two and then some

gavin,

you at the age of 2+ are everything that i expected having a little boy to be.  life at 100mph.  running, hair standing on edge, tongue out, smile on your face.  you are exactly the kind of boy that i always thought i could not handle.  i didn't give myself enough credit. you, my boy, will keep me young.

your attention span is about 5 minutes unless you're watching curious george with brooke, and then you can get in a good 30 minutes.  but you never sit still.  even when you're watching tv you're usually standing or doing something else at the same time.

when we returned from hawaii, you turned into a sports fanatic.  it's not an exaggeration to say that during every waking moment you have some sort of ball or bat or club in your hand.  you go from baseball to basketball to football to golf to soccer, and you insist on having another participant in your sport of choice.  brooke does not like it when you throw balls at her despite her insistence that she does not want to play catch :)  our one-sided conversations sound something like this: "mom, play with me!  pitch to me, mom! homerun!  kick it!  shoop hoop!  baseball game!  catch!  soccer field!"

you run.  everywhere.  you throw things.  all the time.  you are naturally drawn to "bad guys" (in movies), swords and fighting.  this can't be good :)  you like to be chased, especially when you've done something wrong.  this can't be good either :)  you use toys and sports gear as weapons :(  i have a stash of bats/balls/clubs on top of the refrigerator that i have taken away from you.  i give you time-outs multiple times a day, and you are very good at spitting out "sorry, mommy" in your most endearing little voice.

you shower mommy with love and affection.  i get so many hugs and kisses and snuggles, and i love them.  you don't yet tell me that you love me, but you sure do show me.

your daddy has become your hero.  whenever daddy is around, you would much rather be playing sports with daddy than with anyone else.  i think you know he has all the "real" toys :)

you and brooke are as cute together as ever.  you enjoy playing together and getting into trouble together.  brooke often puts you up to no good.  that never turns out very well for you, but you think it's as funny as could be.  you idolize your sister.  you love to be in her presence.  you want to do everything that she does.  you would do anything to make her laugh.  when the two of you fight, i'm never quite sure who is going to have the upper hand, but brooke is usually the one running away from you screaming.  you torment brooke, but it's so clear how much you love her.  you cheer brooke on - clapping and yelling "yay, brookie!" and beaming with pride when she does something special.

you are still my good little eater.  you eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and most recently you've started eating salad.  you have no idea how happy that makes me.  you actually like lettuce.  with a good salad dressing, of course.  when we go out for pizza, you eat a lot of mommy and daddy's salad, and you pick all of the black olives and sausage off our pizza.  you ask for a hot dog for lunch just about everyday, but you'll eat almost anything i give you.  you love split pea soup and yogurt and hummus and beans.  you also love ice cream!

your vocabulary is amazing, but i'm the only one who understands 99% of what you say.  a lot of your communication is very clear, but you can also be very lazy with your enunciation.  some of your favorite sayings these days include: "come with me, play with me, do it myself, me show you, my did it!, go outside, go to the park," and, of course, "no!"  in the morning when you awaken, you yell "mommy, get me out bed! breakfast time!" i love how happy you are to see me when i walk into your room.

at your 2 year check-up you weighed 32 lbs. and were 37".  you have no fear of the doctor or nurse.  you had your toe pricked and got one shot, and you did not shed a single tear.  you were so brave.

you can count to 10 with a little help, and you enjoy singing your abc's.  you can operate my iphone perfectly, and you are very good at some of the preschool games.  i know this is a hint of things to come :)  at 2 you know most of the cincinnati and michigan fight songs and because i always sing them one after another, you think they are one song :)

i see you growing and changing everyday.  you are sitting on the big potty multiple times a day, putting on your own t-shirts and are ready to move into a big boy bed.  i feel so blessed to be able to spend my days with you.  they go by so fast.  there are times when you absolutely wear me out, but even then, i am filled with so much love and so much joy that all i can do is smile.

gavin, you have a sparkle in your eye and a bounce in your step.  i hope that never changes.

love,

mommy