Leland: 2 years old

Writing this oh. so. late.   It's now nearly Christmas Valentine's Day, and Leland has changed by leaps and bounds even in these short last three 5 months!  So, I'll have to dig deep and document what I can.

Leland, on your 2nd birthday you woke up all smiles to balloons in the living room and streamers running down the kitchen.  You caught on immediately that it was your special day.  We made pancakes and opened presents just us 4.  We got you a little garbage truck that you raced around the house on all fours, all. day. long.  You wouldn't let Jude touch it, it was all yours and you knew it.  When we'd ask you how old you were, you'd say, "I happy two.  I happy two years owld."  Later that night, we had the fam over for cake and ice cream, and when we sang to you, you were shy and proud all at once.

We went to St. George the day after, and so we all got to sleep in the same room.  It was the sweetest thing to hear you singing Happy Birthday to yourself in the morning as you woke (everybody) up.

In just these last three months, I feel you have developed so much more.  Right now as I type, you are playing in your crib, talking loud and then soft, putting yourself to sleep.  The word I think describes you well right now is decisive and (deliberate too)...in a 2 year old way, of course.  How do I explain your hand gestures you use when you talk?  To tell me, "No Mom.  The Ginch is scow-wey."  Hands out, palms up.  To tell me, "I want dat fuuts-nack!" Hand pointed, shaking it at the cupboard. You run around fast and determined.  You stop fast and determined--feet spread, standing tall like Peter Pan.

You are also quite articulate.  This perhaps isn't showing me in the best light, but tonight as we were getting ready for bed, you threw a book.  You were just playing around, but we've been working on not throwing toys, and you knew it was naughty.  I said, "NO!  Time-out." and swiftly picked you up, but when I did, the toy I had in my hand also smacked you a little bit (Sorry, again).  So you were mad and crying.  And I said, "No, we do not throw books or toys.  That is why you are in time-out."  And you said, "I mad atchu, Mommy! You just hurt me."  When I explained what happened, you sternly said, "You smacked me.  You just hurt my ourm."  And you threw Jude's covers over your head.

You are stubborn and wild.  Dinner time is a test of wills, with both you and Jude basically running around and not sitting at the table.  You simply tell us, "No.  I not eating dinna."  With a completely innocent smile, and yet, I know you know what you are doing.

Book time is similar--you'll come check in, but then you're off running around, jumping and spinning for most of the stories.

You are independent, but also so ready to be doing every little thing Jude does.  When I ask Jude to find his preschool bag, there you also are, walking up to me with genuine concern in your eyes, "Mom, wuh-eh-wuh is my pee-skool bag? Oh, he-eh-wuh it is!" as you now happily put on a random backpack.

So much a little boy, and yet, just within the past weeks, you'll come crawling up to me, and say, "I baby, Mom."  And we rock, and we walk around the house together.  Yes, you are my baby.  Even so, your 2T feety-jammies are stretched out tight.  You've still got that baby skin, but losing that baby chub little by little.  This is growing up.  Each time I write a post like this, I seem to get such a heavy heart as I wrap it up.  Because each time, it's saying good-bye to a phase of you that is so very magical and fun.  Leland, so very lucky am I to be a witness to your life, your spunk.  So much love for you bottled up in me, and I hope you always feel it.  Here's to more magic to come.

Leland Stats:
Height: 37 in (100%ile? Off the charts)
Weight: 28 lb 10oz (55%ile)
Weight:Length: (15%ile)
BMI: 14.67
Head Circumference: 19 in (40%ile)

Jude @ 2 years