James - 2 Years

James, you're two years old! It's hard to believe it, and yet at the same time I can't imagine life without you. Here are your stats:

Height: 37.5 inches (99th percentile)
Weight: 37 lbs, 14 ozs (99th percentile)
Head: 20 inches (96th percentile)

You are a very big boy...certainly the biggest two year old I've ever seen. I have friends with five year old who are smaller/the same size! You can still fit in some 2T clothes, but you mostly wear 3T and some 4T. You're in size 6 diapers.

Here's what else you're up to:

-You're a very active little boy! You love to climb and throw yourself around on the floor like a stuntman. You play with balls a lot and have a good arm already, but you'll also pick up a baby doll and take care of it like your sister does. It's very sweet.

-You can be very picky about food. You love chicken (really all meats), fruit, tomatoes, and snacks of all kinds. You love milk ("mulk") and lemonade ("lalalade"). You're not crazy about veggies, but sometimes you'll eat carrots. Happy Meals are your love language and you adore sweets. You're the reason we've had to childproof our pantry door! You'll usually eat breakfast and lunch, but dinner is a crapshoot and there are times that you eat almost no supper. If I prepare a delicious, homecooked meal...you usually won't touch it or eat very little, but if I microwave a hot dog you devour it! It can be frustrating, but we just try to keep going and offering you things again.

-You love your family. Claire is your buddy and y'all play more and more. It's wonderful to see! You call her "Babydoll" (currently pronounced "Beedoll"). It's pretty much the sweetest thing I've ever heard! You two can be playing together one minute and fighting like cats and dogs the next!

-You have a head full of curly hair! It's crazy to look back at pictures from when you were under 1, because you didn't have much hair at all. Now you have a ton! It's a light brown color with gorgeous golden curls. You've had it cut, but we're not in any rush to chop those curls off or give you a "big boy haircut". You handle haircuts really well so far and almost look like you're about to go to sleep during them!

-You have big feelings! You can be a total sweetheart or a big grump. You're very passionate...and it's not just a "2 year old" thing, it's your personality. If you're not happy, you let us know! You've put on some epic fits in parking lots about not wanting to hold hands while we cross the street. Factor in your size and strength, and it makes for some very interesting trips to pick Claire up from Mother's Day Out! I'm not trying to make you sound bad, you're super sweet! You love to laugh and have a smile that lights up the room! You're just moody!

-You love to read books, play outside (especially swing), play with your little characters, do playdoh, and snuggle up on the couch and watch a show or the iPad. You love to be part of things, and want to do whatever your sister is doing!

-You take a good, long nap in the afternoons and go down easily for that. Bedtime is a bit trickier: it can take you a long time to go to sleep at night..with lots of screaming and crying. Daddy and I go through a huge rigamarole to get you to calm down for the night! Once you're out, you sleep well. We still rock before every nap and bedtime. You're still sleeping in your crib, and we hope that continues for a long time! When we leave your room and you are content, you give us the sweetest sendoffs, full of "I love you's"...it's the best!

-We'll start Mother's Day Out next Fall. I know it will be great for you! We could have started you already, but we didn't feel like you were quite ready yet. You still struggle with separation anxiety, but it has gotten better! We may attempt potty training in the spring, but I'm not in any rush. I think you're showing some signs of readiness, but your pediatrician says boys usually are ready later (around age 3). I have a feeling you will take to it more easily after watching Claire go through the whole process.

-You're talking up a storm! You can say so many things and have really gone through an explosion of verbal development recently. It's just amazing watching you grow and change! You can communicate pretty much anything you want now. You have a really funny and unique way of pronouncing some things...you say the words diaper and orange like you're French. 

- You're obsessed with Halloween! You got really into it this year. What we thought was a phase has become your favorite holiday! You love to talk about ghosts and skeletons, and you've been known to ask us to play "Monster Mash" on repeat the car! Perfect child for a couple who met at a Halloween party! One of your favorite things to say right now is:

James: Guess what Beedoll?
Claire: What Jamesie?
James: Ghosts and skeletons!

-You love to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Caillou, Storybots, Octonauts, Tangled (you LOVE Flynn Rider), Beauty and the Beast, and Blippi (guy who hosts a show on Youtube kids).

Nicknames: Jamesie, Jambo, buddy, little man

Favorite toys: any little figure you can hold in your hand, balls, Legos, toy cars, books

Jamesie, we love you so much and are very happy to have you in our family! Watching you and your sister grow and flourish is my life's great privilege! I love you, buddy!

Mama