Profile of a 2 1/2 year old

Henry is officially 2 1/2. The next milestone is his third birthday. There is just no way that I can have a 3-year old! A confession of mine is that I've always been able to imagine myself with babies and small children. I honestly cannot imagine myself with a 7-year old. And the confession part I guess, is that it terrifies me. What happens when your children don't think you're funny or right anymore?
In celebration of Henry's 2 1/2 years we had a doctor's appointment for a check up. Taking him to the doctor since he was around 18 months has been terrifying for he and I. He basically fought and screamed the whole way through and it was just never any fun. I was nervous about how things would go having both he and William at the appointment. I really tried to prepare him for his appointment and tried to pump him up about seeing the doctor. And I was pleasantly surprised when he did great! He actually climbed up onto the exam table and laid there very willingly while the doctor examined him. I was so proud of him. Here are his stats: Weight: 36 lbs (100%=off the charts) Height: 36 1/2 inches (80%) I think it's weird that he's over half of my height and Patrick's too!
This stage has been so much fun. I really love the age he's at. (I have a feeling that this is what ends up happening with every age - so maybe having a 7-year old won't be that terrifying after all?) He really has turned into such a little person. I've been trying to take him out and do things with just him sometimes. Last weekend we went to the children's museum together and then to Starbucks! He chose a reduced fat blueberry coffee cake from the pastry case and I had my new fave a decaf white chocolate peppermint mocha with (thanks to Holly) half the pumps and no whip (it's delish). It was so funny to sit there and talk to him. He was really interested in the Starbucks logo and wondered if it was an angel. Is it? It kind of reminds me of a mermaid, too.

He's also been really into first names. When he woke up from his nap today I heard him calling for "Patrick" over the monitor then when I went upstairs to get him he said, "where's Patrick?". I reminded him that it was "daddy" to him! Then out of curiosity I asked him what my name was and he said, "just mommy and girl".

This morning he noticed some very ripe bananas on the counter and said, "look mommy, those bananas are dirty!". So we made some banana bread after his nap this afternoon while William was still napping. I had all of the ingredients on the counter and he picked up the egg very curiously and then crushed it in his hands before I had the chance to stop him. It definitely surprised him as much as me!

He has been so sweet to William and I'm so proud of him when I see him being a good big brother. He loves to get William's attention and just lately William's really been watching him and smiling at him. Last week though he did tell me to put William down when I was holding him and Henry wanted me to be holding some tractors instead.

I've also noticed his imagination really starting to take off, too. Lately he's been really into imaginary friends-well, they're real people that he knows but we play with them at our house as if they're actually here. "Cousin Gabe" has been his #1 fave imaginary friend to have over. He loves to play with cousin Gabe by first calling him on the phone to invite him over to our house. It's a fun game, but does get confusing when he keeps asking me, "mommy, where did cousin Gabe go?". :-)