2 and 1/2 year milestones

With every month, Elem is creepy closer and closer to becoming a preschooler and further and further away from the land of toddlerville! I am having mixed emotions about the 2 and 1/2 age, because I LOVE how independent kids are at this age, but I also HATE how independent kids are at this age! :) Elem is definitely growing into his own and learning and wanting to do more and more things for himself with each and every day. And with those things come some that I am happy to turn over to him and let him feel his way into (like brushing his teeth, opening the car door to get out, cleaning the potties-and the entire house for that matter, wanting to help cook or prepare meals, and trying to dress himself) and some that I am not so happy to let him feel his way into (like pouring milk into his sippy cup, jumping from one piece of furniture to another, walking across the street to go get sage, climbing out of the bath tub on his own, and trying to sit in the drivers seat with me at all times). So yes, mid toddler phase has its plus and minuses, but with all these challenging and most rewarding episodes of trial and error also comes LOTS of talking and LOTS of loving. So I can't complain too much, since Elem is one of THE easiest kids we could have ever asked for. His happy and silly temperament keeps us being thankful we have such a sweet little toddler, although the signs of one determined, rambunctious, and stubborn little boy do come shining through at different moments throughout the day! But truth be told, I wouldn't want him any other way.

I know I drifted off of the milestones once he turned a little over 1 year old, but it is just too hard to document all they learn in one month after that age! It seems as if he was just soaking up more than I could ever begin to jot down in one limited time sitting. I must give attention however, to the 2 and 1/2 year milestones, because they seem unbelievable, looking back at where he was this time last year. (sniff, sniff) To capture this little phase and most important date, we held a little mini photo shoot at Seths work. We set up a back drop of white paper and just shot some black and whit pics of our fam, but mostly of Elem Zane. We didn't want to forget this most special time in our lives!

Stats:
Weight: 33 pounds
Height: 37 inches
Teeth: 16 all of them-2 year molars were not that fun, all 4 came in at the same time, several fever filled fun nights.
Shoe: 9


Physical Development:
-Can jump with both feet (not very high, but he can jump! :) )
-Runs forwards and can walk forward and backwards
-Hangs and swings from bars or rings on his own
-Draws straight lines, circles, and zig zags on purpose
-Walk on tip toes
-kick balls, shoot balls into a goal, dribbles balls, hits ball with bat or golf club
-Throws over handed
-holds a pencil and crayon correctly when writing or coloring
-Rides a tricycle, big wheel, scooter, etc. without any help
-Does forward rolls on own
-Builds and stacks blocks -about to 12 or 15 dependent of size
-Bathes himself
-Potty trained, but not quite at night just yet
-laces big or small beads on string


Mental Development:
-Spells name
-Recognizes name in print, and recognizes the letter E
-Knows right from left
-Knows days of the week
-Knows months of the year
-Counts to 16
-States his birthday
-Knows his age, mommy's age, and daddy's age
-Sings ABCs, and all songs we sing during carpet time at school
-Knows all of his body parts
-Knows the 1st and 42nd presidents and their "sayings" hehe, I love that one
-Relates everything adults do to himself, how he can do it, and how he can do it without our assistance!
-Knows his gender and the gender of others
-Bargains or talks his way into getting what he wants-for example, " I will cry if you dont get it for me"...hmm wonder where he got this one.
-Uses pronouns, adjectives, verbs, etc. when communicating with others
-Is understanding and concerned of others feelings around him
-Responds to what? and where? questions
-Loves to read books and turn the pages himself-loves to recount the page for you before you read it, "read" the book himself
-States his first, middle and last name, as well as mommy's and daddy's name


Top 6 things to do in his spare time:
6. Race cars at school with his friends-big cars where you run and push them across the entire length of the classroom
5. Read Books as long as you will let him
4. Ride his scooter or play outside in general-mostly games including balls
3. Play football and tackle with daddy/ lay in mommy's bed with his cup and blanky (these 2 tie) :)
2. Eat hotdogs and watch "back-lard-agains" as he likes to call it
1. Play with "Celia" his BFF-anywhere and anytime


Favorite Foods:
5. Scrambled Eggs
4. Meatballs
3. String Cheese
2. Hot Dogs
1. Ranch


Top 7 phrases:
7. "He not tackle him" This is his response every time a football play happens and someone doesn't get tackled. He is very sharp!
6. "We want the red team to win, not the blue team, the red team?" This is his explanation when watching most sports games, uhm can you tell he is a trained Razorback lover?
5. "Uh..Yeah" This is the response to most of the questions we ask Elem when he is busy doing something else :) hehe
4. "I said ple-ease"...."please" This is the response when he is trying to get something, and he has already been denied once and he hasn't said please yet, but knows he needs to say please. Haha! This one is good.
3. "I want my juice and my blanky" This one needs no explanation
2. "When I get bigger, I'm go-ne play football, and I can run real fast like thay-at" hahaha
1. "I wan go night night in your bed" Although this one is sweet, its days are numbered :)

And those are the things I cant imagine not remembering looking back a few years from now! The picture above pretty much captures every little thing about Elem at this exact age! His style (well the style I have ever so graciously assigned him ha!), his happiness, his silliness, his animation, his calmness, his boyness, love of football (since he is squatting and saying, "hut hut", and just his love for the moment just beaming out of him! As always parents are biased in their conception of their children, but isn't that the fun in being a parent? To be proud of what you made and be even more proud of the little version of you that walks around and is a walking image of everything you are pumping into them. We are so in love with Elem, and literally wake up each and every day with a smile on our faces, when we hear a few little words, "mommy, I wan get in your bed" or " daddy go get me some juice, here". Haha, The innocence is irresistible. We are forever in love and head over heels. Happy 2 and 1/2 Elem Zane Shelby