These are a few of my favorite things...

Bug,
You are now 22 months old. Where did the time go? It's so surreal when people now ask how old you are and I say "almost 2". The past 2 years have flown by. You have become such a vibrant, energetic, loving, hilarious little boy. Your Daddy and I love you so much and always look forward to each new day we get to spend with you. Here are a few of your favorite things right now:

* the color "lellow"
* milk first thing in the morning and first thing after your bath and you mean business!
* mac n cheese, peaches, pears, blueberries, Yogurt Melts, green beans, broccoli, pasta, mashed potatoes, Yo-Baby yogurt, pancakes, chicken nuggets, cheese and crackers
* DIPPING! (chicken nuggets or french fries into ketchup, pancakes into yogurt or syrup)
* sharing an evening snack of chips and salsa with Daddy (must dip the chips!)
* 1 cookie every night after dinner - you used to never share with Momma, but now you do
* cold "lala" (water), milk and the occasional watered-down juice
* making 2 weird noises instead of saying orange juice
* turning on the "pretty lights" on the tree and fireplace first thing when we come home (and turning them off when we leave)
* turning the TV on and off when we come home and leave
* Clifford the Big Red Dog (but you call it "puppy")
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on occasion
* Sesame Street still, of course (Melmo and Cookie are the faves)
* bath time! Depending on the night, you like to turn on the shower, lay down on your back, sit under the running faucet, and squirt Daddy with your water toys
* going through the gate and getting the mail every evening after work/daycare (and announcing it the entire ride home in the car!)
* your friends at daycare - you always talk about Ivy, Rio, baby Kate, baby Vincent, Alana and of course Donna (Ivy the most by far - maybe your first real crush?)
* sleeping with your blankey, monkey and fishey (and needing them when you're cranky or get hurt)
* still walking on those toes!
* watering the plant and sweeping the patio
* being helpful - taking things to the trash, putting your toys away, helping put dishes away, throwing clothes into the washer
* playing baseball with either your bat or your golfclub - still swinging left-handed at this point
* telling Momma exactly when you're done eating by saying "no" and handing me the rest of the food off of your tray
* pretending to go "night-night" by laying on the floor or on the couch and waiting for us to say "no" and tickle you
* Momma holding your hands and swinging you around
* saying "OK" whenever you agree with us or we understand you correctly - you'll say "tissue", I'll ask "tissue?" and you reply instantly with "OK"! Now you're saying it to yourself - when you're done with something, you'll say "No - OK." It's hilarious.
* your tool set, tractor, ball popper, a few choice books, computer, puzzles, vacuum, and your Elmo backpack are your favorite toys
* sleep! You are a great sleeper - you say goodnight to Dadda, then Momma turns on your fan, turns on your angel musicbox, and puts you to bed. You usually ask for a tissue, then we blow kisses and you fall fast asleep. You go down about 7pm and usually wake up between 6.30 and 7am.
* words - your vocabulary has exploded and you love repeating everything we say
* recognizing letters - you're pretty good identifying B, C, P, E and I
* coloring, although you don't actually color long, just dump out all of crayons, grab the "lellow" and run around while Momma and Dadda end up coloring - hahaha! You also like to stand or sit on the coloring books, making it tough to color. Apparently you're not impressed with Daddy's coloring skills cause you always give him the white crayon!
* buttons! The best thing in the world is the ATM pad at stores - you can't wait to get your hands on them
* rough housing with Daddy
* cooking - you are fascinated whenever we make anything - cook dinner, get coffee ready, you love it all and want to be right there to help and watch
* saying "BYE!" super loud when it's time to go - and you have no problem saying good-bye to Momma or Dadda when one of us leaves - no separation anxiety for you (never have)

Happy 22 months Ben! We love you.