Two

Last month this precious boy turned two years old. 

 

Just like how turning one-year-old flipped a switch inside of SS, turning my ever-smiling, perma-content baby into a demanding and passionate one-year-old, turning two years old flipped yet another switch. SS has turned into a spitfire. 

J and I dropped off a joyful, mostly-cooperative toddler at Nacky and Papa's house before sneaking off for a week in paradise, and J and I picked up a defiant and scrappy little whirlwind. Even though I know SS didn't officially turn two until a few weeks after our return, he became a two-year-old while we were in Hawaii.

  SS is rowdy, cuddly, a little naughty, and stubbornly claiming autonomy, as any two-year-old does. He laughs easily (my Uncle Pat's laugh), mimics his big brother, and thrives on focused attention and deep eye contact. The cuddliness and meaningful gazes make the naughtiness a lot harder for Mama to discipline (he's my baaaaaaby). SS has begun to really enjoy books, learned all of his colors by playing with the piano puzzle, and is gaining new words daily. His favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes, and blueberries. His favorite toys are balls and his piano puzzle.

(Blurry but I love it anyway.)

At his two year check up, SS weighed 26 pounds and was 34 3/4 inches tall, putting him in the 50th percentile.

Everywhere we go, people remark on his curls.

Side view of the curls

Happy birthday Boo Boo Bear. We couldn't love you any more if we tried.

First Day

Today was BB's first day of preschool - the first day of the rest of his life. 

School, independently-developed friendships, social influences, character-developing and character-challenging relationships and events, clubs, sports, crushes, and eventually careers, love, marriage.....leaving his mother forever as he flies out of the nest into the big, wide world to live his own life. 

I know, I know, kind of a jump, but that's what all of the emotion building up to this milestone felt like for me - if I could just keep him home forever, then he would need me and stay with me forever, and instead I'm leading him away, towards independence. You know, the natural progression of life that is healthy and appropriate.

Well, you will all be happy to know that after months of wistfulness and nervousness and extrapolation on my part (while BB excitedly awaited preschool to finally start), I only experienced a tiny bit of sadness when we dropped him off for his first ever day of school. I misted up a couple of times, but didn't shed any actual tears. Mostly, I was just excited for him to experience this new, much-anticipated world of school that he is so eager to partake in. J was much more shell-shocked than I was - which is just how we work. I anticipate and emotionally process far in advance, and J processes in the midst of events. So when we walked away from the classroom, I felt confident and peaceful, while J, after months of comforting and reassuring me, felt a bit hesitant and unsure. 

And BB? He confidently walked into the classroom, found his backpack hook, and sat at the table to play with some blocks with his classmates. 

I called him over for a hug and a kiss, and then he went right back to the table. I called his name and waved goodbye enthusiastically, and he glanced back at me with a quick lift of his arm, and went right back to building. He was ready, Mama. This is what he has been waiting for. He was fully engaged and didn't look up as we walked out the classroom door. 

And when we picked him up, he was all smiles.  He did tell me that he was "a wittle wown out".

 

My preschooler, ready for his first day of school ever

Our family on BB's first day of preschool

On campus

While I sign BB in each morning, he signs himself in by practicing writing his name

BB opted to outline his name instead of trace it

Auntie Seen surprised us and came to be our family photographer while we dropped BB off - so nice! SS loves his Neen.

  

BB with his teacher and on the playground after school, all smiles

And so it begins...

Conditioning

Over the past couple of years I have become very committed to my exercise routine - I enjoy the activity itself, as well as the physical and mental benefits of the activity. In addition to the physical benefits of exercise (overall health, weight control, back pain management), I have found that exercising provides me with personal goals and challenges, a little "me" time, and also drastically reduces the amount anxiety I am prone to experience due to my nature. This Type-A control freak is such a calmer, happier person when I am consistently working out. Also, if I don't stay conditioned by running during the week, I know that come Friday night I will get my booty handed to me on the soccer field. And a Puma's gotta be able to pounce! 

So at this point, the boys are conditioned to my conditioning - trips to the gym and waking up to Mama sneaking back in the front door bright and early in sweaty workout clothes are part of their normal weekly routine. As is watching Mama stretch and do push ups and sit ups on the living room floor after a run. And lately the boys have started joining me! Both boys like to try to do push-ups, and BB is actually developing a pretty legit form!

Conditioning in action

Addendum: Horsehead Edition

Remember how in my post about Serene's surprise 30th birthday party I lamented, "Tragically, I don't have any pictures of the horse head mask"?

Well, after reading that, BFF B came to the rescue and texted me this - THIS THIS THIS:

Yup, that's BB wearing the odd horse head mask.

I didn't even know that BB had tried it on!

This photo brings me endless joy.