My Baby is 2 1/2!

Kade Robert-

Wow!  You are half way to being three!  Time just keeps going faster and faster.  I love being your Mommy and watching you grow up!

The past two to three months have been awesome! About six months ago, I admit I was a little frazzled.  It seemed you needed constant correction, but I am so proud of how you have progressed.  You listen fairly well (I mean, you still are a two year old), and follow directions.  You have learned that if it isn't yours, then you don't need to touch it.  That was a hard concept for you because you are such an inquisitive little guy!

I love your independence and strong will.  Granted, it makes my job as your mama a little harder, but I wouldn't change it one bit.  You like calling the shots, so I've found it easier to give you choices.  Instead of just telling you that you have to eat your dinner, I give you a choice.  I tell you that can either choose to eat your dinner, or if you don't, then you go to time out an lose a toy.  I can not believe how much more effective it is to give you choices!  99% of the time, you make the right choice.  There still are a few things that I don't give you a choice on, but I've found you obey much easier now that everything isn't a battle.  

That strong will of yours has made potty training a challenge.  I would sit you on the potty for thirty minutes, and nothing.  As soon as you would get up, you'd run and potty.  We tried cold turkey into big boy undies.  You liked all of your undies, and wanted to wear them all, so you would potty just a bit, run and get a new pair, and say, "I pottied, so I want these now!" Ugh...  Then last week you were in the bath tub.  You told me in a slight panic, "Mama, I need potty in big boy potty!"  Shocked, I asked if you really needed to.  You replied, "Yes.  No potty in bath.  That's gross!"  I got you out, and you promptly pottied, then returned to your bath.  There has never been a question about IF you were ready to potty train, you were just being stubborn.  The end of last week, we just decided to try big boy undies again.  You have done great!  There have only been a few accidents, and you now will tell me when you need to go!

Your verbal skills have really taken off, as well.  Just the other morning as we were getting your underwear on, you said, "I better not potty on Mickey cause he wouldn't like that."  Daddy and I couldn't believe you strung together such a long sentence.  Your speech is getting clearer.  Hot dogs are not "gog gogs" anymore.  :(  Daddy likes to call you his little stud.  But whenever he does, or if I call you sweetie, you tell us very seriously, "I not stud.  I Kade Robert Johnson!"  

You and your sister play together so well.  Most of the time it is farming, Bubble Guppies, or dolls.  It is fun to watch you narrate and make noises as you play with all your farm equipment and animals. 

Kade, you are so full of energy.  I don't think you ever walk anywhere.  You are constantly running, hopping, climbing, or jumping off of something.   No matter when or where we are, if you are going down steps you ALWAYS jump off the last one. 

Recently, we moved you to a big boy bed.  This was after one day when you were playing in your room and started yelling, "Look at me, Mama!!!"  I came in to find you had crawled into your crib.  It was time for a big boy bed for sure.  You showed us numerous times how you climb in and out.  Big Sissy tried to do it to, but is a little timid, so she couldn't.  You smiled proudly, puffed out your chest and said, "Like dis, Sissy!" I think you were thrilled that you were showing her something for once! To my surprise, you have not yet gotten out of your bed.  You wait quietly in the morning until we come in to get you up for the day.

Bubba, you bring so much laughter to our family!  You have a natural happiness that just radiates from you.  It is hard to think about you and not just smile from ear to ear.  We love you so much, sweet boy Kade Robert Johnson!  ;)

Love,

Mommy