2!!!! (Years Old, not Years-Since-I've-Blogged)

Ok, better late than never. About a month ago, my tiny little baby turned TWO YEARS OLD!!!! Fastest two years of my life, for SURE. And the best two years, no doubt about it. While I do complain frequently about his energy level and his seeming inability to LISTEN, I absolutely love Max's zest for life, his sense of humor, and his open and loving nature. I always say he might just be the kid who gets in lots of trouble but then manages to get away with it because he's so darn charming.

We didn't plan a big birthday party to mark his two years, because I figure he doesn't totally get the concept of birthdays yet, and I'm sure next year he'll probably be demanding a party, so I thought I should take advantage of this last opportunity to NOT throw a party. But since Chris is a good Daddy and Husband and ordered us this awesome cake:

we ended up having an impromptu party with family since we needed help consuming this monster! Max was thrilled with all of his gifts, and with the attention, whether he realized it was meant for him or not.

Just in time for birthday photo-ops, Max face-planted on Julie's driveway and obtained this nice forehead road rash.

I just can't get over the fact that two years ago Max was a tiny little non-speaking human and now he's so full of personality and learning things so fast! Some of his accomplishments at age two:

• Recognizes many letters: A,B,D,F,I, M, N, O (the first letter he learned and still his favorite), X
• Knows that MAX spells his name - he can recognize it when written and spelled aloud and when he's drawing with chalk on the driveway he ALWAYS starts with 'writing' "M-A-X, Max!!!"
• Is starting to show a lot of interest in colors. He mainly thinks everything is blue or red, but we're working on it.
• Loves to hop, which he learned on "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", but is the cutest darn thing when he does it
• He loves to sit on the potty, but he won't actually do anything, except flush. He will, however, tell me every time he needs a new diaper.
• Loves to play catch, usually with an old diaper...we need to introduce the poor kid to some actual sports equipment I guess
• Plays "chase" at any and all opportunities....we're working on NOT chasing the dogs.
• Can count to 10! He had loved counting "one, two" for QUITE some time now, but never would say three and then one day he said three and then kept on going all the way up to ten. I was shocked because I didn't even know he knew the other numbers since I had just been concentrating on getting him to three...I really don't know where he heard them, honestly. Genius, I'm telling you.

It's just SO SO much fun watching his personality continue to develop. He is SO strong-willed (some might say stubborn) and opinionated and eager to try new things. He's such a quirky and funny little guy and we love him so much. (At least as much as he loves his "babies", who he prefers to carry around the house with his arms sticking through their clothing ).