Month 27 - 2 yrs & 3 months for the rest of ya

Dear FIN,
This month we spent a couple of weeks in OBX - Nags Head, NC while daddy worked. It was a cooler month to be there. We didn't spend a lot of time outside, but I did try to get you out to the beach a couple of times - you hated it both times. Mostly because it was cold and windy. We came back to IL - a lovely winter wonderland. I got you to say Christmas tree very intelligibly. You love lights on a tree, and every tree with lights you made the point of pointing and saying "Christmas tree". Your language is still progressing at an alarming rate. This morning, you asked me "wheres the garage opener?". Why did you ask that specific question... well for Christmas this year you got a 3 button garage opener from Grampa's garage (aka. Grandpa Dahlke). It is your FAVORITE toy every time you go to their house. They just happened to have the real working one and not the decoy that he wrapped up for your present.
Christmas was not the craziness that people describe of their children... I think that will be next year. I know this because you cried when we took you to see Santa - we had to have daddy intervene (see photo). But for Christmas, you got a couple of neato things, your new FIN sized guitar, garage opener, plasma bike, FIN size chair. In other words, you are spoiled.
My favorite things about this month have been your need to sleep with things. Not just the same Toy Story character figures (not dolls), but with a Christmas card with picture of your cousins, random stuffed animals, a cooking spoon, dog leash, etc. The best part for you, was time with your cousin Maddy earlier in December, and spending time with the Cripe cousins. You have a very big heart FIN. It shows with how much you love your cousins mainly by identifying them and stealing their toys. I know it goes much deeper than that.
Love you FIN,
mommy

25th & 26th months... A few stories, and an update

Dear FIN,

I should almost cram month 27 in here as well, seeing that it will be the day after Christmas, and I'm most likely to forget that specific day as well... Its not that I want to, but you are adamant about not letting me get any computer time unless it involves Elmo and that rather annoying Potty Time game... its not even a game, its just Elmo sitting there talking to his friends saying "if you got the feeling, you should go!" I'm really not making fun, its great to see you want to play learning games. There is so much to share from these last few months, but I'll stick to a couple of my favorite moments and an update.

HIGH FIVE

Recently, we were at G&G Dahlke's house... or as you now refer to them, Grampa's garage (Rich), and Geepy (Pam). We attempted to get you to take a nap... little did I know that your daddy put you down in the crib without your pants on - thinking the jeans looked uncomfortable. About a half hour of crying, singing, and straight out yelling for me, I asked Grampa to look in on you. I saw him buckle in half laughing, telling me to go over by him. There you were, just your shirt on, poopy diaper ripped off and tossed on the floor, you holding onto the sides of the crib jumping like a bucking bronco. Grampa finally approached you when I was by his side, and with a great big smile on your face, you held your hand up to Grampa and said "High Five!" Grampa was left buckled over laughing again while I had to grab you in all your poopiness, and put you in a tub.

NUMBER FOUR

I believe on the same visit if not one right before that visit to the same grandparents house you learned a word that you have said in the past, but I managed to banish it from your vocabulary without much trying... But Grandma dropped the phrase "Oh F*&K". You have since dropped that same phrase with appropriate timing. Trying to get you to forget this phrase has not been an easy task. I've tried to get you to say "Oh Fork", fudge was too close, but you have settled on saying "Number Four". What has ensued from this ridiculous phrase has been your attention to numbers. You could count to about 12 before this incident, but since this new phrase, and spending time in OBX, NC and having to use an elevator daily, we say "Number Four" with gusto, and always following "Number Three", and going up to the number twenty. A prime example of turning that rotten lemon into a fantastic vodka lemonade for mommy...

OK, YOU BET

Today you have been a parrot. You have also acquired a little cold. I have been asking you a lot if your are ok... you never answer, but its my way of soothing you nonetheless. We get into the car to go to the YMCA pool and gym, and you say to me, "Mommy, are you ok?", Me: "Yes, FIN. Are you OK?", FIN: "You bet".

UPDATES

Well FIN, I feel like this is more mommy outing myself than your update, but we learned a while ago that you are going to be a big brother! You can say big brother, but I don't think you embrace that we are bringing in your new sibling (your nemesis, the one that steals your toys, the one that will steal all your attention... and maybe one day, your best friend).

We have also been going between our place in Grayslake and Outerbanks, NC (Nags Head). We have been living ON THE WATER... I know I'm taking every day for granted when I just have to roll over in bed, and there straight out the glass door in the bedroom is the gorgeous view of the OBX Sound. Soon we'll be back in IL full time.
We will be buying a house soon in IL *gasp*, in a place that will offer schools that we feel good about sending you. All this for you baby boy.

I love you FIN!

-mama