Two years already, and still wonderful
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10:46AM If there's one person my son will have to thank for the possibility of his existence (well, other than his father and I), it's my nephew TJ, who turns two years old today.
I always said I would be fine not ever having kids. I would make do if I did have kids, but I never thought I'd feel like I missed out on something if I didn't. But TJ changed all that for me.
In TJ's birthday post last year, I wrote that the hubby and I planned to try for kids in "a couple of years." So much for that plan! That was already a huge step for me. The amount to which TJ has made me comfortable with babies, and now toddlers, is immeasurable.
A lot more has changed in the past year. If I remember correctly, TJ knew around 40-50 words on his first birthday and was speaking in two word sentences. "TJ eat." Now he speaks in long sentences, makes requests, and understands reasoning. A year ago, he was a fairly steady walker. Now he runs and jumps, goes up and down the stairs with no assistance, and will be starting out on a tricycle this spring. They skipped him a "grade" at daycare because he already knows everything the group he was in was working on. If you ask him who's having a baby: "Aunt Candy." "What's she having?" "A baby boy."
sauce face and olive fingers, mmmm
This morning my sister asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said, "M&Ms! But only for my birthday!" He told the lady at Dunkin Donuts it was his birthday. He waved at a NJ Transit bus and said, "Biiiig bus! My birthday today!"
And, of course, four months ago he became a big brother.
It wasn't easy initially. When my sister would pick up Brooke, TJ would run to the other room, fling himself on the floor and yell, "MY MOMMY!" But after a few weeks, that changed. When my sister took Brooke with them to daycare, if another kid went near Brooke, TJ would walk over and say, "Not your sister, MY sister." If that kid didn't get the hint and touched Brooke, TJ would step between them and say, "MY SISTER!"
So, yes, Brooke will not be dating until she's 30 if TJ has anything to say about it. We'll work on that.
Mr. Wonderful, it's been a wonderful, amazing year watching you continue to grow up. I can't wait to see what the next year brings and I can't wait to introduce you to your new little cousin and watch you all grow up together.
Last year: March 19th, a year
Reader Comments (4)
Holy cow, your nephew was saying 40-50 words by the time he turned one!? We maybe can get three out of P and that has only happened in the last few days. TJ is a whiz kid!
Love the photos--the one of TJ and Brooke is adorable. And the one of him in front of the ocean just says it all!
You are lucky that your son and TJ grow up together. I bet they will be close :)
My sister is a huge talker - you can't shut her up - so TJ heard a LOT of talking all the time (still does). He talks circles around any other kid his age I know.
I didn't grow up near my cousins, although I saw them several times a year - but they were all older. I can't wait for my sister's kids to be like other siblings for my kids. :)
Wow 40 or 50 words is amazing!! So smart, and adorable, he's going to be trouble for sure :).
so nice! i needed a sweet, uplifting moment this morning and you just gave it to me. thanks for sharing your pictures and words.