15 MINUTES

Look who's still being used for advertising at the photographers.  I'm convinced nothing but funny-looking kids have stepped into her studio since we last did a sitting with her over a year ago. 

FLOSS BOSS

After weeks of hyping up the dentist, watching "Barney Goes to the Dentist," and letting you play with yards and yards of floss, you finally had your first real visit to the dentist.  Not that what Dr. Stafford did was any different than what I've been doing with you all along, as your father pointed only.  Only difference being she got paid to do it and didn't get bit.  No cavities, but with a mom for a dentist, would you expect anything less?

WATER BABY

Swim class is paying off.  Look what you can do...

ALMOST

We almost made it through the entire children's theater performance with Grandma Kathy and all the cousins in Minnesota.  That was until you announced to everyone within ear shot you had "to go pee pee" and wouldn't accept "go in your diaper" as an acceptable solution.  Bad mommy. 

READ THE MANUAL

And so it begins for your dad...bigger toys and so many pieces that the instruction manual now has to be read.   All part of being a dad.

LIGHT BULB

Light bulb moment for you, you  finally figured out what presents are all about this year.  Although we're still working on the fact that every present isn't yours to open.   

ALMOST

So much for Grandma Kathy getting a picture of all her grandkids looking at the camera...

SKI BUNNY

 Time to get in training for your future full-ride college athletic scholarship in skiing...

Something tells me your dad may have his work cut out for him.

CHOIR

While we were shopping, there was a children's choir performance.  You were enthralled by the sight of so many kids singing and danced in delight as they went through a list of Christmas carols.  In between songs there were painfully long breaks and everyone stood there silently waiting for the next one. That is everyone but you.  In the long silence, you broke out in your loud version of the ABC's.  Toddler entertainment at its best.

HIM AGAIN

It's him again. And you're still scared of him. Yes, once again you were "that kid" that patiently waited to see Santa and then came down with a case of stage fright once it was finally your turn. Any year now, you're going to realize this guy isn't so bad.

ACCORDING TO AJ

Potty training isn't quite going according to plan these days.  You've now decided that every article of clothing must be off when using the toilet.  Not even your socks can be on.  And also not according to plan, you now make me track my potty use with stickers as well.  Instead of posting my stickers on your calendar, you  put them on the dog food container.  I wonder if that's what all those charities had in mind when they sent me all those unwanted free address labels.   

TYPE A

With the way you're into strict order, perfection, and routines these days, I wonder if it's just you being a two-year old, or you being a future Type A personality.  Look what you meticulously made...

Not just one meticulously tall tower.  Three meticulously tall towers.  Over-achieving Type A personality?  Possibly.  Proud parents?  Definitely. 

15 MINUTES

Look who won a photo contest for Katelyn & Co!  You're right, you don't look two here.  You look a little young in this photo.  I submitted a picture from your one-year old photo session.  Not that you aren't cute now, you just looked ridiculously cute wearing their hat in this photo.  And I was right.  It got us a whopping $10 gift card, for winning the contest.  That was enough to buy half a hat in a larger size for you, not including shipping and handling. 

POTTY TRAINING

And so it starts...potty training.  Although we do have to thank Julie, your babysitter.  Alison's using pull-ups at Julie's?  We better buy pull-ups too.  Alison gets put on the toilet immediately after waking up at Julie's?  We better start that too.  Alison gets asked every 90 minutes if she has to go potty at Julie's?  We better do that as well.  Alison has a calendar with stickers to chart her progress at Julie's?  Let's go buy a calendar and stickers too then.  Imitation is the best form of flattery, right?  OK, in our case it's a matter of convenience.  But I'm not ashamed to admit it. 

PERKS

Your dad and I are enjoying all these kiddie birthday parties, like your cousin Saiyan's 2nd one.  With you not quite being big enough to handle inflatables on your own, we have no choice but to "accompany" you on them.  Yet one more perk of procreation. 

TERRIBLE TWO'S

These days you're very into order.  Things have to be done a particular way or you're not happy.  In fact, you're not just unhappy, you're downright terrible-two unhappy.  There is a difference. 

For example, when I once drove your dad's car you become hysterically upset.  Telling me that it's daddy's car and that it's not mine.  You yelled at the top of your lungs to drive mommy's car, not daddy's car.  We spent an entire miserable drive to the grocery store with you wailing and crying over this situation.  Needless to say, I haven't driven your dad's car with you in it since then.

OOPS

You inadvertently got your first hair cut, thanks to your daycare buddy Samantha.  While Julie was out of the room listening to Samantha say,"Cuh heer" repeately, Julie soon realized "Cuh heer" actually meant "cut hair," not "come here."  Oops. 

COPY CAT

Having dogs has its benefits, like having a pre-clean cycle around your high chair after a meal before I have to pull out the broom. They've also taught you to be comfortable around animals and to be gentle. Although they've also taught you some other quirks...

OOPS

After a hard night's work of trick or treating, you next spent a good deal of time meticulously inventorying the fruits of your labor.  Unbeknownst to you, you won't be able to eat half of what you collected.  Not because your mom's a dentist, but because you have a nut allergy.  Whenever someone would let you choose your candy, you always went for the candy with nuts...Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Baby Ruths, etc.  Not that your dad and I are complaining.  Someone has to eat them. 

SAMPLE LADY

This year I was one of those goofy parents that got dressed up to take her kid trick or treating.  Why?  Because my costume was too good to wear to just one party.  Or so I thought.  An older woman commented how nice it was that I was able to get off work early to take you out.  I'm now wondering how many of your grandparents' neighbors now actually think I'm a sample lady at Costco. 

TRICK OR TREAT

Trick or treating at Grandpa and Grandma's condo can be exhausting when there's 31 floors and over 300 units.

 

COSTUME PARTY

Every year your dad and I look forward to going to Julie's on Halloween.  We're always amused at how excited she gets for this day and look forward to her yearly Halloween costume.  We shudder to think what would happen if we ever forgot to bring your costume to daycare and hope to never find out. 

ACCORDING TO AJ

You've been in the "Mine Phase" for a while now.  This is what we've been dealing with day in and day out.  For example Grandma Kathy took you to the zoo and while the two of you had the elephants all to yourselves, a group of kids joined you two.  You immediately began yelling, "My elephants!  My elephants."  You were so upset and didn't want any of the other kids looking at them.

Another time you and I were hanging out at the mall play area.  You decided that one particular tree stump was yours and you didn't want anyone playing on it.  So, instead of playing with all the other things and kids, you protected your stump and wouldn't let any other kids jump on it.  When any unsuspecting kid came near it, you would immediately yell, "Mine!  Mine!" and do your best to block them from jumping on it.

Your dad thinks the logical solution to this "Mine Phase" is to get a sibling immediately.  I'm thinking there must be an easier way to get you to learn the principle of sharing. 

IN THE KITCHEN

It's Friday night and I'm baking.  I'm baking on a Friday night?  How did this ever happen?  Oh that's right, I had a baby.  Not that I'm complaining.  Spending a Friday night with a toddler can be just as, if not more, entertaining and messy as a night out...

Mixing the pumpkin spice batter

Cupcake liners in the pan

 Patiently waiting for the cupcakes to finish baking

Time for frosting

Making sure each and everyone is perfect

Making sure they're OK to eat

 Baking is hard work

 Voila!  The culmination to our Friday night in