T Turns Two!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the littlest Curtis man!

We celebrated today in the usual way: a birthday banner and steamers to decorate, a birthday breakfast (today was waffles with fresh peaches), and a birthday dinner followed by cake and ice cream. Two families that are friends from law school came over to celebrate with us. We are so thankful the Martins and the Leavitts have shared life with us over the past few years. They know all of T's history! We enjoyed watermelon and sweet potatoes because they are some of T's favorite foods. (But we also had spice rubbed flank steak with spicy peach bourbon sauce, salad, and delicious green beans from Mrs. Martin.)

T had a two layer butter cake, frosted with chocolate icing and a train on top. He loves things that GO.

There are so many things I'd like to write about my boy. . . it would be a very long post! I'm so thankful for him, for the JOY he brings to our family. I love all of his talking, his sweet inflections and questions. I love that he still loves to run to me for a hug, or just to wrap his arms around my legs for comfort. (Yes, he still snakes his little hand down my shirt for comfort, too, when he thinks he can get away with it!) I love that he says, "Love ou, Mommy" of his own accord. I love when I lay him down to sleep and he says, "play trains wake up?" as he usually does. I always answer, "Yes, you can play trains when you wake up." Then, he asks me, "R play trains?" I assure him that R can play trains, too. "O want to play trains with me?" He tends to run through the whole list of family members any time something is in question. This week B patched up a hole in the wall of the boys' bedroom. Each time we were near it, T would run down the list: "Owen no touch it? R no touch it? L no touch it? Daddy no touch it? Mommy no touch it?"

I love that T plays with baby dolls with L (4), tenderly carrying them, kissing them, and putting them to bed. Today, he held the doll in front of him and said, "Look, Mom! Baby looking at you!" He has such a sweet side.

I love that T wrestles with the big boys (with abandon!). He can hold his own quite well- and he loves it. "Run into YOU!" he will say, before bowling you over. He's amazingly strong; definitely plays like a linebacker. I've had to ask him to go easy on me. Now he'll say, "May I knock you, Mommy?" or "Shoot gun at you?" (He likes the dart guns that the big boys use.)

I'm so thankful that T is maturing in ways that really benefit our family. He is able to sit still for longer periods of time during family worship. He can help set the table. He has learned that obedience is, "first time, right (a)way, with (a) happy heart." He wears underwear and tells us when he needs to use the restroom (even in the night).

Oh, his smile is winsome! His dimple precocious! I can't imagine my days without him, for he is our cheerful, two-year-old T. What blessing!