Dear Gabe...

Dear Gabe,

If I could only pick one word to describe your 2 year old self....it would be difficult! Your 25.3 lb self is constantly climbing, screaming, jumping, hitting, running, dancing, kicking, giggling and throwing! You have one speed and one speed only! FaaAAAAaast!

You are also very unpredictable. One minute you can be as good as gold...sweet and loving and asking to snuggle with momma and then the next minute you become some wild caveman :)

Most of the time, diaper changes are difficult.... you kick... you squirm... and crawl away. Getting you changed and dressed can be an all out wrestling match.

Bed time is difficult.... you refuse to lay in your crib... so you throw all of your animals and blankets overboard and climb out. Daddy had to turn the lock around on your door so that you can no longer escape your room. Most nights, you curl up at your door with all of your blankies and sleep on the floor. You also are an early riser... you like to get up between 6-6:30... which is waaaay to early for mommy! We talked to your pediatrician about this and he said it's because you have a plan... you open your eyes and are ready to carry out your day (daddy is just like this!) He suggested making you stay up til 9pm ( instead of 8pm) to see if this helps... Daddy even bought you a special alarm clock that glows green when it's ok for you to get up (we decided 7am was a little more reasonable) However, you don't really care what color that clock is... because you have a plan!

Meal time is difficult... you require the 5 point restraint in your high chair because you absolutely refuse to sit down. You still love your fruit... but as for everything else... it just depends on the day. You are messy messy messy when you eat and often times require a bath or outfit change afterwards. You manage to get food in your hair... behind your ears... and even on your belly. And when you are done.... well most of the time, you flip your plate over and then throw it....along with your spoon and sippy cup....although I must say... I think you are working on this.... we've seen some progress... and some nights, we can even get you to put your plate in the sink!

Play time is difficult... you scream to go outside but then refuse to put your shoes on. You take your toys (especially the balls) and throw them into the street. You throw sand and often times get frustrated and hit the other kids...but only the little ones.... you absolutely adore the older kids ( which I can't blame you... they dote on you and don't try to take your toys!) You cry to go outside but then scream for mommy to hold you once we're out there.

Going out in public is difficult... we fight you to get buckled in your carseat (although this is much much better since we turned your car seat around last week). We also need to have an endless supply of snacks to get you to sit in a shopping cart or stroller... and when you are mad you get very very vocal! If mommy needs to run errands it has to be super fast because most times, you get inpatient and scream at the top of your lungs.... and forget eating out! You are just as vocal at restaurants. You hate having to sit still and you certainly are quite comfortable with expressing those feelings! And let's not forget about your refusal to wear shoes...not only do you take them off but then you throw them... leaving mommy scouring the parking lots for that one missing shoe!

All day you are running up and down the stairs... wrestling with Zoey... climbing all over mommy... and destroying anything and everything in your path. Mommy is so glad when daddy comes home and I can take a break!

BUT....Just when I think..." I am soooo sending Gabe to daycare tomorrow!!" (you typically go about 2 days a week and absolutely love it there!) you go and do something so incredibly sweet! You will just come up and give me a big wet kiss... or you'll curl up in my lap, with your blanket, for some snuggling. Or there are times when you share your last animal cracker with me and say "Here you go, Mommy" as you place it in my mouth. And I'll never forget the night you gently placed my ice pack on my head because I had yet another headache. You kissed my head and said, "Mommy owie all better" And there are the multiple times a day, where you kiss me and say, " I wuv you mommy!" It's moments like this that make your "wildness" totally worth it! You are constantly making my heart melt.... and making me laugh!

At age 2 you have quite the sense of humor. You are always coming up with new things that make us laugh. Just recently, when we ask you your name... you will come up with some silly name and say, "Gams" or "Mommy"... even though you know full well that your name is Gabriel Benton Hanson! You will tell us that Monkey's eat peanuts... even though you know monkey's eat bananas... and let's not forget your potty humor. When you've had enough shopping, you will scream out... " I POOPIN' at the top of your lungs....( even though you're not!! Smart kid!)

You continue to be quite the ham (except at your 2 year old photo shoot) You will smile, flirt, and scream "HI" to anything and anyone that will pay attention to you...and you LOVE to talk on the phone! You would ramble on and on for probably hours (if we'd let you) to Maw or "Gammy"!

At age 2 you are so incredibly smart. I know every parent says that about their kid... but each and every day you amaze us. You remember stuff that happened months ago... just a few days ago we told you that we were going to take you swimming... and you quickly asked us if pop-pop junior and RB were going to be there... b/c the last time you went swimming, they took you! You will remember people that you've only met once, and ask about them... months later. You know your colors, you certainly know how to work the TV, and can even tell us what street you live on. You are speaking, mostly, in complete sentences. Sometimes I think you are just too smart for your own good!

You are one amazing (and exhausting) little boy, Gabriel Hanson! But I wouldn't have it any other way! Mommy and daddy love you more than you will ever know and we had no idea just how boooooring our lives were, until you came along! Thanks for being the best 2 year old son a mommy could ask for ;)

Love,
Mommy