Two Years, Three Months

Life with Holden at 2.3 is equal parts fun and frustration. He is 100 percent 2-year-old, and has the assertiveness, dawdling and whiney voice to prove it if you don't believe it. That being said, it's been amazing to watch him develop into a kid who is sensitive, funny and loving. We play games, have "inside" family jokes and routines that are not to be messed with.

One of my favorite conversations goes something like this:

"I love you Holden!"

"I love YOU Mommy!"

"No, Holden, I love YOU!"

(Loudly) "No, Mommy, I love YOU!" (with a finger point for emphasis)

Here's a recent fun variation:

"Who does Mommy love?"

(Raising his hand) "Meeeeeee!"

"Who does Holden love?"

"Daddymommy."



As part of his assertiveness, he likes to try and order us around, including telling us when we can talk, what we can and can't say and who we can talk to. "No Mommy talk to Daddy," comes often from the backseat mid-conversation. He'll also interrupt our conversations by saying, "No Mommy, I talk to Daddy." We can always get some laughs, though, by making a "pssssss" sound, which imitates a noise he used to make when trying to make something plural (ie "trucks psssss). So when we say "pssssss" or make "bop bop bop" noises with our lips like we're going to attack him with kisses or even start humming, it's funny to hear Holden say: "No Mommy 'pssssss,'" or "No Daddy 'hmmmmmm.'" Luckily, he thinks it's funny, too!



Holden's favorite book right now is a pretty one called "The Little Lost Duckling." Why are children's books always about poor animals getting lost? It's heartbreaking! Anyway, this particular duck doesn't listen to her mommy when she says it's time to leave the pond, and spends several pages asking other animals for help finding her mommy. Of course, she finds her, and we're told she "never, ever" does this again. After about three straight weeks of this book a couple times a day, Holden has practically memorized it and can say it along with me. He always starts, though, by telling the duckling "No ducky, listen," and ends by asking if the duckling found her mommy. This book seems to resonate in his big soft head like none other we've read so far (although he does get the concept of "people inside" thanks to a book about planes that has always been in the Holden Top 10). Often, when we've asked him (usually repeatedly) to do something, like get in his carseat, and he does it (eventually), he gloats: "I listened!" That, to him, seems just as important as doing it himself.




Unfortunately, he doesn't always listen or "do it" in any kind of timely manner and, being 2, is still prone to do things like throw his toys or try to hit when he's frustrated. We try not to say "no" too often for fear of spending all our time saying it, but he does get his fair share. Lately, being told "no" can send Holden into a tear bender. There is nothing sadder than huge tear drops plopping down his cheeks toward his lower lip that I swear he can pout from here to Texas - it's that big. But with a little eye-to-eye and some reasoning, he is actually getting better at understanding why he was told "no," and moving on. When all else fails, distraction works, too!

Mostly, though, this kid has grown to be so affectionate and likes to have a good time. His laugh is the heartiest you'll ever hear. He likes to talk about things being funny, especially Mommy, Daddy and the kitty. When he smiles at you, it's with a twinkle in his big blues that makes you feel like you are the most important person ever. But when he grabs your cheeks with his little pudgy hands and plants a wet one on you, you know you are.




*Disclaimer: On one of our favorite blogs, dooce, a Utah mother writes often about her daughter Leta, who is roughly a couple months older than Holden. Every month, she writes a newsletter about Leta, which inspired this above post. We do not, however, profess to have nearly a fraction of the touching and irreverant writing skills displayed on dooce and we certainly do not anticipate being consistent with the timings of our updates (for she gets paid to write her blog!). We do, however, want to give credit where credit is due, and have found many of her monthly newsletters inspirational and insightful. If you don't already read dooce regularly, you should.