Happy 2nd Birthday My Liam!

Liam,

Today we are spending the day at the zoo. Checking out all the animals, feeding the giraffes, and making fun memories. Just like we did exactly one year ago on your first birthday. Somehow since that day, another 365 days have passed and today you are 2. Our energetic, opinionated, smart, silly, cuddly, sometimes shy, and very loving 2 year old boy. Here's a little bit about who you are and what you like to do at 2 years old!

The fabulous Mallorie of Mallorie Gayle Photography took these photos of Liam during her recent trip to Texas. We could not be more pleased with how they turned out and how much of Liam's fun personality she captured!

You are a growing boy! At your two year check-up on Wednesday you weighed 27.2 lbs (50-75%) and were 35 inches tall (over 75%). You showed off a lot of you skills to our new pediatrician and made sure to rearrange all the furniture in our room. You only cried for a little while after your shot and didn't cry at all when you go your finger pricked! You did however very sadly wail, "Ow, ow, owieeee!" after your shot for the first time and it nearly broke my heart!

You are a smart boy! You passed all the questions your doctor asked about you and know even more! You can count to ten, know a handful of shapes and colors, can say part of your ABC's and the rest with our help, can say WAY too many words to list, and are speaking in short sentences now instead of single words. Some of your longer sentences have been, "Uh oh Mommy, truck stuck!" and "Oh no, truck go bye bye!" Clearly we know what's on your mind most of the day. You know all your body parts and articles of clothing and have started trying to dress yourself. That's still a work in progress though as I came in your room one day to find your arm sticking through the neckhole of your shirt, but you smiled at me so proud of yourself for putting your shirt on!

You are a good eater overall but can be picky. Breakfast is definitely your favorite meal of the day. You always eat a ton at breakfast and then your meals get smaller and smaller throughout the day. Some of your favorite foods are:

Breakfast - bananas, waffles and pancakes, scrambled eggs, cereal with milk, kolaches, and bacon

Lunch - grilled cheese, tuna and crackers, mac-n-cheese with turkey dog, strawberries, cheese and crackers

Dinner - tacos, pasta, most meat, corn, sometimes green beans, stuffed bell peppers

Side notes: You are SO funny about bacon! You beg for it when we make it and will shove it in your mouth, but you won't swallow it! I think you just love the greasy goodness but not the consistency. You will chew and chew on it forever and then finally spit it out. And then go in for another piece! And if I ask you what you want to eat, you automatically say, "tacos!" even if it's breakfast time! Also, you call milk "nook." No idea where you picked that up, but it's been a recent thing and you say it clear as day, "more nook peas." Just one of your silly quirks I guess! You don't like any food that resembles baby food - yogurt, ice cream, and mashed potatoes are big no-no's to you.

We turned your carseat around recently and you love facing forward! You point out different animals and vehicles during the drive and once we pass them you say, "mommy, more cow/bus/truck/etc."

You love the word "mine" right now. You are also very opinionated and definitely like to tell us when you are not happy about something or when you really want something. Climbing up on chairs and barstools to get what you want has become a new habit of yours that we have to keep a close eye on! 

Now having said all that, you are also super polite! You say "please" and "thank you" all day long without having to be prompted! You have also started mimicking me when I say "your welcome" but you don't say that one on your own yet. You say "please" instead of yes for everything. If I ask you a question it's either "no" or "please" to you. 

You are such a good helper! You love to help me start the dishwasher and washing machine and will help me move clothes from the washer to the dryer. You are also getting really good about following directions when it's time to cleanup. You love to wash your hands and brush your teeth too. 

Sleep at night has been rough lately, but we are turning a corner I just know it! Last night you gave me and Daddy an early birthday present and slept all night long! You slept from 8pm to 6am which is still early, but I'll take it. We completely took down your crib and you have a daybed in your room now. We also let you pick out a truck night light, that we think may be helping some. Even though your nighttime sleep is not always the greatest, you make up for it at naptime. Most of your naps lately have been 2.5-3 hours long and yesterday you napped for 4 hours! 

Some of your favorite toys right now are your trucks. You love to line them up or stack them up and then crash them. Crashing things into each other or into the walls is a favorite past time of your for sure. You also LOVE to do puzzles and are really good at them! You can do all your chunky puzzles on your own and you say, "noooooo, nooooo, noooo" until you fit it in the right spot or get it turned the right way. Your favorite puzzles are your truck and bugs puzzles. 

You are definitely an outdoor boy! You love to play outside and the grass stains on your knees are becoming more frequent. You have taken a new interest in bugs. It's hilarious though because when you see one you will shout, "buuug!" and then do this all over body shiver! But then you'll crouch down and watch it walk or try to pick it up. 

That's all I can think of right now, but there is so much more about you and we love every bit of it! You are our sunshine and you make us laugh and smile all day long. Happy Birthday Liam Briggs, we can't believe you are TWO!

xoxoxx, 

Mama and Daddy