Two years old! A big boy now!!
I was sort of shocked even just in looking back at his 18 month post; it’s crazy to see just how much more of a BOY he’s become in the last six months! We’re a little late with the update this time around, but hey, better late than never.
Two has probably been the most fun so far (I think I say that with every new update), but it’s also been equally challenging. I’ll get to more on that in a minute, but here’s a few updates!
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Weight & Height: At his 2 year old check up, Lucas weighed in at 31.5lbs (85th percentile), and measured 37″ (95th percentile) — although when we measured him at home, it looked to be closer to 35-1/4″. One of the first things that anyone says when they see/meet him is, “Wow, he’s such a big boy!/He’s so tall!/Wow, he’s solid!” so I guess that’s all pretty fitting!
Eating: Ay yi yi. Lucas, you sure now how to drive your mommy and daddy crazy at meal times! Eating is completely different from one day to the next around here…one day, he’ll eat two bites of pasta for dinner and call it a day. The next day, he’ll eat 3 turkey hot dogs, a small bowl of pasta, and peas. Dinner and lunch are definitely the most challenging for us, but we’ve recently been making some progress.
For the past two weeks or so, we’ve been doing meals very similar to this…
Breakfast: Smoothie made with banana, milk (his doctor told us we could switch to 2% instead of whole), peanut butter, a mini scoop of chocolate Shakeology (probably less than a tablespoon), and ice.
He LOVES helping put everything in the blender, getting the ice, and pouring the drink into his cup, so I think all of that helps.
Lunch: This is one we’ve been struggling with, mainly because of the timing, due to Lucas’s nap being smack dab in the middle of a typical lunch time. When he’s home with us, we will usually make him an omelet right before his nap, and then give him a snack when he wakes up (Nutrigrain bar, fruit, cheese, PB & crackers, raisins, etc.). If he’s going to daycare, we’ll send PB&J, pasta, or just wing it with a bunch of random stuff, since we never really know what he’ll eat.
Dinner: Some of his favorites lately (although they change regularly) – turkey hot dogs, regular hot dogs, meatballs with sauce, pasta (“noo noods” haha) with sauce OR butter and parmesan cheese, peas and corn (two of the only veggies he’ll really eat), and rice. If needed, we’ll go with PB&J or eggs again.
Sleeping (naps): Most days, Lucas will go down for a nap anywhere between 11am-12pm, and will nap for probably 2-3 hours, usually longer on weekends to make up for less during the week. We try not to let him sleep much later than 3pm because then it messes with his bedtime a bit.
Sleeping (at night): Lucas is a great sleeper, and we are incredibly lucky in that department! Since moving in with my parents, his bedtime has gotten a little later — most nights between 8-8:45pm — although we usually like him into bed by 8pm. He typically likes his 12ish hours of sleep, so he’ll tend to sleep until 7-8am in the morning.
Clothing: Mostly 2T’s or 24 months, and a couple 3T’s here and there, although they’re a bit on the larger size. Shoes are size 6, with a 7 not far behind I’m sure, and he wears a size 5 diapers during the day, and a size 6 at night.
Teeth: Oh, we’ve got a bunch, but I think we’re still dealing with a few pesky canines. Every once in a while he goes through phases where he can’t keep his hands out of his mouth and the extra drool starts. But thankfully (knock on wood), they haven’t been bothering him to the point where he’s up at night or anything like that.
What does Lucas like and what’s new lately? Oh my…where do I even begin?
I’ll start out with this…my child has more energy than I could have ever imagined. At first I thought, well yeah, of course he has energy, he’s a toddler boy! But then I see him around other toddlers, and as they’re sitting all chilled out, mine is running around screaming like a wild man. I can already see the phone calls coming in now once he’s in school…“Oh hi Mrs. Horan…Lucas didn’t want to sit still in his seat today/Lucas fell off the monkey bars on the playground.”
I’m preparing myself now. ;)
With the weather being so nice, I try really hard to get outside with him once we’re home and just let him run….and run, and run, and scream, and run. Go ahead buddy, get all that energy out!
Lucas also appears to have embraced the “Terrible 2’s,” which makes me nervous, considering everyone I talk to tells me that 3 has been the worst. Some days, I really find myself at my wits’ end and on the verge of tears because I’m just at a loss with what to do (for one, he does this high pitched screeching thing sometimes that drives us nuts, and when he’s in the “zone,” we just cannot get him to stop…). I feel like some days we’re saying “no” more than anything else and redirecting like crazy, and some days I find myself yelling more than I’d like.
I’ll admit, I still have a lot to learn with the whole discipline thing, and it’s also been challenging with not being in our own home/on a solid schedule. So I’m hoping that once we can get into a regular routine and establish some new rules, maybe we’ll make some progress. But I’ll tell ya…this parenting thing can be tough.
But more than that, it is so incredibly rewarding. And fun. And exciting. Because don’t get me wrong…I love this little boy more than life itself, and he is just the best. He’s such a happy guy (especially in the mornings!), and is learning new things every single day. A couple highlights from these days…
- He adores cars and trucks. He will sit for what seems like hours (it’s not, haha) and just drive them around.
