Dear Chase and Ryder,
Happy Birthday!! 2 years old. It is truly unbelievable. This birthday did not send me into tears like your first had, but still, I am amazed. We celebrated your actual birthday with a playdate with Madden and Ilivia. We had a good time. Unfortunately, you did not take your nap that day, which led to a long afternoon and a rough night. Ryder, you fell asleep at dinner
and we had to wake you for cake and gifts (a book and a puzzle.) We are having your party on Saturday, a bbq at home with 20 kids and their parents.
We preceeded your birthday with a week's vacation in Margate. We began the week at Sesame Place, where you had fun, but you needed some time to warm up after being terrified by the characters. On Tuesday we spent the day at the beach and we went out for ice cream that night. Wednesday we hung out at the house, in the pool and went to Ocean City at night where you loved the rides!! Thursday was back to the beach and it was beautiful. Friday was the 4th of July. Aunt Beth, Uncle Dave and Jackson came to spend the weekend with us. We took you to your first movie prior to their arrival, Kung Fu Panda. You both did great. Ryder you slept for the first 20 minutes than woke up and sat through the whole thing. Chase, you sat through most of it, got mildly scared in the middle and got slightly restless at the end, but overall it was a great experience. After a bbqdinner we went to the beach to await the fireworks. Past your bedtime, you were both excited for the display but after the first firework, Chase, you were scared out of your mind, jumped into my arms, and cried for an hour. Ryder, you absolutely loved it. Applauded, cheered, and watched in disbelief. Charmingly however, Chase, once you calmed down, you did ask to try again at the fireworks.
Saturday we went to Chuck E Cheese and Sunday we came home to celebrate your
early birthday with the grandparents. It was one busy week. Vacation is fun, however, and I hope we can do it more often.
Your official 2 year weigh in went as follows:
Chase you weigh 25 pounds, are 33 1/2 inches, and your head is 18 1/2 inches. Both your height and weight are 10th percentile bordering 25th. Ryder you weigh 24 pounds, 33 inches, and your head is 18 1/2 inches. You fall definitively into the 10th percentile. You are both exactly where you have always been on the charts.
At 2, you are rambunctious and curious and funny. You are beginning to really interact with each other, talk with each other, play with each other, and of course, fight with each other. it is a pleasure to watch. I often let you duke out your own arguments and step in only when necessary.
Ryder you love to sing. Happy Birthday still tops the list, but occasionally other songs are thrown in. I actually think you may be able to carry a tune, unlike me.
Chase, you love to be introduced. We spent a morning with Beth's niece, Olivia, who loves to perform but has to be introduced first. You watched this, got a kick out of it and now love being introduced. You have yet to perform after the introduction that goes as follows:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, introducing the one and only Chase"
You come out and scream and clap. It's cute. Ryder, you have been getting into this as well.
Ryder, you love to take your diaper off. Unfortunately, you take it off whether it is loaded or not and as a result we have had a few messes. We are trying to find a solution, of which may be to potty train but we are not sure you are ready. We are trying to remain stern as we tell you that your diaper must stay on. We try to prevent it. I can't figure out if you do it because you can, because you are bored, or because you do not want to wear your diapers. You don't seem to care about wearing underwear. We will see what happens in the months to come. Chase, you seemed to have learned this
trick from your brother making the situation a bit more dangerous, though luckily you have just christened your crib with sissy.
Almost instantaneously after turning 2 both daddy and I have noticed subtle changes. You seem a bit more independent, a bit more interactive with each
other. Oddly, you seem older, as if you know you are now 2. Do you want potty train?
Ryder, your new phrase is "Oh my god!" and it is absolutely hilarious to hear you say it, at the funniest times.
Chase, you are very into doing things yourself, whatever it may be. I welcome your ambition!! You are adorable and always ask to try again, after doing almost anything, even if you did not like it. You proclaim "self!" and off you go.
Although you both fall down often, you will both look up, and say "I'm ok," "I'm ok." And, adorably, you will also ask each other if you are ok with every fall, whimper, or cry. You really look out for each other. Always checking in on the other one or telling me the other one of you is sleeping, crying, or hungry.
Its wonderful to watch you forge a friendship despite your different personalities.
Twice this month you went to "camp" at My Gym." I dropped you off for three hours and you both did wonderfully, the worst of it was your asking for me a few times. I definitely think you are both ready for school.
We confessed to the world about your baby sibling to be. It is fun and exciting to have our friends and family join in in our excitement. When we told you the news, on Father's Day, you both reacted perfectly, almost as if it was rehearsed (it wasn't!) You seemed excited and happy, i hope you are when he/she arrives.
You both love babies, particularly Chase, who gets so excited to see any baby. We see Benjamin Stiefel most often, and though you love hanging out with Adam, you will cheer at the sight of Baby Benjamin. You loved spending the weekend with Jackson and wanted to feed him as often as possible. Ryder, although you loved Jackson, your favorite person was Dave. You seem to be a guys guy!!
You know some shapes, triangle, circle, square. You can do puzzles and enjoy them. You know some colors, but inconsistently. Orange you most often seem to get right, and Chase, you think things are usually pink. Ryder, your First answer to color, however, is usually blue. Chase, you counted to 20 twice now, it actually surprised me to hear you do it. We think you must have learned that from Sesame Street. Ryder, your counting is a bit more in typical Ryder fashion and you skip numbers as you please. It seems you know them all but just choose to rearrange them.
It's rather amusing. You can both recite the alphabet from start to finish. You seem to be able to recognize a few letters, but it seems to be inconsistent like the colors. We like to play a version of eye spy, where I will spy an object on the page (or in the area) and you will point it out. We all like that game.
Although we have had less activities this summer we have managed to keep busy.
You are both pretty mature for your age in spite of your non-interest in potty training. You are both very polite and hilariously funny. You are a
pleasure to be around, you love to smile and laugh. You light up my world and make me so proud and not a day goes by that I don't realize how blessed I am to have you for sons. Of course you have your moments, but overall you light up a room and those around you feel your warmth.
Two years old, the time has flown, our love has grown, and continues to. Everyday is an adventure that I welcome. I love you so!!!
Mommy.
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