.Ames is 2

There's nothing so sweet as experiencing life for the first time. Except for maybe experiencing life for the first time... again. As a parent.

Lately Ames has been understanding and communicating about everything he sees. He wants to know about everything. He loves the world and everything in it. He gets most excited about animals, insects and people—especially children. He loves to play outside and I swear he can spot a park out his window at least 50 miles off. He goes down slides by himself now, you can tell he's being very courageous every time. When he's swinging he likes to lay back and look at the clouds and say what they look like, then lean forward and say that he's flying like a bird. He closes his eyes when he doesn't want to be bothered about getting out of the swing.

Ames has the absolute best personality I can imagine. He is outgoing and friendly (to anyone and everyone). I feel bad whenever people ignore him saying "hi" everywhere we go. People aren't always so friendly as him. Also, most babies his age don't talk as well as him, so he thinks they're ignoring him when they don't respond. His "terrible two's" really haven't gotten too terrible so far. He's mostly just constantly happy and sweet.

He loves music and singing. We sing all day. I sing to him when I put him to sleep each night, he recently started requesting the songs he wants me to sing and singing along with me as he lays his head on my shoulder. When I finish singing a song he's requested he excitedly says, "thank you Mommy!".

He never misses an opportunity to be polite. You will hear him all day saying, "Oh, sowwy" or "snack pwease?" or "oh, thank you ____" or "help you Amesy?" or "Hewwo! How awe you? Good!" or "yeahsure!".

He tells me he loves me at random times when he is just feeling happy and good. He melts my heart like a popsicle on the fourth of July.

He's a parrot. He spends all day repeating anything and everything he hears. We watch what we say these days.

He knows lots of colors (his favorites seem to be orange and pink, he can always correctly spot those ones). He likes to count (random numbers in succession) and sing ABC's (he can fill in the blanks when you sing and pause). Shapes... he knows heart, star and circle.

He likes to call himself "Amesy" and often I catch him alone pointing at his chest and just saying who he is.

He has these stunning blue eyes, perfectly swept blonde hair and beautiful baby soft skin... Air and I are blown away by his sheer adorableness every moment of the day.

Honestly to think that this "baby" of mine is turning two is a little bit scary to me. If the last two years went this fast, how fast will the next two go? Seriously though.

Amesy we love you! Happy Birthday little buddy!

(then he repeats back “happy-birfday yittle buddy”)