- He also loves any and all construction equipment. Bulldozers, dump trucks, you name it…he gets SO excited playing with them and seeing them around when we’re in the car (“Dig! Dig!”)
- He can (just about) count to 13, which we practice every single day as we walk down the stairs. I practice counting everything with him (ice cubes in the blender, cars, stars…) and he’s been doing awesome.
- He knows most of his ABC’s! He loves singing the alphabet song with me, and typing on the computer (I just open a blank Word doc and he goes to town saying the letters as he types them (“Type! Type!”).
- He can recognize many different colors (he now likes to point out the colors of all of our cars).
- He gives hugs and kisses and LOVES doing role call when we’re all around (“Nan nan! Papa! Dada! MOM! Doo Dee! Ma-mite (Grammy)! Paaaa-T!”)
- He’s starting to become much more vocal; he wasn’t all that interested in speaking up until the last couple of months, and he’s attempting new words every day. Most of the time I can figure out what he’s saying, but when he can’t, I just feel terrible!
- He still loves Big Block Singsong, along with some random “show” he found on YouTube called “Fergie” (it’s a tractor…so weird, but he loves it).
- If we gave him an iPad or iPhone, he’d easily sit for an hour. Quietly. And although we try not to give him too much screen time on it (just because he is so enthralled with it), some days, we need it more than others.
I think I said to my dad the other day, “I don’t know if I’ve ever had something in my life that simultaneously makes my heart melt and makes me want to pull my hair out at the same time.” Sure, it can be tough…he’s a toddler. It’s going to happen! But then I just look at this face and think, man…
I have got to be one of the luckiest moms in the world to be able to call you my son. <3
Comparison: I still can’t believe he was ever that little!?
Linz @ Itz Linz says
Such a big boy!! I wish William would learn to sleep like that haha I can’t get William to take a nap longer than an hour but at school it’s usually 2 hours!
Courtney says
Haha, they’re all so different, aren’t they? That William is such a cutie! :)
Jenn@Mark My Miles! says
Hi Lucas! He sound similar to my two year old. His sleep and eating preferences and that screaming, ahhhhh!!!! We have it here as well. Wish we could have a play date so I wouldn’t feel so bad when my kid is no longer the one screaming.
Courtney says
Gahhh, the screaming, right?! SOO high pitched, lol!
jenn@Mark My Miles! says
YES…our little lady who is 4 months old cries when it happens because she is so confused! Even our dog hides under the table!
Jen says
One, who cares? Two dont you worry about posting that much personal info about your child? Height weight likes dislikes? This is a public blog. We can easily find your address. It’s just like hastagging his name
Katy says
I’d be interested to know who is forcing you to read this blog. Answer: no one. Therefore, if you don’t care about this, don’t read it.
Get a life. Trolling the internet for blogs to leave rude comments solely for the purpose of making someone else feel bad is pretty sad.
Also, this two year old’s likes are pretty similar to a ton of other two year olds. Are you REALLY worried if I like, Google this child’s likes & dislikes and his height that his address will pop up or something? No, you don’t REALLY care. You aren’t REALLY concerned. You just want to be rude, because you’re a miserable person so you’re trying to make some one else miserable so you can feel better about yourself.
Melissa says
Damn, that was harsh. If you have an issue with this blog, there’s a little symbol…it’s an “x,” and you can go ahead and click that and move on.
My sister has a little boy who turned 2 in March and she has mentioned many things you have in this post (especially the eating part). You’ve got a wonderful family and I hope you have a great day.
Courtney says
Thanks Melissa, hope you have a great day too! (and yes, I’m finding that toddler eating is pretty complicated all around, haha!)
Courtney says
Hi again Jen. For one, I care. And I honestly don’t care if you don’t…and I’m sorry if that comes across as harsh. Two, no, I’m not concerned about posting my child’s height and weight or hashtagging his name.
I’ve tried emailing you directly many times, but you choose not to leave a valid email address with your comments, so I will just leave this here. As I’ve mentioned to you many times, nobody is forcing you to read here. If you don’t like what you see, you can take your readership elsewhere.
Katy @ Have You Hurd? says
My son just turned 2 in June and I can relate to literally every word of this post. The fun, the eating habits, the feeling of guilt for saying “no!” every two seconds and yelling, the frustration, the immense pride, the sheer joy. It’s nice to know that it’s not just me having an extreme range of emotions on a daily basis – haha! You’re doing a great job, Mama! Keep it up!
