The Terrific Two's!

Let me tell you about "this guy"
Wyatt turned 2 this past September and has finally started to grow some hair.
People say, "Oh no, it's the terrible two's!" but I think it's the "terrific two's!"

Wyatt is so fun to have around; he really is my little friend.

Here's what I've learned about my little friend thus far:

WYATT LOVES . . .

*Cookie Monster, Mickey Mouse, NEMO, Buzz/Woody/Jessie, Chipmunks, Grinch, watching "shows", drawing with markers, shaving with Daddy, brushing his own teeth, running errands, hammers, cowboy boots, SWINGS, playing at the park, riding in the wagon, pulling flowers out of the ground, reading books, singing songs, clapping, marching, getting chased by the remote control car, drawing w/ chalk, chasing Daddy's truck, wearing his "aqua shoes," fake toy foods, pretend cooking, finding sticks, climbing up hills, playing in the mud, climbing on Daddy and MUCH MORE!

Wyatt's favorite foods:
*Applesauce "appulsauce"
*Broccoli "Brockee"
*Oatmeal "oatmeaaa"
*Edamame "beans"
*Strawberries "BB's"
*Bananas "mi-mi's" (I still don't understand where he got that?)
*Grapes "Brrrrapes"
*Noodles "noo-nees"
*Toast "toast"
*Pretzels w/ PB "petzul butta"
*Fruit Snacks "Foonack"
*Chocolate Milk "Choc-mulk"
*WHITE CANDY LIFESAVER MINTS (Oh my gosh! He is obsessed with these.)
*Popcorn "paw-kern"

*He loves dipping his foods into any kind of sauce (yogurt, hummus, ketchup, syrup etc.)
*He must have "BIG" pieces (whole banana, 1/2 an apple, whole toast, entire chip)
*He wakes up every morning and wants oatmeal with berries on top :) Lovin' it
*He and I eat treats sitting down together and he thinks he's special- like popcorn outside, or Edamame's on the bar stool, or fruit snacks on my run in the morning.

"These are a few of his favorite things . . ."
*Pulling all the lids off of markers and lining them up perfectly or putting them on his fingers.
*Tracing his hand on paper.
*Telling Daddy what he did with Mommy during the day.
*Pulling off stickers and putting them everywhere.
*Pretend pooping with Mommy on the pot.
*Climbing on top of Daddy and jumping on his head.
*Going to the "Poo" which means, the pool.
*Singing along to the Disney Sing Along Songs.
*Getting the mail at night with Daddy and his flashlight.
*Searching for golf balls outside.
*Drawing chalk on people's faces.
*Running to the door to scare Daddy as soon as he hears the garage door open.
*Carrying books one at a time from his bed to a different location.
*Performing karate moves to the Kung Fu Panda theme song.
*Putting shaving cream on his face while Daddy shaves.

*NEW favorite SHOWS: Tangled, Disney Sing Alongs, Nephi, & Letter Factory

*BOOKS*
"It's Potty Time"
"Llama, Llama, Red Pajama"
"I Am a Rainbow"
"I Love You, Stinky Face"
"Nutra Fruit Heroes" (Thank you, health teacher :)
"Wally the Whale"
"Snow White" (Mostly because of the "Hi-Ho" song)
"I Love to Laugh!"
"The Mine-O-Saur"

*Favorite SONGS*
"Hi-Ho" from Snow White
"Rio" (the Rio movie theme song)
"BINGO" from Disney Sing Alongs
"Horsey Song" from Disney Sing Alongs
"Following the Leader" from Peter Pan
"Mickey Mouse March"
"Dynamite" by Taio Cruz (yes, he knows almost all the words)
"Clean Up" from Barney
"I love Wyatt, he loves me, he loves Daddy, yessireee...."
"Popcorn Popping"
"Edelweiss"

Wyatt's birthday was very simple--it was all I could do this year. Student teaching was consuming my time and I had barely enough time to relax for 2 hours and celebrate with family.

My greatest desire, being Wyatt's Mom, was to make him a birthday cake. Honestly, that's all I wanted to do for him. I felt like I would be a good Mommy if I could just take the time to at least make him a cake for his second birthday. I kept seeing so many Mom's making these gloriously themed birthday cakes with cool frosting and action figures on top etc... It looked so cool and so fun. I felt like that's what I was supposed to do for my son. After all, he only turns 2 once and when he looks at pictures in the future, he's going to want to see a big, cool birthday cake that his Mom made for him. This was my expectation. I tried so hard to do it.

I called a friend and asked how to make an ice-cream cake. I felt like this would be high tech for me, but not too crazy and expensive (we couldn't afford to go buy a store bought cake either). I tried to bake the night before, I tried to get all the ingredients, I tried to get things ready for my son's birthday and by the time I got home from doing my student teaching that day . . . I came home terrified. I had no birthday cake ready for my son. I couldn't even make a simple, stupid CAKE! I am a horrible Mother. What kind of a Mom can't take the time to do this?

All these thoughts kept going through my head as I frantically tried to whip up a devil's food cake mix. Tears were streaming down my face. I felt like I had failed. I felt pathetic that I couldn't even do this. This is all I wanted to do to prove to MYSELF that I was a good Mother. Of course, Ethan didn't understand these feelings and couldn't understand why I was crying over a cake; no husband would understand I presume. I felt worthless and that my priorities weren't straight.

Then came Wyatt around the corner . . . eyes sparkling, teeth shining, mouth grinning from ear to ear as he yelled, "Ma-ma!" with the most excited look on his face. He ran into my arms and gave me a hug. Nothing could explain this moment. He did not know it was his birthday. He did not know I was crying about his cake. To him, nothing was wrong, nothing was different. He did not see me as a failure-- he saw me as his Mommy--his happiness.

More tender tears streamed down my face as I hugged him tight and stared into his happy face. His eyes pierced my soul and filled me with an overwhelming love that I cannot explain. My incapable thoughts of being a good Mommy vanished and all I could feel was love. The cake didn't matter anymore.

My boy gave me a new perspective that day--one I hope I never lose.

I still managed to finish a simple devils's food cake mix and he didn't know any different....

*Favorite Sayings/Phrases*
"Noooooo!"
"Draw, draw, pink?"
"Getchu-me!" (Get you me? Like I'm going to get you)
"Back, back." (I'll be right back) He puts his hand up like stop.
"Watch show?"
"Pay friends?"
"Tiss dis" (kiss this)
"Green beans go!" (Green means go)
"Me fall down."
"Watch, me, now. Otay?"
"Momma.......dat sound......?" (When he hears something strange)
"2 more minutes, otay?"
"Run! Mama! Run!" (As he encourages me when I go running)

Wyatt brings nothing but surprises each day and reminds us of what a privilege it is to be parents of an easy going, innocent, loving child. It's the little things in life that really matter.

I've realized that I care less and less about the mess, and more and more about what life is for.