Andrew the Getting-Too-Close-to-Two 23 Month Old

Dearest Andrew,

Well, here we are, one month and counting.  You are almost two years old and your mother can barely stand it!  When did this happen?  How did this happen?  Especially so fast!  I need to get started on your birthday.  I have a theme, but I still have so many ideas floating around in my head.  I am looking forward to decorating for your “Choo-Choo Train” birthday though.  You peeked over my shoulder the other day and saw part of the decorations, gasped and said, “Choo-choo!”  I think you will like your party.  Just a bit. :)

Okay, so what have you been up to?  Well, I couldn’t honestly tell you without my handy dandy gratitude journal.  And as Aunt Jenn pointed out, every entry is about you.  Hehe, she’s right.  They’re pretty much all about you. :)  I have been home with you over a month now and I don’t even really think about work all that much.  I miss the people and will still visit, but I have been focused on you.  We have really been having a lot of fun.  So here we go!

As I have said before, you have become a picky eater, but this doesn’t apply to my dinner.  On Wednesday nights, Daddy always goes to Grandma’s after work to have pizza and then he usually takes Mommy to get something to eat after church.  If I choose Whataburger it’s inevitable that you will eat my fries.  I am fine with that.  But on one particular night, the pickiest kid in the world asked for a bite of my hamburger (it was the smallest one they had).  I said sure.  Then you asked for another bite.  I was thrilled you were eating.  Pretty soon you had the burger in hand and had eaten probably half of it.  Hehe.  You little thief you. :)

We got to see Papa and GiGi briefly when they came through town.  GiGi brought you a Thomas the Train activity set and although you loved it, I think you were way more thrilled to see them. :)

I taught Sis. Smith’s class one Sunday so she could sit out and hear the preaching (my class sits out when we have an evangelist come) and you came to class with me.  You did a pretty good job.  I don’t think you are quite ready for Sunday School, but I was still very proud.

You have been bringing me books to read to you during the day.  I always read to you before bed, but I enjoy reading to you anytime.  Anytime you are cuddled in my lap, I’m a happy mama!

I have started making you little mini pizzas for lunch sometimes and you get really excited.  The first time you saw it you said, “Mmmmm, pizza!”  Haha!  I also gave you a chocolate covered strawberry that day thinking we were breaking some new ground here.  You managed to eat the chocolate and leave the strawberry.  Booger! :)  Hehe!

We took a walk down to the little playground in our neighborhood and that was the first time Mommy had ever seen you in action at the playground.  Mimi has taken you a bunch of times and it sounds like you always have fun.  You really do have fun!  You LOVE the park!  You love swinging, sliding, climbing on the playground equipment, and of course playing with other kids.  We have gone many times this past month and you love it.  You ask to go all the time.  It sure is a blast to watch you have so much fun! :)

When we go to the church to clean or work on something or whatever, we always let you play the drums which you thoroughly enjoy!  You really seem to delight in instruments of all kinds.  You play with your instruments at home on a daily basis, but I don’t think anything comes close to Daddy’s drum set at church. :)

We both like spending afternoons outside and sometimes we just stay in the backyard and blow bubbles, play with Abby, or play chase. When I blow bubbles you love to run around and try and pop them.  It’s adorable.

You told Abby to “smile” for a picture.  Hehehe! :)

I watched Zane and Sky for Mimi one afternoon and I LOVED watching you play with your cousins!  It’s so obvious how much you love them and how much they love you!

You tried to rake the dog with your rake.  I actually had to tell you not to rake the dog.  Haha.

Oh, this is a big one lately.  You love to point to fans and say, “Round and round”.  And if the fan is not going round and round, you try your best to turn it on.  You love fans for some reason.  It’s really cute!

Here are a few more things you have said this month.

-          This morning – usually referring to when you get up from sleeping or a nap.  You say it a lot. :)

-          “Hey sugar booger”

-          “Hey doll!” This was to Sis. Stanley after she said it to you.  Haha!

-          “Hey sugar!”

-          “Come on Joe!” Ah-hem, I am not going to say where you learned that one…

-          “Where’s Stanley?” or “Where’s Smith?” when we pull up to church.  You call them Stanley and Smith, no matter how hard I try to get you to say Bro. Stanley and Bro. Smith.  Haha.  The other day you said, “Bye Stanley!” to Bro. Stanley and he said, “Bye Robinson!”  Hahaha!

-          “Scared!”  You usually say this when Dada comes home and you hear the garage open.  This is accompanied by getting as close to me as possible.  And you always have a big grin on your face.  That is until you see Daddy and then it’s “Mama who?” :)  You really aren’t even scared.  See next entry.

-          “Hold you!”  This is something you say when you really are scared.  Of course Mommy or Daddy are always there to scoop you up and let you know everything is okay.

You are officially in 2T sizes.  The 2T jeans that were very recently too long now fit.  Sigh…, you are growing so fast!

You are now singing your ABC’s, Jesus Loves Me, and You Are My Sunshine with me.  You know a lot of the words and almost all of your ABC’s.  You don’t do it all the time (especially when a video camera is out…), but it is by far the cutest thing I think you have ever done!  Yes, I say that a lot, but you are just so cute!

We took you to the zoo and you had a blast!  I wrote a blog about it, but it really was a great time!  We are going to try and get zoo and aquarium passes.

You love to help!  Whether it’s helping with the dishes, helping Mommy cook, cleaning up toys (not always on this one), or helping pull the laundry out, you are right there.  I have started letting you help me in the kitchen some.  I’ll put you in your high chair and let you do things like spread sauce on a pizza and sprinkle the cheese on.   You seem to get a kick out of this! :)

I had my second official Mother’s Day with you and I got a handprint from you with a poem next to it.  I will cherish that forever!!!

We took you to breakfast one morning and you wanted to wear Daddy’s watch.  It was his casual watch, so Daddy put it in the last hole and over your sleeve (even then it was a bit big).  You were so proud and kept looking at your watch all through breakfast! :)

You are really starting to pay attention when certain shows are on or when I am reading books to you.  I think you are starting to understand things more and more.

Okay, that’s it!  That’s all that I wrote down anyway.  Next month when I do your monthly update you will no longer be one.  We will no longer tell people how old you are in months.  You will be two.  I can’t believe it.  At the same time, I am really looking forward to all the wonderful surprises and great adventures that come with being two!  I love you so much!