Two Today!

My little guy turned two yesterday. My sweet baby boy is two. All day long yesterday, if you asked him how old he was, he would turn that heartwarming smile on you and proudly proclaim, "Two today!" For a couple of hours, actually, he was telling us he was five, mostly because it was making big guy crack up. But he knew that yesterday was a big day. He could tell that there was something special about being "two today."

His gift was a new Thomas the Tank Engine train table, and we couldn't have found anything he could love any better. Since we gave it to him, he has not left its side except to eat (a little), sleep, and get in the car. We've even changed his diaper right next to it! He cried bitterly about going to sleep last night...we think he was afraid the train table might be gone when he woke up. He has been in train heaven.

We had cake and ice cream as a family last night, and we're having a couple of little friends over for a train birthday party tomorrow. We have been celebrating this wonderful kid for a couple of days now, but if I am being honest, this birthday is bittersweet for me. Two is the beginning of toddlerhood...I realize that I officially don't have a baby at home anymore, and that breaks my heart. Two years have gone by much faster than I ever imagined that they could. Every day is amazing to me...he grows by leaps and bounds and learns so many new things. But part of me will always wish I could keep him just as he is now, my sweet, cuddly little baby who can stop the world with his precious smile. Happy birthday, my little guy. I love you more than you will EVER know!

Hooray for Holidays!

This is the last year that big guy will have a whole week out of school for Thanksgiving. Next year he will be in school Monday and Tuesday. So we are celebrating this week! I LOVE having the boys home for a few days. Yesterday we went downtown to Imagine It, the Children's Museum of Atlanta. They had a Curious George exhibit that I wanted the boys to see...they are both big fans of George! We had the most wonderful time! Big guy was all over the place, wanting to try everything at least once and usually over and over again! The George exhibit was really cute. There were lots of hands-on experiences...big guy got to direct a wind machine to make windmills turn, create a shadow play with his hands, and build with Tinkertoys! They also had a really cute "Curiosity" musical that both boys loved. I promise that little guy was having a lot more fun than he looks like in the picture! There was a train track suspended from the museum's ceiling, and little guy would have been perfectly happy to sit there and watch it go around all day! Big guy and I did talk him into trying out some of the other stuff in the museum too! After the boys had played the morning away, we stopped by Atlanta landmark the Varsity for lunch. Both boys made a meal out of nothing but Varsity french fries. I can't complain too much, though...they are REALLY good fries! We had the most wonderful day together...they are really just fun, cool kids to hang out with!

Today, we drove to Buckhead to keep our family tradition of riding the Pink Pig at Lenox Square. The Pink Pig is an Atlanta holiday tradition dating back to the mid-50's. Macy's (or Rich's, as it used to be known) sets up a little train shaped like, well, a pink pig! The pig train pulls you through a giant cutout storybook that tells the story of Priscilla the Pink Pig. Apparently this has been a popular family tradition for many years in Atlanta, but we just started visiting last year. We knew that we had to take little guy this year as he is completely obsessed with trains! The line for the Pink Pig is always VERY long, and the ride itself is pretty short! But the kids don't seem to mind the wait, and it's just one of those things that we look forward to as a family. Daddy was able to sneak away from the office and join us for a quick ride, so we were all pretty excited about that! We don't have anything on the agenda tomorrow except for Christmas decorating...hope the kids aren't too bored after two fun days!

Keep It Positive!

Big guy has, unbelievably, brought home ANOTHER filled positive punch card today!!! I am about to burst with pride. This is finally the year when he is getting recognition for what he is doing right instead of only for what he is doing wrong. I know that on Thanksgiving, I will definitely be giving thanks for the teachers that were put into his life this year, because I know that they are helping him on his way to becoming a better student. His six cards are proudly hanging on the fridge, and he is enjoying his vanilla milkshake reward. Keep it up, my guy...I always knew you were a star, and now others are starting to see it too!

