Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

It's Taylor's 2nd birthday today!

I just can hardly believe that two years ago today at 12:42 pm I gave birth to the most wonderful little guy I've ever known. He truly lights up our lives and we are blessed beyond measure to have Taylor in our family.

Taylor adores his sisters. He loves to give Ryleigh kisses. He follows Lily around and wants to do anything that she's doing. If she's getting her shoes on, he wants his shoes on. If she's having a snack, he wants a snack. If she's looking at books, he's looking at books. If she's coloring at the kitchen table, he wants to color at the kitchen table. Etc, etc, etc. =)

He is a finicky eater - eating one thing one day but not the next. He still usually eats whatever fruit is on his plate first and then moves on to the rest. The first bite is the hardest! If you can get him to take that first bite he'll typically eat the rest with no problem.

His vocabulary has just exploded. He's talking a ton and communicates pretty well.

He counts to 10, but skips 6 and 7. =) He walks around the house saying 8, 9, 10. 8, 9, 10. 8, 9, 10. It's cute.

He loves his puggy (pacifier) and bankies (two blue blankets). He carries those blankets around the house and likes to hold them when he watches a movie and definitely sleeps with them. I'm not sure when to get rid of the puggy. I originally thought about trying to do it by age 2, but with having a new baby and all the changes he's had to adjust to I thought it would be okay to let him keep his puggy as a comfort. So now I'm thinking maybe by Christmas? We'll see...

He is such a lover. He gives lots of hugs and kisses to all of us of his own initiative. It's so sweet. And most of the time when I ask for hugs or kisses he's very willing to oblige me. I love to hug and kiss this boy!

He still takes a wonderful afternoon nap. He's usually ready to go down around 12:30 or 1 and sleeps for about two hours. His big sister went through several phases where she was nearly impossible to get to nap and he is the total opposite. When asked to lay down he says, "Kay." It is such an ice change of pace after "fighting" with our firstborn!!!

He is an early bird. He's usually up around 6 am. And our summer schedule and getting to bed later hasn't changed that. Bummer.

He can reach the ice and water dispenser on our fridge and loves to get his own water. However, there is almost always a spill and so I don't like to let him do it. It's only water, but it drives me crazy wiping up spill after spill!!! But he sees Lily doing it so he wants to do it too. =)

He can reach light switches now and likes to turn lights ON. He also likes to close doors. So he goes around the house turning on lights and closing doors. Not ideal. =)

He has big feet. Huge, actually. He's wearing a size 9. It isn't because he needs the length but because his feet are so THICK. They're like blocks. Chubby and so cute.

He wears 2T and 3T tops and 24 month and 2T bottoms.

Still allergic to eggs as far as we know.

He recently had a CRAZY reaction to sunscreen. His entire torso was covered in an awful looking, red, splotchy rash. It took him about 10 days to recover entirely. Poor baby. I haven't yet figured out a sunscreen that we can use for him, so for now he wears a hat and one of those sun protective shirts

He loves to play at the park and the splash pad. He's pretty fearless and tries lots of things that Lily wasn't attempting at his age.

He's all boy and loves to tackle, jump off of things, run at/into things, etc.

Lily and I somehow started calling Ryleigh "Ryleigh-boo" and it stuck. Taylor's version of that is "La-Boo" and it is just so precious to hear him calling her that.

He has just a little bit of a lisp. His "s" sound is really more of a "th" sound. I like it.

He has his two year check-up on Monday and I can't wait to find out what he weighs and how tall he is.

Here are some of his current cute little words and phrases:

hepoo (help you)
holber (hold you)
nack (snack)
tiss (kiss)
bate (grape)
moonie (movie)
thoot (swimsuit)
poot (pooped)
sockgame (softball game)
oh no
oh my
oh man
bubbeer (bubbles)
cub (golf club)
booby (blueberry)

I know I'm forgetting a bunch of cute things, but it's late and I'm tired. It's hard to express just how wonderful he is and how much we love him! I'm so excited to see what God will do in his life and what he'll become. It's truly a joy and privilege to be his momma! I love you, Taylor Baylor! Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!!!

Taylor's Birthday ~ July 15, 2008

First Birthday!!!

2nd Birthday!!!