Happy, Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Miles. As of late you have taken a particular liking to Elmo, or Melmo as you so affectionately call him. When I booked your birthday party several months ago you were crazy about Gymbo, however I secretly wondered as your big day approached if we had missed the mark with Gymbo as your fondness for Melmo became more and more evident with each passing day. Fortunately, you enjoyed your Gymboree birthday party, but I knew we had to have Elmo for your actual big day. We celebrated your second birthday in spectacular Elmo style: There was an enormous five foot tall Elmo balloon, you wore Elmo temporary tattoos, you had Elmo party hats and noise makers, we listened to an Elmo CD and to top it all off, you had an Elmo cake. You loved your big day celebration and I was so happy to make it special just for you!
As I'm writing this post a couple of weeks after your birthday, we have since had your two-year old well-visit. The doctor was very happy with your growth, the paper with the actual numbers didn't make it home, but you were in the 95th percentile for height still, and you have moved up to the 50th percentile for weight, I think you are 27.6 lbs, and the doctor said your head was proportionate to the rest of your body. You were such a good boy during your examination. Dr. Katz said he didn't think he has ever had a two-year old visit go so well. He said there is usually at least some sort of screaming. You were so calm and cooperative and we were all very impressed.
Despite having had your speech evaluated a couple of months ago and passing the evaluation with flying colors, the doctor is still a little concerned about your speech. You are starting to say lots of words and you will parrot a lot of what we ask you to say. However the doctor thinks you should be using two words together and you don't do that very often unless we request it. I think all in good time. But the doctor does want us to keep an eye on it. I must say regardless of your small verbal vocabulary, it is obvious to everyone who interacts with you how smart you are. You are very good at figuring things out. You got two brand new puzzles for your birthday and you had them mastered the first time you tried them. You know all your colors and are so proud of yourself when you can identify them for anyone who will listen.
You love your big brother and want to do anything and everything he can do. It can be very difficult for you when I am unable to allow you to do something Oliver is doing. I am often reminded of the song "Anything you can do, I can do better" when I watch you trying to keep up with Oliver. You have very little fear of anything and that makes Mommy very fearful. You would love to climb all over the playground with your brother and most of the time you are able to get where you want. Fortunately, there haven't been any real injuries yet.
You are very independent. You definitely want to do everything for yourself and it is sometimes hard for you that you can't tell me exactly what you want yet, but we eventually figure it out. I have to make sure to keep a very close eye on you because you are completely fine with just wandering off and exploring whatever you want. But you are so cute and you usually ask me if you can first. To ask me, you make it clear what you want to do, then you look me in the eye and say "me?" and wait for my response. Oh, how I love that. I hope you keep that little desire to please.
At two years old you adore your Daddy. You get so excited whenever he is coming home and you ask for him multiple times throughout the day. Whenever I pick up the phone to make a call, or answer a call, you ask if it is Dada. You love talking to him on the phone and even pretending to talk to him on toy phones. You are up for any game Daddy wants to play, but I think you love it most when you guys are down on the floor wrestling.
You are definitely strong willed are very sure of what you want, but you are incredibly accommodating and it often surprises me how well you adjust to whatever schedule we might have. You don't seem to mind one little bit having to rush out the door multiple times per week for Oliver's activities. We play with your toys, or watch Oliver, or color, or play with Mommy's phone and I don't think I've heard you object even once. You and I don't have a lot of alone time together, especially during the summer months, but I absolutely adore holding you for stories multiple times per day. You loves books and you always have to sit on my lap for stories and I love that. We have milk and stories every morning and after nap and I love hearing you call for me when you wake up: Lately it's "Mommay, Mommay. Oliver taught you that. :)
You still adore stuffed animals and your newest one always seems to be on the top of your favorite toys list. You still sleep with Senor Vaca, El Cerdito, and Elefante and your favorite toys are your kitty and monkey right now. You love all things transportation and are perfectly content to play with anything Oliver is playing. You two play so nicely together.