The Price of Beauty

Big guy was watching me put on my makeup this morning. He watched quietly until I started to put on my mascara.

BIG GUY: If I was a girl, and I was a teenager, I would not want to do that.

ME: Why not?

BIG GUY (in a voice filled with terror): Because you are taking that spiky thing and putting it IN! YOUR! EYE!!!!!!

Wiggle Time!

Today we took little guy to see his absolute favorite musicians in the entire world, the Wiggles. Big guy had a ticket and was supposed to go with us, too, but he was up all last night throwing up and having diarrhea, so needless to say, he didn't make it. He was a remarkably good sport about it, too, saying he would just go next year. It fulfilled all of little guy's dreams, though...he couldn't believe what he was seeing! After all these months of listening to the music and watching the dances on TV, he finally saw the "Wy-Wys" in person! At first, he was a little overwhelmed. He sat still chewing on his fingers with his eyes wide. But as the show went on, he began singing along with all of his favorite songs and dancing up a storm! His favorites were all part of the set list: "Dr. Knickerbocker," "We're All Getting Strong," and "Five Little Joeys Jumping on the Bed." We also took a dozen roses for Dorothy the Dinosaur and a bone for Wags the Dog, which we were able to give to one of the dancers. The highlight of the day was when little guy had a chance to wave at Murray as he walked right by us...it was like he had seen a movie star! This was our third time seeing the Wiggles, and they always put on such a terrific show. It's fun for parents and kids alike, and it's so great to see a group who really seem to enjoy entertaining little ones. I'm adding a picture of little guy's amazed face...it really was priceless!

Halloween!

Well, it wasn't the ideal Halloween...rainy and cold, and little guy ran a fever all day. But Halloween is our favorite holiday for a reason, and we weren't going to let it pass us by! Big guy dressed as Anakin Skywalker, and he really was the most handsome Jedi knight in the universe. Little guy was a tiger, and he was oohed and ahhed over by everyone who saw him (although almost everyone said he was such a "cute little girl!" We didn't think it looked very girly!). Daddy took big guy to our neighbors' traditional chili dinner before trick-or-treating, while little guy and his germs stayed home with me. We did take them both trick or treating, though...Halloween only comes once a year! We are really lucky to live in our neighborhood. There are so many kids, and everyone makes such a big deal out of the holidays. I am glad that our kids are growing up here. Here is a picture of the two cutest boys in the world!

Two Months In!

I had my first parent-teacher conference for big guy today at preschool. These have not been things I have looked forward to in the past. Today, however, was a pleasant surprise! Big guy's work is getting better and better! He knows just about everything he is supposed to at this point (with the exception of my cell phone number...it never occurred to me to work on that with him!) His artwork has improved by leaps and bounds since last year. He still needs a little work on fine motor skills, but I know he will get there in time. Best of all, he has teachers this year who can see the real him. They know that he is funny and sweet, and that his emotional outbursts are just a small part of who he is. They are working with him on being patient and having self-control, the same things we're working on at home. I think that he will make so much progress this year with his parents and teachers working as a team. I left that conference feeling uplifted, positive, and so happy about his progress...the complete opposite of my feelings from past conferences.

Little guy is also doing great! He no longer cries when I take him to school. He loves his teachers, Ms. Linda (Ms. Ya-Ya, according to him) and Ms. Tracy (Ms. Tay-Tee). They love him back, which makes me so very happy. They say he is so happy playing with his friends at school, and that he is a great helper to them. He loves to clean up at the end of the day! They also say he likes to comfort his friends who are crying. He'll pat their backs or bring them a toy. His teachers say he is such a joy. I know that already, but it's so wonderful to know that others see it too.

Big guy said his prayers with me tonight before bed, and I was in awe of how he spoke with God. "Oh God, please help to make good choices and have a good day tomorrow. I love you very much and I know that if I never let go of your hand, you will always help me do the right thing. Amen." These boys have brought so much to my life. I will be thanking God for both of them tonight as I say my own prayers.