Aaron at Two

Oh, my Aaron. You are my baby best friend. We do (almost) everything together, and you would be happy if we could do EVERYTHING together. Preferably with you sitting on my lap, eating my food. You love your Mommy, your Daddy, and your siblings. Taking naps and going to bed are the worst because you have to leave all the fun. You also hate letting Seth get on the bus or dropping Catherine off at preschool. I think it's partially because you miss them and partially because you think you're missing out on something.

You are a very particular child. You want your shoes on all the time. You don't like your belly uncovered or your sleeves rolled up. You don't like having dirty hands, even if it's because you're in the middle of eating. You must have the appropriate blankies and cars in your crib before you'll sleep, plus you require that all family members currently at home come and bid you good night. 

You are also a sweet and affectionate boy. Your face lights up whenever one of us walks in the door after being away. When Catherine gets hurt or offended, you bring her blankets to make her feel better. And your snuggles are the best, even if they only last a few seconds before you return to dinosaur mode.

Over the past few months I've watched you transition from baby to toddler. In many ways you're still very young, and I don't mind. I'm not pushing for you to grow up faster. You'll do it in your own way and time. Until then, your brother and sister celebrate every new word and trick. You are so loved.

Happy birthday, my dinosaur.

Here's what you're up to at age two:

Happy boy with some cars

*the car stage has hit and hit hard. I swear overnight you went from having a casual interest in cars to being completely obsessed. The main benefit of this has been an easier nursery transition--you now are pretty happy to be dropped off and play with the cars. 

*you LOVE reading books. Favorites include anything with cars (especially My Truck is Stuck), as well as Hush Little Baby, and Baby Beluga. You often carry around a book with pictures of various trucks and insist on us reading it to you. Repeatedly.

*you're still a champion eater, especially if it's my food or Daddy's food. You'll often reject what's on your plate in order to eat mine, even if it's exactly the same thing.

*size 4 diapers, somewhere between 18 month and 2T clothes. 

*you love the song about the monkeys and Mr. Alligator and will "SNAP" along with the words. You especially love singing it with Catherine.

"There was a little boy, who had a little curl, right in the middle of his forehead."

*you are slightly obsessed with playing "cars" on the iPad (an app that lets you design and drive simple cars). You don't enjoy fighting your siblings for the iPad.

*you also love playing "choo choo" with the wooden trains and tracks. It's one of the few things you'll do independently, so I love it, too. 

*you refuse to go down the stairs on your belly. You will only walk like an adult, even if it takes 6 times as long and is a lot more dangerous. You also get upset if I get more than two steps in front of or behind you. 

*outside is still your favorite place. You love walking Seth to the bus stop and will often try to send him to the bus on weekends just so you can go outside. "Bus! Bus!"

*Catherine is your best friend. You still can't say her name. You went through a phase where you called her "sister", then another where you called her "that". Now she is "Princess" and you ask for her immediately after waking up. If I'm not careful, you'll sneak into her room and wake her up. 

*you can't say your own name, either. But if I ask you where Aaron is, you touch your face or cheek. You've also got most of your body parts down, although some of the rhyming ones (toes/nose, knee/belly) will trick you up occasionally. 

"I can't say my own name!"

*you like to answer most questions with, "no". You especially hate having your diaper changed or getting dressed. Anything that involved restraint. And those changing tables at church or stores...you scream bloody murder and act like you're going to die. Apparently you feel very, very unsafe up there. 

*all animals are "uffs" (woofs). You love to watch them, but get a little nervous when they get too close.

*you are almost as obsessed with Elsa and Anna as your sister. Shopping with you is very traumatic as you throw a fit every time we pass Frozen paraphernalia or anything that resembles a car. Also, the lights on the trees in the Christmas department. 

*you constantly ask to see "Wuss-uhl" (cousin Russell). You'll also ask to go see "Ball", "Anna" and "Baby" (Paul, Anna, and Luke Knox). I'm not sure if you actually like seeing Paul, or just like all his trains. 

This picture is a perfect example of you: on my lap, with a car, demanding that I pay attention to nothing but you. Life is going to be a little rough when baby sister shows up in February!