Feb
4
At two years old Dylan talks and talks, he counts to ten, he sings, he climbs on top of things and chirps “Watch DIS, Mommy! Watch DIS, Mommy!” before hurling himself into the air. “Dumping!” he shouts, leaping up and down. “Dumping!”
Unlike Riley when he was the same age, Dylan couldn’t care less about trucks. He likes spotting motorcycles when we’re out and about—”I see a MOTACYCLE! I see a MOOOOHHHTACYCLE!”—but wheeled things are far less interesting than things with fur and hooves and snouts. His favorite activities are sitting in someone’s lap looking at pictures of animals (“Reada book? Finda cow?”) or surfing Flickr for barnyard-themed photos (SafeSearch ON, thank you very much).
All day long he asks what things are, and repeats the word to himself.
“DOING, Mommy?”
“Well, I’m loading the dishwasher right now.”
“Dish . . . washa.”
These days he loves maple sausages, macaroni and cheese, yogurt tubes, Life cereal, crackers, pineapple chunks, waffles, pancakes, and “buttah JELLY” sandwiches. He can be counted on to sobbingly refuse anything I’ve spent more than seven minutes preparing.
He is still a tantrumy little sniglet, but he’s starting to respond to time outs. That is, he’ll at least go to his room and howl there for a while, then sniffle “yes!” when we ask him if he’s all done.
He loves his brother and refuses to give Riley one inch of personal space, crushing up against him when they’re watching Yo Gabba Gabba and trailing him from room to room, grabbing at his clothes. They play frenzied screaming cackling games for hours on end, crashing around the house like mad things. Sometimes they throw a ball back and forth to each other, while Dylan shrieks “Throw it to ME, Riley! Throw it to ME, Riley!” and dissolves with joy when the ball invariably smashes into his skull.
At night Dylan collapses into my chest, a warm heavy weight in my arms. “Horses comin’ ’round,” he whispers, and I sing to him. She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain when she comes. She’ll be riding six white horses when she comes. He drools into my left shoulder; I emerge from his bedroom with my shirt clinging wetly to me. I never mind. Soon I won’t be rocking my little boy to sleep any more, my shirts will always be dry, and oh how sad to think of that day, coming all too soon, ’round the mountain.
Comments
-
My product review site:
[
Happy birthday to Dylan!
(Also: Riley is really suspicious of cake, isn’t he?)
So sweet.
OMG- TWO?? He was only born yesterday. Sigh. I am so old. Happy Birthday Dylan.
Happy Birthday Dylan!
Beautifully written too :)
Yes, happy birthday little D, who will someday be a horse whisperer or a horse rancher or a horse something, no doubt. This kid has an unrelenting passion for horses.
It makes you realize that every person, from the youngest age, is unique and has very particular and important (to them) interests and passions. Where do these interests come from and why? It’s magical.
I could shed a tear looking at those horse-topped cupcakes. They are such a loving touch. Like… aaaaaaaaaaawwww, mom!
Lovely birthday you threw for your boy.
P.S. Your haircut is divine, and hello biceps! Killer.
Happy Birthday Dylan! :)
That first picture of Dylan looking up to all the decorations made me tear up a bit. He’s gorgeous.
I’ve been reading here since forever and can remember when you announced to be expecting Dylan. A boy or a girl? What name? The expectations. And now he’s two! I can’t believe how quickly these years flew by.
I hope you had a wonderful day.
I don’t know how long I’ve been reading your blog but I feel like I’ve known you all forever. I remember when my son turned 2, I can see that birthday party in my mind him singing happy birthday along with everyone else. Enjoy every day every minute.
Happy Birthday Dylan!
Happy Birthday Little D!
I have been reading you FOREVA and it seems like you are just another good friend I keep up with on my computer (in a non-stalkerish way, of course!) ANYWAY. I cannot believe how big Dylan is already and Riley! Is such a teenager! It goes so fast. I adore how you decorated for the party and the horse cupcakes.
Oh, and you? Are seriously hot!
Looks like you all had a wonderful time.
Happy Birthday to your little sniglet.
I can’t even believe that he’s 2 already! It seems like yesterday I was seeing a picture of you with hena designs all over your belly with the teaser ‘D’ on it!
Happy Birthday little man!!
I love the cupcakes! (:
Oh how I wish I could go back and spend a few days with my babies as two years olds. There is so much awesome (and so much NOT awesome) all balled up in a snuggly little body!
Happy birthday Dylan! Love the cupcakes, glad you didn’t go with the creepy whole
horse cake. Sniglet, hee.
This post just made me feel all warm inside.
I love your kid he’s beyond adorable.
Ya did good, Mommy! I also noticed Riley’s suspicious look….those two boys of yours are indeed adorable.
