2 years old

Dear Nolan,

Two years. TWO YEARS. I have a two year old. "Terrible" twos are upon us. I prefer to anticipate that they will be terrific, as the last two years have been just that. You are infectious, little man. You frequently bring tears to our eyes- from laughter, from pride, from wonder. You have taught us what life is all about. Seeing things as you see them, watching your little brain soak up the world around you... that's what being a parent is all about. We would do anything for you. We would give you the world if we could. You are amazing and always know how very much you are loved.

You are above your growth curve at 36" and 26 pounds. Pretty average for your age, right around the middle percentiles. You are wearing size 2T in everything but one-piece pj's, which you need a larger size in because of your height and feet! We're off to buy you new shoes tomorrow... I bet they'll be a size 8. You are still rear-facing in the car seat and don't seem to have any issues with it. We plan on keeping you that way until your height/weight makes it safer to turn you around. You're starting to show interest in the potty so we may see where that leads soon. You love "Georgey" (Curious George) right now and still love your "Mousey" (Mickey Mouse), too. You sleep with a "piddow", "banket", "gaffe", and "mousey" each night (pillow, blanket, plush giraffe and plush mickey). You are still very into routines and know how things are normally done. You always eat as soon as you get to grandma's in the morning... if we mess that up and feed you first, you still want to eat when we get there. You nap once a day, about 2 hours- sometimes a little more. You sleep about 11.5 hours at night, sometimes more if you're super tired. You love squeezers and they're about the only way you eat any veggies, except for corn on the cob. You like cheeseburgers, honey battered chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, grilled cheese, pizza, spaghettios, ravioli/etc., spaghetti, etc. That's pretty much what your diet consists of these days. Luckily you also like fruit (apples, pears, pineapple, peaches, watermelon, or anything in a squeezer), yogurt, cheese, etc. So your diet isn't JUST carbs. You love cars and trucks, puzzles, books, blocks, tents, bikes, sticks, hats and being outside. You spend about 30 minutes each evening with "grandpop" helping him outside- watering plants, feeding birds, taking walks to the lake, collecting flowers and sticks, looking at the clouds, etc. I think it's easily one of your favorite parts of the day.

You adore your sisters. You help give them paci's if they cry, you have fed them a few times with a huge smile on your face the entire time. You go in their room every morning exclaiming "hi! sis! awake!" and usually ask to hold or hug them. I'm not sure if it's luck or not but you usually tell them apart correctly 90% of the time. That's pretty good for a 2 year old!

You are a really really good kid. You rarely get into trouble and if you do it's normally the typical rotten boy stuff. You listen pretty well, especially if our voice means business. You sit in your stroller with pleasure when we're out and about. You are easy to take on errands. You are just a great child and we're very blessed. :)

Your birthday is always very special to me and will always be. For as long as I'm living I promise to make sure you know how loved you are (every day and) on your birthday. We woke you up by emptying a huge trash bag of balloons on your bed (you would've been happy with just that!), then you came downstairs and opened presents. We gave you your "big" gift during the summer (outdoor play house) but we still got you some other things for the day, too. You played with hot wheels and your lock board, among other things, until we made you breakfast. After breakfast we took you to an indoor play museum, which you loved. You REALLY enjoyed it at first... then it got pretty crowded and you still had fun, but you wanted us right there with you. You're a little timid around lots of other kids sometimes. After that we had lunch and came home for a nap. Then we went out to dinner with your grandparents at Bob Evans and had CAKE- your favorite part. We sang to you, you blew out your candle- so cute), and you dug in. We also opened presents from the grandparents. You had a great, great day.

Mommy is back to work now and missing you quite a bit. One of my favorite times of the day is when I call you during a break to talk... even if you just talk for a minute. I tell you I love you, you reply "ma much?!" and I say "soooooooo much"... it's our special thing. You are my special son and I love you more than life itself. And more than chocolate ice cream. Which when you're older you'll realize is a whole lot. :)

Sweetheart, always know that you make our world go round. Our days begin and end with thoughts of you and how we can help mold you into a wonderful person. I think we've got a pretty good start and I can't wait to see how you develop as the years go on. You make us proud. You make us unbelieveably happy. You make us crazy sometimes, but that's okay too. We love you and always always will. Always, okay? Remember that someday when you're 15 and hate us because we won't let you stay out later than your curfew. The time is going too fast for me... I feel like I blinked and the last two years were over. The next thing I know I'll be putting you on the bus for your first day of Kindergarten. Then I'll be helping your date pin on your corsage for your HS prom. Then I'll be choking back tears as we drop you off for college. I have such big dreams for you and I know you will be as amazing then as you are now. I love you more each day and I don't even know how that's possible because every day I feel like my heart will explode when I look at you. You have made me the happiest momma in the whole world and I promise to continue being the best momma that I can to you.

Love you little buddy...
("ma much?")
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Mop" (Momma)

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered "Life will never be the same." Because there had never been anyone like you... ever in the world. Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born." ~ Nancy Tillman

(pictures to come)