First off, here are Jacob's stats at 2 years. He's 23 pounds 4 ounces- I know, he's tiny! I was worried he'd be off the charts in weight but his pediatrician reminded me that they don't grow as much in the second year and from here on out like they do in the first year. So even though he's only gained 3 pounds in the last 6 months, he's still in the 3rd percentile for weight, right where he's always been. And he's 33 inches tall in the 25th percentile now. Poor kid hates going to the doctor, at least he doesn't really need to go back for another year! (But isn't this doctor gown so cute?!)
At two, Jacob LOVES: *Songs!- He loves to hear songs on the TV or radio, or makes Luke play music for him on his phone or when we're on the computer. But he especially loves when I sing him songs. His favorites are ones that have hand motions that he can do with me while I sing, especially: The Eensy Weensy Spider, Popcorn Popping, The Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and his latest favorite Happy Birthday! There's not really hand motions for Happy Birthday but ever since his birthday he'll try and sing the song to himself ("hap bersday.. you!")and he'll ask us if it's his birthday ("bersday?") or the other day he told his babysitter that it was his birthday and that he's two- haha.
*Walks!- Jacob begs to go on walks, especially if it's to the park- because he also loves to go down slides! He also now begs to go to the store! I think he just likes to get out of the house every day! *Books!- He loves to be read to and often likes to have a book in hand. Even when we go to his room to change his diaper he has to get a book first! His favorites are this little fairy tale series we have and he can tell me the title of every one and can read along with a lot of the words- which he has been doing for awhile but still a really fun stage.
*Baths!- What kid doesn't love laying in water and playing with toys and bubbles? But, he does hate when I wash his hair.
*Cars and Trucks!- Jacob loves to play with car toys and trucks and make little beep beep sounds or whatever. He also loves seeing and hearing real trucks outside, including firetrucks, ambulance, police cars, the garbage truck(which he calls the "dragon"- meaning trash can), construction trucks, and airplanes, trains, and bikes too. He also loves to ride his toy truck and bike at home.
*Bubbles!- He doesn't care so much about bubbles themselves but loves to just blow the bubbles. Even if I give him a small tube of bubbles that's empty he'll still carry it around and pretend. He got a bubble mower for his birthday but he was too worried about the bubbles coming out(or not coming out actually) that sometimes it's better to just keep bubbles away, or else he drives me nuts asking for bubbles!
*Sports!- He loves to play basketball, catch, and kick balls while running outside. He also likes to watch sports on TV and knows the difference between when Dad is watching basketball or football.
*Eggs!- Sometimes Jacob will go through phases of foods he likes, but he's been very consistent with loving to eat eggs- he could eat them any meal! Luke has even taught him how to dip his toast into his eggs and so this is his favorite way too eat it too.
*Taking Off His Clothes!- At first he started doing this just because he loved to be in charge of zipping, or unsnapping, and just seemed to think it was funny to constantly be slipping off his pants. Then I figured maybe his pants were getting in the way when he was trying to play. But more and more I'm starting to think he'll also slip off his clothes when he knows he needs a diaper change- which he'll also always tell me now by either saying "diaper" or "change". But I still think he finds it funny to run around in just a diaper :)
*Cameras!- Of course all kids are obsessed with holding the camera or seeing themselves on camera- which is why it's nearly impossible to take videos of him or pictures of him cooperating with me. But it's still funny when I scroll through my pictures and find about 7 in a row of his feet on top of my kitchen table!
*Elmo!- Yes, Jacob still loves Elmo! He sleeps with, not one, but two Elmo "dolls" at night- he either has to have them both together or none at all. He still likes watching Elmo's World, and he's much better at sitting still through episodes, which is great especially when I need him still for at least 15 minutes. But he also loves all the Sesame Street characters and can say all their names and likes to imitate Cookie Monster and laugh like the Count. He also laughs along when he watches TV, and tries to count and interact when he watches the show too. And as much as he enjoys shows like that, I am happy that he's not a TV junkie like I was worried he was getting to be earlier. He'll watch about 2 shows a day (he also likes Caillou), which I think is not too bad since I think he does gain some learning that way too.
*Candy!- As I've mentioned before, Jacob always begs for "can-dee", "nougett", "taffy", "gloc-let", "cookie", "cake", "ga-bar", and so on. We've tried to set the rule of 2 pieces of candy a day, and only when he's earned it but somehow he always earns one when Daddy comes home from work? Haha, soon enough we'll be taking him to the dentist, and hopefully he just hasn't ruined his teeth yet!
*to Laugh!- Jacob has such a fun personality and finds amusement in many things! He finds random things funny, will laugh at others, laugh when he thinks he's being cute, or he'll try to make others laugh. He loves attention from us and loves to be tickled and be silly. He has a great, contagious laugh and such a sweet smile!
*Mommy and Daddy!- This one I guess is the most important of all! Even though Jacob is growing older and becoming more independent I love that he still loves us! Just recently Jacob has almost started favoring me over his Dad, which can be frustrating for me sometimes when all I want is a break. And he's started trying to push buttons and do things he know he shouldn't too. But I love that he still likes to cuddle with me on the couch, and bring toys and books to me so that we can play together, and I love the time we spend together when I tuck him in at night, and I know that he loves all our time together too.
