Yackity Yack--He's Talking Back!

Will's vocabulary has exploded in the last couple of weeks. He was really sick all last week and didn't have too much to say, and now it's almost like he spent those lazy days mentally studying all the things I say, because my phrases are now his phrases. He's hysterically now trying out:
"Aw Man!"
"Oh Boy!"
"I Don't Know" (sounds more like "I neyo neyo!?")
"Yep" and "Yeah"
"All Gone"
"All Done"

He's really good with: Eat, More, Mama, Dada, Buh-Bye, Hi, Up, Down, Out, Horse, Kitty, Dog, Cookie, No, Hot, Ball, Please, Eyes, Na-Nigh (night, night), Milk, Ba-Ba, Ook (nuk) and Aag (rag), Home, Baby, Mickey, Ah-Pa! (Grandpa) & Poop. :)

He likes to watch "A-Basssse" (Baseball) and loves "MoMo" or "Ahhh-Mo" (Elmo). He commands Jeff and I to "Bawww! Bawww!" (Bowl--on the Wii) and can't get enough of "Ahsiiiyed! Ahsiiiiyed!!!" (Outside).

He's tried out "Oh Tarter Sauce!" (he learned this from my aunt and mother--I think it's supposed to be a swear substitute?) On that note, I'm not too proud to admit that he also throws out "Aww, Shit"......

Total Toddler

I feel like I'm often complaining about parenting a Tenacious Toddler--and I think I have the actual battle wounds to prove my point--however, I was watching that little ball of energy the other day and thinking there really are so many things that I love about this age...

...That I get to do all the fun "kid" activities again, like going to the park or the zoo, and yet he's too young to ask for a wax animal or be upset if we don't ride the train

...That I don't look like a moron chasing after the Ice Cream Truck, but he can roll right by and Will just waves "Bye Bye" Ice Cream Man--not a tear shed

...He's just starting to become my favorite age of all--the Stand Up Comedian Toddler. The more words he uses the funnier he is. (I know I'll be regretting this as the Talking Back Preschooler emerges...)

...One, long, predictable nap-time. You can't beat it.

...I've given up worrying about what I eat. I don't have time to think about it, and I'm generally running so fast that I'm just excited that I have time to eat!

...A new ball from the Dollar Store is just as exciting as a new bike. Cheap thrills.

...I have a great summer tan (albeit, a Farmer Tan) from being outside for every daylight hour.

...I don't even remember what boredom feels like.

...Becoming reacquainted with Sesame Street. That show is timeless, hilarious, touching and brilliant.

...Getting real, "I love you mommy" type hugs

There are plenty of things that I don't love about the Terrible Toddler years, but as I start to manage the chaos (slowwwwly but surely), there are more and more things that I will miss so dearly as time marches on...