Joel at 2.5

Our little man is 2.5!  I love love love this age!  He’s communicating very well and is understanding expectations and learning to do things for himself and it is just FUN! 

He loves Mickey Mouse and Lightening McQueen and Thomas the Train and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. 

His favorite song is My Hope is Built.  He asks for it all the time.  (But it sounds like he’s saying “how bout.”)  He also requests Amazing Grace all the time.

When I’m listening to music on the iPad, he’ll always come and ask for “Bwess His Ho-wee Name” (Ten Thousand Reasons)… then he’ll sing it at the top of his lungs.  Precious!

He sometimes carries around a piece of his train track and holds it with one hand and “strums” with the other as if the track is a guitar.  Then he’ll say, “Brother Jarred” (our music minister)… though sometimes he says “Pastor Jon.”  He still gets the two confused sometimes. 

He still is more tonal in his singing rather than annunciating well, but you can usually figure out what he his singing.  He LOVES music!

He really enjoys his time at church on Wednesday nights with Miss Teresa and Bowen. 

He has an obsession with TV.  He’s always asking to “Watch TV?” 

Anytime he sees sports on TV he says, “Go Broncos!”  Oh yeah!

He’s starting to enjoy reading and coloring more.  Though he cannot sit still very long to do either activity. 

We’ve been doing some school time.  He is tenderhearted and if he gets too many things incorrect, he’ll start to pout.  It really hurts his little heart.

He’s a hugger.  He says “I wuv you!” often.

He still hates getting his fro combed out, but loves to feel it and show it off when we’ve gotten it all fixed up.  He says “Hair awesome!”

He is super good at helping me unload the dishwasher.  And he really likes to help me shut doors. 

He loves to be the center of attention and will act like a wild one when he is the center of attention.  He also struggles to share the spot light with Eliah (as does she with him).

He speaks in such a soft voice.  I am always asking him to speak up!!!

He loves bath time.

He is potty trained!  What a champ.  He even wears big boy undies to bed at night (with very few accidents)!!!!

He can count to 10 like a boss.

He knows most of his colors with his favorite being yellow.  He thinks all letters are for Apple… as in A is for Apple… P is for Apple… K is for Apple. 

He loves to run through the house.  He kinda bends over a little when he runs like he’s trying to go super fast.

He like carrying around his little plastic bat and hitting the tennis ball with it.

When he prays, he says “Thank you mommy, daddy, eliah, joel.”

He cracks up at his friends being silly.  He’s so quick to smile and laugh!

Oh Jolie-Joel, Daddy and I talk all the time now about how your personality is coming out.  You are starting to offer more opinions about things.  Your communication has improved so much though we still have a hard time understanding your words.  You leave out consonants in your words and run them all together so its hard to figure out what you’re saying.  But you sing all the time.  And, you test us and others with your little attitude.  I hope and pray that your strong will leads you to be a strong follower of Jesus as you grow into a man.  I hope that your love for singing continues to be praise to our Lord.  I pray that you will use your amazing ability to draw people in as a tool for drawing others to the joy of salvation.  You are a delight to us (and a sanctifier for us).  We laugh so much at your silliness.  We cannot imagine our lives without you.  You bring so much to our us and to your sister.  You give us laughter.  We adore you.  Especially your contagious smile!