29 Months

Bud,

Your taller then your average 2 year old, the average is 2'10" and you've clocked in at 3'2".  Your also around 30lbs.  You're tall and getting skinny with your bizarre eating habits.  I say bizarre because somedays you'll eat and try anything.  I'll say "You might not like it" when you ask for a bite of my greek salad and you'll respond with "but I want to try some."  And you will and I am so proud of you.  Then there are the other days the you will live entirely off pickles and maybe some water.  I'd like to think its evening out but you are getting skinny.  I made a quick decision to cut your bottles cold turkey.  You have been holding onto those 2, 8oz bottles like they were the source of eternal life.  I felt bad making you get rid of them.  Then finally, something snapped.  You are almost 2 and a half.  It was time to ditch the bottles.  More then time.  So, I stopped giving them to you and you stopped asking for them.  And then I began to think that maybe I was holding onto the habit more then you.  We're getting rid of the binky next.

You graduated from your class at the Y.  We have been going for an entire year.  Only 4 other kids did that and Miss Judy made a big deal out of it.  Your too old to go back to that class now.  I think it served you very well.  It gave you a crash course in learning to play and share, with me being about to coach you.  You ask other kids if they want to play.  "Do you want to play with me?"  And ask if they would like to share your snack.  Then light up when they say yes, turn to me and retell the story like you just proposed.  I'm going to miss those moments when you go it alone in September but I can't wait for the stories you'll tell on our way home.

Dada and I took you on a whirlwind Bronx adventure last friday.  As Dada was driving up from Baltimore, we decided to meet at the Bronx Zoo because you have never been and the weather was amazing.  You haven't seen Dad in about a month and we were walking towards each other.  I stopped the stroller and said "Look who I found at the zoo!"  Your face lit up, then smiled your shy smile whispering "It's Dada." Then hit the ground running.  You had a blast.  And I loved all the babies!!  Of course, in classic Wyatt style, when I asked you what was your favorite animal at the zoo you said "chasing pigeons.....and there was a monorail and a golf cart!"  Seriously.  The elephants, giraffes, monkeys, tigers, alligators, and a billion other animals apparently bore you.  I guess I can never say that life with you is boring.  After the zoo, we found this outdoor garden at a restaurant on City Island in which you had full reign.  You were such a boy; digging in the gravel with your trucks.  Speeding cars along our picnic bench.  It was the perfect ending to an amazing day.

Your vocabulary and memory continues to amaze me.  We sat down for dinner the other night and I was asking questions about your day while you answered them.  You're 2 and a half years old.  Having conversations.  At the dinner table.  Its phenomenal.  And your imagination.  You surprise me everyday. We were playing in our room and you go:
"Look out!!  An osprey's coming."
"An osprey?  What's an osprey?" Of course I know but I wanted to see if you did.
"Mom!?! (with an exasperated sigh) It's a type of bird."
Silly Momma, why didn't I know that?!  Because, of course, my two year old is going to correctly identify an osprey.  It makes me rethink and retrace everything I say to you.  Because your listening, even if it doesn't seem like your listening.

This summer has been kind of lazy so far.  We have been doing day trips.  To the museum.  To the beach with Kari and Lars Christian.  To story-time at the library.  To Mets games.  Play dates with Jack and Jessica.  And dinners at the club.  It feels like I have been home with you a lot lately.  Or maybe I'm just being more productive on our days home together.  I just can't get enough of you.  And from the way you look at me when I come home, you enjoy my company too.   Most days I just can't think of enough adjectives for how amazing you are and how happy you make me.  I am so proud that I get to take even a little credit in how amazing you are.  I am so proud of this little boy you are becoming.

I love you everyday.
Momma