Joseph is Two

Joseph had his birthday at the end of July.  The day was filled with visits from both sets of grandparents and his aunt and uncles.  Grace made Joseph a bee hive cake to go with the Winnie the Pooh bear she made for him.  Joseph loved the Rody horse he received, as well as the Richard Scarry books, the cars, trucks and fireman's rubber boots.  His favorite present by far, though, was the mylar balloon I picked up for him at the dollar store.

(This little chair is one that I had when I was a little girl.  It's seen lots of wear and tear in our house--so much so that I threw it out with the trash one day.  Liz picked it out.  Grandpa Bob repaired it, including replacing a broken dowel, and then I repainted it and gave it to Joseph for his birthday.  All ten of us now sit around the kitchen table at dinner, although it's a tight squeeze :)

Joseph is like a little mountain goat, always wanting to get to the highest places.  When we go to the playground, the baby monkey bars won't due.  He insists on climbing up the big kid monkey bars.  He is regularly found (and disciplined) for standing on the counter tops.  We have a half wall in our basement  that's about three inches wide.  I found him standing up there last week.  I had a hard time grabbing him to get him down as there's so much stuff up against the wall.  I have no idea how he managed to get up there.

                                                 (Joseph with his look alike, Grandpa Tom)

Joseph is becoming more and more aware of what the big kids do.  When he doesn't get to to do those things, too, he loudly proclaims his dislike of being left out.  His favorite person in the family is his big brother, Paul. One of the few words Joseph says is "Paul."  His other words are all alarm words--"whoa!" "hot!" "ouch!" and "off!" (to the dog).  Joseph's unique twist on the obligatory two-year-old "no!" is "uh-uh!"

Joseph is still in love with his blue blankie.  I sneak it into the wash every so often, but invariably he figures out that his blankie is in the washer, so he turns it off.  Though he's smart enough to stop a wash cycle, he's not smart enough to realize his actions only delay his blanket's return.  Joseph is very two.