Two!!!

Axel turned two this week!  He is so very two!  He is getting himself into all kinds of trouble...but he is a riot and makes it hard to laugh even when he is being disciplined.  He is coming out with all kinds new words and phrases on a daily basis.  He loves to have us watch him do all kinds of silly things.  "Mommy, watch!" "Daddy, watch!"  Climbing, jumping, running, spinning around (or rounding, as he likes to call it), throwing any kind of ball (or really anything!), playing with anything Tobi is doing are among his favorite activities.  Food is tricky right now.  One day he will gobble up a meal and the next day proudly declare "Not like it chicken!"  Most days I can't win...and end up picking up lots of food off of the floor.  He loves fruit..just about any kind...and he still guzzles milk like it is going out of style....and the thing that seems to send him over the edge is a donut or munchkin ("dowut" or "munkish").  "More dowut! More dowut!" Of course a cookie or piece of candy will not be turned down, but those treats are appearing less and less as the good for you food keeps hitting the floor. 

We celebrated with a family party on Sunday even though his actual birthday was on Monday.  This provided quite a bit of confusion for Tobi.  She kept asking all day if he was really two.  I told her that he would actually turn two while he was napping since he was born at 3:23 pm.  So after I got him up from his naps he went right back to his old antics (which sadly include pulling Tobi's hair and hitting her if he feels somehow his happiness is being jeopardized by her).  Finally Tobi just had to ask me if I was sure he was really two now, since he still looked the same and was still doing all the same things.  I guess she really had high hopes for this birthday! I won't tell her that it's probably going to get worse before it gets better for her.... Nevertheless, she is a great big sister.  She "reads" to Axel any time he will actually sit and listen.  She is often eager to share her toy or food to help appease him...and she really tries to include him in her play.  She also loves to help keep him in line...letting me know when he might need a timeout. 

Even though being 8 months pregnant and chasing a toddler is wearing me out quickly...I love Axel's little personality.  He is a bundle of energy and excitement...but he is a funny, happy guy (except when he isn't) and he can also be very sweet.  He often calls himself "Akel-boy".  Other favorite sayings include:  "Akel dood it", "Mommy, good!", "No like it", "I'll get it", "Found it!", "hiding" and so many more.  He makes us smile everyday!  We love you, Akel Boy!  You are one of a kind!