Roy Post

I can hardly believe it's been a year since I last posted. This blog used to weigh on my mind weekly ("I really need to get around to posting again...") in much the same way that journal writing has weighed on my mind my whole life (gosh, you'd think I could just get into a schedule...maybe a habit....Gretchen?). But then this past year I think I went 6 months or more without even a single thought to the blog. Which is a huge relief actually, to not have something weighing on your mind. But now I look back at my last post and am so sad I didn't write more along the way! I did write in my journal and Roy's (that guilt is doing its job!) but I already forget so many of the little things Roy does. So...at 2 years old and some-odd months, Roy....

• Just started saying 'noooo' to everything. Not in a defiant way. In a playful way, like he doesn't want to fold his arms for prayers, or put on shoes or get a diaper change (still annoying, but easier to ignore if he's not doing it to be mean). If he's in the mood, he also says "no thanks" which is just adorable.
• LOVES reading. We get 5 library books per week at the library and we read them all at least once per day. He catches on so fast with the rhymes and even "reads" them by himself sometimes.
• Is the smartest little kid ever (no bias here ;) ). He can sing his ABCs and recognize all the letters, he regularly spots things out and about "I see a red octagon stop sign!" and strings plenty of words together "Please can I have one more candy please?" 
• He knows the names of all his friends (and any pets they have, haha), and asks to see them all the time. If I say we can't play with them that day, he thinks it's because they're at their own home taking a nap. 
• Just started enjoying coloring books, painting and art projects, and drawing. He also is getting so creative - he "draws" his own constructions trucks, helicopters, etc. and always wants Shenli or me to draw very specific things - a train with a smiley face, a pickup truck, a cement mixer, etc. And we do it all in every color of crayon every time.
• (how did I forget this one until now??) He loves to take off all his clothes anytime my back is turned. Not just clothes - diaper too. He has even done it at friends' houses when we weren't looking. So now he gets to wear onesies under all his clothes, and also wears only zip-up PJs at night (they have to have a button or he figures out how to unzip them too). He has only pooped one time without his diaper on, and left it alone during his nap and told me afterward, hah. That is what prompted the onesies! I guess potty training is on the way..although he doesn't seem to have much interest besides being constantly naked.
• Loves church, seeing his friends and playing in nursery, and is becoming quite musical. He can sing most of I Am a Child of God, and say almost all the first Article of Faith. He used to say prayers too..but now is playfully against that too.
• Is saying more things with inflection the way I say it. At the top of the stairs, he'll say "I'm coooooming", or when I'm busy with something else, he says "two miiiinutes". He also says "aaaawwwww" around animals, even stuffed animals, and I wore cat ears for Halloween and he said it to me! haha
• Is just the best best best baby in the world. He loved Halloween (sorry, no pictures in this whole post because I'm really just excited to get it posted!) and I can't even wait until Christmas this year.