Happy 2.5 years old!

Leo gets ready to swing

Today it's official - Leo is two and a half years old. No more saying, "oh, he's 28 months," or "just a little over two." No, my baby is a little boy! There is lots of nostalgia and fondness for Leo's younger days (giving him the bottle when we first brought him home from Korea at almost 13 months old, the smallness of his body, the way he needed me to carry him everywhere, him only saying "bop"). But there is constant joy in seeing him grow and develop. I can just hear my sister saying, "Just wait 'til he's twelve and doors are slamming." I'm in no rush, that's for sure. Right now, Leo is my little pal.

The days when he challenges me (you know, the 5 time-out days when the time-outs are more for me than Leo), I try to remind myself it's healthy and natural for him want to establish more independence and control. Plus, there are so many positive things he is doing. He says, "Bless you," now whenever I sneeze. He proactively tells me and Robert that he loves us. He is understanding his place in our family and who his extended relatives are. He plays tricks on us. He sings songs that we've taught him as well as his own. He tells me what I do and don't look good in when I go shopping. He kisses MY boo boos. Doing things like teaching him how to throw and hit a baseball, watching how he interacts with his little friends, and listening to more of his thoughts and ideas since he is talking so much (interestingly, many of these have to do with icecream) is like a dream. I love being Leo's mommy, through and through.

So what's Leo into at 2.5? Robots (friendly-ones), making art, and cooking! He also loves to help Mommy and Daddy "clean up." He has set the table, taken out the garbage, windexed the mirrors, sorted the laundry and loaded the washer, put his toys away, and dust-busted. And, no, he's not available for hire at this time :) He still likes to spend lots of time outside playing in water, transferring water and dirt from one place to the other, and similarly vital tasks. All things just right for a 2.5 year-old. Happy birthday, cutipie! Mommy and Daddy love you so much :)