Life Within the Cuckoo's Nest: Milestones: 23 Months Old

I wish I could keep you short, wild haired, and crazy forever, but I am also loving the sweet, helpful, polite little boy you are becoming! (well, when you feel like it that is....)

It's your last month of babyhood little man and then you are officially two years old! A full blown toddler! At this stage of life, you have become so bipolar! You are either laughing and being so cute, or you are crying/screaming and throwing huge fits over the dumbest things. Each month just seems to get harder and harder with your need for independence and your extreme stubborn side, but it also has been getting easier and easier with your excitement to learn, be helpful, and with how easy it is becoming to communicate with you! You mimic our every word and are understanding more than we realize.....

You have become much easier to take shopping because you know if you are good we will stop at the bakery section and ask for a cookie, or Mom will buy you some other treat if there isn't a nice, generous baker available.

You want to help us do everything. That includes bathing the baby, feeding the baby, changing her diapers, vacuuming/sweeping, doing dishes, baking, throwing dirty diapers into the diaper pail, and occasionally you will feel in the mood to clean up your toys....

You love when Mom pumps milk for the baby because it is mechanical and you are our little engineer! You know how to set the whole pump up for me! It's just as amazing as it is slightly disturbing.... In the beginning I tried hiding that side of life from you but it quickly became way too difficult. I figure you are too young to make something dirty out of it anyway. Today I watched you put two doll bottles up to your chest, wait a couple seconds, and then you went to the couch where your baby doll was waiting and fed him with those same bottles! Like I said, you mimic EVERYTHING!

Your relationship with your Daddy just grows stronger by the day. You get so excited when he comes home from work and the two of you head upstairs so Dad can change out of his suit and you can play in our room (usually with all the things you shouldn't play with). Your favorite thing to do with Daddy is when he stands and bench presses you up in the air so you can touch the ceiling. You get so excited to "touch 'a lights" and giggle like crazy! It feels to me like you choose Mom to show your crazy/bratty side to and are much nicer to Dad. Maybe that's because I'm around you more?

You seem to have adjusted to the baby now but you still occasionally try to hurt her. I had to move her car seat to the other side of the car the other day because you hurt her and since I was driving, there was nothing I could do about it. Your favorite is to bite her, pinch her, pull her hair, or bend her finger backwards.

This was Mom's first week back at work and you have struggled. You love Grandma so much, but you also don't do well with big changes and you can sense when they are about to happen. It was a rough week but I know from experience it will get better. I loved having two months to spend with you and your sister and missed you both so much while I was at work, but it was also nice to have a little break away to let someone else deal with your tantrums and mood swings for a change.

Now that it's hot, you love filling up the little pool Grandma P. bought you and playing out on the patio!

You love doing the dishes and I love how it keeps you entertained for at least an hour!

It usually lasts until you decide to purposely dump a large amount of water all over the floor and then Mom gets mad and the party ends.

Uncle Strom (You call him Uncle Song) came to visit and you loved him so much! At first you were shy, as usual, but soon the two of you became the best of friends!

Playing basketball with "Uncle Song."

Playing at the park to dry off from the splash pad.

Our last day with Strom! We were all very sad :(.

Whenever you get bored and destructive, we bake! It keeps you entertained and usually the baby will sleep in the sling so we can talk and spend one on one time together.

Your favorite part of baking is eating the batter and then "clean up mess."

We took a trip out to Logandale to relax and get out of the city for a while. Of course that called for watering the garden in the buff!

Wherever you go, Buddy is always right beside you :).

My favorite picture of all time! I just LOVE that little booty!

The first day of your Toddler Cooking Class.

I love signing you up for these fun toddler classes and watching you learn and grow!

You were very serious about the eating part.

And then you tried to share....

You wouldn't give up until Mommy finally took a bite!

Your cowboy hat is slightly too small now but you fixed the problem by turning it sideways. It's so funny! You look like a little claim jumper :).

You absolutely LOVE Daddy's jerseys! Every night before we go to bed you say, "oo'ball jerseys" and get super excited when Daddy pulls out a few from the closet for you to play with!

Getting excited to put it on!

Love that face! The jerseys are HUGE on you but you don't care :).

Your last Messy Days class involved shaving cream! At first you were scared to touch it but you warmed up quickly and had a lot of fun.

You give the best kisses!

And then afterward you have to point out all the parts of the face in your adorable baby slang, "Mouff."

Trying to put your finger up Mommy's nose :).

Playing outside with sister!

Having fun at the pool with Daddy!

You loved jumping off the side into Daddy's arms :).

Mommy's friend Susie came to visit and we all had a good time. You are such a little flirt!

Someone got a big boy bed!

You were very excited at first but then you wanted to go back to the crib. We allowed that for a while until you learned how to climb out of it and it became too dangerous. You still struggle at night sometimes (not sure why) but you are doing really well! Our new routine consists of Mom laying in your bed with you and singing to you/stroking your face until you fall asleep. It is a little cramped but that gives us an opportunity to cuddle :).

Smothering baby sister with kisses!

It is so hard for you to understand being gentle. You want to hold her and maul her with hugs and kisses so badly but you don't yet understand that you are hurting her.

When Mom doesn't let you do dishes, you find the perfect time (when Mom is going to the restroom) to sneak up there and take matters into your own hands.....

Making fruit shish-ka-bobs at your cooking class. You loved it!

Your best friend, Emmett, also goes to your cooking class! On our way out the door you guys spotted the gym and all the older kids playing basketball so of course you both had to run over and try to break in and join the fun!

Our neighborhood had a Summer Days Fest so Mommy walked you and sister up to the park to join in! The Elmo tattoo and lollipop were your favorite part!