Char.
2 looks good on you.
you're a cool little dude
and i love watching you become
the kid you're going to be.
I don't feel sad about you growing up
because you just get more and more fun.
I think someone forgot to put the terrible into you.
about you at two.
every little brother does it
but you copy EVERYTHING that Will does.
absolutely everything.
word for word.
action for action.
scream for scream.
hit for hit.
throw for throw.
the two of you generally love each other
but got into your first brawl a couple weeks ago.
you've stopped putting up with his junk
and i think you're going to give him a run for his money.
you love most foods but have started pretending you can't hear
when i tell you you need 2 more bites of veggie before dessert.
you just quietly remove yourself from the table
go play
and then sweetly return as soon as the freezer opens.
you love to swim.
and think you're pretty awesome at it.
you prefer that i don't catch you when you jump in,
hold you when you kick and paddle
or tell you how to do a bob.
problem is you sink like a rock if i don't.
we'll keep working on it.
you wake up every morning screaming
"maaaaa, maaaaaaaa"
with a bit of a jersey accent.
and then switch to
"daaaaa, daaaaaaaa"
when you get no response.
you then beg for juice, your bibi's, bunny and doggie.
love that morning snuggle.
your favorite show is still Curious George
but luckily (and def. not because of my parenting)
you've chilled out on your TV obsession.
your dad pointed out yesterday that your chattering
is like a constant run of your stream of consciousness.
you talk a lot.
if you tell us you see a motorcycle or a big truck
or a ball or a bird
and we don't respond immediately
and mention what you said in that response,
you keep shouting it over and over,
louder and louder
until we do.
ex. c: "maaaa, big truck right dere...."(split second)
"Big Truck Right Dere!!"
me: "oh yeah, char, cool"
c: "BIG TRUCK RIGHT DERE (split second),
BIG TRUCK RIGHT DERE
Maaaa! Big Truck Right Dere!!!"
me: "cool, char. you see a big purple truck over there?
c: "yeah." (end of discussion)
over and over all day.
and most days it makes me
wanna pull out every little strand of hair on my head
kiss that loud mouth of yours.
you love chucking balls all over the house
rapid fire style.
your personality is really sweet, sweet, sweet.
i am going to have to watch myself with you
because it's easy to let you get away with things.
you're quick to apologize, sit quietly in time out
and admit when you're naughty.
not a whole lot of drama in you.
you love to scream "Bad, Mommy (Daddy, Will, etc.)"
when we do something you don't like or tell you no.
it drives me absolutely bonkers.
and you've probably been in time out 50 times for it.
but the other day you were choking on something
and i smacked you on back to help you get it out
which apparently hurt because you looked up at me
with huge alligator tears and started bawling
saying ":( bad, mommy :("
you and Will are obsessed with sticker books right now.
you work on them every night with your dad before bed.
you have the best run!
you kind of hop every right step.
and you swing just your right arm.
and you have the biggest gap toothed, overbite grin when you do it.
you also love to walk on narrow walkways/balance beams.
you love waffles with pb and syrup, WILL, kicking and throwing
anything, your bibi's, doggie and bunny, juice, the girls in the Y nursery,
playing with friends (esp, henry, lucy and owen), wearing everyone's shoes,
your grandparents, saying "my do it!", the kittens, mowing the grass,
the bounce house, looking for bugs, pizza, taking a shower, playing pickleball,
picking noni's not ripe yet tomatoes and throwing them,
riding your scooter, eating snacks, begging for snacks, pointing
out motorcycles, the park, reading books, fruit snacks, pirate's booty and fish
crackers, pillow fights, wrestling with dad, teriyaki chicken, balancing on the couch
and a good squeeze.
we appreciate all these little things about you Char
and we love every sweet inch!
happy, happy day to you!
