Stephen at 2 1/2

Since Stephen has been born I have loved every stage and watching him grow up.  Every day I think, I just want him to stay at this age forever and then he grows a little more and I think the same thing.  Of course I miss holding my sweet newborn or when he was crawling around our house and I know one day I will look back and miss these days.  So I try not to relish in the past and stay present in the "now".  Enjoy each day as it comes and soak it all in!

I am so blessed to be his Mom!  Even though I am exhausted at night, when he is asleep I think about how much I love him and I can't wait to start our next day together.  Although he likes to start our days together a little earlier than I would like-haha!

Two and a half is such a fun age!  I don't love the tantrums or the "look" he gives me when he doesn't want to do something I've told him to do, but those are so few and far between that it's barely worth mentioning!  

He is starting to talk more and is just so funny!  I really need to take more video of him right now because I don't ever want to forget the way he talks and says things.  

* He goes to sleep around 7:30 each night and is usually up by 7 in the morning.

* He naps from 12- 2 or 3

* He wears 2T shirts, 2T or 3T with the waist sinched in pants, and 3T pajamas.  

* He loves his train set and the way he says choo choo is adorable.  I have to get this one video.

* He has a puppy dog that he sleeps with that he calls ruff ruff.

* He has been going potty on the potty for a while now.  We are not potty training yet, but I think he is ready and we just need to bite the bullet and do it! 

* He loves to wash his hands after he goes potty.

* Since he started school he has become attached to his blanket he takes to school.  It is white with blue airplanes on it.

* As you all know from the amount of pictures of him wearing this, he is obsessed with his orange GAP hoodie. 

* He is also obsessed with the boots Yaya bought him.  He won't wear any other shoes.

* He suddenly hates bath time.

*When he does something good, we started saying, "Yay Stephen" so now he says, "Yay me!".  It is adorable!

* One night we were putting him to sleep and we normally kiss him on the lips and this night he kissed me on the lips and then turned my head to the side and kissed my cheek and then kissed the other cheek.  He also made the cutest "kissing" sound when he did it.  So cute!

* He loves laying in bed with us and watching tv in the morning.  Then after about 10 minutes he gets up and creates a huge mess in our room, rummaging through our drawers, etc.  

* He loves our keys and if he finds mine he will push my panic button to make my alarm go off.  He thinks this is hilarious.  Our neighbors probably do not have the same sense of humor at 7:30 in the morning. His Uncle Aaron taught him this last Easter.

* He goes to school with Hayden and talks about Hayden all the time.  

* He hates sitting in shopping carts and now squats instead of putting his legs through the seat holes.  I finally bribed him in Walmart one day and told him if he put his legs through the holes, he could pick out a treat when we were done shopping.  It worked.  

* He wants to read "The Night Before Christmas" every single night.  He studies each picture and points things out to us.  

* He is obsessed with the cartoon Caliou.  I mean obsessed. 

* He recently started putting the silverware away from the dishwasher.  He stands in his "house" aka kitchen helper and does a great job putting them where they go. 

Stephen,

Every day we love you more and more.   You bring so much joy into our home and our lives.  Every minute I am not with you, I miss you and can't wait to be with you.  You are such a funny and smart little boy.  I am constantly amazed at the things you know and can do.  I am so proud of you sweet boy and love you so much!  

Love, 

Mommy