Terrific Twos!

Two year olds are notorious for being TERRIBLE.  They certainly do have a mind of their own, but I think Benny is terrific.  Now, I'm not going to lie.  Some days his excessive zeal for life leaves me exhausted, and he doesn't always listen, etc. etc.  But, he is really so much fun and a very good little boy.  Not really very 'terrible' at all.  Some things he does recently that I think are really cute:

1) When I'm in a different room from him, he calls "MOM!" at the top of his lungs to get my attention.
2) He is a big helper.  Whenever I tell him I'm going to do something he says "I help."  Not to say that it doesn't take a lot longer with his assistance, but its the thought that counts.
3) His favorite thing to ask is "What's it doing?"  Every item in a picture, every toy---gotta explain what it is doing.
4) You tear things apart so that you can 'fix it.'  Isn't that what everyone does?  He's got the engineering gene.
5) He is starting to tell Daddy about his day when he gets home from work.  On Friday, I told Benny to tell Daddy what we did that day.  His description went something like this...Baby.  In there. (points to my belly).  Heartbeat.  Ba-bum.  Ba-bum.  We had went to my doctor's appointment for the baby, and he got to listen to the heartbeart.  So sweet.
6) He is a compassionate little fellow.  He other day, he noticed that I was getting stressed and upset.  He came over, sat in my lap, and gave me lots of kisses and hugs.  He knows that Mommy loves to snuggle.
7) He fakes getting boo-boos just so he can ask me for a kiss to make it 'all better.'  He insists that the kiss be in just the right spot.  He give directional cues for the perfect placement of the kiss.  "over there," "the other side," "another one"
8)  He likes to sing.  Insert any animal sound and sing the tune of Jingle Bells.  (Maybe he got this from Grampie's dog barking jingle bells song.)  He loves to sing The Wheels on the Bus at lightening speed---with all the verses (round and round, swish swish swish, the baby, etc. etc.)  Jesus Hands Were Kind Hands also ranks in Benny's top 10.

The list could go on.  So much to learn and do when you are 2!  Benny had his 2nd annual New Year's Day birthday party.  Mommy had fun planning it :)  When you are 2, you need an Elmo party.  {FYI...after we ate lunch, he couldn't take off his Elmo bib.  It has Elmo on it; thus, it is fabulous.}

Mommy made Benny this Elmo cake.

I wasn't sure if the Elmo cake would be enough cake for everyone to eat.  Grammie made this cute cake.

Here is a link to the video of Benny blowing out his candles: http://youtu.be/ieJhSULx6S8

Benny got an Elmo train and train track from Grammie and Grampie.  He was a little bit excited :)

Stevie is always prepared for anything.  Benny solicited Stevie's assistance to cut the Sesame Street cars out of their box with his pocket tools.

Benny was clapping along to the music Elmo sings.