{Gavin 26 Months}

Dear Gavin,

Today, you are 26 months old, and MR INDEPENDENT! We just cannot believe how you have grown! You are such a big boy now, and "Davin DO it" is the most common phrase around here. You are just so grown up.

To start, you are in big boy undies all the time. You have not had a single accident since the first week of potty training. You like to go potty by yourself, and you say "Davin go potty, Momma stay here...Momma do dishes!" Haha Sometimes I totally forget to ask you if you have to go potty....actually, I have never really "reminded" you, as YOU remind me! Each time I think to myself, Wow, he is SUCH a big boy!

You are also free of the very last "thing" that made you a baby...your paci! You have given it up, and have not looked back. You will often say "Paci broken, throw away, paci for baby" but thats it. Your naps were cut a bit short the first few days, but you have learned how to soothe yourself back to sleep without it. Again, we are so proud of you!

Your verbal skills are of the charts (to us at least!) You say any and everything, and its so cute. You often whisper/repeat WHATever I am saying to you, or others! If you hear me talking to someone, you will repeat to yourself whatever I said...even when you have no idea what it means. Its pretty funny.

You know all your colors, and you sure know all your construction vehicles! (20 trucks to be exact) You can count to 3 or 4 on command, although you don't like to count. You know some letters, specifically O, S, M and X. You love "Three little monkeys," "Ring around the rosie," and "Hokie Pokie." You LOVE any nursery rhyme, that's been converted to "Truckery Rhyme" and when I sing "All around the mulberry bush..." you stop me and correct me...."No mama! All round the PARKING GARAGE!" (Thats how the Truckery Rhyme goes for that song) Forget the old fashioned nursery rhymes!

You love to play with your bulldozers, trains, trucks, cars, play kitchen, stacking blocks, markers, playdoh, music set, and a million other toys. You also love the iPad, and any You Tube video of bulldozers or garbage trucks! You still don't really care for the TV, except the bulldozer/garbage truck/firetruck DVD's and an occasional Curious George.

You continue to love school...and your teachers...and your "friends" at school. Each week you have a blast, and talk about it until the next school day. You also have been loving art class. You go from station to station in minutes, and make things for your daddy and your Ma. You are a pretty big giver!

You have not really gotten into the "tantrum" phase of being 2 yet...you still are pretty easily distracted, and have yet to have a full on crying fit...you certainly want your way, and are very stubborn, but you are usually pretty easily talked out of it, or distracted. You have started learning how to test your limits when it comes to dong something you know you should not do...you will try again when you know you shouldn't, and then when we scold you about it, you come over and give me a hug. HA! You think you can hug your way out of it...and you are now learning that you can't....kinda cute I think! Another funny thing you do is come running to me if your daddy says you can't do/have something. You come whining to me, telling me what you want. When I don't give it, you run back to daddy and try him...forgetting that he already said no! You will do this ANYWhere with ANYone! Just this week at art class you did something funny. We were making beaded bracelets, and you wanted the bead off the bracelet, but it was tied down. I told you I could not get it off, as it would let all the other beads off...so you got up, and ran to the teacher, then ALL the other moms asking if they would do it! HAHA! If you don't get what you want, you will keep trying! Love your persistence:)

You are 30 pounds now, in 2/3T shirts and 2T pants/shorts. Your feet are in size 8 shoe (little big) and we got out the winter clothes last week as its starting to get chilly. For night time/nap time you are in size 5 diaper, and usually only needing one a day bc you are dry for naps sometimes.

You love your baby brother, and are always talking to, hugging, and kissing him. You want to see my belly (bare of course) at least 2 times a day, and you are so affectionate. We just know you are going to be such a great big brother...

We are so thankful for yet another great month Gavie. You are growing up so fast, and we can't wait for whats next. We love you little man!

Momma & Daddy