Happy 2nd Birthday Arjen!

Two years ago today, I woke up, got ready to go to work, but rather than go to work, I found myself checking into the maternity ER, on my way to my first birth day.

Arjen, 1 day old

One year ago today, I was five months pregnant, Arjen was on the verge of walking independently, and we were fairly good at using baby signs for communication.

Today, I woke up to "Hi Mommy!  Hi Mommy!" over the monitor, along with the peanut gallery in the pack n play in the corner of our room.  Somewhere over the past 2 years, my little premie, who scared the tears out of me that day, has turned into this incredible little toddler; one who dotes on, then pounces on, his little brother; one who can make me laugh and also make me want to scream at the top of my lungs; one who makes me forget he's only just 2, then reminds me he's only just 2.

A rare moment these days, when I am actually able to get a true "cheese!" 

The Birthday Boy, crusing around in his new ride

So Arjen is now two years old. Can someone please explain to me how TWO WHOLE YEARS just passed me by???  He walks.  He runs.  He jumps! He glides around on his little strider bike like it's nobody's business.  He draws.  He eats his food with a spoon/fork (and still his hands and whole body at times).  He can be bossy and demanding.  He loooves his "ding-dings" (and yes, I am realizing we need to rename motorcycles so that any sentence involving "your ding ding" is not met with questioning looks from passersby).  He knows that he needs to put his bag thru the xray at the airport.  He knows how to navigate his way thru an iPod/iPad/iPhone (yes, all three, and he knows which is which).  He loves planes, trains, and automobiles.  He loves his brother.  He loves his Dada.  He loves his Mommy (yup, somewhere in the past few weeks I became "Mommy").  He sings!  He loves the water.  He speaks...in three to four word sentences.

Basically, he still amazes us.  But what kind of parents would we be if we didn't think our kid was the best there is??

Happy Birthday Arjen!!!