TWO YEARS OLD

 - WOW-WEE!!  I am TWO!!

  Mommy and Daddy cannot believe that I am TWO already.  Where has the time gone?
  This has been another fun month as we have had warm temperatures which has meant more fun outside.  I have thoroughly enjoyed time at the water spray-pads in the area and in my inflatable pool in the backyard.  
  I am talking so much these days.  I love repeating things that Mommy and Daddy say - I am such a sponge - soaking it all in.  
  I love to read books and even sit down by myself sometimes and read them out loud - but Mommy doesn't quite understand what I am saying.
  One day I was playing with some cut-out letters that Mommy had used to make favors for my upcoming birthday party.  Mommy held up a "C" and I said "C". Then I she held up a "D" and I said "D - Daddy".  Mommy was shocked.  She had me say it all again when Daddy got home from work.  And, there is a bit of video footage below too.
  I no longer like to sit in a high chair or booster seat. I want to sit (sometimes kneel) in a big chair at the table like everyone else.  Mommy says this is ok but she does not like it when I stand up in the chair because she is afraid I will fall down.  I keep getting in trouble for standing up but Mommy just doesn't understand that I don't like sitting still for too long. 
  I also no longer like for Mommy or Daddy to say the blessing before meals.  I want them to sing it.   Mommy sang a blessing one time and now that is all I like - and I will scream "NOT THIS, NOT THIS" if they try to say a blessing instead of singing it.  
  Another fun story - one day I was trying to tell Mommy something about my knees (she still doesn't know what I was trying to say).  But, she swears it sounded just like - "I Chinese".  She had me repeat it several times and still thinks this is what I am saying.

This last month:

 Fun at the Chois house (in Caleb's fireman outfit and playing with him):

 

 Helping Mommy wash and clean out her car:

 

 Helping do some yard work:

 

 Trying on Daddy's glasses:

  

 

 Hot weather means fun in the pool:

   

 

Just being my silly self:

 

 Lounging in the driveway:

  

More fun in the backyard pool:

     

Some Video Footage:

 

Twenty Three Months (Almost TWO!!:)

Mommy and Daddy cannot believe that I am almost two years old -- I am growing up SOOO fast!

This has been such a fun month.  So many exciting things to tell!

In early June - Mommy, Daddy, and I went to Alabama to attend the wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Reeder (Mommy had taught with Mr. Ike in Vienna back in the 90's - whatever that means).  It was a fun reason for all these friends who taught together (Mommy calls them all "Loopies" - and she says this means I am now a LOOPIE too:) to have another reunion- and they had never met me - so she enjoyed showing me off.
From there, Mommy and I traveled to Atlanta (and Daddy came on back to Chicago) to spend the night with one of her China buddies, Robyn Kerns - and we got to meet Robyn's little man, Luke.
Then on to south Georgia to spend time with our family down there.  So much fun at Nana and Poppee's house - playing at the beach, playing in a friend's pool, eating shrimp and corn on the cob, fun with my Auntie Celeste and Uncle Calvin, a fun ride on a golf cart, and playing with little wooden toys with Nana and Poppee.
We also had a fun surprise when one of Mommy's friends from Valdosta just happened to be visiting the GA coast at the same time, and I got to meet Keith & Nell Adams.
Back in IL, one day we met up with some friends - the Kusreaus - to go strawberry picking.  Only thing is we got there and those fields were closed.  But, we got to go cherry picking - and I ate SOOOO many cherries (and maybe a few pits too).
For July 4th, Mommy and I went to a parade in a nearby town (so sad that Daddy had to work that morning!).  Mommy is pretty sure that I was more excited about seeing all the doggies that people brought to the parade than the actual parade.  And, Mommy was pretty excited to see the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on a fire engine, holding high the Stanley cup that they recently won.

The month in photos:

The LOOP at the Reeders' wedding:

 

Fun at the beach (Mommy was teaching me all about building a sand castle):

   

Loving me some corn on the cob:

 

I put my swim shorts on all by myself:

 

Enjoying the wagon ride on the way to the pool:

Fun at the pool (Thanks to the Parkers for letting us enjoy it!):

  

 

 

 

Meeting Mrs. Nell for dinner:

At the farm to go cherry picking:

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy was trying to teach me to spit out the seed:

  

Just a random picture at home:

Fourth of July parade: