Baby I turns 2!

My baby is turning two today. We've always affectionately referred to him as "Baby I" and it has been a big shift to not call him, or think of him as, baby anymore. He's officially a full-on toddler and sharing a room with his Kuya (older brother, S)! This milestone has hit me harder than with any of my other kids, because at their second birthdays I was wearing a five or six month old baby. We have started to reach a new level of independence as they're all getting older, more self-sufficient, and playing together. It is bittersweet, for sure, and I want to remember every little thing about this stage.

I has the funniest sense of humor, much like those of his Papa and Kuya. He likes to make very emphatic surprised and grumpy faces to make us laugh. He is incredibly attached to his "sassy" (pacifier), despite efforts to discourage it, and with all the whirlwind in our lives the past several months, he has been so go with the flow that I can't bring myself to take it away yet. He loves to draw and color, and when he's focused can work on the same piece of artwork for an hour. He asks to use the potty like his siblings, but after trying for a morning it was clear he isn't ready yet (which is perfectly okay with me). He's also a climber, and loves to stand on top of tables and yell, "I a hero!"

He is starting to talk so much, and has his own thoughts to share now, rather than just repeating what we say. He has grown from calling milk "mum," cats "meows," and sharks "doot doos" (because "baby shark doot doo...") to responding, "I love you, Mama!" and singing along to Elsa songs as he dances around. He no longer says "deeno" for done or "strawbabies" for strawberries. But he still loves touching belly "beans" (buttons), and holds his hand on his belly button while he falls asleep.

He loves being held and doesn't like his hands to be sticky. He has become a pickier eater, and his favorite food is ketchup. He doesn't like to take medicine, but is thankfully past the phase of spitting it all out. He is just now past being so drooly he doesn't have to wear bibs every day, but his new favorite game is to take whatever liquid he's drinking and spit it out down the front of himself.

He loves "Choo Choo Thom-ees," "A-keen" (McQueen, as in Lightning) and airplanes, especially Dusty from Planes movie. He has been asking for a Dusty airplane birthday with ice cream cupcakes for weeks now, and that's exactly what we're going to do. We're not going to let moving or Covid stop us from celebrating through Zoom with our family and marking the day this sweet boy became part of our family.

I, we love everything you bring to our family, and we know the Lord has an amazing plan for your life. We hope you always know how much you are loved, my always baby boy. Happy second birthday!