Christian James -- 2 Years Old!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my BIG boy!!!

Wow. Where did the time go? I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital and were enjoying the snuggly newborn days with you and waiting for your first smile. And as much as I loved that stage, you have only gotten more and more fun! I'm so lucky to get to spend my days with you! You are full of energy and love to go, go, go! All boy you are! 

We have been keeping busy these last few months, so I haven't done an update since 22 months. 

You went to your first Easter Egg hunt.

And had tons of fun dying Easter Eggs all by yourself for the first time!

You also had been showing interest in using the potty -- asking to go and telling us when you had went. This had been going on and you had been using the potty off and on since you were around 18 months. However, based on your interest and staying dry for long stretches (sometimes even during your nap) we decided to try the 3 Day Potty Training Method right after Easter. You were finally 22 months old which was the age they recommend for potty training with this method. You did GREAT the first 2 days. The second day you were even running to the potty yourself! But by the 3rd day, you didn't even care when you had an accident and would splash in it...so we decided to just keep letting you go when you wanted to go and we will try again later.

You also are not the biggest fan of pull ups. You prefer a diaper or big boy undies!

With the nicer weather returning, diggers, the sandbox, and being outside have become some of your favorite things! 

Since it is that time of year, we often will go on "digger hunts" -- We jump in the car and drive around looking for diggers that we can watch. When its time to go home you usually cry and ask for "More diggers." Because of our digger hunts, you also have started asking for diggers as soon as we get in the car!

You also love going for walks, but prefer to walk and not ride in the stroller. You also like to walk Bax.

Stuffed animals continued to be a favorite until just recently. You used to sleep with a whole zoo in your bed! Now you sometimes just prefer one stuffed animal. You haven't seemed to develop a favorite necessarily. But you always have to have blankie and binky...although, we lost your original blankie on our family vacation.... Mommy probably took it harder than you did though. Luckily, I had packed your spare blankie that I had made for you awhile back and you openly accepted it despite having not accepted it ever before. You never looked back.

You LOVE all things that go! Cars, trucks, dump trucks, diggers, garbage trucks, air planes, you name it! So when the local ECFE had a Moving and Zooming night, you LOVED getting to see all the different cars and getting inside them to check them out!

Grandpa Dan came to visit all the way from New York this month. You definitely loved getting some quality time in with him since you don't get to see him often.

We went on our first real family vacation this month! Your favorite part was all the different forms of transportation we took (Air plane, bus, train, boat) and seeing the fish underwater. You didn't say so, but you had a blast playing at the beach too! Can't wait to spend more time in the water this summer!

The zoo is also becoming one of your favorite places to go -- you love running around to see all of the animals!

You are also started to know your friends by name and will even ask to see them! The other day as we were coming out of church you asked to see Cooper. Luckily he lived close by and was free and we were able to meet up for a quick play date!

Daddy turned 30 this month and we celebrated him with a day full of fun followed by a surprise birthday party with all our friends! You even sang him "Happy Birthday" which was super cute!

You are still mommy's little helper and love to help clean the house (Sweep, mop, vacuum, wash windows) and have even started enjoying helping with laundry. You ask to do these things often even without any prompting! You also are a big imitator -- mommy and daddy have to watch what we do and say because you will copy us! The other day at the zoo you copied a little boy in  the dinosaur skeleton grabbing the bones and shaking them saying "I'm in jail! I'm in jail!" You did the EXACT same thing right away!

Just recently mommy also started letting you help make your own breakfast. You can stir the eggs, put your toast in the toaster and even put the peanut butter on your toast. So independent!!

You also love umbrellas -- your grandmas came to visit and spoiled you so much and now you have your own umbrella! Although, you were a little rough with it and broke it the second day of having it, but it still opens, just not all the way.

While you are still probably too young to really begin dramatic play, you have started doing a bit of imaginative play! While we were on our cruise you would use the bread and pretend they were cars at dinner, driving them all around saying, "vroom, vroom!"

You will have your official 2 year appointment next week, but from my measurements at home here are your stats!

31 pounds
34 inches tall 

Everyone who sees you thinks you are at least 3 and almost 4! You are a big boy for sure :)

Wearing a variety of sizes -- mainly 3t but some 2t and even 18 month shorts. Shirts are all 3t and a few pairs of 4t pajamas!

You are also quite the picky eater these days. But last month you had some really goopy eyes and when we went to the doctor I asked if we should make you eat what we eat. Lucky for you, the doctor said no! When you are closer to preschool age we can start to reason with you. So for now, you get your pick!

Your favorite foods include:
Fruit! Mainly berries
Frozen bananas (I think you have another tooth on its way in)
Mandarin oranges
Grapes
Cheese sticks (most days)
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Grilled Cheese
Chicken Nuggets
Smoothies (with spinach mixed in so you get some veggies!)
Sometimes you like frozen corn or frozen peas...weird
Crackers
Granola Bars
Craisins
Peanuts

Favorite Shows:
Planes
Cars
Paw Patrol
Thomas

Favorite Books: 
Anything with diggers, trains, or cars

Favorite Toys: 
Diggers for in the sandbox
Shovel
Vacuum
Lawn Mower
Dusty airplane
Shape Sorter Pot
Lightning McQueen Car
Tractors
Sometimes Thomas
Play Doh
Painting

Your Schedule has pretty much stayed the same with just one nap a day.

7am - Wake up, maybe watch a cartoon, then have breakfast
Get Dressed

8am - Independent Play while mommy cleans up from breakfast

8:30/9am - Head out the door for our morning activity (library, play date, walk, park, volunteer at church, run errands) or play outside

9:30/10am - Snack

11am - lunch

12pm - Nap (usually for 2-3 hours)

2/3pm - Play outside or afternoon learning activity

4pm - Mommy starts making dinner and you either play independently or watch a show depending on how much tv you have already watched that day and your mood

5pm - Dinner

6pm - Bath
Maybe a walk as a family if we have time

6:45pm - Brush teeth and read books

7pm - Bed

You continue to just keep talking more and more! I love that we can have conversations now! Sometimes I will have to guess A LOT and still won't be able to figure out your words, but most ot eh time I can and its getting more and more clear.

Some of your favorite phrases:
"I'm all ready" as you try to go down the stairs
"I try it" when you want a turn or to taste something mommy and daddy are eating
"Where go?" when you are looking for something
"Hungee!!!!" as you try to open the fridge

Here you are...all ready to go and trying to leave without mommy since you have your car keys

You must have had a growth spurt because for awhile there you were always crying "Hungee!!!" and eating non-stop. Now its a fight to get you to ea again! It does look like you grew an inch and a half since 22 months!

You love to sing songs. 
-The Itsy Bitsy Spider
-Row, Row, Row Your Boat
-Happy Birthday
-Amazing Grace
-ABCs

"Race" or "chase" are also favorite activities, as well as playing squirt guns. It's going to be a fun and active summer, I think! Luckily Baxter is a good sport too, when it comes to chasing!

Things You Know:
-Some of your colors -- You almost always get orange right and usually blue, but you also think everything is blue :)
- You can identify a star and a heart
-Can count to 4 if you feel like it


You have grown and changed so much and I feel so lucky to get to be your mama through it all! I can't wait to see your excitement for all we have planned for your birthday as we celebrate YOU! And I apologize in advance for planning you a Thomas Birthday Party because you loved Thomas 2 months ago when I started planning your party...now I think you like diggers much more. Please don't cry :) Here's to you being the independent, adventurous and active little explorer that you are and watching your grown more and more into a big boy!