I'm 2 1/2!

Mikey,

How are you 2 1/2 already?!?!? Where has the time gone? Daddy and I are really enjoying this stage that you are in now (Ok, we have enjoyed every stage---but this one is REALLY fun!).

Here are just some of those fun things you are doing now:

* You are TALKING! Every day we hear "Mama, Mama, MAAAAMMMMAAAA!" and "Daddy, Daddy, DAAAAAAAADDY!" at least a thousand times a day! You say "thank you" when you hand things to other people, which I find super cute. Other favorite phrases are "I did it", "I got it", "I am ALL done", "bedder" (better), "wadder" (water), "run run", "Green! GO!" (while we are driving in the car at a traffic light--you especially loved to do that to Grandpa Bob!), "I pooped!" (with this high pitched ending on the pooped);

* You inconsistently use the potty but overall it is a good experience. You have done both pee-pee and poopie on the potty multiple days in a row. You will not tell me when you have to go and I am not really pushing you.....yet. I ask you if you have to go and if you say "no", I don't force the issue;

* You LOVE your crib. You can play for over a half an hour in the morning and when you wake up from nap. In the morning I will lay in bed and listen to you have full conversations with Elmo and your doggie over the monitor. When I go in to get you, you lay down and tell me "no". Sometimes I have to leave and come back to get you in a few minutes because you are resistive;

* You go to bed around 8:00-8:30 and wake up around 7:00. Since we have been home from New Jersey you have been napping for 2 or more hours. You are still attached to all 7 loveys that we rotate throughout the week;

* You will consistently eat hot dogs (your favorite), chicken nuggets and turkey pepperoni as your primary sources of meat. You continue to love carbohydrates, dairy and fruit. Veggie preferences change on the day (currently you are obsessed with cucumbers and grape tomatoes);

* You have begun to engage in pretend play with your food and stuffed animals now. Last week, Elmo accompanied us to the gym, grocery store and to Eva's. You talk to Elmo as if Elmo were a baby, changing the pitch of your voice to a higher level. Very adorable. You "cook" food for Daddy, Mama and Elmo almost daily. You are still obsessed with cars, trucks and trains and now have also branched into the world of tools (thanks to "Handy Manny");

* Another huge interest now is SPORTS. This makes Mommy and Daddy so happy. You see baseball, football, soccer or hockey on TV (or in a magazine/newspaper) you can correctly identify it and want to see "more". You can spot a Boston Bruins car decal/banner/jersey/t-shirt from a mile away. There is nothing wrong with your vision. We are looking forward to taking you to the BC football game this weekend! You are going to LOVE it!

Happy Half Birthday, little man! We love you lots!

xoxo
Mama & Daddy