Pizza farts and...

Today you were helping Mom make pizza and mom was explaining how yeast works. She explained that yeast produces gas just like farting. You added "I fart from my penis.".  This is anatomically incorrect we're still working on teaching you these things.

You also dumped the entire bag of cheese for the pizza on the ground.  As Mom expressed her displeasure had seen the entire bag of mozzarella dumped on the ground you looked down and said "I have some".  He then proceeded to serve yourself as much mozzarella cheese as you could eat from off of the floor. At one point I caught you hunched over the floor in a position in which one leg was lifted and you were balancing on the other leg and your arms like a three legged dog eating mozzarella.

Love one another as Jesus loves you

This afternoon we Skyped with Grandma. Behind her you saw a picture of Jesus and said that's Jesus! Then you started singing love one another as Jesus loves you try to show kindness and all that you do be gentle and love one another as Jesus loves you try to show kindness in all that you do... You continue to sing this over and over again. I love how you are always singing a song and you are often reminded of songs by what you see around you!

Little Gospel Scholar

Tonight as Mom tucked you and Alyssa into bed she asked "Do you think that God designed ecosystems for our earth?"  and you replied "No, Jesus.  Jesus actually."  You are so cute and so smart and so good.  Even at the ripe old age of two you know that Jesus created the earth.  I love you.

Some things I like about you

:: You love to operate the microwave. Whether we are cooking Joel's food or reheating leftovers, you stand at the microwave ready to push buttons. Sometimes you count down waiting for the food to be done. "Ten, eighty two, seven."

:: You push the food to the roof of your mouth with your tongue while you eat. You have been doing this for a long time - 6 months or more. It has resulted in incredible tongue muscles. You can do the wave with your tongue. The sides go up, the center down. The center goes up, the sides go down.

:: You are starting to run and climb more. I love your little widdle, waddle run!

:: You passed through your really challenging obstinate crazy phase I mentioned last time fairly quickly. I do have to be a bit more patient and let you work independently sometimes, but we've reached a happy medium.

:: You've taken to saying cheese when I take pictures and give a funny, goofy teethy grin!

Holy Moly, you turned two!

Tafty, Taft! You turned two and the last couple of weeks have been evidence of it. I don't write this to make you feel bad, but to remind me that there are good days and bad days and that the bad days were real, and the good days were wonderful.

You have some very strong opinions about everything. The simple day to day activities that you used to do are now rethought in your brain and often reengineered. Bed? I'd rather sleep on the floor. Carseat? Please, no! Getting into my chair at the table...is there a trapeze I could take to get there? It has been almost insanity, but somehow we have made it through. Emily Stephens gave me a book about talking to little kids and I need it to talk to you! There are some days it zaps all my strength to invent and reinvent new things to help you do what you need to do.

But most of the time you are happy. You are growing and learning to do new things. You are asserting your independence and that is an important part of growth. I am grateful for who you are and I love you! You will always have the most kissable cheeks and endearing smile! You are my Tafty!

I am thankful for you!

In two and a half weeks you will turn 2! What a fast 2 years your young life has been! I wish I could stop and drink you in like the smell of the sweetest flower.

We are at James and Camille's. You know we have come to Nana and Papa's town. You keep looking for Papa. You hear James talking and call, "Papa! Papa!" Then when you find James and realize it is not Papa, you are disappointed!

You have enjoyed playing with balls and Chevron cars while you are here. You have won over James Young's (Camille's Father) heart. He plays with you and likes you. You win over everyone's heart. You are so sweet and chubby and cuddle-able. I love your chubby hands and I love the way you wave them and clap them and "zoom, zoom, zoom" them!

Papa and Grandma were in town last week. You and Papa forged a special bond. Papa took you to the playground twice and you would push a tractor down the slide and Papa would catch it. Every morning you looked for him to come. Again, you won his heart. He says he is on a Taft High and can't wait to see you again! You make everyone feel special in the way that you love them.

Towel!

Alyssa had gotten chocolate chips out of the fridge. She dropped a few on the floor and Taft pick them up. I assume Taft had eaten them. A few minutes later I went to put his shoes on and he opened his hand to reveal a melty chocolate chip mess. He started to cry a little bit and say "Towel towel towel towel." He wanted to wash the chocolate off his hands. He refused to eat it!