TWO!

Well, it's been awhile, busy busy around here.  And another birthday snuck up on us- Toby is 2!  He was so happy all day today.  Unfortunately I had to work but there were no tears at the morning drop off.  We had a quiet family dinner tonight with Toby's favorite- spaghetti, and blueberry birthday cake.  We got him a new pillow, duvet and bedding for his special day- we'll see if it helps him stay in bed all night!

On his 2nd birthday, Toby is:

• 32 lbs and just shy of 35" tall- an inch taller than his sister was at the same age.  Wears mostly size 3 clothes, but some size 2 or 18m pants. 
• Mostly potty trained.  For two months he's been a rock star, pees, poops, nightime.  Just in the last week he's had quite a few accidents, a bit of a  regression I guess.  Woke up dry this morning for the first time in a week and had no accidents today!
• As sweet as ever.  He really is a gentle soul- sensitive, quiet, thoughtful.  And funny, energetic, and loud too.  
• Still waking up several times at night.  Yawn, I really hope this stops soon! 
• Teething again.  Just popped his 3rd two-year molar....  only one more to go.  Maybe he'll start sleeping better when teething is over with.

Toby loves:

• Playing with Willow!  She directs him in all kinds of imaginative play; picnics, doggies, restaurant.
• Anything that moves.  Trains especially.  I'm convinced boys are wired to be drawn to things with wheels, and all things that go.
• Sweets!  I dread giving him treats.  His reaction when I don't give him more is very dramatic.  He screams and cries for "more treats, mooooooore.  please?  Mummy, pleeease" and then the temper tantrum starts.  His tantrums are intense and there is no reasoning with him.  It's usually easier to skip the treat all together. 
• Dora the Explorer.  He loves the show, thinks Boots is the greatest ever.  And Swiper.
• Singing, dancing, music, being outside, playing the piano, bouncing on his bed.

Toby Can:

• Count to 10.
• Identify most colours correctly.  Gets tripped up on red/green/yellow.
• Remember the words to his favorite books and songs and will read/sing along with me.
• Melt my heart!  He is generous with I Love You's and tells me at the best times.

Teeth!

Toby has 4 teeth. All in four weeks. A much easier teether than Willow, thank goodness! First one came just a week shy of his seven month birthday. Number two came two weeks later and the next two within the following two weeks. Whew.


Other news:
Willow has two 2-year molars coming through too. We've got a happy house right now!

Toby is pulling himself up. He uses toys, the couch, me. Still not crawling, but he gets around pretty good by pushing himself backwards, or doing a little sit-belly flop-sit-belly flop routine. I can't believe how fast he gets around a room!


Willow no longer says "I", instead it's "My". I have a hard time explaining to her how to use pronouns properly, so I just try to speak correctly myself. She'll get it eventually.

Toby has been sleeping through the night since he got over his last cold (about 3 weeks). Naps are going well too, 2 hours in the morning, 1 hour in the afternoon. About 10 hours at night. He's been getting so much sleep he was up until 11pm a couple of days last week. This is quite a shock to my system - so much that I'm having a hard time falling asleep. I still get up with Willow once or twice, and I'm having a really hard time. I think I need to write an entire post about sleep deprivation - that to come.

Potty training has been pretty much smooth sailing since day 2.... and finally Willow is starting to get up from bed to pee. It happens within the hour of going to bed and is a huge pain to take her diaper off, but I'll encourage it. She's in a diaper just for naps (wakes up dry about 1/2 the time) and at night. I can't wait until she's diaper free!

We've had some nice hot summer weather here and have been taking advantage of the deck. We spend alot of time out there, blowing bubbles, in the pool, enjoying meals and playing with 'bouncy bouncy' balls. Willow likes to spray my herb garden and potted plants with the spray bottle. Keeps her busy.