August 17, 2010: You might be 2 years old if...

• You know all the letters in the alphabet.
• You can count from 1-30.
• You can jump and (finally!) get both feet off the ground at the same time.
• You still sleep in your crib with just Bobo (dog) and Cat (obvious)...still no blanket or covers. You seem so content, have never tried to get out, and there is a good chance you will potty train before you move into a big bed :)
• You pick out your own clothes (sometimes its a dinosaur shirt and camo shorts or a blue and red shirt with orange shorts..cringe!) and make a very good attempt at dressing "all by self" (you can handle your shorts, but still need a little help with your shirt and sandals).
• You know all your colors.
• You speak in sentences...no, make that paragraphs! And like your daddy, you can talk to anyone :)
• You can spell 2 words: L-I-A-M and M-O-M. You have replaced the baby phrase of "what dat mama?" with "how you spell...car/daddy/construction truck/train, etc." We do a LOT of spelling now and you will unfortunately also repeat the bad words that mommy and daddy try to spell instead of saying in front of you...guess we're going to have to switch to Spanish till you become fluent in that as well :)
• You can drink out of a cup without a lid.
• You still have one of the best appetites ever...even though you refuse to put on weight! You eat everything we put in front of you and LOVE your veggies specifically corn on the cob, broccoli, carrots, and peas. Your favorite fruit is blackberries (weird, since I don't think we had ever had them till you starting eating them). You still only drink whole milk (big boy milk to you) or water, no juice. You love all types of foods and def have your daddy's taste buds for spicy foods.
• You are (finally) your mommy's boy when it comes to sleeping...at least 12 hours overnight and a good 2-3 hour nap during the day. You have a wonderful nap/bedtime routine, go down so easy, and always spend a little time talking out loud in your crib. We love listening to "the Liam show" over the monitor and feel like we really get to hear your thoughts out loud as your replay your day.
• You have learned the art of bargaining. Like when we tell you it's time to go to bed and you say "few more minutes" or when daddy makes deals with you about doing something you don't want to do and then getting a reward he will ask you 'deal or no deal'...usually you say "deal" and shake his hand but there are times when you say "no deal" which totally cracks us up!
• You sing a ton of songs like "Old McDonald", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", "Down by the Bay"...and a few not so nursery rhyme songs like daddy's Oasis and Beatles songs he sings to you before bed and mommy's songs from the radio like "Magic" by B.O.B, "California Girls" by Katy Perry, and "Break Your Heart" by Taio Cruz and Ludacris (okay not the most appropriate but mommy can only take so much Elmo in the car).
• You know the difference between left and right. You know your left and right hands and feet and will tell me in the car when I'm going to "turn left mama" or "mama gonna turn right". Sometimes you just like to direct me and are getting very good at knowing the route between our house and Mallie and Dallie's.
• You know 9 states on your map including CA, TX, NY, TN, FL, MI, AL, MN, and NV. You even know some facts about them like which one your live in, which one mommy went to school in, which one you were born in, which one is where Las Vegas is located...and which one Aubie (the Auburn mascot) lives in (thank you Uncle Cameron).
• You still take your multivitamin (the yucky liquid kind) every night and now brush your teeth twice a day with your Thomas the Train toothpaste.
• You got completely spoiled rotten by your family and friends with a new train table, kitchen set, wagon, and bike for your birthday! Among all the other tons of toys, books, and clothes :)
• You officially understand how to play peek-a-boo and have def jumped out at me once(from behind the island while I was cooking) where you really did scare me!
• You play "I spy"...although our version is actually my Grannie's "riddle riddle ree, I see something you can't see and the color is...". We are usually playing this in the car (when you are not asking me how to spell every word under the sun) and the cute thing is now we take turns where I name a color and you find it...then you recite the phrase and name a color for me to find!
• You know the full names of almost all your first relatives, including the Barkers, Renfros, Curriers, and "Miffs" (Smiths) :)
• You play made up games like "loose monkey" where daddy chases you all around upstairs while you pretend to be a monkey who escaped from the zoo.
• You have chores including opening the shutters in the morning and closing them at night, putting your dirty clothes in the hamper, and being mommy's big helper with lots of things like cooking, changing the laundry, and sweeping (you hold the dust pan).
• You still haven't had your hair cut...and we have no plans in the near future to do so! But you do now have to use your daily leave in conditioner to tame those ringlets :)
• You still LOVE to read. I don't think I could even name a favorite book because you just read anything (including Presley's "Too Purpley"-sorry daddy!). You especially love all your train and dinosaur books right now.
• You have the most wonderful social life!! You play with your playgroup at least twice a week doing fun things like splash park, pool days, story time, playing at the mall, and just playing at friends' houses.
• You are so sweet to Ziggy already...kissing my tummy, listening to her (you tell me she sounds like a dinosaur and says "roooar"), and now feeling her kick.
• You recognize your daddy's favorite teams the Rangers and Manchester United whenever they are on TV or you see their logos. You even know his favorite players on each (David Murphy and Wayne Rooney) and cheer for them alongside daddy.
• You know your shapes (square, triangle, rectangle, and circle).
• You can have semi-decent phone conversations with family members who call you. I also find you talking on your "cell phone" from your new kitchen set to Thomas (the train) about coming to visit you :)
• Your daddy taught you how to shake hands with people and if you don't know them (or even when you do!) you say "nice to meet you".
• You are so well behaved...for a two year old :) But seriously, I so appreciate the fact that I never have to worry that you will be into something you're not supposed to be. You really mind well and respect your house and toys.
• You have a piggy bank that daddy and Dallie are very good about helping you add to. You sometimes get upset if you see us giving away "your monies" at a drive-thru :)
• You are so healthy and strong!! Your baby eczema seems to finally be gone, you are no longer anemic (first time in 18 months), and seem to be just thriving!
• You share your birthday with your daddy...best gift I could ever give him!
• You have the proudest parents in the whole world!! We couldn't love you anymore, you make our life so full of happiness and we are so lucky to watch you grow into a little boy and (one day) a grown man.

Happy Birthday to both my boys, the loves of my life!! Pictures to come soon of all our birthday celebrations...