Samuel: 2 1/2 years old

Samuel is 2 1/2 years old! This is what he is up to:

• Size 3T pants and size 3T and 4T shirts. A lot of 3T shirts are too small or on the small side. Shoe size 8/9.
  
• Scrunching up nose when he talks
• Recognized #2 and said it was 'like Samuel is 2 years old!"
• Starting to sing along with songs
• Daddy is now sitting in the chair by the door at bed time! You are getting so big and brave about going to sleep at night and we are so proud of you. Grandma put you to bed one night and she asked if you wanted Grandma to lay down with you. You said to her "No. Grandma sit in chair . . . . it's reeeeeeeally far away!"
• Hates wet things - sometimes even gags. Still doesn't do well with wet wipes or dirty diapers
  
• Likes to make "pumpkins"(smiley faces) on Mommy's phone
• Likes to look through Daddy's Bible verse cards and ask Mommy "what this say?" Mommy loves to read Bible verses to you!!
• Go Eagles (for soccer) and Go Broncos (for basketball)
• Has a fascination with bridges. Loves to go on bridges and under bridges. Favorite part of the ride to Grandpa and Grandma's house is going over the highway on a bridge! Grandma took him on a foot bridge over Westnedge the other day and it was probably the highlight of his day!
• Rarely gets up before 8am . . . usually closer to 9. Doesn't like to go anywhere fast, especially in the mornings. Very difficult when we have to be somewhere in the morning at a certain time! Much happier when you can take your time, drink your milk, play with your toys, have some breakfast, watch some Boz, and just chill out for awhile before trying to go anywhere or do anything. Would love to stay in pajamas all day long!
• Favorite movies and TV shows: Cat in the Hat, Curious George, Boz, Maisy Mouse, Steve Green Hide 'Em In Your Heart
  
• Favorite food: Pancakes, Rice (with brown sugar!), Yogurt, Applesauce, Chocolate Chips, Fruit Snacks, Raisins, Cantaloupe, Mixed Vegetables
  
• Least favorite foods: Meat (any kind), Green Grapes, Lasagna, Green Beans
  
• Favorite books: Murmel Murmel, Mortimer Be Quiet, I Spy books, Richard Scarry books
  
• Favorite toys: Matchbox cars (especially his "workin' machines": dump truck, loader, crane, etc), balls, car track, trampoline, slide, foam letters, sandbox
• Is afraid of: Dogs, cats, bugs, butterflies (don't ask!), strangers
  
• Loves to swing outside. Calls himself "Pluto" when he is on the swings because once Daryl told him he was being goofy and he replied "No Daddy, I be Pluto!"
  
• Knows his ABCs and can count to 10 without any help. Has memorized Luke 18:16 and can recite it almost word for word.
• Your imagination and creativity are starting to run wild. It is fun to watch you pretend, imagine, and create things.
  
• You are starting to ask questions! Questions like (when I'm flushing the toilet after cleaning out a poopy diaper) "Where's it go, Mommy?"
• Doesn't like hot (temperature) food at all - food has to be almost cold before he'll eat it. Very sensitive to the temperature of things.
• Fascinated with the lines/imprints that things setting on the carpet make
• Doesn't like it when Mommy and Daddy try and talk to each other. Would much rather that we are talking to him, or better yet, playing with him and giving him our full and undivided attention!
• When he gets hurt and we ask him where his owie is he'll often point to it and say "see that line?"
• If he doesn't understand what we are talking to him about he'll say "What you talkin' 'bout?"
• Can sing all of "Jesus Loves Me" without any help!
• You are in a stage right now where you want to make sure Mommy knows everything that you are doing. All day long I constantly hear "Mom, Mom, Mom" - and usually you say it at least 3 times (and I answer 3 times) before you finally tell me what you want to say. How thankful I am that I have a little boy that calls me "Mom" - I would be so sad if I never heard that word so I will be thankful every single time that I hear it come out of your mouth!
  

Mommy loves you SO much, Samuel Jack!! I can't believe that you are already 2 1/2 years old. I love to watch you grow up into such an adorable little boy!! You are the perfect mix of everything I could ever want in a 2 year old boy. You are so special to me and even more special to God. He created you and loves you so much!