30 months + 1 day

Happy half birthday, Jack! You are 2 1/2 years old and such a big boy! Just this weekend, we officially said goodbye to diapers and you are now wearing super cool big boy underwear featuring Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and the Thomas train gang! You have been such a rockstar mastering potty training in only a few days with just 2 accidents!

Speaking of rock star...you sure know how to party like one! After being a perfect, yet quite affectionate- giving the flower girl many, many hugs and kisses, gentleman as the ring bearer in Heather and Justin's wedding, you broke it down on the dance floor- stage jumping and dancing yourself into a sweaty monster!

You love music and can sing the words to nearly all of your favorite kiddo songs, but your favorite song, by far, is I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie and when you sing along, it melts my heart. When Dada sings it to you, I can't help but smile.

You love for us to read you books. Some of your current favorites are the French version of Aladdin, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (you call this the Mickey book), and the old-school Dick and Jane books. And, you love to watch movies- The Little Engine That Could and Curious George are your current favorites. Your two favorite things to play with are your train table and your shovels and rake- you can happily dig in the dirt for hours!

You are a sweet soul- saying to me several times each day either "I want to hug you" or "Give you a kiss," which, of course, I absolutely adore. Hearing you say "I love you" from across the room nearly makes my heart skip a beat. You completely adore your friends, particularly Johanna.

Jack, I honestly cannot get enough of you. While it's been only 30 months, it feels like you have been part of my being, encompassing my thoughts, for as long as I can remember.

Mama and Dada adore you, sweet cheeks. Happy half birthday!

Pictures of you this time last year, 18 months, at Auntie's half-marathon and at Dada's medical school graduation: