This is Two.
stories and snippets from the frontlines of age two.
General
Child 3 (boy)
Further regarding the stretching of independence: the testing of various relational boundaries and protocols, as in us calling him by name to come. “No…” he’ll whisper (or say confidently), staring at us full on.
“I can do it” applied to all manner of things, including hiking along goat paths adjacent to sheer cliffs, as in “don’t hold my hand, I can hike by myself.” In other words, the flexing of independence.
The creation of nonsense words, which are then used to define other (nonsense) words. Accompanied with alternating serious and smiling countenances.
24 months
Child 1 (girl)
“I need you to listen and to…obey.”
she turns around to me and explains:
”…I am talking to the wipes.”20090721
She sneezes: “I’m sorry Dodi! I blessed.” 20090721
Child 2 (boy)
Concentrates happily, until something’s not working, on building with wood blocks. Overjoyed when he manages to prop wood up together in a manner that represents his plan. Can turn the emotional gamut quickly, in any direction, when things fall down…but is also learning how to keep going when things topple. “Uh-oh!” Then back to it. I love how he talks himself through things as he’s building, and the joy he finds in narrating and finding his voice. At one point he tries building himself a slide out of a couple old foundry block pieces, and thinks he’s pretty cool as he precariously balances three inches off the ground.
I’ll quiz him on who we’re listening to. Invariably his first response is “Bob” for Bob Dylan. Then he’ll go down the list of (his syllabic utterings) for Leonard (Cohen), Nina (Simone), or Louis (Armstrong). 20120629
Talking up a storm. Teasing up a bigger one.
What a sense of humor: “Aunt Denny,” “Untle Daddy,” etc.
Learning the concept of sharing
Trying to be picky about eating sometimes. Fortunately or unfortunately, he has us for parents. :)
Loves reading books and DUPLO blocks
Child 3 (boy)
So proud of his independence in many ways. One of my favorite little quirks: holding his eating utensil in one hand while doing the actual feeding himself with his other hand. Watching everything and everyone around him with a slight mysterious grin, soaking it all in.
Will slowly peruse books, pointing to pictures and practicing sounding out syllables and naming things. Sometimes it’s the same recurring vowels or combinations for different things, again and again and again and again, and I swear he realizes he’s doing something that’s humorous, and just waiting for someone to notice. Or maybe not. He’ll make himself laugh reading through and saying the same sound for different animals, for example, and then get a giant smile.
Wrestling with his older brother. We have to remind him to be gentle. The younger, as he sits himself on top and starts bouncing.
Child 4 (boy)
Has a special connection with his sister, where he’ll go up (she’s 14) and will reach up for her to hold him. He’ll lay his head down and sometimes go to sleep, snuggled up. I totally don’t have this image imprinted in my permanent memory banks. 20210816
25 months
Child 1 (girl, August)
She gives me a Cheerio - a single Cheerio, accompanied by the admonition: “Make sure you don’t choke, Daddy.”
“Absotootly! That means ‘I love you Dodi!”
Me: Do you like it bright or shady?
Her: I like bright - hey, I forgot my umbrella to help keep away the hotness!
Me: Hey, did I get a good morning kiss from you this morning?
Her: Umm, no. You have a messy face.
No context: “Hey, I saw a jet!”
all above: 20090819
26 months
Child 1 (girl, September)
We just got done galloping. She is now in a bed - yes, our bed - angelic. “Galloping” is when I hold her and run real fast. Only it’s not running. It’s totally different, it’s galloping, and also we frequently listen to The Man From Snowy River score while we’re cantering (or galloping) at incredible speeds down the hallway. Or around the living room. She calls me “Dodi.”
“I want to hold your hand, Dodi! We will be brave together!” is what she says in her raspy little twenty-six month voice.
I will hold your hand forever when you want, I remind her truthfully.
Also, I need to fix our screen door and do laundry. And load the dishwasher. 20090914
My favorite line today: “I want to dance, and do ‘do a deer a female deer’ and then dance some more.”
Other phrases of hers currently: “Would you mind…?” followed by a request such as “…looking at a magazine with me?” or “Would you mind…dancing with me?”
She is also into octopus galloping, snuggle galloping, and swing galloping. If it’s not clear, these are new inventions we’ve brought to the world in the sport known as “galloping.”
