Two Old

I asked Seamus how old he is today, and he told me, "Two old!"  

"Too old for what?" I asked him.

"Two old, two old, two old," he muttered as he shuffled off down the hall like a confused 98-year-old man.

If you have called our house by telephone recently, you will have heard Seamus screaming in the background.  Although his skill with the English language has progressed admirably, he still finds screaming to be the most effective mode of communication (much like his mother when she was his age, so I hear).  His smiles, though, are worth all the screaming he can fill our ears with.  When this kid decides to smile, I am sure people feel the after shocks in Nepal:  pure joy. 

Seamus often wakes up in the morning with the statement, "I gungy buskat", which means, "I'm hungry for breakfast".  I also love to hear him try to say, "Delicious Nutritious", which he always says, "Nutritious, nutritious", with a big grin.  He is a pretty good sport when it comes to food and tries almost everything at least once. Something I'm particularly proud of him for liking recently is kombucha tea, which I made myself.  I love the thought that his little intestines, and his large ones for that matter, are smiling at me and thanking me for what Seamus calls, "Boocha juice".

Seamus has finally found the appropriate place to insert "Pease" and "Gan-goo" in a sentence, and often thanks me for "Take me outta crib, Momma!"  Can you believe this boy still doesn't climb out of the crib?!  He did once or twice and scared himself, and now I can leave him in there safely until I'm ready to retrieve him.  What a blessing!  One night I went in to hold him when he was crying.  I sang him a song, walked around a little bit, and finally laid him down in the crib with a race car to hold and in the sweetest, sleepiest voice he whispered up at me, "Gan-goo Momma, I yuv oo."

Seamus loves to run up and down the hall, around the house, following Luke, following the dog, following nobody.  He always shouts, "Watch dis Momma!", or "Watch dis Dada!" and then takes off full-speed.  His full-speed is an adorable stiff-legged little stomp-stomp-stomp with his arms out in front of him like he's holding bike handlebars, fists clenched, but in the last few weeks he has definitely put on speed.  Seamus is definitely not as coordinated as Luke was at this age, but we are really enjoying watching him learn.  It reminds us not to take mobility for granted.  And it reminds us that Seamus is only just barely two, which keeps us attentive to his babyhood.

I have realized in the last few months that I really love having this fat-cheeked baby around.  I never thought I was much of a baby person, and Luke was never much of a baby, but Seamus is baby through and through.  Perhaps it was subconscious on my part, perhaps I pushed Luke up and up and never let him be much of a baby, or perhaps he really did mature quickly.  But Seamus is slow and steady, and the progression of his babyhood has been a delight to participate in.

About five times in the last few months Seamus has asked to sit on the toilet.  He seems interested in potty-training, although he's never actually successfully used the toilet, and we have never pushed the issue.  We will take it slow, but maybe he will be ready soon?  

The weather has warmed up in the last few days (at last!) and Seamus and Luke have been playing out in the backyard more.  Seamus can climb up the stairs onto the play structure all on his own!  But he is still frightened to go down the slide on his own - it is a fast slide!  Seamus loves to go for walks, loves his dog "Yinus", loves "Macanoni", "Fench fives", and most of all his big brother, "Yuke". Luke sometimes gets tired of Seamus repeating everything he says, which I understand, but they do say, "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery".  I can see lots of differences in these brothers already, but I am pleased to say that if Seamus imitated Luke in every way, he would turn out to be a pretty great kid.  Don't get me wrong, they bicker and shout and drive me crazy sometimes!  But when it really matters, when someone is crying or when we're tucking them in to bed at night, they both always honestly say, "I love you, brother."

Here are a few pictures from the cake we had last Sunday to celebrate our favorite Seamus Nathaniel Thiessen.

I helped him blow out his candles, but he really gave it a good huff and puff.  He just couldn't blow the house down, yet.  Third time's a charm, Seamus bo baymus! Next year.

This is his famous "Thundercloud" expression.  So named by Grandpa Stan.  He is feeling defensive about his new balance bike from Grandma and Papa.  This is a very popular toy in our house these days!