Turning 2-years-old earned me another Well Child Visit with the Doctor. This time, I was able to march myself right into the office and say, “Hi, Doctor!” And, in an attempt to bypass the routine check-up, I showed Doc how high I can jump. I’m quite certain he was impressed; we just proceeded with the usual steps so we could quantify and document my awesomeness. Here’s what we learned:

• I weigh almost 27 lbs (34%)
• I’m 2’11” tall (74%)
• My head measures 48 cm around (31%)

However, what the measuring tape and scale won’t tell you is:

• I love Thomas the Train!
• I like to whine and dine.
• I can identify all the colors of the rainbow.
• I’ve pretty much mastered all the names of the many student-teachers who come in and out of my classroom.
• I think I’m a stand-up comedian (I often say, “Jaeger funny!”)
• I’ve already learned that if I don’t get the answer I want from one parent, I should ask the other.
• My capacity to empathize keeps growing.

But, while it’s great to make note of important moments in my life, there are also events happening in the world around me, like:

• Prince, a musical legend and humanitarian, died just the other week, on April 21. He was only 57.
• This is a presidential election year, which means it’s President Obama’s final year in office. (Some folks running to replace him include Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.)
• Currently, gas is $2.13/gallon
• The fifteenth and final season of American Idol recently concluded.
• As of today, I have a brand new (2nd) cousin named Cora Lee. (Congrats, Gretchen & Koty!)

Life as a two-year-old is busy! I grow, change, and learn something new everyday. I’m constantly building my place in the world. In an instant, I move from cracking-up with giggles to melting down with tantrums. I run -never walk- from one moment to the next, blurring the memories that my mom tries to capture by camera. I’m here. And there. And everywhere! But, I don’t plan to slow down anytime soon, so try to keep up!

A week ago today, I successfully became a two-year-old. How did I do it, you ask? Well, turning two requires a 4 day celebration that begins on the eve of the much anticipated birthday. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Wear your favorite “Birthday Boy” shirt so everyone is extra nice to you. (This works better if your friends can read.)

2. Arrive at school, equipped with sugar to enhance the fun levels of your buddies cupcakes.

3. At day’s end, fall asleep in your bed as a one-year-old, and wake up in…. (video)

…a balloon party!

4. Head into La Crosse with mom to pick up the official birthday food: cake!

5. Return home to a surprise visit from one of your favorite aunties (Bethy)!

6. Go to bed as a brand new 2-year-old and wake up the next morning really excited….

…because it’s time to have some of your buddies over to show them how to party!

7. Minutes after your guests leave, fall asleep while your diaper is getting changed.

8. Wake up and demand more cake.

9. Get back to bed and prepare for birthday party #2…

… a celebration with family and more cake!

10. Declare yourself exhausted. I mean, awesome. I mean, an exhausted, awesome two-year-old.

And that’s how it’s done, folks. It’s not easy turning two-years-old, (unless you’re the two-year-old who doesn’t have to clean/plan/purchase/wrap/decorate/cook/host), but if you follow the above steps, you, too, can come of age like I did!

April 10-16 was Week of the Young child.

So naturally, I was featured in my school’s music and art show!

At some point, I’ll probably launch my career as a solo artist, but for now, you’ll just find me in the background… (see video)

…being cheered on by my very own fan club!

Don’t worry if you missed it; I’ll be touring again next year.

Well, this is it folks… my final day as a one-year-old.

I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. When people asked me to jump, I jumped. When people asked me to sing, I sang. When I was told to go fly a kite….

…I flew it high.

Heck, I even learned how to cover my mouth when coughing, I’ve mastered drinking out of a real cup, and I’ve found my independence. (It sounds a lot like, “No, Jaeger do!”)

I’ve worked hard at being a one-year-old. And while it was a year full of super-duperness, I can’t stay young forever. Because tomorrow I need to get busy turning two!

See you in the terrible territory…

…terrible 2-year old this month!?! I know it’s April Fool’s Day, but I’m not foolin’ around. April is my birthday month!! Be excited.

Below are a few examples of new milestones I’ve worked hard to accomplish before I officially turn 2.

I can now say some 3-syllable words! My first big word was “basketball.” (video)

I can do somersaults! (video)

I am VERY good at scaring people. (video)

I can whistle like a train. (video)

I can catch the football. (video) Sometimes.

