Meet the Mocks: 22 months!

I almost feel weird saying that when people ask me how old he is because he is basically two! And boy is he acting like he is two. Very independent, stubborn, knows what he wants and if he doesn't get it, he will make sure you pay for it. The past month has been full of daily tantrums, telling Mommy (and anyone else for that matter) NO to just about anything, and making his wishes known. Don't get me wrong, I am loving this age, but it has been very trying at times. He LOVES to play (or plsaaaay as he likes to call it). Pretty much if you are in the same room as him, you must be on the floor doing whatever it is that he is doing or at least observing him with no other distractions. Especially when it comes to playing blocks or kitchen.

Things he is currently loving at the moment include anything and everything cars (this has made his birthday theme an obvious choice). He loves to drive his cars everywhere while saying "varrooom" - up our legs, walls, on tops of furniture, across my headboard, etc. He also is really into his puzzles which he will sit at his table and do while eating which serves as a nice distraction. He has started to learn how to count - mainly from one to two. Up until a week ago, anything that there were multiples of was 2 (whether it was 2 or 20), but now he has gotten up to about 6 (one, two, tree, chore, fiiiii, six). He has learned most colors (red, yellow, blue, green, orange) with his favorite being yellow. He always demands more yellow of anything he is playing with (blocks, trucks, puzzle pieces). I think the biggest achievement in my book is learning that his name is Ryan and no longer baby. He called himself baby up until this month and thought it was pretty darn funny. Now he can even see pictures of himself and say baby Ryan. It's funny and it sounds like Why-an. Right after Christmas he started saying I love you ("I ruv you") and it seriously can make any bad day better. He has even done it without being prompted a handful of times (usually when he gets in trouble), but it makes it that much sweeter.

Some funny words of his right now include "helcopper" (helicopter), "crewbiber" (screwdriver), "bulldober" (bulldozer), and "capillar" (caterpillar). His vocabulary is out of control and literally he talks non-stop. Sometimes I can't even hear myself think. A few other things he has enjoyed doing are playing on our bed (which he can now get up on) and can literally entertain himself on it forever. Getting "cogee" (cozy) under the covers, making tents, telling secrets, and driving his trucks around - he loves it. He now loves my Ipad and the toddler apps; so every morning he asks to play the Game. I am sure this is only going to get worse over time. He is also really starting to get into a few TV shows that he can watch for about 15-20 minutes. He loves Super Why and Dinosaur Train.
Sorry for the blurry IPhone pic.

We have been going up to the park at least 2-3 times a week which he just loves. Especially when a wagon ride or bike ride accompanies it. Whether we are there 30 minutes or two hours, leaving is always a pretty big ordeal. We have been meeting friends up there and other moms in the neighborhood which has been great. He loves the swings and the slide. And loves to close his eyes while swinging (such a daredevil). He also loves to mimic anything the big kids do and loves to chase them around.

We've gotten together with our friends Ashley and Alex a few times, and I think Ryan has quickly taken a liking to her. He talks about her all the time. They came over to play earlier this month and when they were about to leave, we told them to hug. Ryan basically charged her and tackled her to the ground. He's a little too enthusiastic at times.

About 2 seconds before the big fall and tears that followed.

Ryan has also broadened his horizons on food. We still have a ways to go, but he will now welcome just about any lasagna or casserole, even grilled chicken and veggies occasionally. He loves to use silverware too, even though he is not too swift with them just yet.

He loves this baby doll as well and even had to bring her to class with him one day!!! He calls her Abby (after meeting a girl at church with red hair named Abby at Christmas). He likes to change her diaper, feed her, and wrap her up in blakets. I am not sure where all of this came from; I guess people just have a natural instinct in them to take care of others!