He's Two and Half!!!

Sometimes I wish that I didn't have such a soft heart...

As I sit down to write, I have tears in my eyes ... tears of joy and tears of sadness...

My heart is so full of joy because my lil' buddy is two and a half years old today!! I am so happy to see him growing taller and talking more. He says three word combinations - finally! All of the sudden, his talking has increased so much - even in the past month he's probably doubled his words. I now hear cow, drink, table, broken, ride, car, one, two, hawk-hawk, hat, shoe, juice, milk, and his favorite, "outside," which I hear every day about 100 times. There are so many other words he's speaking now that I can't even begin to list them all. It's funny, I always took for granted the words Anna spoke at this age. With Owen and the struggles we've had with his ears and personality, I hear those new words with such joy in my heart. I love that he's beginning to know his 'friends' better so he will actually play with them instead of beside them. I love, love, love that he still cuddles with me. I love his blond curly, sometimes out of control, hair! I love that he only needs a ball to be truly happy. I love that when he smiles really, really big, he has a little dimple beside his nose - just like Anna....

I'm just a little sad today too. I'm sad that my baby is growing up to be a little boy. I'm sad that he's probably the last child that I'm going to have that's two and half. I'm sad that he's growing so fast and I wonder where the time went. I'm also a little sad that he's so stubborn. Yes, it's nice to say he's an 'independent thinker' but really stubborn is what he is. But, I love that side of him even though it tests my patience daily. I keep telling myself that someday, that stubborn side is going to prove to be a great advantage!

I won't stay sad too long today - it's a beautiful day and it's Earth Day! We might just have to spend the rest of our day outside - I know that would make Owen really, really happy. And truly, that would make my heart happy too!

Enjoy some pictures of my favorite two and half year old!!


Don't you just love the pink helmet?


"Reading" a favorite book


Eating a snack in the driveway - Dan would be mortified he's only in his diaper...


And my favorite... tummy, dimples and all!