I can help wash the car! (video)

I can convince people to do almost anything my cute little face asks of them.
(Like when I got Dan to cover his face in stickers!)

Other notable almost-two-years-old skills include:

• I’ve been sleeping with a pillow for a couple months now and we get along great!
• I experienced my first kiss at school, from a girl named Zella. Can you blame her?!
• I can search for train or tractor videos on YouTube all by myself.
• I can count to 5 most days and up to 10 on a good day.
• I get frightened by ladybugs and thunder.

Just wait and see what I’ll be able to do as an official two-year-old. I’m not sure why everyone says that being two is so terrible… I think it’s going to be great! (Except for those days that I might be terrible.)

….Not me! Now that I’ve settled into my new school, it’s safe to report that I love my classroom, all of my teachers, and my little partners-in-crime. I spend most of my days impressing Kim (my main teacher) with my gross motor skills by pedaling the tricycle, kicking the soccer ball, throwing the football and running really fast. When I’m not busy showing off, I hang out with my old pals, Abe & Sonia, and my new pal, Huddy! We get into trouble at the gym, we bond at the teddy bear picnics, and we make new observations as we cruise around campus. I live for those buggy rides! And guess what?! During last Friday’s loop around campus, I saw Mom while she was having lunch with a friend working hard.

Parent-teacher conferences are in the next couple weeks where, besides reviewing my awesomeness, it might be revealed that I haven’t mastered the art of sharing yet. (In fact, sometimes when I greet my little buddies in the morning, I say “No!” and “Mine” before I can squeeze out a friendly “hello.”) Speaking of art, there’s no need to dwell on my weaknesses when I have strengths to showcase. That’s right… next month I’ll be participating in the annual art and music show at school! If my mom talent manager is able to attend, we’ll try to capture photos and we can also make arrangements for autographs at a later date.

… is a train!!!

There’s nothing I like better than trains! I go to sleep and wake up saying “Eee-eee, woo-woo.” (Translation: train whistle sound effects) So, last weekend we decided to check out La Crosse’s train show. It was the BEST.DAY.EVER. I may or may not have cried a little bit when I was forced to leave.

But, the tears dried up once we headed to West Salem’s camper show! We got free popcorn, hot dogs and soda!! Oh, and we looked at campers, too. I can’t wait for camping season to commence.

I picked out a new fifth wheel travel trailer that my parents forgot to purchase.  I’ll have to remind them once we win the lottery. In the meantime, I’ll keep dreaming…

I love my Papa Florence, or “Papa-No-No” as I like to call him. I use the TV remote control to call him almost every day, but it’s much more fun to connect with Papa in person.

During our last visit to Mukwonago, we went to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show and enjoyed a lumberjack competition, watched Labrador retrievers jump into a pool of water, and pretended to buy a couple ATVs.

And just to make a great weekend even better, we purchased and ate some delicious tamales before it was time to head back home to continue my conversations with Papa through the remote control… until I’m rudely interrupted by one of Mom’s TV shows.

My toes may not be in the sand anymore, but my heart is still in Mexico!

Luckily, some of our memories were captured through professional photography so I can relive our adventures whenever my little heart desires!

“Last call for winter,” I declared on January 30!

Because on January 31, we left on a jet plane, in search of warmer weather.

And we found it…

…in Mexico!

If you’re questioning why we picked this place and/or this time of the year, it’s because:

1. January 29 was Nana Florence’s birthday and being in Mexico helped us feel closer to her roots. We miss her.
2. I love guacamole. Yum!
3. We made such good memories there last year, but I can’t remember any of them. So, I needed a do-over.
4. My toes wanted to breathe.
5. It was a great opportunity to brush up on the two Spanish words I know.
6. We live in Wisconsin… and it’s this time of the year.

Plus, our Mexican getaway allowed me to splash at the pool, (I LOVED the yellow slide!!)

play at the kids’ room, (Equipped with EVERYTHING… a trampoline, a train set and Connect-4!!)

nap at my leisure,

and spend quality time with my parents while I still think they’re cool.

Mexico was warm, beautiful, relaxing and delicious. It’s no wonder why we had to return! The real question is: why didn’t you come with?!