2.5

Lucas is 2 1/2 years old.  How did this happen?  I don't know where to begin to try to define this little boy that has grown up so quickly!  

He is sweet. So so so sweet.  I can't wait to see him be a big brother.  He already loves his baby sister so much, talking to her, kissing and hugging my belly, and telling us all the things he's going to teach her.  

 

He's not afraid to get messy, except he doesn't like when his hands are dirty.  But any other place on his body or clothes? Bring on the dirt...or popsicles.

 

He is an explorer.  He loves to watch big construction vehicles work.  His favorite are the "excabatas" (excavators) and grades how hard they are working by how dirty they are.  He loves to look at spider webs and animals, and one of his current favorite toys is a pair of "nock-ee-yers" (binoculars) and a flashlight from MiMi.  He loves to wear his "fast running shoes" and do everything in his little power to not have to ride in a shopping cart. We enjoyed a morning at Lake Lynn a few days ago looking at the ducks and turtles.  We were looking through the slats on the boardwalk down at the water when all of a sudden Lucas pushed me back and said "watch OUT mommy!  there's a spider web!  you are TOO CLOSE!"  I melted into a puddle from the sweetness of him wanting to protect me.

He loves going to the "church building" (because his preacher daddy taught him that church is not the building...it's different.  He's potty trained and proudly wears his potty trained sticker in his little class and brings his big boy backpack because we had to get rid of the diaper bag because that's for babies.

He's a talker. He may be shy at first around new people, but as soon as he feels comfortable with you he will not shut up!  He talks exceptionally well for a two year old and comes up with new phrases every day that absolutely crack us up.  He can count and sing songs and say his ABCs, but the things he comes up with on his own are priceless. He's very observant and has an incredible memory [and will call you out on things if you go back on your word!]

He loves to play...and he plays hard. The way he and his daddy roll around and wrestle is impressive, and Lucas has no fear when it comes to trying new things.

I have to tell you this story because it's on that is definitely for the books.  I was at work and get a phone call from Brandon mid-morning.  Brandon tells me there has been an "incident" at home involving the water hose.  Lucas woke up early that morning and Brandon went upstairs to lay in bed with him to try to get him to fall back asleep.  Well, the joke was on daddy because daddy fell asleep, not Lucas.  Lucas let himself out of his room, out of the baby gate at the top of the stairs, unlocked the front door, went on the front porch, and drug the water hose inside the house and proceeded to soak our foyer and dining room.  Brandon came downstairs as the soaking began, and Lucas immediately dropped the hose when he saw him.  There was a considerable amount of water all over, thankfully on the hardwood floors and none on the carpet.  Brandon disciplined Lucas for going outside alone because hello that is NOT safe but he couldn't discipline him for soaking the house because let's face it, Brandon should have been downstairs with him.  So I'm hearing this story over the phone and Brandon is trying to blame it on me because I was the one who left the hose pulled across the porch the day before  with the water turned to the on position when I was watering the plants.  No way is that one getting pinned on me!  I freaked out because our toddler could have wandered off!  My mind goes to the most horrible places, but I finally stopped and laughed...because let's face it, Brandon had to clean up all of that water.  Not me.  Anyway, now we have slide locks way up high so that our child cannot escape.  Have mercy.

He got a pretty nasty cold this week, really his first one ever...which blows my mind. We've been blessed with a very healthy kiddo until this, so when the snot came, he would walk around the house with the most pitiful little voice and say "there's sommfing in my nose."  He had no concept of what snot was and he didn't like it one bit.  He was so sad but so cuddly during his little sickness, which is completely not like him.  We frequented the pediatrician's office 3 times over the course of a week and a half, twice for unrelenting fevers and cough and the final time for a bout of pink eye from all of the crud.

He loves his Mickey and blankie.  They are best buds.

And did I mention how handsome he is?  Come on.

Big boy, you are such a joy.  We thank God for you every single day.  I didn't think it was possible to feel so proud all of the time of the little boy you are growing up to be.  Stay sweet. Be kind. Love Jesus.  And slow down you little goofball, okay?