Marlowe turns TWO

Today my little Marlowe-y turns two.

We had a little party with a couple of his toddler friends this afternoon. I got Elmo plates and napkins...and juice (thanks, Earth's Best--also thanks for those Cookie Monster waffles for breakfast). It was very low-key. We ate lunch, played in the sandbox, and ate cupcakes. And then naps were needed and goodbyes said. I just wanted to do a little something for Marlowe.

Last night we gave him his presents. I can't believe I bought this. I NEVER, ever, ever, ever allow toys that make noise. I hate them. We have maybe two toys that make noise, and one of them is a car. I also really don't like plastic toys. But I got one of those fridge phonics things. Marlowe adores it. Groan. Sigh. His cute little dance to the music won out over my reason. And it's educational. I also got him bathtime ABC's, the kind that stick to the bath when wet. But don't go thinking I've lost my standards. No more toys that make noise!

Marlowe totally got that it was his birthday. He went around singing "happy 'daaaay!" When we came out with candles and cake singing, he just laughed with joy, in all his twinkly cuteness.

Marlowe is my big boy who is still a baby. He can do so much. He can almost put on his shoes by himself. He gets what's going on around him. He adores cooking with an infatuation that is almost scary. I think if I handed him an egg, he could totally scramble it by himself. (Kidding...sort of) He really likes to mix and pour. Sure, all two-year-olds do, but Marlowe reeeeally does.

He's still nursing quite happily. A few weeks ago I thought I couldn't take it any longer. Then my mom took him for a couple of nights, which may sound a little cruel to a little guy who wakes up in the night looking for milkies. But my mental health was at stake, and I ain't kidding. He did great for her, so when I picked him up on Saturday, I decided to just nightwean him. I haven't had the guts to do it, because I don't have daddy's night time help. But tonight is Night 4, and it's going okay. It's just more exhausting than just rolling over and letting him nurse. I think if I can nightwean him, I'll be happy going longer. He only nurses a couple of times during the day anyway. He's so busy and active, I think it helps ground him.

Marlowe has the funniest sense of humor. He loves to play little games and tricks. One of the first ones was putting a random object on his head and saying "hat? noooo." Sometimes he'll do something tricky to something of Ellis's and then take off running before Ellis finds out. How'd he learn to do that? He loves tickle games. Somtimes he'll grab at my shirt like he wants to nurse and I'll say "no" (we have set times), and he goes "tickle!" Like Psych!! You thought I was goign to nurse but I was really going to tickle! Cracks me up.

He's talking quite a bit, though all his girlfriends are ahead of him there. ha! And he's signing quite a bit, too. He's recently started using his name sign to refer to himself.

Is it bad that I'm a little scared of Marlowe? ha! He's got a lot of strength and passion and twinkle. It'll be interesting to see how he grows.

(thanks to my friend, Jenn, who took the pics. can we say I need a better camera!?)