E is 2!

(Post is long, it's mostly for our memories, skip down to the pictures!) E is two! I can't believe it! He has been such a sweet addition to our family! He's mostly very chill and goes with the flow. However, sometimes he can certainly express sass and attitude! He loves being a member of the family and especially loves his big brother! He says Jo-shoo-a with such articulation and excitement when he first sees him in the day and constantly asks where his big brother is when apart. He loves construction trucks and cars, but his truest love is for trains! We live by a train track and every time we go on walks, he asks to see the "choo-choo chain" and he is very disappointed (hugest pout) if there isn't a train, and he shakes with excitement when one does come. He has a very sweet voice, but he also knows how to yell, really loud, especially during grocery shopping (which most of the time he's laughing at J). His speech has really taken off, and he's really getting the two-word phrases now! He is always asking where things are, he brings his hands up to his shoulders and shrugs when he says it. He is always asking for food, he runs to the kitchen and says "eat" all day long. He says "bye" to everything: people, toys, books, pictures etc. He likes to say everyone's name in the family all at once "mommy, daddy, Joshua." He likes to read books and likes to direct people to sit next to him on the couch to read together, "daddy, sit couch." He finally likes group hugs! He is beginning to count things and has started to identify letter sounds. Everything is apparently the color blue. He has been a little more difficult to teach, he is quite stubborn and gets quite frustrated when I try to do things specifically geared at teaching him, i.e color games, and letter sound identification cards. He learns best by watching J and learning through experience, I almost have to teach him by not directly teaching him. I think this is why reading has been so fun for us. He is curious about everything in books, so I try to throw out as much information as I can while reading to him (he has to control the page turns and speed though). He gets really offended when you don't eat the food he offers, even if he just had it in his mouth. He loves to run, but trips a lot. He hates diaper changes and will run and hide whenever he sees me with a diaper or hears the rustle of the wipes. His favorite thing to do is lay on the ground and drive cars or trains and watch the wheels spin. He loves to sing. He hates wearing socks and shoes. He likes to talk into the mirror, which is what I started doing with him more often when he was a little behind in talking. He has recently started to give kisses more. He loves to giggle, and loves to giggle with other people. When he is excited he jumps and exclaims "yay, yay!" He has a really good handle on the word "no." When he did something he knew he wasn't suppose to, he gets such a look of mischievous happiness that I can't even describe. If he broke something though or hurt himself doing a naughty thing, he becomes really guilty and usually sits on the couch suspiciously still and quiet. He sure is a funny little guy and we love him! Happy birthday buddy!