Two years old!

**Emmett turned two over two months ago.  This post was written fairly close to then, though it's just now being publish and does not claim to fully represent the current likes, dislikes and abilities of the present Emmett.**

Confidence and character

A boy's gotta work hard to show off his muscles

Best grins ever

Two-year-old stats:
Height: 34 in
Weight: 26 lbs 2 oz


• Talks a ton.  New words and sentences daily. 
• Speaks quite clearly for his age.  The only word that doesn't sound remotely like its counterpart is "music" which he pronounces "eggic."  Not sure how that happened.
• Is starting to say things like hello, good-bye, please, thank you, bless you and I love you (very rarely) without being prompted.  Makes me smile every time.
• Calls his parents "Daddy-o" and "Mommy-o."
• Loves Mom to excess.  Likes a lot of other people, but if mom's around, she's first choice.  We hear a lot of "Hold you, Mommy!" around here.
• Engages in imaginative play.  I love hearing him in the next room playing and talking with his animals.  
• Knows about trapezoids and pentagons (credit goes to Gayle Schmutz for that!)
• Jumps off of everything.
• Knows how to climb out of his crib, but remarkably has learned not to do so and nearly always stays in bed. (Hallelujah!)
• Loves to watch dolphin and whale shows (think SeaWorld) on youtube.
• Loves nursery and singing songs.
• Has a very strong affinity to ice cream.
• Favorite activities include the Museum of Life & Science, the playground, riding his motorcycle, story time, music class and seeing friends.
• Loves to study bugs found on our morning walks in the stroller.
• Has strong opinions about music--knows what he likes and doesn't like.  He doesn't understand that we can't make a song immediately replay itself on the radio or pandora.
• Within the span of a month he went from folding arms and listening to prayers, to repeating words for prayers, to excitedly saying prayers to avoiding prayers as much as possible.  He doesn't like to be helped and when we manage to convince him to say one he usually starts counting somewhere near the beginning and never manages to end the prayer.  "Heavenly Father.  Thankful day. A one...a two...a three..."
• Needs a haircut more often than he gets one, though he did get his first "home job" the other day.
• Remembers names.  He knows all of our family members and understands which ones "go together" (ie--Schmutz people vs Moulton people).
• Wants to do everything himself, but is unable to successfully do most of it.  Makes for some great tantrums.
•  Often says he wants something (i.e. his sandwich, his ravioli, his blanket, mom's hair, etc.) "like this" as he puts his hands and fingers together in some sort of shape.  I think that usually means he wants it whole, rather than cut in pieces, but sometimes I really just don't know...
• When he goes to bed he has to scoot to the edge of his pillow until his head is touching the headboard of his crib.  He doesn't move much at all when he sleeps--pretty much always stays on his pillow and under his blankets. 
• Has learned about taking turns...more or less.  The other day he was upset about getting in his car seat and said "Emmett's turn to drive!"
• Distinguishes sizes as "great big" or "tiny baby."
• Learning to draw more shapes and letters. He's mastered circles, rectangles and triangles.  He can also draw L's, E's and M's.
• Makes us laugh out loud every single day.  

 His once reverent self

 Drinking the milk out of his cereal bowl--things you learn from Daddy.

 An ever eager "helper" in the kitchen

 "I love corn!"

 Successfully scaling walls