Two

Two years ago today I held this sweet baby in my arms for the first time:

And today we celebrate his second birthday:

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, la laaa la la laaaaaaa!

Luke is such a fun toddler! He really embraces the essence of that word. He is one minute happy, the next sad, the next completely broken-hearted, the next happy, and so on and so forth. As with all younger siblings, he is eager to be just like his big brothers, but wants to do so with his own kind of Luke-style. I love everything about him, even the stuff that's hard, because he's so good at it all and does everything with complete determination. He's doing just what he should at this age, figuring it all out, and it is great to watch. He's not a huge climber, nor does he wander far or get into a lot of things, which makes things nice for me, but that's not to say he doesn't keep us on our toes in so many other ways! Luke is a smarty, a sweetie, a singer, a goof-ball, a brother, a joker, a laugher, a crier, a talker, a dreamer, a sleeper, a boy-all-boy, a lover, a fighter, a "magic bean buyer," and ours...just ours.

But if I had to pick just one word to describe him it would be "passionate." Yes, that means we get tantrums from him like we've never seen in a Conlin boy before, but we also have no doubt about the things that excite him or the things he loves either. So with that in mind here are some things that Luke, at two, doesn't love, and many more things he does love.

Luke's Dislikes (and that's a gentle word considering the reaction some of these things get):

• The word "no."
• When we don't understand what he is saying or when we understand but the answer is "no."
• Being stuck inside when others get to go outside because they are older and don't require the same level of supervision he does.
• Being left behind when someone is leaving, no matter who that someone is and whether he knows them well or not.
• When another child is playing with something that he sees as "his."
• When we tell him that no matter how much he likes something or no matter if he was playing with it a half-an-hour ago or not, that doesn't qualify something as "his."
• When we try to convince him he wants something other than exactly what he wants.
• Ruby's unbridled enthusiasm that has no regard for size or strength of any other living organisms around her (although he's mastered the "duck and cover").
• When we try to give him things that are bite-size as opposed to giant choking hazard.
• Diaper changes, no matter how stinky or uncomfortable.
• Waking up, even when it's 10am and really time to get up.
• Saying, "Please."

Luke's Loves (and this word may also not be strong enough to invoke the actual passion Luke has for these things):

• Mom and Dad; preferably Mom, but Dad's a real close second, and if it is nap/bedtime he prefers whomever is not bringing him up to his room.
• Airplanes, but if they are quietly sitting on the ground, they are no longer of interest.
• Fish and Sharks; "fish" said, "-ish," "shark" said with a special little growl sound on the "ar."
• Saying any and every word he can, very loudly. With the exception of "Please."
• Saying things louder and louder the more we try to quiet him down. Hilarious, that! Especially in church.
• Water, and anything that requires clothing changes four to eight times a day.
• Ice, that becomes water necessitating further clothing changes, and is excellent for chewing, especially when it is much larger than his mouth. See "Dislikes."
• His brothers, "Ack," "In," and "Osh," and anything they are doing that should not involve toddler-size hands.
• Balls, frogs, cars, dirt, etc.; if it would fit in the rhyme "Little boys are made of..." he loves it. Although I don't know about slime and snails...he doesn't really like his hands to be sticky.
• Making loud angry grunting sounds to announce his displeasure, the louder the better.
• Laughing while being chased, tickled, wrestled with, kissed, raspberried, smooshed, etc.
• Making others laugh or call him "silly," by doing such things as making weird noises, chewing on his shirt with his toddler belly sticking out and walking in a bizarre way, pretending to trip and fall, spinning in circles and then faking dizziness, and any other number of strange and goofy things the kid does to get a laugh.
• Bubbles and when they "ake" ("break," i.e. pop).
• Art of all kinds, the messier the better, and telling us the colors he is using in a very demanding and insistent tone. And eating marker tips, thank goodness for "non-toxic!"
• The letter S, in particular, but also R, M, O and Y. Although he insists that R and P are the same letter. And don't tell him differently.
• Reading books, carrying books around, reading more books, finding small tears in books and making them huge, standing on books, and reading even more books.
• The book, "Hands Are Not For Hitting." A great read with great reminder phrases to get him out of a hitting mood. "Lukey, hands are not for hitting. What are they for? Holding, waving, soft touches, blah, blah, blah." But hey, it works!
• Throwing things behind the couch or under the bed or stove and then insisting you get them for him.
• Snuggling, one-on-one or with a whole group on the couch, especially if there are blankets involved.
• Executing the perfect, 10-point tantrum.
• Treats: any, all the time.
• His milk cup, some things never change.
• Touching people with his used fork, dirty shovel, sticky hands, anything to share the mess!
• The word, "Mine!" (please note the exclamation point, because that's how it's said)
• Pretending to make things drive or fly, using all appropriate sound effects, including a "wo-wo-woooaaah!!" for when they are falling off of high places.
• All animals and the noises they make and their stuffed counterparts.
• Throwing garbage in the garbage can. Thank goodness he's grown out of the throwing anything in the garbage can phase.
• Telling you all the body parts he knows, his favorites are tummy and cheek, as well as teeth (said as he gouges his finger into your gums).
• Loving us all and being loved by us all; one of his new favorite words: "Hud" (hug).

Happy Birthday, Sweet Luke. You are truly, brilliantly, boisterously two! We love who you are, we love you in our lives, we love how hard you work and try. We love you!!