I am looking out on a rural Kansas snowstorm this morning, thinking of my “little sniglet”, who also celebrated a birthday this week. He is halfway across the country now, a freshman at WWU, and it’s true what you wrote. The trip ’round that mountain is a short one. Such a smile comes to my face when I think of my 2 year old boy!
This made me go back and look at ten year old pictures of my “baby’s” 2nd birthday. Man, they are so squishy and warm and wonderful. What’s more delicious than a two year old boy? Well, besides horsey cupcakes. Happy Birthday, Dylan!
Happy birthday, Dylan! May next year be filled with many horses, cows, and other amazing things.
Happy birthday, Dylan! Reading about his antics ALWAYS makes me laugh. He sounds like such a awesome kiddo. Love the way you decorated for his birthday party, too.
Happy Birthday Dylan!
And let me just say, in the least internet creepy way I can, you look great! Very fit and healthy.
You made me cry in work though! My little boy is nearly 20 months and growing up all too fast too. He might wake me up at 5.45am most days…..(what is that about!!?) but they are so soft and cuddly at this age.
Happy Bday Dylan!
OMG…you made me cry. How sweet he is :^)Happy Birthday, Dylan!
Gotta love a 2-year-old in sunglasses.
Riley is still suspicious, I see.
Awww Linda..this post made my heart happy. Happy Birthday Dylan! This officially marks my 2 year anniversary of reading your website. Thanks for putting it all out there. Just reading your words helps me get through some tough times and knowing that wanting to throttle my children is completely normal.
If that look of pure wonderment on his face is any indication, I think the birthday decorations were a success! Happy birthday, Dylan. HORSE.
Riley cracks me up. Happy Birthday Dylan!
I totally tear up everytime I read about you singing to him…so sweet!
Happy happy birthday Dylan!!
Happy Birthday, Dylan!
Oh, he is precious. 100% boy.
Your hair looks fabulous.
Blubbing in my office over this post. Want a BABEEEEEE now okay no I don’t but your boys are beyond sweet. The lows are low but the highs are so worth the work. Enjoy.
So sweet. Happy birthday Dylan! Looks like it was pony-tastic.
Happy birthday Dylan! What simple, yet cute decorations!
This post made me cry. Thanks and I was just about to get some work done. But seriously- it was so moving. And the pictures of the horse faded in the background and cupcakes….aaahh…this could be a Mad Men episode, but for very young chiildren, of course. You are a wonderful mom and gorgeous writer!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN!!!!
What!!? No horse-shaped cake?
Yes, you have to savor those (wet-shirt) moments because it won’t be long before they won’t want to walk on the same side of the street as you are.
Cute kiddos!! Dylan definitely looks like you. Can’t wait to have birthday parties for my little one (he’s still tiny). Looks like you need a cupcake tower to display all of those lovely minicakes!
P.S. Already twitter-stalked you and commented on a picture there, but want to echo what several other commenters have said here – cute hair!! Am slightly jealous. Rock on short-cut, rock on.
I can’t believe he’s TWO. Happy Birthday, Dylan!
(You went and me cry, dammit.)
MADE me cry. I can’t even type. Dammit.
So you didn’t go with the OMG-Is-That-A-Horse-Carved-Out-Of-Cake Cake?
The cupcakes are quite cute.
I wish I could hear him chirping, “Horse, Horse, HORSE?!?
That first shot with the horse picture on the wall and the little horse cupcakes was so adorable and so the essence of childhood innocence that I kid you not, I totally teared up.
FROM LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF HORSE CUPCAKES.
I think my ovaries are telling me something…
Happy Birthday to Dylan! As many have said before me, how can he be two? I adore that Riley still has the same suspicious look he was sporting as a baby.
The other comments are making me as teary eyed as your post!
The pictures at the end of each piece of crepe paper. That was awesome! I don’t know why I notice stupid things like that but I do. (and i bet it wasn’t stupid to you when you were putting it all up). Brilliant idea, thanks!
Happy Birthday!!!
I adore your whole party setup! So wonderful! YAY HORSIES!
My daughter is 2.5 and I can so relate to most of what you said. :)
Holy cow (pun intended!) two. That is awesome – Happy Birthday lil dude!
As aside, that first photo of the cupcakes and that horse picture?? I totally had that poster on my wall my entire childhood. I loved that dang horse!!!
Happy Birthday Big D! Looks like a fabulous party.
Happy Birthday Dylan! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by. I love the decorations and the pic of him staring at them in awe. Makes me kinda want another little guy. :)
Happy Birthday Dylan!
I am so happy for you Linda, it looks like you are living the dream!
Happy birthday little man.