The Meek Family: TWO!

Our big boy is TWO!

What a fun week we had celebrating Colton's 2nd birthday. In many ways he already seemed two, but at the same time it was hard to believe he was turning TWO!

Colton woke up to a room full of balloons on his birthday (we snuck them in after he went to bed - but no worries, we didn't actually put balloons in his bed, we threw them in when we surprised him in the morning)!

The week of his birthday we went to the arboretum, had friends over to play, went shopping for fun things to go in his treat bags, and had a fun party at the park the day of his birthday.

We loved his birthday party! We'd been talking about his birthday for a few days, so on the day of his birthday he kept saying "happy?"...wondering when his happy birthday party was. So, after waking up from his nap and asking "happy?" we finally hopped in the car to head off to the park. He had so many little friends (and their mommies!) come out to celebrate! Of course Daddy was there too. He came from work and helped keep tabs on Colton and Sadie.

The kids played hard and had tons of fun running around. We stopped for a cupcake break and to sing Happy Birthday to Colton, and then quickly went back to playing. Next year we'll have a weekend party so family can attend! But, we loved celebrating with all of his friends.

Helping mommy fill your treat bags

At the park for your birthday party

You got very shy when you realized everyone was singing happy birthday to you!

Not so sure about eating your cupcake!

With your community group pals, Greer and Lily Ruth.

Colton, topped off with sunscreen, very sweetly holding Sadie

Colton and Lincoln going for their 2nd juice box!

At two Colton makes us smile and laugh every day. These are a 'few' things I want to remember about Colton as a just turned two year old...

Colton, you are such a silly boy. You love to dance and jump around. You wear yourself out everyday and crash at nap and bedtime. You've started tricking us and really showing us your funny side. You like to pretend a lot lately and will pretend to give me a drink or pretend to bring me something back from the grocery store...first, I have to give you a short list of items and then you come back with them and feed them to me. :) Or, if I ask you to bring me the remote you'll pretend to give it to me, then take it back over and over again, laughing hysterically the whole time!

This was one morning when we came in to get you out of bed...you are always so happy in the morning. You still like to wake up VERY early, but some days you sleep until 6:15-6:30, which is such a treat! Fortunately, its good down time for you and you just hang out in your crib until we come to get you. Thank goodness! Hoping you don't figure out how to get out of your crib anytime soon. Please God, don't let that be soon!

You'd been talking in single words for the most part and you also nod your head very emphatically in agreement when we talk to you. You get the cutest look on your face, your eyes get really big, and you nod your head up and down.

But lately you are starting to use many two word phrases like: 'Mama watch', 'Big truck', 'Help shoe', 'More ___', 'My turn', 'Sadie's turn','Me come', 'Sadies socks', 'Mowers all done', etc...these all just started popping out of you the past couple of weeks. It's been so fun, but I think I've heard 'Mama watch' a million times this week. You can say just about anything and do a great job repeating after us, but you are still pretty quiet in groups.

You've been very empathetic lately, which I discovered after fake crying one morning when you wouldn't come to me. After my fake tears, you came and hugged me. Since that day you've given me many hugs and kisses. I love your spontaneous hugs. You are really sweet after you've calmed down after throwing a fit. I guess you're trying to make sure we've forgiven you for your erratic behavior. :)

You love your daddy and have really turned a big corner (you've always been a huge mama's boy!). You LOVE running errands with your daddy and get pretty upset if he goes somewhere without you. This past weekend you went to the lakehouse with just daddy and had fun hanging out with daddy and BoPa. Mommy was so bored and lonely at home with just Sadie. :) But, I'll sacrifice another weekend without you and I've asked daddy to take you again sometime soon since y'all had so much fun! It is very obvious that you look up to your daddy (not only because he's so tall!)...you love working with him around the house and playing games outside. It's so sweet to watch.

Daddy cutting your hair! (this is your 3rd haircut)...we figure we can't mess up your curly hair too much, even if we make a few mistakes.

At two years you weighed 28.2 pounds (55%) and were 36 inches tall (88%). You have beautiful, clear blue eyes and amazing curly blonde hair. I love it. People often comment on your eyes and your hair. For some reason older people ooh and aah over your curls!

Some days you eat a ton, other days you seem to barely eat. You love snacks. You would snack all day long if we let you, but we don't! When you eat something sweet your face breaks out into the biggest smile and you start giggling. It's almost as if you know we think this face is so adorable that we'll give you more sweets just to see it!

You absolutely love going to the park (a.k.a. the playground). LOVE IT! Today you went twice with your daddy and when we drove by it this evening you started yelling "park, park" and didn't understand why we weren't stopping! You just love being outdoors, so I'm very excited that the weather has gotten cooler. Any time we open the door to a friend of yours you start jumping and dancing for them. We guess its your show-off/welcome to my house routine. You love getting to play with friends.

First time wearing cowboy boots. Love them with a pair of shorts!

You just heard an airplane and turned to see if I'd heard it too.

You love your little sister. You think its so funny when she talks to you and you always ask her for 'more' sounds. You look at me and ask for more as if I have the ability to make Sadie babble! You get so over-excited that you've hurt Sadie a few times by sitting on her, throwing something at her, or hitting her. A few times you've been mad and tried to hurt her, but most of the time you just get soooooo excited that you over-react! You always want to know where baby is when you wake up in the mornings and from your nap. Sadie gets lots of fun hugs from her big brother...some smother her, but she knows you love her!

You ask about family members a lot and you get really excited when we tell you your grandparents or cousins are coming to town! When we ask who you want to pray for you always name a few family members.

You have trouble sharing your toys with friends when they come over to play and have mastered the use of the word 'mine' to get your point across. Sometimes you push them or hit them. But you always immediately know you've done something wrong. This whole discipline thing takes a lot of work, but I know we are just getting started.

You've started throwing some fierce fits lately. You really get frustrated when I won't give you something that you want. I am trying to be patient, but I sure hope you move pass this phase soon (ha, ha!)

You love going to church to play with friends - we go Sunday and Wednesday mornings for bible study. You used to cry when we dropped you off, but stopped a couple of months ago. We always talk about the friends you get to see when you're in childcare on our way to church, so I think that gets you excited and puts you at ease. We also go on Thursdays for play group, which is a highlight of mommy's week too!

With play group friends

You are obsessed with all things train-related. We can hear a train horn from our house and you get so excited when you hear it. You start giggling, smiling, and say "choo-choo horn" over and over. You love your new train table (it was your birthday present) and wake up eager to play with Thomas and his train friends each morning. This is the first toy you've truly stayed interested in!