♥: Now we're in for it! Terrible Two's

Sawyer boy had a birthday. The terrible two's started early at our house though. I am used to Sawyer undoing everything I've just done, and creating trails of havoc as he goes his way. With his recent haircut he looks more like a two-year old. And his vocabulary is expanding.

Once Bridger told me "When Sawyer grows up, I think he will be a Spanish boy".
"Why?"
"Because that's what his words sound like".

Now Sawyer is starting to talk more, and he has picked up Myra's popular phrase "what the heck?".

But it doesn't really matter how much he talks, his meaning is always clear. Most of the time he says "NO!" and does the opposite of what I ask of him.

He has a determined and independent spirit. There was that time when I couldn't find him and so I ran in the direction I only guessed he went, out the cul-de-sac, across the road, down the path, to the tennis courts. There he was on his Winnie-the-Pooh trike. I assume he was headed to the school bus stop, as we took that route earlier in the day when we dropped Bridger off. After Sawyer, I understand moms who, with a mere second of diverted attention, lose their children through gates where apes dwell. He's fast.

Bubbles, bugs (especially caterpillars), "bobble" (sippy cup), "Booey" (Bruce), and baths he loves. Topping all else though, his favorites remain i-phones and otter-pops. Devin once said, if we could lock him in a room with phone's and otter-pops he'd be set until he's ten. The otter-pops used to be in the freezer in the drawer he could easily reach, and every day he would open up the drawer and cry because I said 'no'. I soon moved them up to a less traumatic spot (out of reach and out of sight). My phone remains a problem though. Any time I look something up on my phone, he watches me carefully and the moment I carelessly set it down he has already pushed his chair over and stolen it. If I ask for it back he screams "MINE!" and anytime I answer a phone call he is in the background yelling "I want to talk!" or just screaming. He does that a lot. Actually, between the otter-pops, phones, and all the other trouble I try to keep him from, he is often angry screaming.

But the lovely part about kids (depending on how you want to look at it) is how fast their emotions change. Sawyer can be in a screaming fit one moment and happily playing the next. And then again screaming, and then again happy. Thus go our days. His giggles are great. If you want to hear him giggling, just play the tickle game. He loves it, and if he can help it, he won't let you stop. Except when he screams "stop it" to catch a breath, and then he'll grab your hand and put it back on his belly.

Constantly, Sawyer rearranges chairs in the kitchen. Always pushing them to wherever he is trying to reach. My rug is always in the way and he believes a much better place for it is under the kitchen table, or in the living room. Then he can make his way say, to the treat cupboard... after pushing the chair over, he climbs onto the counter, reaches over the microwave, and somehow is able to come up with an assortment of jelly beans or other lunch box treats (I didn't know that was possible! It's a tall cupboard even for me). Or more often, (if he's not swiping my phone off the counter) he is playing in the sink. This is a favorite past time of his. Turning the water on, he fills cups up until they are overflowing onto the counter and floor. Or he "washes" the dishes in the sink. I'll put him to good use when he gets older! He gets especially excited when I am doing the dishes, "BUBBLES!"

He is really good at sharing. 'A bite for me, a bite for you' is how it goes between him and Bruce. I know it's gross. I told him, but, he doesn't seem to care.

Nothing is more annoying than when people talk about their animals like they are people, giving them personalities and a voice... Now... I know Bruce is a dog, and I know my kids are much more intelligent than a dog... but for a dog, he is pretty cute and fairly smart... and Sawyer and Bruce... they're just the same. They both know when they are doing something they shouldn't be doing, both cower at the sound of mine or Devin's disapproving voice, yet both will immediately go back to doing whatever wrong it was they were doing as soon as Devin or I are out of range. I have two toddlers, and they are best friends. And just in case you are wondering, two toddlers right now in addition to the older two, is all I can handle. Back to Sawyer and Bruce... When Sawyer wakes up in the morning he first calls for 'Booey', and he wraps his little arms tightly around Bruce's neck. He'll pull his tail, poke him in the eyes, and put his fingers in his teeth, and Bruce just takes it. But Bruce will get back at Sawyer, when we're not looking he'll swipe a Sawyer shoe, and run outside with it. "Ha!" (I never thought I could compare my child to an animal, but, basically they are the same... they're both so terrible.)

Some of Sawyer's other talents include gargling, jumping, spitting, and falling. The best part about him is his good, happy nature. When we are walking outside he waves at everyone and each car that drives by. And what I love most is his spontaneous hugs, kisses, and pats on the back. He is a good boy and we all love him.