Reece's 2nd Birthday!

Reece's second birthday was a memorable one.  We were so blessed to have some of our family here to help us celebrate!  Papa and Nana joined us on Thursday, and then Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Sammy, Tia, Paityn, Kwyn, and Jaelyn arrived on Friday.  Reece's birthday party was on Saturday at Spreckels Park, and his actual birthday was the following Tuesday.  Thank you to everyone who helped make Reece smile a big two-year old smile!  Whether you were here, called, or sent something special, we appreciate you!

Instead of baking a cake we made Dirt Pudding cups.  They were topped with chocolate rocks and construction cone candles.  Thank you for all of your help Nana and Grandma!

The kids had fun sticking their name (and lots of extra letters!) on their construction cone cups.

Reece LOVED his CapriSun.  He didn't stop to take a breath until the entire drink was gone!

Reece wasn't thrilled to have all eyes on him.  We sang to him anyway!

He had lots of helpers to help him open his presents!

We opened up Reece's new tee-ball so the kids could play.

Reece woke up to balloons on the morning of his actual birthday! 

What would a birthday morning be without donut holes?!?!

K-State was playing, so Reece and Grandma had to wear their gear!

Reece woke from his nap to a new hoop.  He insisted on staying in his sleep sack for a while while he dunked.  "Slam dunk!" is his new favorite phrase!

Hurray for two great years of life!

Reece's Two Year Check-Up

Reece and I love going to see Dr. Petrovich...  but for different reasons.  I appreciate her calm demeanor, wisdom, and willingness to sit and chat about medical concerns, our children, and life.  Reece loves her toys!  He was very excited when I told him we were going to visit her on the morning of his second birthday.  He lit up and said, "Play!"

In the office there is a separate playroom for the kids.  Reece LOVES it and often has to be coaxed to the patient room with a lollipop.

Looking for the helicopter and airplane (of course!) on the world map.

Practicing letters, sounds, and jumping on the alphabet play mat.

Friends!

I have to keep a close eye on Reece in the patient room because he is more interested in the technical equipment than the toys!  

Asking the Magic 8 Ball if he will get shots today.  Fortunately the answer was "Very Doubtful"!  Reece is current on all of his immunizations until he is four.  Yay!

At two,

Reece weighs 27 pounds, 1 ounce - 39%

He is 2 feet, 11 inches long - 68%

His head circumference is 48.5 cm - 46%

Reece is 2!

You're growing up so quickly, especially now that you're a big brother!

Here are some fun things about you here and now...

-You have 16 teeth!

-You're suddenly talking away and you're chatting new words every day!  Some of your favorites are: please (with a high pitch), come, Elle, girls (you have so many in your life!), work, shovel, rake, bucket, coocoo, silly, pretzel, farmer, oval, tractor, red, blue, nope, and key (for OK).
-You've also started to put two words together: Close door, More cheese
-You can ID people by saying their names, and of course, RuffRuff.
-When talking about yourself, or when you want something, you say, Reece and point to your nose.  Sometimes you squish it down and it's super cute!

-When the breeze blew by, you said "Cooold!".

-When you saw a monkey you said, "Jump! Hop! George!"

-You're cautious and will stand outside the kitchen and say "hot" when I open the oven door.

-You also like to tell me what shapes/picture/letters to draw or write, and then will color it in yourself.  Your favorites are: boat, helicopter, fish, crab, shapes.

-When you get hurt, you call your scab or bruise your boobie (booboo/owie).
-At bedtime, you ask for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! You love to find letters everywhere.  On a walk recently, you spelled out HOLLAND(B)S as we walked by the bike shop.

-You also like to point out colors: red, green, black, blue, pink, yellow, orange, and purple.

-You still don't like loud sounds, like the coffee grinder.  

-Hats aren't your favorite, especially your helmet. 

-You're taking a long time to fall asleep for your nap.  RuffRuff is still your favorite source of comfort when you're sleeping, so you rub his tail while I rub your back and sing to you.

-At bedtime one night, you asked if we could pray for Dora.

-You've been a little clumsy, especially close to bedtime.

-When Dad and I hug and are affectionate, you get shy at first, and then run over and join us.

-You love Elle and like to hold her, but only for about 10 seconds, and then you run off!

-Speaking of running, you love to race!

-You insist that others share "Share boys!" but definitely have a hard time doing it yourself.

So Long, Farewell Pa!

Reece's pacifier, aka his "Pa" or "Bah", went "missing" on January 17, 2012 just two weeks shy of his second birthday.

Aaron and I had been talking about poking holes in it to lessen its resistance and having Reece wean himself from a "broken" pacifier.  That was going to happen as soon as he turned two. 

Well, on the 17th as I was lying him down for a nap he didn't have it and didn't ask for it.

 Just as I was getting ready to get it for him the thought occurred that we could go for it... cold turkey.  I laid him down and he slept for over two hours!  He did ask for it when he woke, and I told him that I didn't know where it was and that I would look for it.

After that, we were committed.  That night he asked for it and I told him I would keep looking.

He said "Okay" (phew!). 

Unfortunately, he woke at 3:30AM crying. We were able to settle him and he went back to sleep smoothly (another phew!). 

Since then we are still occasionally "looking" for his Pa, but Reece has transitioned well.  He sleeps through the night and takes good naps without it. 

It helps that he still sleeps with RuffRuff :)