Life with a Two Year Old

This post is more for me so I can remember all these little details of Miller. So bear with me since it's a little wordy ;)

It has been one month since Miller turned two and we officially have a two year old living in our house.
It has been crazy to watch him change from little baby to little boy over the last year.
Sometimes Kyle and I look at each other and can't believe we have this little person with major feelings, opinions, and personality living in our house.

Miller is all little boy. We cannot get enough trucks, trains, fire trucks, police cars, or construction equipment in our house.  He only likes shows with trucks in them and we talk about every.single.truck that drives past our car or house everyday. I never knew so many different trucks existed.

His vocabulary has gotten so much better over the past few months and it blows my mind to hear what he says sometimes.  I think he learns a new word and phrase everyday.   He remembers every single thing and you cannot get one over on this kid. Ever.  If you get M&Ms from the pantry and share some with him he will remember them and exactly where to find them. If he put a toy on a certain shelf or basket before bed it better be there when he wakes up or he will let you know where it's supposed to be.  If he's been to your house before he will remember where all the toys are and what snacks you had. It's crazy to me to see that little mind at work.  We have quickly realized we have to watch what we do and say around him.

 He loves dressing himself and picking out his shoes. This is one of those battles I didn't think I would be having so soon but I know it's just him expressing his independence and I win some I lose some.

He is a total cuddle bug these days. Constantly giving hugs and kisses to anyone that will take them. He loves to snuggle up and read books or watch a movie with me.  Since Matthew is getting to the age of exploring and not snuggling it's nice to have someone want to snuggle with me again :)
Speaking of Matthew, Miller absolutely adores him. Miller wants to constantly be checking on "my baby" and giving him lots of love, hugs and kisses. If Matthew is crying he will try to do anything to calm him down. It's so sweet!  Miller, in perfect oldest child behavior likes to remind his baby of the rules too and is constantly telling Matthew "No" or coming to get me if Matthew is doing something he doesn't like.  I hear a lot of "Oh no baby no" through out my day.

Miller is fiercely independent yet cautious. He likes to do things on his own and does not like to ask for help or be given directions. This is so hard for me because I want to help him so badly but I know part of learning is failing until you succeed at something so I'm trying to step back and let him explore. As Miller would say, "all me".  (Unless it is dangerous then I obviously supervise)

As with every stage of parenting there has to be challenges, right?  The tantrums, oh the tantrums.  I can't decide if they're worse or better than I thought they would be. Miller is so stubborn and determined and does not like to give up. Ever.  Sometimes I do a great job of ignoring them and other times I lose my mind over them. I think the hardest part is the unpredictability of them.  I can put a snack in a red cup as he  requested and suddenly it's "no blue cup" and then it's the wrong blue one and then it's flailing on the floor kicking and screaming. He can go from sweet to monster in 15 seconds I swear.  We have also entered the "me" and "mine" stage where everything under the sun belongs to Miller and he will let you know with screaming mine or "no me" over and over and  over.   I still wouldn't label it the terrible twos yet, but give me a few months.

I sometimes still can't believe I have a two year old little boy! I cannot wait to see what the next year holds for us and I can't wait to see how Miller's personality grows and develops as he gets older.