Happy 2nd Birthday Stephen

Stephen turned two yesterday, September 5th. I can remember the day so clearly... Kate and I, in the car on our way to Ukrops. Kate so excited to see all the big yellow buses going to pick up all the kids for their first day of school. We came home, pulled in the garage, and the first contraction came pretty strong and I knew he was on his way. Even after being told by my doctor that I was in false labor, I still knew that he would be making his way into the world soon. And then about 16 hours later, Stephen made his grand entrance. I can remember being so surprised with his blonde hair, tow headed, as I soon learned was the appropriate term. And, that he was only 6lbs 3oz! (I could have sworn I was carrying a bigger baby!) The moment he arrived he knew his momma and it will be one of the sweetest moments of my life. Gene and Josie arrived soon after he was born to meet him and when Gene was holding him he started to cry. Gene handed him back to me like a hot potato and he immediately nuzzled up and Josie said, "He sure knows who his Momma is!" And it has been that way ever since.

He now goes back and forth between discovering his independence to clutching on to his Momma. He will run into the world for a while, pause, come back to me with those blue eyes and request "pick up momma, pick up!" Sometimes I really don't want to have to carry another thing and then I think to myself, soon he will not want me to carry him or soon he will be too big. Soon is already here too fast, my baby is already two.

Right when Kate turned one, I went back to work 30 hours a week and Kate started daycare. She learned so much from her little school and I loved it. I have enjoyed this time around being home for this age. I love the discovery age and from what my mom says, he is a lot like me. "I do it!" or "I self!" And believe me, he does NOT want your help! If you help him and he doesn't want it, be prepared for a really big temper tantrum.

I am not comparing the kids at this age, but it is funny to see the differences. I am sure it is a combination of exposure, boy vs. girl, and being the younger sibling. Kate before she was two, could count to 10, sing the entire alphabet perfectly, and knew all her colors. Kate could say words when she wanted to and combine them, but not anywhere to the extent of her brother. Stephen can count along to 10, if he wants too, he is not great with the abc's, but he does know most of his colors. However, he is extremely verbal. He tries to say or repeat anything we say and can form sentences really well. Easter Sunday 2008, when he was 7 months old he said momma for the first time. He was already saying dada and he has been talking every since.

Stephen reminds me of his uncle Kirk with his methodical nature, everything has a process and should be done in that process. If you do it differently, be prepared to face the wrath of Stephen. He just likes it the way he likes it! He also knows exactly what he wants.... If he asks for mac n' cheese, do not try to give him eggs, he wants mac n' cheese. If he tells you he is done eating, he is done. But at least he doesn't waffle in his decision making, right?

Some of his recent phrases...

Pick up Momma, pick up!

I self!

I do it!

Kate, Kate, where arrre ooou?

I lu-loo momma - (this one makes my heart melt every time!)

Sumpen else? (aka something else)

What's gonna work, deem-work!

Fly boat, fly boat, da biggest fly boat! (We really like the Wonder Pets.)

So, you can only imagine the cake I made for his birthday..... The Wonder Pets Flyboat. He was so excited! He knew I was making him a cake and he did get to help. He kept saying, "MY cake, MY cake." I warned David, because I knew exactly what he was going to do... He thought the cake was his, ALL his. So, when it came time to cut the cake, he was having NONE of that! - MY Cake! So after some serious Momma convincing, he let us cut his cake. I cut the cake on back of the flyboat, so the front would look the same. He didn't really eat the cake I cut, he just rearranged Ming-Ming, Tuck, and Linny and of course the mast and sail... licking the icing off each time he stuck it back in. He loved it, which was the best part of all.

Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy, you promise me every night that you will always be my boy and I love you more than words can ever express. I love watching you grow and change with your sister everyday. I am so proud of you and I love you.