23 months...too close to two!

Let me start by saying, and I am sure I have said this before, but I am SO GLAD that I am pregnant right now. Because if my baby was turning two and I didn't have the consolation prize of knowing that there was going to be another babe right around the corner who will give me lots of loving and snuggles, I think I would be beside myself right now. My baby boy (Maver, you will ALWAYS be my baby boy) is less than a month away from his second birthday and I cannot hardly fathom it. Time slips.

Having two big kids is becoming more and more of my reality every day. I remember this time with Tula, right before the second birthday where it seems the child is developing at lightning speeds. Changing right before my eyes. Maverick has streched and thinned out this summer, and no longer has the baby toddling way about his walk, he looks like a little man running and jumping and stomping around the house or yard or whatever. He loves to come up and give a kiss or a hug or a quick sign of affection, but is now MR. Independent and no longer wants to cuddle on the couch when watching a show or reading a book. This is probably mostly due to the fact that right now he does not like to sit still for one minute, but it still cuts into cuddle time either way. The other night I went to sit in the rocking chair in Mav's room like I have done so many times and had one child on each lap while we read and I literally COULD NOT do it. It was mostly my big belly that made the whole situation unbearably uncomfortable for me, but we just didn't all fit anymore. And the idea that my whole world doesn't fit in a little chair, a little box, a little space was so sad to me. I know the kids are probably too young to remember, but I will forever cherish the days of holding them both and feeling like I literally had "it all" right there on my lap.

Mav, you are a mover and a shaker. An action man. You love to get up on the couch and "jump". Holding on to the back and jumping high, or jumping from the sofa to the ottoman, or right into someone's lap, even if they aren't looking. You love, even in this heat to go out to the trampoline and run and run and jump and splash forever while I have the sprinkler on underneath it. You love to go for a walk, and right now you like to make your own decisions about where we walk, the direction, when to stop, etc. You can't get up on my bed by yourself yet but you always ask to come up if I am on there or folding laundry on it or even just doing anything in my bedroom. You love to play ball, throw a ball at me and have me toss it back, rolling a ball. If you see a ball on the ground you love to kick it. The other day at a friends you found a catcher's mitt and came and found me wearing it asking for a ball. You love to roll around on our blankets and smoosh your face into our pillows and hide from any passer-bys. You love to wrestle and play rough, push me and try and have me push you over. I often have to tell you right now not to hit, you almost always swing at me at least once while we play fight and usually you close your fist and aim right for my face. Dude, I hope you figure that one out fast. Not cool. You love to put your arms out and pretend you are an airplane, you run around the house saying "fly, fly, plane, fly". You love to pretend and dress up with your sister. Not gonna lie, at this point your favorite costume is the ballerina one and you have asked me to put it on a couple times, usually when Tula is wearing the other one I think cuase you want to be like your sis, but you have been know to put your finger on your head and twirl and say "Reena, reena". Don't worry Son, I promise I will keep *most* of those videos and pictures for your eyes only...maybe one or two for your wedding slideshow? They are hilarious. You dressing up like a girl doesn't even phase me or your dad really. You are all boy. Rough and tumble, cars and trucks, balls and bats, sticks and stones.

You are still a fantastic sleeper, you go to bed easy after your bath and a show and a book. You usually want a toy or two in your crib with you and then we don't hear a peep from you till almost 12 hours later. You still at 23 months love your afternoon nap and sleep almost 3 hours every afternoon. You do love food still, and you eat so good for me. You love shrimp and veggies and of course any pasta noodles...peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, yogurt, raisins. You love breakfast and will come down the stairs and first thing in the morning be asking for Cheerios, but it's a big treat if I make scrambled eggs you will devour them! With being a good eater means you also LOVE junk food. You love candy and jellybeans and chocolate and anything like that. I busted you the other day at the mall sticking your fingers up the 25 cent candy machines and eating any extra skittles or m and m's that got left in there. You love chips and popcorn and pizza and all the salty stuff too. So feeding you is never, ever an issue. You make the routine stuff of our day to day very easy on your Mama. Thank you, Son.

We are not even attempting potty training at this point. I am honestly just to huge (and hot and lazy) to bend over and clean up any sort of accident so I am not even letting you give it a shot till after the baby is born. You actually get really upset right now when I put diapers on you during the day, you say "Nooo, I potty" but I just don't have the patience for potty training right now.

Oh Maverick, I really could go on and on. This is a very fun age and stage that you are at, and you are a VERY easy tempered kid still so that makes it all even more fun. You are a good listener and pretty obedient, you don't like to dissapoint so if I seem upset with you never something or you get told no sternly you will often just put your head and shoulders down and act sort of shy or sad for a minute and not look at anyone , till you start peeking out the side of your eyes:) You also put your pointer finger on your chin and tap it when you are "thinking". But you are just a loveable, bright and happy guy. Always with a great big smile or laugh. Your joy is infectious, thank you for sharing it with me so often. I adore being your Mama. Love you buddy, can't to celebrate your big day with you at the end of this month!