Rhett is TWO!

April 5, 2014

Dear Rhett,

Happy birthday, little buddy!  Two years ago you entered the world in a whirlwind, giving me what might just be one of my favorite life moments to date.  You've continued to live up to your grand entrance, bringing lots of humor, passion, and sweetness to our family.  At two years old, you are very sweet, affectionate, and tender-hearted, while also being very spunky, strong, and funny.  You are always up for snuggling, especially after waking up.  You adore your big brother, "Riggy," and we joke that you're on a 15 second delay of doing or saying everything he does or says!  The two of you are becoming such good buds.  Although you are very easy going and sweet, you have quite the temper  once something sets you off!  

 At two years old you weigh 30.5 pounds (75th percentile) and are 36.5 inches long (90th percentile).  You wear size 24 month or 2T clothing, a size 7 shoe, and a size 5 diaper.  You sleep from about 8pm to 7am each night and nap every afternoon from about 1-3 or 4.  We just bought bunk beds so this past week we started trying out the toddler bed.  You're popping up like a jack-in-a-box a few times each night after we put you down, but after that you're out til morning.  You'll get the hang of it soon!  

Like the average toddler, you are a temperamental eater; somedays you are a bottomless pit and will eat anything, and other days you are super picky.  You consistently love cheese, apples, bananas, cereal, Kashi bars, green beans, grapes, tomatoes, mac and cheese, and hot dogs.  You're often heard saying, "NACK!" and you want to be fed as soon as you wake up in the morning, just like your Daddy!  

   

Developmentally, you are quite talkative and have begun stringing together short sentences and repeating everything we say.  You can count to ten and have recently shown interest in learning letters.  My favorite thing is to hear you having conversations with Riggs as you play.  You have a low, raspy voice when you're being serious, and a precious higher voice when you're being sweet or funny.  These days we hear a lot of "no," "me do it!," "hold you," and "mine!"  You also  love to sing!  

 You love to be outside!  I am thankful that our home allows me to let you out in the back yard and still keep an eye on you, and I love to watch you exploring.  You are so content to play on your own out there, just walking the yard, digging in your sand box, rolling your trucks, and riding in the Jeep with Riggins.  You also love listening to music, rolling cars up and down the halls and walls, playing chase ("race me!"), and reading stories.  Favorite books are Pete the Cat, Goodnight Moon, and Llama Llama books.  You also remind me to read our "Bible stowee" every morning at breakfast.  You like to watch TroTro, Daniel Tiger, and Leap Frog shows, and you enjoy big brother's Rescue Bots and Jake and the Neverland Pirates too (the theme song from which you've been known to yell at the top of your lungs through the grocery store!)

Speaking of big brothers, you're going to be one!  We found out in January that a new baby is on the way, and the day before your birthday we found out it's another boy!  Knowing your affectionate and tender heart, I'm so looking forward to watching you as a big brother; I have a feeling you're going to be extra sweet!  I think you three boys are going to be such a gift to one another and I feel so blessed to get to witness the special bond between brothers.  

Rhett, you are such a precious boy.  Everyone who meets you comments on what a sweetheart you are.  Your teachers at church, MDO, and BSF just rave about you every time we pick you up from somewhere, so apparently we aren't the only ones who think you're a little jewel of a guy!  We love you so much, Rhett Matthew, and pray for many, many more birthdays shared together!