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.

Dear Willow (The meanie)

Dear Willow,

Please please please!!! stop pushing/hitting/scratching your brother. I am at a loss for what to do to help you overcome this. It breaks my heart when you say, "I don't like Toby anymore", or "I hate him". I know I haven't been able to spend enough time with you lately, but I'm doing my best.

Love Mommy

When the wind blows

I named my blog 'When the wind blows' because Willow loves Rock-a-bye Baby. At the time I first started the blog, she was asking me to sing it every night. Sometimes twice. And then she just stopped. The first few nights I'd ask "Do you want me to sing Rock-a-bye Baby?". She'd say, "No mom, Daddy now". And that was that. Willow is such a girl of routine it surprises me every time she changes something. It happens more and more now that she's 2, asserting her independence and finding out who she is.

Every day I think about how quickly these little beings change. Toby's physical changes are more obvious right now; going from sitting to on all fours, rocking back and forth. Pulling himself up on toys and then falling down. He's going to be such a little boy, full of energy and into everything. Already, he sees something and lunges for it not caring if he's going to fall on his face in his attempt.

Willow is really unpredictable in her moods. For awhile she was in the "terrible two's" and having multiple tantrums daily. They slowed as I found ways of talking her through them, and distracting her. She's been very pleasant and talking up a storm until yesterday when she got a cold. She is really starting to play by herself (for at least a few minutes of the day...) and make believe play with her dolls. She was talking to me tonight and then all of a sudden said "uh oh, Iggy's crying", and went out on the deck where her doll Lily was. She picked her up and rocked her, "awwww, it's ok Iggy". In the last week Lily's name has changed to Iggy. Willow had no trouble saying Lily before. I tried to call her Iggy, and Willow got upset. "NO Mom, Iggy".

My goal this week is to take some video. As our camera collects dust, my babies are growing up!