Happy Birthday Little T ( this weekend)
2 years…my my. What can I say? We went from one crazy year to another…finally getting you to a happy place at about 18 months or so. As I look back at your months 12-24 so many things come to mind- both the good and the challenges. We had your first birthday at Grandma Noelles( you learned to walk there,) and in the haze that followed were the commuting nightmares with you almost 100% of the time screaming and crying during my hour to work and back. Upon getting home it was a miracle if we could sit down and eat once your dad got home and shovel some food, before you let us know you were DONE- screaming and crying. It was your tubby time with Daddy that got you to calm down. What we came to realize is that your dislike for confinement, lack of overall sleep and naps contributed to much of your temperament. You rarely slept through the night until you were close to 18 months. Primarily due to being sick so often. Oh bugs….if we got a week between outbreaks of either a cold, fevers, ear infections, mouth infections, we were lucky. I remember one particular week so terrible we were all fried. You had gotten some mouth infection that initially we didn’t know what was causing you so much pain, you cried and stopped eating for several days until we discovered what we thought were “shark” teeth behind your first set of baby teeth. Upon a dental exam and trip to the ER( one of several due to being so sick) we were told they were mouth sores. SOO sad! So unfortunately many many months passed with situations like this and no wonder you were so miserable. On the weekends you seemed to totally enjoy mom and dad around. Perhaps it was the fact you weren’t at daycare or stuck in a car, but your temperament improved greatly. About this time was also our inability to go to church for any length of time. Your dad and I would often switch off weeks, well because you know…that inability to be confined without incredible outrage? Well about 8 months or so Im not sure people even knew who we were!! Haha. The big turning point was our return to Salt Lake. Your health improved, you didn’t have to endure long commuting trips in the car, you felt better, you started to talk- express yourself and be understood…that was huge. Elijiah and you started to play together and really become buddies. It was such a joy to see the two of you finally getting along and playing. You constantly follow your brother around and cry when he’s gone. You ask for kisses when he leaves for school and it’s such a joy to see how much you love him.
Over the last little while when you were sick- we gave you your binky which proved problematic. You couldn’t be without it! If it fell out while sleeping you would wake up crying until we found another one, if we went somewhere and it wasn’t to be found…we would have to run out and buy one…thus we learned early on…that we had to have stashes of pacifiers all over the house, in purses, in cars…just in case. We finally got you off the binky kick(cold turkey) but you still ask for it daily. SAD!
You always have loved to be in the kitchen helping mommy cook. This was one way I could distract you and keep you with me during the “terrible hour” ( time between mom is home and dad comes home)You are such the little helper. Sometimes a little too much “help”. But you love to cook, come up with your own recipes and be in the kitchen. Sometimes I wonder if this is a little bit of foreshadowing for whats to come.
You recently have discovered all things truck. Dump trucks, tractors etc. You know where they are on our route to school, and if I happen to NOT go on a particular street where you know they are working you throw a fit.
Your other love – is books. It doesn’t matter what book as long as we have oodles to read together. You read in the car, on the couch at home, in our bed at every inopportune moment( like 4 am) but its seriously the cutest thing to see you running with books in hand for SOMEONE to read to you. Some books you have memorized, just like the movies you love to watch.
Your current movie obsession is Finding Nemo- before that, Madagascar. It’s a little heartbreaking to have you cry out for Nemo or recite lines from the movie when you are sad. Just the other night though during dinner prayer, you started to say “Hi” over and over again, much like a scene in your beloved movie.
You love your grandparents. You talk about them all the time. Its one of the many reasons we moved where we did…to be closer to each of your grandparents. Its wonderful that you get to see them often.
Daycare is school- and you talk all the time about your friend Sean. He and you are great buddies and pretty much are together always. Just a few weeks ago I guess Sean scratched your wrist where you had a red mark, and from then on you look at your wrist and say Sean…yes Tristan we know…GET OVER IT! LOL…you have great teachers who love you, playmates and its wonderful that as you have working parents; we don’t have to worry about where you are during the day.
Eating can still be a bit of a challenge. After we stopped giving you a bottle you have had little interest in your Milk. Hard to get you to drink enough of that…however fruits? Any and all for Tristan! Veggies? Well that’s another story. You can drink out of a cup and use your utensils although I prefer a sippy cup still…and well you prefer to use your fingers to eat! You graduated from the high chair to the table..not by my choice, but another one of your rebellions at confinement. I literally became unable to force you into it- so you won that battle.
As for the crib- well its me who wont succumb to your desire to be done with it. Due to you being such a climber and not a good sleeper- Id rather have you safe than in and out of bed all night. We purchased the crib tent and it worked well until our last move. Now like everything you have a serious aversion to it and can scream for hours on end (literally) at night. But I will prevail! Im just not up to sleeping with you each night kid, and you don’t seem to want to stay in your room unless locked up at night haha!
I really cant believe how fast these last 2 years have flown by. I guess that is how it always goes right? Im excited about all your new achievements and things you are learning, but likewise miss the baby stage that passed too quickly. Your mischievous ways, your craziness, your big hugs and kisses are the highlight of my day. You honestly keep your dad and I always on our toes and playing “parent tag” and while life was much calmer and we certainly got more sleep- you are everything to us. Thank you for bringing us closer as a family and making us not only be better in so many ways, but grateful you are OURS!!
Tristans obsession with Trucks is quite funny and so we decided to do a "Truck" cake this time around. I have to say that I was a little bummed when Jonathan said HE wanted to do it and without MY help!! The nerve!!! He found seriously THE most delicious cake recipe and did it all...he just let me do the blue piping on the cake. Nice of him eh?
I think it turned out pretty cute.
Nancy and Elana
Our little bugs
