Happy birthday, sweetheart! It is hard to believe that you are already two year old. Two years ago today, we were snuggling you in the hospital, getting used to changing diapers and learning how to swaddle. You were so small and uncoordinated. Now you run and jump and climb. I'm looking forward to this summer, when we can play outside and watch your skills develop even more.
You're using more and more words these days. Mostly you repeat what we're saying, but we've run into a couple of instances when you said a word that we didn't recognize. I anticipate that happening more often, until your enunciation gets better. You talk a lot when you're playing--you'll sit and play with your trains for half an hour, saying "train, train, train" the entire time. You have started using words for a couple of your signs, like Bye and Down and Fish, but other signs have stayed silent, like More and Please. You know all kinds of colors, and you can count up to five. You like to count off, "One, two, three, jump!" You have the painful honesty of a small child. We were looking out of your window the other night, to say goodnight to the stars, and instead you said goodnight to the dog poop that you could see in the yard.
You have two more teeth coming in--your canines. It's been making you a little whiney, which might be a little annoying for us, but is good for the tantrum researchers. We discovered that the video equipment had failed to record anything for a while, so we had essentially started over with the study. Then you were in Madison for a week with the Lams, and the two weeks after that you were in a good mood all the time. The researchers actually called us to say that they were going to come and pick up their equipment, but then they decided to give us more time. I thought it was pretty darn funny--you failed the temper tantrum study! But last night we managed to record you being unhappy when I wanted to eat dinner instead of come play with you. So hopefully we'll be useful to science yet.
We had a few weeks of very cold weather, which was exactly the time that you started swimming lessons again. You love swimming lessons. You like being in the water, and playing with all of their toys. You're learning how to kick your feet and move your arms in the right way. You're also learning to blow bubbles, which Grandma Lam encouraged so that you could blow out your candles on your birthday cake.
You did that very successfully, by the way. All five times that you made us light them for you. Dad and I gave you a little train station for your train tracks. It makes three different train sounds, and it's pretty cool. Dad also bought you the biggest balloon he could find, which was a huge fire engine as big as you are. Grandma and Bapa Lam gave you a train of letters that spell out your name. Grandma and Grandpa Thorne sent a set of kid-sized yard tools, which I am saving for the summer for you. I think you'll really like them; you always want to help us rake and dig and whatever, and now you'll have tools that are just the right size. I'm also saving a really cool RC car that Aunt Erin and Uncle Scott gave you. I think that's going to be an awesome summer toy.
We get to see Grandma and Grandpa Thorne this weekend. They're going to be in the Madison area, so we're taking the chance to get to see them after only driving six hours instead of twelve. A friend of mine asked if we were going to take you to your first political protest down at the state capital. I think we'll take a pass, but it is interesting to think about how much the world has changed, just in your life time. Changes always happen, and I hope that you are never frightened by that. I hope you will take the opportunities that arise around you to make the world always more peaceful, more fair, and to make life better for every person. Your father and I grew up watching space shuttles fly men and women to moon. You watched the last lauch of the space shuttle Discovery the other day, and while you mainly liked it because of Curious George, I hope that you will grow up watching science and exploration continue to improve life here on Earth.
But I promise you, no matter what you grow up to be or do, we will always love you, just for being who you are: our sweet, helpful, smart, funny boy.
Love,
Mom
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