23 months 8.12.12

Enjoying cake at his buddy, Cole's, bday bash!

Yesterday, Tillman turned 23 months.  Wow, he is almost a two year old!  I'm currently on the hunt for a the 2nd birthday party venue!  We were about to have it at our house until yesterday.  Tillman went to a friend's party at the Charleston Children's Museum, and we think that is the way to go!  The kids got to play, the house can be a complete disarray and no clean up!  We'll have guest in town for his party and a new baby, so it is just too hard to do something at the house and have company too.  Maybe a jump castle party will be for when he turns 3!

At 23 months, Tillman is super independent...oh my, is he independent! He wants to hold his own plate, feed himself, and doesn't always realize the consequences of not getting help-dumping food on the floor, making a mess of himself when eating, falling out the chair, etc.  BUT, then again, I'm sure those only matter to those who have to clean up and console (AKA mommy and daddy). When he is with us, his parents, he is a hot mess when eating, but at daycare, he comes home pretty clean beyond where he spills drink on him.  I just don't get it. We hear he is very well behaved and mannered at school. He's not a bad kid for us; he is just really independent.  With independence comes not listening!

Another BIG thing will be coming up for Tillman in August is his baby sister will be coming into the world!  I really don't think he has much of a clue.  We've tried reading the big brother book, he has a big brother shirt, and we talk about the baby, BUT it really hasn't sunk in.  When we ask him where the baby is he points to his tummy!  I'm sure he will have an adjustment period, as we all will.  I hope it is a positive one.  Tillman is pretty much a daddy's boy, so he may consider Caroline being mommy's friend.  The next few weeks of change for our house will be interesting to see unfold. 

Tillman "helping" daddy with Caroline's furniture.
He used thestyrofoam corners for little seats!

 Tillman has also turned out to be a bit of a "ham" when it comes to getting his picture taken.  He loves it!  We can ask him to do something and he won't do it, but as soon as the camera is out, he is all about it!  He loves saying CHEESE!

Cheese!

Speaking of words/Tillman Talk, he is very much a talker.  He loves to learn new words and really likes to truly learn the word.  We practice a good bit when he is saying a word for the first time. He will say it, we'll say it "correctly" and he really does try to get it perfect.  Some sounds are hard, but I think it is great that he takes the time to say it as correct as possible.
The Blessing is still a HUGE things for Tillman.  He starts off by saying "Ga Ga Ga Ga" (the start to God is Great), folds his hands, and waits for me to say the whole thing, and then shout AMEN!
His favorite word by far is TRUCK!  He literally points out every truck while driving.  He can be crying hysterical in the car, and if he sees a truck, he'll snap out of it and shout "Truck!"  I've never been so thankful for a truck siting before, but it sure is nice to see one with a hysterical kid in the back!

Another fun thing for Tillman is the sign along CDs in the car.  He has his own dance moves to some of the songs.  As soon as he hears some of them come on, he knows exactly what his dance moves are and occasionally he'll do his version of signing along!

Mr Independent playing with the wagon
 at the beach. 10 seconds after this photo,
he went head first into the sand!
You could hear 25 "mommy gasp" from all around!

Funny Tillman-isms
-when we tell him the stove is hot and to not touch it, he blows at it to "cool" it down!
-Hot, Cool, it doesn't matter...everything is "HOT!"
-Tillman loves to tell his "story" of how things happen particular when he gets hurt.  He points to the place of how he got hurt and wants to show you by dragging you by the hand to the scene of the incident!  Once he has show you, he's totally fine after that!
-"NO"- no means no, no means yes, no mean maybe, no means pretty much everything!
-"Truck" Yes, he loves spotting a truck, but he also likes to ride in Daddy's truck...to the point he will throw a fit when put in to my car. (Secretly Tillman, you are saving mommy a lot of gas money since we take daddy's car everywhere!)
-"Hi" and "Bye" Tillman could be the Wal-Mart greeter!  He he loves to tell anyone hi and bye.  Sometimes he accompanies it with blowing a kiss.  When we pick him up from daycare, it is like a parade getting him out of there.  They call him the Mayor of Hollywood, since he loves to "shake hands and kiss babies!"

Stats:
-25 lbs
-size 6 shoe
-size 12-24 mo in clothing
-size 4 diapers

Tillman in the Birthday Chair at the Children's Museum
I can't believe he will be 2 years old in less than
a month!