More things to know about Jacob:
*Jacob is a sensitive boy. Sometimes this means that he can get emotional or sad easily, but he also always notices when others are sad too. He always will point out to me how others are feeling- whether they are sad, crying, or happy. Even when he hears or sees a firetruck or ambulance go by he always asks what "happend?" He still likes to give hugs and kisses, and cuddle with us. He is just simply a good, loving, sweet boy.
*Jacob can be a very good helper. Naturally he may not always want to clean up, but all I usually need to do is just sing a clean-up song and then he's happy to help! And whenever he knows that he's done something good, he always calls himself a "good boy!" which I think is pretty cute.
*He is becoming much better at keeping himself entertained for longer periods of time by just playing with his toys, or watching a short Elmo DVD while I clean up the kitchen and make dinner.
*He plays well with friends and other kids, older and younger. I love picking him up and people telling me he was the best behaved kid, and doesn't get upset or cry when other kids take toys from him. I love that he is easy to get along with and just loves being around "fends".
*Jacob is good so far at sharing and using his manners. He is good at saying "please" and "sorry" and I love that he always says these words in a soft whisper. He's finally getting better at saying "thanks" and (your) "welcome" too.
*We've started using time-out a few times now, the only times I've had to go to that is when he hits me with toys. Usually I know he's just trying to be funny or play around, but I have to draw a line somewhere, and it seems to have worked so far, and hopefully I won't need to do it much more as he learns what's expected.
*I still think Jacob is a picky eater, but I think he's gotten much better and has started trying more foods that he used to always turn away- meat in particular. He does love to use his utensils and feed himself and is great at sitting at his little table until he's done.
*Jacob is talking and using so many words it's almost useless for me to make lists of words he knows now. All I need to do is say a word once and he's basically picked it up, if he hasn't already. We can communicate pretty well now, and it's nice to know that others can understand him too- enough anyway. I love this stage though and how he loves to talk about things, and I can start to see how he thinks and processes things by the words he tells me. Sometimes though he'll say a string of words that just sounds so random he doesn't seem to make any sense at all! And I'll admit, when he repeats a word over and over and over... it's not as cute, haha.
*He can be whiny, but not to the point of tantrums, luckily. He'll get frustrated if he can't do something- like a puzzle, or get his shoes on by himself, but I just remind him to ask for help. He'll get whiny and repeat himself when he wants something- like candy, or to go on a slide, and if it's not something I can give him I just have to try my best to distract him with something else until he stops. So far though, we haven't had too many problems with this, and I'm hoping this means he'll be an easy-tempered kid overrall.
*Jacob has not officially started potty training but he has definetly shown and interest and is showing a lot of signs that he's ready to at least start practicing. As I said earlier, he tells me immediately when he goes and tells me that he needs me to change his diaper, and he'll often take off his pants too. He got a new potty for his birthday and so every now and then he'll tell me that he wants to go sit on his potty. So for now I'm just letting him get used to the idea, but I want to wait until I know he's really ready and would also like to wait until after the baby is born too.
*Jacob is full of expressions! Especially lately he's been big on rolling his eyes, looking up when I'm trying to give him directions, making his eyes and mouth real wide, make puppy faces, and just being silly! He really makes us laugh! He'll often make silly faces or shy smiles to strangers too, so he still gets a lot of attention from others too.
*We've also seen the "spiritual" side of Jacob lately too. When we dress him on Sunday he knows where we're going because he tells us "urch...eezus" (church, Jesus). He always finds pictures of Jesus and points them out to us and I've caught him reading my scriptures where he then said Jesus again. Last Sunday Jacob and Luke didn't go to church because they were sick but Jacob got a hold of Luke's cell phone and somehow opened an app that had church music and he just went into the other room and laid on his belly with his chin in his hands listening to church music, and when Luke found him, Jacob simply told him "song, Jesus"- it was sweet. He's also good at doing prayers with us and doing surprisingly better at being still and reverent during church.
*Has started saying "Jacob" and refering to himself and identifying himself in pictures, videos, and even in the mirror. *Jacob has still been a great sleeper. He'll take a shorter nap during the day- typically an hour and a half, but then he usually sleeps about 13 hours on average each night. He goes to bed at 8 and typically wakes up at 9, but still sometimes sleeps in close to 10. I'm really trying to soak it all in before this baby comes!
*Jacob has been sporting long hair for a long time now and over the weekend we finally cut his hair short! Luke and I were really sad to see his long hair go, and so was Jacob- he haaates getting his hair cut! And he had so much that it took awhile too. But he got a lollipop so he made it through, and I think it looks so cute now! And I'm glad that it helps make me feel like he's older now too- he looks more like a toddler to me now! 
So I know this was a long post but writing it all down makes me realize how much I just love this little boy and everything about him! Jacob has always been so sweet and good, and I still just can't imagine how my next boy will be able to compare- he has a lot to live up to! At least I know Jacob will be a great older brother and I know he's getting excited to have a baby and be a brother too. I'm just trying to enjoy the time that I have left where it's just me and Jacob- we spend so much time together it's really like he's my little best friend! These two years have really been wonderful, and I'm excited to see how much more Jacob will learn and grow in this next year!
