Clement is TWO

I thought I would break from the usual Journal posts and give Clem his own little post for his second birthday.

Likes:

• the word "nooooooooooo" (in his defense, when he does say, "yes," it is an adorable "UHH-huh")
• eating strawberries and raspberries
• doing whatever the big kids are doing
• reading books, he will happily sit on my lap and listen to long picture books, by himself or when I am reading to the big kids
• bananas
• giving kisses
• swinging at the park
• daddy.  he is aaron's most enthusiastic greeter when he gets home each evening.
• waving bye-bye to daddy from the front yard.  he stands there waving and yells, "bye-bye daddy-O"
• the color blue, he is very adamant about wearing his blue jammies and blue shirt if they are clean, and is rather irritated when they are not
• trains, he especially likes the little Thomas ones that stick together with magnets (he got a stuffed Thomas, a "James" take-along, and some train books for his birthday)
• his stuffed kitten
• playing Kolbe's "Let's Go Fishing" game

Dislikes:

• being contained
• he used to not really care for black beans, but I think he is eating those now
• milk.  i can not get this child to drink cow's milk.

Things he is doing at two:

• he will repeat almost anything, has probably 3-4 dozen words he uses regularly to communicate, and has starting to string together 3-4 word sentences
• he loves to jump on our little work-out trampoline in the basement
• he can climb and run and slide at the park quite independently
• he has been sleeping on the floor in his room (and still co-sleeping some as well) since March, soon he will move to a big boy bed in the same room as Kolbe.  he still nurses to sleep.
• he recently moved from his high chair to the big table (we had to put another leaf in).  after about a week of this we have decided that a booster seat at meals/snacks is a must. 
• I will come in and add his weight and height when I've taken him in for a well-child visit here soon.  I am guessing he ways around 23-24 pounds.
• he wears size 2T clothing
• he poops on the toilet exclusively and has started showing some interest in potty.  not enough for me to want do any intentional potty-learning with him, but I will continue to encourage.
• he is much less scary on the stairs than he was just a few months ago. I have actually started letting him go down un-accompanied.  But apparently going down head up on his belly is for the birds.  He likes to hold the rail and step down (like a big kid, go figure) or go down on his bottom.
• he has started showing more interest in the television the past four or so months, and will sit down and watch a show with the big kids.  he often holds one of his feet while he is watching tv.
• when I get the camera out he yells, "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE"
• he is still nursing during the night, some nights only twice, but a lot of nights many more times, for quite long periods sometimes.  it is getting frustrating and uncomfortable for me, and disturbing my sleep (and his) more than I think is necessary at the age of two, so I have decided to night-wean.  we are going to go cold-turkey.  I anticipate several rough nights, but I think if I am empathetic yet firm (vs. being wishy-washy about it and sending him mixed messages) we will make this transition and both come out happier and well-adjusted on the other side.  wish us luck on this journey.  I'll continue to let him nurse at naptime and bedtime as long as he asks, but I may transition him out of that as well when he moves to the big-kid room
• he occasionally skips his nap.  when he does nap it is only for 45 or so minutes.  he goes to bed between 7:30-8pm and gets up between 6:30-7am (typically)

climbing UP the slide at the park

with his backpack, just like the big kids

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CLEMENT!  WE LOVE YOU!!!