losers' face. 

Peace!  

this & that

I told myself I'd wait til Feb 14th to do a proper 23 month (omg) post, but even if I wait 5 days to do that you will STILL be doing new cool things by then. And I just have to document a few things before I what? forget things.
Lately, during mealtimes and diaper changes (times when you're physically restricted to places and require some conversation from us) you will list off almost EVERY animal/object that is currently on your mind.... but not just that. You'll list them off after you say Uncle Roger Aunt Kelly. You want us to put this endless stream of animals in a verse of The Wheels on the Bus, with Uncle Roger and Aunt Kelly. It goes a little something like 'Uncle Roger Aunt Kelly biiig elephant rhinoc biiiiig truck whale dolphin peeeacock????' So, I try my very best to make that a verse of your fave song. It's tiring and challenging. But oh so cute.
What's more cute is when I throw out a way awesome word to add in, and you stop and your jaw drops and you go 'OoooooK!' Like this: 'How about Uncle Roger Aunt Kelly and the... BIG! RED! CAT!' And you are absolutely floored at my combining of awesome words.
Every morning that you wake, I ask you what you dreamed about. Maybe someday you'll say something other than a passionate BLUE AAAIRPLANE!, but I don't think it'll be anytime soon.
You're still using the manners-card to get what you want. When you want to see some vimeos (videos of yourself on the computer), you'll say 'up on mommy' (sit on my lap).. and if I say no or wait or whatever, you'll lock eyes with me and go 'puuuhlllleeeeease!!!' A perfect please. PERFECT. How can I say no??? But I do. But not all the time.
I finally figured out a no-fail way to get you to come to the table to eat your meals (knocks on wood that this doesn't fail me today because I dared to talk about it)... which was always a bit of a struggle because you could never be interrupted to eat. Nowadays, when I go sit down to eat you always follow and want to get up in your chair to eat and join me. I love this. You then take inventory and point to my food and say 'mommy food!!', then point to your own and say 'Andrew food!'.. and if you father is home, you do the same to his food. And when I am done, you wave and say 'bye mommy food!'... 
Yesterday you asked to go to Cabelas...  (your way of asking was to look at me and go 'Cabelas? Elephants? Rhinoc? - as yes my child, it is one big dead zoo) So we went because we had not much else to do. As we drove towards it and started to pass it on the right, you saw a smidge of the building and said 'Caaaaaa...'  then when you saw the remainder of the sign you went 'BELAS!!!!' 
More to come in 5 days!

Afternoon in the yard

Let's just start with a smile, ok? :)

First order of business: throwing lots of fun balls in the yard. That'll keep ya busy while mommy goes back inside for a nap. KIDDING.

Naturally, we pick the biggest "baaa-loooo" ball to tote around.

                                                And at some point, we must stop to contemplate life. Really appreciate the finer things like... a big sloped yard full of dead grass?

                            Alright! Enough deep thought! Back to tossing balls!

He tires easily. Break-time! So convenient that our yard is sloped for comfy sitting-positions.

Stop to inspect odd substance (aka dirt) on hands.

Stop to inspect it with his tongue...

Guilt and pity for the large hairy prisoner inside. But remembers well that he got ONE chance outside, and chose to eat grass, which resulted in his re-imprisonment. Oh well. It was his decision, ultimately.

Picks the two most awesome balls available, and is determined to carry both at the same time. Makes it Goal of the Day.

Is happy with life.

Spends 15 minutes playing game of swatting balls back & forth under table. Mommy naps.

Busts out the bubbles... has a delightful time.

Drinks milk and wonders when the hell I am to stop taking his picture.
Then makes a displeased face when time to go inside.
THE END!