Two

I am finally posting his two year update! We had his well visit a few days after turning two. He had fun at the appointment other than the few minutes of screaming with fear while the doctor examined him. He got over it quick and ended up talking to him and giving him a high five. He weighed in at 28 pounds even and 36 inches tall. 50th percentile for weight and 92nd percentile for height! He is projected to be over 6 ft tall which doesn't seem right to us considering neither of us are above average height, but who knows! My phone was stolen a few days after this appointment and I miraculously got it back, so I am beyond happy to share these pictures I thought were gone forever. 

He told us Mickey pooped and he needed to change his diaper. We gave him a few kleenex sheets so he could clean him up lol

A little about Barrett at two:

He is the most musical kid I have ever been around. Everything about music is natural for him. He has always moved to my cell phone rings or any musical beat, and now he gravitates to any performances he comes across. He now requests to watch bands perform on tv and will hardly watch anything else. The only way he would get out of the bath tonight was if we could lay in bed and watch Coldplay perform Sky Full of Stars (his current favorite) on Ellen. I think it's impossible for him to watch a good performance or hear a song without dancing or running to get his guitar or microphone to join in with the band. I absolutely love his musical, performing soul. 

I also think he is crazy smart (but don't all parents think this?) Even as a baby he seemed mentally beyond his age. He has freaked me out many times with the little details he remembers. I have said something while driving and weeks later at the exact spot of where we were driving (weeks ago!) he will randomly repeat or ask me about what I said. He has asked me if babies eat boobies, and has only seen my sister breastfeed a few times and it was months before he started asking me about it. He talks about everyone he knows and talks in complete sentences. He has had three teachers at his daycare that he goes to twice a week and all of them were shocked at his communication level. He tells me who he thinks is nice, who he wants to play with, and what songs he would like to hear. If he hears a song one time he remembers it and can recognize it within the first few seconds of playing. He knew the alphabet before turning two and I didn't even know he knew it until his teacher told me one day after school. That day, I started singing the alphabet and stopped in the middle and he looked right at me and finished the whole thing! He also remembers the cars people drive. We parked by a car identical to my sister's a few months ago and when I opened the door he said "Ash Ash's car!". He will also say Na's car when he sees one like hers and Pops' truck. It's always the exact car. His cousin Remi gave him a balloon back in July and the other day he found that balloon and brought it to me with a big smile. I said you found your ballon! He replied with "yeah! like Remi!" Barrett has always been extremely vocal (99% of his day he is vocal in some way), so I am able to really get to know this little boy who tells me every little thought that runs through his mind. He will even tell me "I'm sitting" when he sits down. He's definitely an extrovert like Mommy! One of my favorite things he has said lately is "I gotta go to work at Kroger". He wants to be like Daddy!

He is still a great eater. He likes all Mexican food, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, blueberries, pickles, bananas, bread, donuts, and is going through a sandwich phase right now. His dinner the other night was steak, black beans, fresh tomatoes, cheese, and cheerios. And seconds happen quite often. If we talk about birthday parties, he will immediately say he wants cake. 

Nap times are becoming shorter and so are the hours he sleeps at night. He is now sleeping closer to 10 hours a night and napping closer to two hours. He gets in his crib between 8 and 9 and will stay up until 10 playing, talking, or singing. He wakes up around 7:45. If he could fill up his crib with animals, books, and little toys he would. The other night he put 11 books in there and begged to sleep with him. We made a deal and I let him sleep with four. I will also sneak out some of the little toys and stuffed animals every once in a while and if he finds them around his room he gets so upset and immediately puts them back in his crib. He also wants me to cover him up with a blanket every night.

He likes trucks, books, cars, balls, his leaf blower and mower, vacuum cleaners, his stuffed animals, and all musical instruments. He is starting to finally let me draw with him too. He has never liked puzzles, but is starting to show interest. He likes building towers, and enjoys knocking them down even more. His favorite books are still his Halloween books that he had as a baby. He also still likes his Sandra Boynton books. Our favorite things to do together are pushing him around in his big truck (saying 1-2-3 GO!), and tickling him and "flying" him on my legs and feet. His laugh is contagious and I truly cannot hear it enough. Bath time is also one of his favorite times. The tub is full of toys and cups. He likes to pour water into all the cups and stack them up. He will ask us if he can go swimming in the bathtub quite often.

So far, we've only had a few days (in a row!) where we thought terrible twos were in full swing and we were worried! He is still acting pretty much the same as he did at one. Strong-willed, opinionated and very sweet. Time-out has really helped with his meltdowns and fits over not getting his way. He gets very upset about going to time-out, but he goes immediately when we tell him and it is sometimes the only way he will calm down. When he is done, he will come say I'm sorry (and then I melt!).

Our baby boy is growing up and we are soaking up these precious times as much as possible. We couldn't have created a better little kid to hang out with every day!