2 years!

Holy cow.  I haven't blogged since November?  WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?  Embarrassingly, I sit down with the laptop to remedy this situation since my son is turning two.  A legitimate excuse to blog, I believe.  Jakob, PLEASE forgive my failure to keep up with your milestones.  I have lots of updating to do.  It's been two years since this infamous day :)  Hard to believe.

A lot has changed since that big day.  Look how peaceful you were there!  I can hardly remember those days...

Mr. BUSY.  That's what you are!  No one was joking me when I was told little boys are busy.  Are they ever!  Jakob is a small machine.  He deliberately keeps himself going non-stop from sunup to sundown.  His days usually start between 7 and 8, and he officially dropped his morning nap at about 22 months.  That was a hard transition, but he can usually make it until 12:30 or so now before he desperately needs a nap.  His nap is 2 - 3 hours long, and bedtime is typically at 6:30pm.  I rarely catch him playing with toys during the day, as he always seems to be finding amusement in either his sisters, my kitchen cupboards, the great outdoors, or something he shouldn't be enjoying (electronics mostly!).

Mr. GRUMPY.  At times, he is quite the grump.  He recently cut his first of the 2-year molars, and they aren't treating him well.  I believe it's the current age he's at, but he is definitely frustrated at all the things he's NOT allowed to enjoy.  I spend lots of time trying to convince him that his day will come ;)  He is in the throws of testing his limits, and though the fights can be BIG, he still comes running back to Mommy and Daddy for hugs {thankfully!!!}.

Mr. MELT-MY-HEART.  I know, I know.  I just wrote about what a grump he can be!  BUT, he can also be the sweetest boy I've known.  He has the cutest little voice, and since I hear it all day, I can definitely tell when he's just in the mood to love and be sweet.  I capitalize on that!  He loves animals, and just seeing a squirrel makes his face light up.  He loves reading books (not long ones, mind you), and he will spend so much time pointing out every object he can recognize.  He loves to touch my face when he's intensely talking about something- he'll place a hand on each cheek and get really close as he whispers... kills me.  He'll enter a room just to tell me "Hi, Mommy!" and blow me a kiss before running off to the next room.  Putting him to bed is one of the highlights of my day, and not just because of the BED part... ;)  We moved him to a twin bed at 22 months, and he transitioned really well.  He's only tumbled out in the night once, and I'm thankful he seems to respect the "no getting out of bed on your own" rule.  He looks so small in such a big bed.  Bedtime is extra fun since we can sit with him in his bed as we sing, read, and just chat with him before his head hits the pillow.

Mr. DETERMINATION.  Now this trait is definitely a new one in this house!  For the most part, my girls were not determined little toddlers.  Jakob is definitely one to persist in whatever he is doing.  If he can't figure something out, he'll just keep trying!  It's pretty nice, I must admit.  He loves getting dirty and messy (perhaps just because he loves bath time?) and tracking said mess throughout the house.  When he has decided he wants to play with something?  GOOD LUCK getting that idea out of his head.  Speaking of determination, we've started potty training... Mommy needs some of that determination.  Not joking.

Mr. MOTORMOUTH.  Yep, this kid talks ALL THE TIME.  I am amazed at how his vocabulary (I know, proud mama moment...) has grown over the last three months.  There isn't much he doesn't say, but my favorite phrases are, "Hi, Mommy!  What you making?"  "What happened?" (Mr. Nosey right there...).  My least favorite phrase is the one I hear all the time from him... "I don't wanna __(fill in the blank)__"  Not cool.  I am thankful he can express himself, but there must be limits, right?

Mr. ADORABLE.  Okay, I'm totally prejudice, but this stage is just cute.  Seriously, the chubby cheeks, chunky legs, tiny toes, dimpled hands, ...  I could go on... but I won't.  Take my word for it, he's just cute.  I know I probably need to give him a hair cut, but... He's only 2 once.  Speaking of adorable, he is either best friends with his sisters or worst enemy.  Notice, HE is usually the enemy ;) I often find him playing with the girls, and usually he's the pet or the baby brother that won't stay in his bed.  I am curious to see how he will grow into his role as little bro.

Mr. MESSY!!!  He's still a very messy eater.  There have been so many times that I feel we've made great progress in the area of manners, only to have him dash my hopes to the ground.  He's just not interested in keeping himself clean, so it feels like no matter what I do, he's determined to get food into his mouth however he darn well pleases!  Needless to say, we're not getting rid of his booster seat anytime soon...

Jakob Henry, you are such a joy to us!  We have been so blessed with this opportunity to be your parents.  You make us laugh and want to pull our hair out all in one day, but there's not a moment with you I'd trade for anything.  You are a gift to us, and we pray constantly that God will take your little life and use it for his purposes.  When he gives you a new heart, you'll realize what true joy really is!  Happy birthday- We love you!