In honor of my 2 year old- TALON

Talon’s 2^nd Birthday was in June, but I've been too sick to write posts and our internet has been in and out.

To my Talon James,

This last year you have grown so much! You’re playful, funny personality easily entertains us. Jax, or “Sass” as you call him, is your favorite playmate and when he’s not around us you frequently ask, “Where’s Sass?” Now that you are in a big boy bed, you love to wrestle and initiate play with Jax when you are supposed to be going to sleep. And since you are the first one up every morning, you are Jax’s alarm clock. If Jax doesn’t want to wake up to play with you, you get very frustrated and physically try to get him out of bed. Then you’ll yell “DAD-DY…wake up!”

Daddy’s definitely special in your life. You two have developed quite a bond these last couple of months since I’ve been so sick. If you wake up in the middle of the night and need comfort, you yell for Dad. If you fall down and get hurt, you go snuggle with dad. When you want a horse ride, you climb on dad’s back and say, “giddy-up”.

You are quite a little cowboy as your favorite accessory is your black cowboy hat. You love playing with your toy guns and LOVE dinosaurs (probably since Jax is obsessed as well). I did teach you that Dinosaurs ‘kiss’ each other, but somehow you decided that dinosaurs bite and growl at each other but they do kiss mommy. I don’t think I’ve received so many dinosaur kisses from plastic creatures before, nor kissed them myself (as you always insist).

You are Mr. Affectionate and freely offer your hugs, snuggles, and kisses. I love when you come up to me acting like a kitty cat and snuggle your little head into my shoulder while making a soothing noise. I also love seeing you give Jax a hug and tell him your sorry after you did something that made him sad.

Speaking of sad, you have been quite moody since April, I think it’s a combination of the allergy meds, teething, communication frustrations, and striving to be more independent. When a need is not being met, you have no problems expressing your emotions. Though this sometimes gets you in trouble, you are such an adorable kid in time out. You have kept us fighting laughter as your response to discipline has quite comical. For example, the other day dad put you in time out and said, “Stay there!” You furrowed your brow and yelled back, “NNNNOOOO!!!” Dad said, “ex-cuuuse-me.” And you responded calmly and naturally, “excuse you Daddy.” Or sometimes you’ll just burst into laughter after being punished…hhhmmmm…what to do with you.

Physically you’ve maintained your strong stature and have been wearing 2T clothing since 18months. You’re beautiful thick hair used to have curls before we cut it. I love your cheesy smile and frequently find myself just staring at your beautiful…I mean handsome face. My mom says you look a lot like me when I was your age.

Since I’m your mother and nursery teacher, I’ve seen your understanding of prayer start to grow. You love saying prayers and even when someone else is saying the prayer, you still offer your own. You always bless Mama, Daddy, Jax, Grandpa, Grandma, and who ever else is in the room, then you repeat this list over and over until the person is done praying and shout with arms extended and a proud smile on your face “A-MENNN!” Sometimes you even just fold your arms and say a prayer randomly.

Also, you love singing songs and pick up on them real fast, especially if they have movements. Some of your favorites are “Old McDonald” in which you tap your leg and stomp your foot, “Book of Mormon Stories”, “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, and your current favorite “I’m so glad when Daddy comes home!” You love playing “Ring-a-round-the-rosies” and “Duck, Duck, Goose” in which you always jump up anytime someone is tagged and run around and when it’s your turn to choose the goose, you go around the circle saying “Duck” about 40 times before you get to the goose. Also, you like to play the piano and say, “Mama…sing!” while you play.

Well, my little love, I’m so thankful you came into our lives when you did and for all the joy you frequently bring to my days. My heart breaks that I can’t lift you or let your climb on top of me to snuggle, but my heart is so in love with the person you are becoming. And in 9 months I can’t wait to hold my 31 lb, 35 in, cutie!

Love- Mama