2 years, 5 months

Avett turned 29 months old this last Thursday. He is just the sweetest, brightest kiddo I know. He has grown so much in the past month. He has finally conquered pooping on the toilet. We would initially have to force him to sit on the toilet when we could tell he had to go, and he would sit there screaming for a half hour before anything happened. After about 3 or 4 times, everything changed. We'd put him on the toilet, and he would sit quietly and poop within a couple of minutes. Now, he'll even tell us when he has to go and say "close the door, Mommy". The kid likes his privacy! And then when he's done, he yells "I did go poopy in the potty!?" Almost as if he is in disbelief. And then as I wipe him, he says "Good job, Avy! Mommy so proud of you!" :-) 

He is learning to dress himself by picking out his clothes and taking his shorts on and off. He hasn't gotten the hang of reaching around his back to pull his shorts up yet. 

He likes to go upstairs and downstairs by himself, usually to go and get his blanket. He prefers to open and close the door on his own and turn the light on and off.

He likes to help feed Harken by putting the scoops of food in his bowl, carrying the bowl into his crate, and then going over to Harken and telling him ton"Go!" while tapping his butt.

He refers to himself as Vavy or Vavett. He refers to Haddie as baby sister, Patty, or Haddie. He is still just as sweet and in love with her as ever. Today, she was making noises and he said "Are you talking to me, Patty?" 

He is really into dancing and singing! He has learned his ABCs and can also sing "the itsy bitsy spider", "the wheels on the bus" and "Patty cake". He can count to 18.

He is very polite. He says "Thank you" for everything, apologizes all of the time, even for things that dont warrant an apology; provides encouragement for the most minute of acts (one morning after he slept with me, he said "good job sleeping mommy." followed by "good job wakin up"), says please and bless you and gazundheit appropriately or with the occasional reminder. He knows when he's done something bad or naughty and will basically put himself in time out. 

Last week, he hit me while we were playing cars, so I put him up in his room and told him "we don't hit people." It was right at his nap time, so he actually fell asleep. When he woke up, Aaron went and got him. I never told Aaron that he went in time out. The first thing Avett said when he saw me was "I'm sorry I hit you mommy." I think my mouth dropped to the floor. It's just amazing to me that when he goes in time out, he actually understands why and thinks about his actions. He's so mature for his little self!

He loves dumping all of his cars, animals, and play food out on the floor. He also likes being read to or helping me read books. And he of course likes to be swaddled in his blanket, like Haddie. He is much better about getting his teeth brushed because we search for animals inside his mouth, or one of his favorites - Paw Patrol!

He likes to have his owies kissed. He most often says "my shirt hurts" as well as his stomach, back, fingers, and toes!

He did get his first cankersore this month, so he also required kisses on his cheek! He also likes to fake cry and have you fake cry with him.

We went to the Children's Museum where he enjoyed playing on the motorcycles, city bus, and banking equipment. We also went to Harvest Fest in Cedarburg. And for our trips to the park, he has started playing on the slides again! He got to celebrate his friend Reese's second birthday this month, and his Grandma Cindy's 60th birthday on the 29th. As a surprise, we went to Boyne City, MI to help celebrate her birthday over the weekend. We rented a house and decorated it; met Bryce, Cindy and Micky at a restaurant for dinner where we surprised them; then Saturday, Ashley and Maxwell came down so the two boys got to play together and Maxwell enjoyed giving Haddie knucks. The kids experienced their first trip over the Mackinaw Bridge. And Haddie continues to be a horrible car rider!