Happy 2nd birthday my sweet Lukey

I cannot believe you are two years old. I know that once our new baby arrives you are going to just seem that much older, and it makes me a little sad. However, you are absolutely one of the coolest kids that I know! You love to talk and laugh and make other people laugh. Your facial expressions are the best (I keep saying that my first call from the principal at school will be because you’re in trouble for a face you made!). And you are very caring – not a side of you that everyone gets to see, but I definitely do.

So, for this milestone I want to remember some of your favorites...

Food: You are funny! You are getting better. For a long time you would love something one time and then refuse to try it the next time. SO frustrating to me! But I think you are starting to recognize your favorites. You love chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, fast food fries (you have been known to yell “fries” in the drive thru), and hot dogs. You also love nearly any fruit, but especially bananas and grapes (every time the fridge door opens). And you’re not too bad about your veggies. You’ll usually eat tomatoes, corn, and peas. You tried zucchini a few days ago and you often will eat carrots. Everything else is hit and miss. Yogurt is a big favorite right now too! And anything sweet seems to be enjoyed easily.

Sleep: You are pretty good about it. From about 6 months on you never needed us during the night. You were a textbook cry-it-out baby. It took two nights of crying and you were finished. Since we got rid of your pacis you’ve been a little more restless, but we’re down to about one fussing episode per night – and usually you just want a drink, or maybe even just covered back up. Maybe you just miss me? And in your crib (which I’m not planning to move you from anytime soon), you have anywhere from 4-8 stuffed puppies most nights.

Play: You are pretty good at playing on your own. You’d be good at playing with Seth if Seth would share his toys with you. We’re working on that. You seem to enjoy your play kitchen and some of the Little People toys. You love the Handy Manny tools, especially Turner and Philippe (the screwdrivers). You also love to pull a chair up to the kitchen counter and see whatever mommy or daddy are doing with food, dishes, etc. and then copy it.

Vocabulary: Hilarious! You talk non-stop, especially when you’re at home with us. I don’t think you talk as much when other people are around. Any object that can be held to your ear doubles as a phone and you have many one-sided conversations, “Hello. Yeah. Okay. Goo’bye.”

My favorite things to hear you say:

*Sure – your answer for nearly anything

*Seat down – what you say to me when you want to be held (you want us to sit down in your chair and cuddle, and who could resist that?)

*Shake your booty – I know, it’s not the nicest but when your little voice says it, I love to hear it! And I laugh. And you’ve figured out that if you are in trouble, and you say it, I might laugh instead of discipline.

*Careful Daddy – what you tell him most mornings before he leaves

*Sethers!! (well, Seffers) – you love to see your brother first thing in the morning

*Sorry - I hear it too much, I think. Tonight you apologized to the bag of trash for walking into it!

*Uuggs (hugs) - I usually hear this one at your messiest point during dinner!

*Keeses (kisses)

*Pwease

*Tanks

Facial expressions: Oh, what a mess you are!! The best kind of mess, though. Whether it’s excited or pouting, you can read it on your face. Pouting usually ends with laughing. And if you’re thinking/working hard at all, your tongue is hanging out of your mouth.

Caring: Finally, you are a sweet little boy. I worry that most people only get to see your crazy wild side. But if any of us says, “ouch” or “oops” or anything of the sort you are right there, very seriously inquiring, “’kay??” One evening I bent down to get something out of a bottom cabinet and you apparently thought I had hurt myself. You came over, rubbed my back, got right up in my face, and said, “’kay Mommy?” I loved that you wanted to take care of me like I want to take care of you. And today you just came running from the other room, got up in the chair next to me and yelled, "miss you!"

I know that you have to get older and that it’s just part of life, but I do wish I could bottle up the cutest, sweetest things about you and make sure those stick around. But instead, I will just spend this time taking you all in and trying to remember the most wonderful things about this age in your life. Happy two my little guy!!