Happy 2nd Birthday COLE!

My sweet baby Cole is really not a baby anymore... he turned two today and I'm still in denial... 

Dear Cole,

Today you turned two years old and I can't believe I am saying these words.  You have changed so much over the past year, and it's hard to think about what you'll be like in another year.

You look like a little boy now, and are acting two years old in the most typical of ways.  You are happy one minute and in the very next you are throwing a huge tantrum, most of the time we can't even figure out why.  Most of the time though you are sweet and loving and your new favorite bedtime ritual is making us give you "one more" hug and kiss each night.

Your vocabulary is soaring and I find myself catching whole phrases now instead of random words mixed in with babbling.  You are starting to describe things as well and are learning your colors.  You know blue "boo" so far and guess at red and yellow correctly about 1/2 of the time.  You now distinguish between animals and happily name many of them in books we read each night.  You loved seeing the deer in Utah and kept wanting to see "be-ars" as well!  Some of your favorite phrases are:  One-more, er-did-it-go, I sowwy, I okay, good-job, awesome, wuv-you, I crying, and I did it.

You also ask for what snack you want: co-orn, cacker, cake, cookie, chip... which leads me to my next point of you only wanting to eat junk.  You have always been a good eater until about a month ago and I don't think you've touched meat since then.  You also will hardly touch veggies.  You still eat any fruit.  You love:  rice, beans, avocado, cheese, eggs, muffins, yogurt, french fries, sweet potatoes, ice cream, cookies and chips.  Other foods are hit or miss... it seems like you don't like leftovers, which will be a problem in this house - ha!  Your favorite foods used to be spaghetti and meatballs and pizza and now you won't touch them.  I keep serving you healthy foods because I figure someday you'll be hungry enough and cave.  Breakfast is your absolute favorite meal of the day and the biggest.  You eat an ok lunch and just pick at dinner.

You like TV, a lot.  We limit it with you and this seems to not be a problem.  You love Disney - Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Thomas the Train.  You have also discovered Winnie the Pooh and still like Sesame Street.  You watched Cars in the airport and have quickly become obsessed... reminds me of Big Brother's obsession!   

You love to play, and play independently for long periods of time.  5-6 is tricky, but other than that you are fine to even play alone.  You love cars, trains and trucks, any kind of ball, and much to my dismay Grady's swords.  You have started stacking the Duplo blocks.  Outside is your favorite place to be, and many tantrums come from us having to go inside.  You also love to play chase games.  You are very inquisitive.     

You don't really like to ride in the stroller anymore, or sit in a high chair or car seat.  You are a mover and want to be up in the middle of whatever is going on.  Big Brother's soccer, baseball and basketball practices and games have proven to be very difficult.  Really, sitting still at all is a problem - diaper changing, washing your hair, getting dressed... basically anything where we are in control and you have to be still!

You still take a nap from about 1:30-3:30 and sleep from 7:45-7:15 or so.  You wear a size 5 diaper, size 8 shoes and about a 3T in clothing.  You love you "B" (blanket) and carry it around like it is your most prized possession.  I'll get your stats at your well-check on Monday, but I'm guessing you weigh about 30-32 pounds.  You are getting your 2 year old molars, and have all of your other teeth.  You still suck your thumb, but only at night or when you are trying to fall asleep.  You wake up many times a night still but we ignore you and you fall right back to sleep - thank goodness!

Cole, you have the best, sweetest smile.  When you slow down enough to love on us or let us love on you, you give the best hugs.  You adore your brother and he adores you.  You are the best little addition to our family and I thank God that I get to be your Mommy every day.   Happy 2nd Birthday Cole Merritt!  I wuv you!

Love,
Mommy