2.5

Jackson's 2-1/2 years old today!

He's grown and developed in so many ways since his birthday just six months ago.  He has new hobbies and favorites, has SO many more words, moved past old fears, and continues to amaze us every day.

J still loves to watch his DVDs, but doesn't rely on them nearly as much, and there are days (and sometimes full weeks!) that we go without watching any of them.  When he does watch one, he has to turn everything on, put the DVD in and hit the "play" button. He's become quite independent.

We often take his big wheel to the mailbox but he still hasn't mastered steering.  I think we have a lot more work there - he's more into checking out all of his surroundings than keeping his eyes on the road.

Jackson loves playing with the Zoodles app on our phones (lots of games, videos and activities rolled into one), helping us around the house (often picking up my phone or anything else we may have lying around and saying "here you go, Mom!"), playing with his toy food and grocery cart, and sorting and counting out coins (and occasionally playing with credit cards, which we find in random spots around the house, where he's pretended to "scan" them in any crack he can find whether it's a door frame or window blinds).

He's started to enjoy playing fetch with Roxy, and loves to let her outside each day when we get home, and occasionally has been known to feed her on his own (we've had to set a rule that he has to ask us first, since the few times he's done this, she's already eaten).

J loves talking about seasons and what happens within each, for instance, in the fall the leaves change colors and then fall down, and in winter it's Christmas and baby brother comes, and his birthday is in the spring.  Speaking of birthdays, he doesn't care whose it is, he loves everything about them as they mean helping open presents, eat dessert and sing 'happy birthday'. 

He just started asking "why"  out of the blue, which was a word that he never seemed to understand.  Previously, when we'd ask him "why" when he wanted or didn't want something, he'd just respond with "yeah" and never actually used it himself.  That is, until we were walking out of the airport on our way back from California (more to come on that soon, promise), and I mentioned something about going home, only for him to ask "why"?  And the fun begins.  In general, he's quite the chatter box, often talking the entire car ride home from school about his day or random tidbits that he thinks up in the cute head of his.

Thankfully, J still loves cuddles, hugs (I get asked for a hug no fewer than 10 times in the few short hours we are together each evening), giving kisses and holding hands.

He's less shy around people like our neighbors (now running up and hugging some of them who used to make him cry by just looking at him), but more shy around others, often saying "I don't wanna say 'Hi'!" when we go somewhere new and he knows there will be new people there.  He's moved past his fear of haircuts (still doesn't love them, but doesn't scream through them anymore at least), past his fear of swimming and pools incredibly quickly, and his shyness in dance class about dancing in the middle. 

He can still be incredibly picky with his food, but then there are nights like tonight, where there are no arguments over trying new things (our rule is that he has to try a little of everything on his plate - if he doesn't like it after he tries it, he doesn't have to eat it, but he can't say he doesn't like it without trying it), or barters made over how many more bites are needed before he can have a snack.

Jackson still can't hold up two fingers yet to show how old he is (holding that pinkie and ring finger down with your thumb is hard work!).  Maybe if we start working on holding up three fingers now, he'll find success by the time his birthday rolls around.

Up next are all kinds of big milestones including moving into his "big boy room", getting a big boy bed, potty training (he's probably about ready to start --- he is dry nearly every night, and he likes to sit on the toilet (though he rarely ever goes), and of course, becoming a big brother. 

Looking forward to the wild ride that will be the next 6 months!