Liam is 2!

Liam is now my newest terror, I mean two-year-old. They say not to compare your kids but Liam is so different from Connor at this age. Both difficult in their own ways but it's like learning to be a parent all over again. I love that I can predict Liam better and communicate more but with that greater understanding from him I also expect better behavior/sharing/attitude/obedience but we all know that doesn't always happen. 

I can't believe how much Liam is talking. Since the week he turned 2 he has started talking in 2-3 sentences. He tells me about everything, asks for what he wants and answers yes/no questions. I hear "look" all the time. "Look, dirty hands" "Look, a owie" "Look, Connor"

Liam finished growing in his four 18 month molars just before his birthday. He is now working on the canine teeth and then will still have his 2 year molars to go. So he is a little behind on teeth but that's not really a big deal. 

At his 2 year well check-up he was 35 inches tall, and 27 pounds - both just above 50% so he is doing great at growing big and strong. He also likes to "workout" with me.

Maybe my favorite part of liam being two is that a few months ago he started sleeping through the night! He has woken up early in the night a few times but is happy to be held and given a pacifier and then he will put himself back to sleep. 

For the most part Liam really is a sweet little boy. He loves his brother and anyone that gives him attention. To this point, has never had a clingy phase and is so happy to just be included with whatever is going on. He thinks he is 5 like Connor and whatever Connor is doing is what he wants to do too. 

Liam loves his blankies and pacifier and is always happy to chill on the couch. 

If I had to pick one object that was his most favorite toy it would definitely be - my vacuum cleaner. I have to keep it locked up or he will have it out all day. 

Another fun fact that you all already know if you have ever been on the phone with me is that Liam is a screamer. If things don't go his way or especially if Connor does something he doesn't approve he will scream bloody murder. 

He can cross his fingers without using the other hand to move them. He crosses the first two and middle two on both hands! 

Favorite foods: Liam loves olives, seaweed, chickpeas, fruit, all meat, fruit snacks and suckers. He hates green beans and always has since he was a baby. He was even happy to try the green beans Shelby grew in her garden but after the second bite he spit it all out with a face. 

Liam asks and goes pee on the potty all the time. At least once or twice a day but I am so not going to potty train him. I'll wait until after our next move when we have settled in. Even his pediatrician thought that was a good idea because kids regress so much with big transitions like that. 

Liam loves music and songs and asks to dance to a playlist I have for the boys on my phone. He can sing the beginning of happy birthday, baa baa black sheep and twinkle little star. 

He loves to pretend he is a puppy a pick up things with his mouth or a frog and hop around saying "ribbit".

Liam's tongue is always out! He can't concentrate or do anything unless he has a little tongue poking out. 

Liam loves water and is always happy to hop right in. Even if he is fully clothed. He freely shares his love of water with his brother and family too. 

I'm surprised at how fast he has learned to use the iPad. He can easily navigate through the apps and get to the one he wants, independently plays the games and can browse and watch the movie he wants. Good or bad I'm still impressed he can do it.

Some things that are very uniquely Liam: He is so observant and won't try things right away but the next day I'll catch him trying to do something Connor or I did earlier. For example one day I was in mom and dad's backyard and found a pole to spin like I did when I was in color guard. Then the next day Liam tried to do the same thing with a stick he found at our house. I hadn't even realized he was watching me the day before. 

I love it when I'm doing something mundane and all the sudden Liam says  "yay! You did it!" Like he is my personal cheerleader. 

I'm pretty sure Liam learns a new word about everyday. At his 2 year well check-up I felt confident saying he had a vocabulary of at least 100 words but now a few weeks later I think it is closer to 200. Between knowing all his body parts, nouns around the house, animals and their noises, and verbs he has a lot he can say. I also finally understand what people mean when they say "they understands more than they can say." I believe that is totally true for Liam. He is understanding questions and commands Connor wasn't getting until he was closer to 4. 

I love when I repeat something Liam said or ask him about what he wants and I can see Liam's eyes light up when I get it right. Of course there still are tons of times I have no idea what he is saying but when we communicate and are on the same page it is easy to tell. 

I also impressed with some of the concepts that Liam understands. We went by Connor’s room and I told Liam he had to be quiet and Liam said “Connor sleep” and he was totally right. He also says “mom fix” “sand eye” “where’s Connor” “got you!” “Open bottle” “I (want) water” “all wet”. The other morning he spilled water all over his shirt and said “trouble naughty, look shirt wet.” So many good words in sentence form!

He understands the concepts and says the words: hot, dark, circles, naughty, more, hurt, fall down. owch, outside, inside, up, down, star, where is _ , and upside-down. 

Liam loves his grandpa! Anytime someone comes or goes out the front door he asks where pop pop is. But if he wants something he always goes to grandma. 

He gets in trouble everyday for spitting water on the floor and couch from his water bottle. He also has a bad habit of taking his high chair tray off and dumping all his food on the floor.

He loves to tease me and torture his brother. Poor Connor can’t touch anything without Liam trying to take it away. I get lots of “tickles” and things that crash into me. Today (July 9) every time he saw me sitting he would come and give me a kiss on the mouth. 

I think Liam may actually have a longer attention span than Connor right now. He will sit and watch a whole hour of a show called cocomelon without moving unless his brother distracts (jumps on) him. 

Liam understands discipline. He gets time-outs daily but they usually don't have a lasting effect.  Here is is with vicks vabo rub all over the curtain and himself and our time out place.

On the morning of his birthday we tried to do a photo shoot but it was so hot we didn't get a ton of pictures but still enough to see his spunky personality. 

Below he was shrugging his shoulders being a goof.

Checking out grandma's flowers. 

Standing on a big rock!

We all love you baby cakes!