Her raspy little voice and “r’s” coming from the back of her throat continue to enchant. Into dancing and Queen and Jack Johnson. Also: art, dancing and galloping 20090929
27 months
Child 1 (girl, October)
We have a daughter who is unafraid of raising her opinion, loudly, in a public forum. Such as an airport or airplane. We are trying to find effective ways to deal with some of her…disinclination to obey. 20091025
Many - and I mean MANY - emphatic “No Daddy, you do not _____!” (Do any number of things, such as get her out of the car seat). I told her the Biblical story of “Noah” while she rubbed my face. A laugh the size of a whale. 20091013
28 months
Child 1 (girl)
Me: I sweep her up, squeeze her tight. “I just like you so much,” I say.
She leans back, sizes me up. “I like Aunty Lanessa so much,” she pronounces. “I don’t like you.”
I don’t believe you. I said. And I believe time will prove me correct.
Loves watching and listening to her Uncle Jeremy sing. Right now: a cover of “I’ve Just Seen a Face” on guitar. “I like it when he goes ‘la la la!” He wasn’t around earlier, so she trudged across the living room, sighed, and said “I’m going to go sit on my animal couch…Daddy would you mind handing me my iTouch?” 20091110
Child 3 (boy)
LEGO and DUPLO block building. Books and reading - he will drop just about anything for. Talking talking talking talking and inserting himself as an active participant into every conversation possible. Dancing, acting, costuming…testing out and honing his wit and sense of humor.
29 months
Child 1 (girl)
She’s very excited about learning the Presidents. “Will you help me learn them?” Has 12-15 of them down.
Dancing to Horse Music (Man from Snowy River) until she’s almost asleep, then I lay her down to snuggle with Becca on our legendary animal couch. 20091214
Me: we need to get you some socks.
Her: Ok…first we will get me some socks, then we will go play basketball. 20091214
30 months
Child 1 (January 2010)
Something I looove: talking to her about music. This month: Tom Waits. “Is this Tom Waits?” she asks accurately.
Wanting to choose records to listen to all by herself. So today: Footloose soundtrack. She is big into choosing a lot of things herself. 20100124
Child 3 (boy)
”How did I do that? What did I say?” The ongoing query of what is happening around, and in response to people responding to his words or actions.
31 months
Child 3 (boy)
This is full human: Full on talking, running, climbing, attitude galore. There is no conversation he doesn’t feel entitled to join in on, no interaction in which he can’t engage, no activity in which he doesn’t want to plop himself into.
Challenges include finding appropriate outlets for anger and frustration other than hitting or screaming.
Really, really loves his mum. And simultaneously serves as disciple and leader to elder siblings.
Child 4 (boy)
Jumps off everything possible. Climbs everything possible.
Wears his mom’s blue dress and a green sweatshirt. Everywhere. All the time.
Loves helping out with laundry, folding clothes, and most other tasks he’s given that have a protocol.
Very, very into Moana and Narnia (theatrical productions his sister was in; he has memorized large portions).
Huge into dance parties.
Sense of humor becoming very honed and understanding more and more the subtext, nuance, and non-verbal aspects of what’s funny and what’s not.
One nap a day. Usually late morning for 45 minutes or so.
33 months
Child 1 (girl, Feb)
The Negotiator.
Daddy, I want to kick you.
- Uh, no, we do not kick!
No, I will just kick you gently.
3-1-2010
Those we adore:
“I really love that boy,” she quietly murmured as her Uncle Jonny drove away this morning. 3-05-2010
Miscellaneous
Tough month, volatile times
”Kiss like a drum”
Wrestling
”Why?”
Runny nose
Bug rides
Peanut butter
Aladdin/Abu
…potty trained!!!!
Child 3 (boy, Sep/Oct)
Loves to sit next to his older siblings and do school with them. Them on computers frequently, him with pencil and sheet of paper, occasionally complimenting them on what they’re doing.
Also likes to help with many things, including laundry and helping with his almost-2 month old brother. Is very confident at interpreting what his brother is saying or doing.
To say he’s close to being…a full-time toilet user would be like saying that California is close to New York. To be clear, diapers are still a significant expense in our family, times two boys. 20191011
34 months
Child 1 (girl)
She woke up in a FURY: “Where’s Mama? No! I want Mama to put my panties on!” 20100308
35 months
Child 2 (boy)
…potty trained!!!! 20130612-ish
Child 3 (boy)
He loves to build with LEGO pieces and give different characters names. I love how he is getting into creating narratives. “…and then…” (2y 11m)
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