life with Blake and the ten things you need to know about him.

Blake will be turning two in one week. Wow how time flies!

1. Blake is an goofball, loves to sing and dance and clap his hands. If there is nothing to confine him, he has himself an absolute blast.

2. Whatever we say or do, Blake must say or do. I put on my coat, he has to put on coat. If mom wants water, Blake wants water. Cole takes a shower, Blake needs to shower, even if he just got out of his bath 5 minutes prior.

3. If Blake wants something he will let you know and not quietly either. In the mornings, if he is hungry and wants up, not only does he hand me my glasses and house slippers in bed, he sometimes give me a bowl and a packet of oatmeal. Okay Blake, I'm getting up.

4. Blake loves his pacifiers. He goes to sleep with them at nap and bedtime and lately with our chaotic life has it a little more. But not just one, two! He sucks on one and holds the other in his hand and you can frequently see him swapping them out. Even in his sleep. Damn overachiever! (Note to self: in the new year, we need to limit use back to bed).

My goofball at his best!

5. He does not sit still, will not watch TV, will not sit for dinner. He does not like being confined. He thinks that when he is done with dinner, he can just get up from the table and walk off to go about his business. Hello Blake, we eat as a family! And this really could be approximately 1 minute into dinner.

6. Blake has no fear. He will climb up anything he sees, go down any slide or toy, ride his little tricycle downhill at full speed (yes he is wearing a helmet) and if he can't reach something, he will find a way to reach it. If the house is too quiet, Blake is up to no good. I often find him sitting on the kitchen or bathroom counters playing with water and making a mess.

7. Since he could hold a spoon or fork, he has no interest in having you help him eat. He wears a washable, rubber bib or has frequent clothing changes. Yes, this is great, he is independent right? Well if he doesn't like it at first bite, we are in trouble. Sometimes a choo choo train or airplane bite can sneak its way in.

8. Blake give the best kisses, and loves to give them.

9. If we are somewhere that Blake can get stuck, whether it be wedged between displays at Macy's or between a pole and window at Seatac International airport, Blake will find a way.

10. Blake thinks that his parents are plumbers. He has clogged, no blocked the toilet from flushing by throwing in a bar of soap wrapped tightly in cellophane that the soap could not even slowly dissolve. We have also found our magnetic fridge letters in there as well, and yes, they were thrown away. We do not have a full alphabet anymore. And if not all that was a good idea, in the shower, Blake got the drain cap off and threw a comb, travel sized shampoo bottle and a foot scrubber down the drain. Um, why am I standing in water in my shower? Yes, this is Blake and bright ideas!

And just because:

11. Blake loves us so much! He is the first to great us at the door, running and saying mommy or daddy or Grandma Connie, who he refers to as Connie...too funny! He adores and loves Cole, truly. When he sees Cole in a school performance, Blake is yelling Cole, Cole, Cole from his seat in the audience. Only cute the first minute FYI. But if Cole gets to close, Blake will smack him. See, does not like any infringement on space or anything Blake related. (Note to self, again, stop the hitting in the new year! )

Our life with Blake...