Turning Two

Blake, in the last year you have become a giggling display of love. You've always had this calm, easy going manner, but now that you're running and jumping and tumbling with Brooklynn you've developed a way of making every one feel included and a part of the joy you bring with you everywhere you go. Every time I say goodnight you call me back to ask if we can go to the "choo choo park" and then you giggle uncontrollably as I laugh and say "it's dark!". And yet it continues, every single night, because you know it's funny.

Tonight you said the prayer before dinner without breaking out of your "scary voice" the whole time. Brookynn was in a fit of giggles, but you never strayed from character until the Amen, when you laughed right along with her.

It took a few weeks of practice, but you've mastered putting two fingers up so whenever anyone asks how you are, you answer "TWO!". Blake, how are you? TWO! and up go the fingers (sometimes with a little help from the other hand).

You also love to give the thumbs up. Typically as you are running away to some adventure, you'll turn around and call to me, and then just give me a solid thumbs up. Like suddenly you're 16 years old.

Your brain is so much faster than your mouth. When it catches up I can't imagine what we're going to hear from you. Right now, you're just content to keep all that information in your head, including the entire alphabet which you've memorized and love to point out on my computer keyboard. "Mommy, B! Ba Ba Ba!" as you point to the B key.

You are so kind. Down to the core. All the time you stop and give me a spontaneous hug and kiss. We can always count on you to volunteer to kiss someone else's "oweee" without being asked, and there are so many moments when you'll turn to Brooklynn and declare "I wuv ooo Baa Baa!". Almost ALWAYS you offer the first "na na mama num num!" ("thank you mom for the food") without being prompted, at dinner.

If something falls, you'll be the first to pick it up. If something spills, you'll run and get a napkin. You are considerate and kind . . . how?! Two years old and just there you are, being an amazing example.

You love trains and cars and airplanes. And TRACTORS. Your favorite color is blue. You like to tease us when we ask you the colors, by responding that each one is blue. It drives your dad crazy but you think it's hilarious. When you hear the door open, you always race to the front room with a huge bellowing "HI DADDA!!" which is perfectly addicting.

You can almost keep up with Brooklynn and she adores you. You have become her everything: her playmate, her best friend, her brother, her confidant. . . often the two of you will turn to each other for comfort before you come and ask for it from me. She hardly has patience enough to let you take your nap every day, always asking how much longer until you wake up. It's a good thing you are so physical, so 100% throw, tumble, grab, smash, pull, roll (repeat) because you can keep up playing with her rough housing without blinking an eye. Yesterday you balanced walking on the curb for the entire length of it and I couldn't believe your coordination and how much it's grown in just a few months.

You love your blue blanket, but you chew mercilessly on the corners, which means it also gets washed almost every single day.

You are the yin to my yang little man. Everything we need to balance us all out is found in you.
I can't wait to see what Two brings for you.
Love,
Mom