Courtney says
Thanks Katy, you too! It’s nice to hear a situation so similar ;)
Courtney Leonard says
Reading this update is like reading right from my daughter’s own two year update. Lucas and Quinn are just days apart and SO similar it’s almost freakish. One thing about eating that my pediatrician has mentioned to me that always made me feel better is – toddlers will likely only get one, good, solid meal every two to three days. I was shocked but also knowing this made me less worried when my girl ate one or two bites at dinner. Also, you should feel a little better knowing Lucas is in the upper percentile for size. At least he doesn’t throw his food which drives me BATTY. My daughter is also screaming at the top of her lungs almost like she’s trying to see how high pitched she can get, oh mylanta! Discipline is so tough and everyone is different with their strategies, you’ll find something that is effective for your family ….until it’s no longer effective and you have to find another method :) I know that when we were between houses and living with the in laws over the holidays, my daughter was not herself and acted out more than normal which subsided as soon as we moved into our new place and got back to our normal lives, hopefully the same will be true for you guys soon!
Courtney says
Thanks, Courtney! I just recently heard something similar about the solid meal, which definitely made me feel better. Makes sense! And LOL…he will occasionally throw his food…and forks. Sooo, needless to say, many nights he ends up eating with his fingers. ;) I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he settles down a bit once we’re settled ourselves!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I cannot believe Lucas is 2 already! Time passes way too fast!
tiff @ love, sweat, & beers says
What a cute/sweet/big boy! Even though our little guys are growing up, they’re still adorable, aren’t they? This sounds very similar to Ethan’s update – all about the cars and trucks, energy, and awkward nap time. He goes down about 12:15, so we eat lunch at 11:15 on the weekends (I try to stick to daycare’s schedule). But I’m eager to back up his nap to 1:00 when daycare starts pushing it back some. I usually just send him with leftovers from last night’s dinner, unless he didn’t like it. In that case he gets pbj & fruit.
Courtney says
I agree on backing up the nap! But then that would probably mean shorter naps OR later bedtime…neither of which I’m ready for just yet, haha. I’ll savor the extra sleep for as long as it lasts ;)
kelby says
He’s getting so big! What a happy boy! You must be very very proud!
Courtney says
I definitely am! :) Thanks, Kelby!
Brynn says
Time sure does fly! I remember reading your pregnancy updates! What a sweet little guy, he is finding his own personality and way in life.
Grace @ Diary of a Running Snail says
I’m not a mom but I’m a summer nanny for a 3 year old and 15 month old. It’s crazy to me how much they can change in just a few short months!
Lucas is so cute:)
Jennifer says
Love this post! My little man will be two next month, and as I was reading this I kept thinking how alike they are. I am jealous of your nice weather to play outside in though! The high is 102 today in Dallas!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
I feel like I could’ve written this myself about Hunter! ;) Lucas and Hunter would be two peas in a pod!
Amy says
Hello Courtney, I could be completely wrong, but I believe some of Lucas’s issues may perhaps revolve around the preschool he’s going to. I was a preschool teacher and while 90% are wonderful, some of the behaviors you described may be due to poor teaching and care. What I would suggest is that you take a full day off from work. Go take Lucas to preschool and don’t tell the teacher (it needs to be completely impromptu) and spend the whole day being a “teacher’s helper” or just by observing the class. Lucas may be a bit confused, but the point for you is that you can “see” in live action what goes on. The teacher may change things up a bit in order to be on “extra good behavior” but nevertheless, it should give you a better idea if any of his behaviors may be influenced.
Just some thoughts. I’m sure most of his behaviors are normal for a little boy, but some of the screaming issues and running around a lot are concerning. That can be related to restrictive environments and fear.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Those progression photos! Such a man now ;)
Allison says
My sister-in-law and I were walking through the zoo with our kids and we were saying to each other that we didn’t understand why it was called “terrible twos” because 3 was much worse, and a dad pushing a stroller next to us, turned and said “Oh PLEASE don’t tell me that”….it was funny, mostly because we are over that!
Nicole M Watson says
Wow this brought tears to my eyes:) I have a 1 year old boy and man do they drive you crazy but are amazing at the same time. It’s the face that always gets me:) Enjoy you have an adorable son!
Janice @ Fitness Cheerleader says
I cannot believe he’s TWO already! He’s adorable! As good as things seem now, I can assure you that they only keep getting better and better!
Julie says
Lucas is just adorable and so smart! I’m really impressed w/ his counting, ABC’s, color recognition, etc.
Kellie says
This post is right on point! Sounds like my son who will be 2 in October… all the way from the foods he eats, to the meltdowns. Your doing great! It is hard with the tantrums and such and learning how to discipline. Just take one more glass of wine! :)
And truly cannot believe that someone would comment so harshly on your blog. Nevermind the haters!
Jennifer says
They get big so fast! Do you still give Lucas a pacifier? My little guy just turned 2 and uses it for nap/bedtime still…I am dreading getting rid of it but know it has to happen soon!?
Courtney says
Ugh…yes, we do. Bedtime and naps. And at first I was like, hey, no big deal! But then I realized how much he sleeps in a day and well, it’s longer than his waking hours, haha. I’m also dreading getting rid of it, but I think we’ll likely try once we’re really settled in the new house. So many changes for him lately, so we want to make sure he’s comfortable. (at least that’s what I tell myself) ;)
Julie @ A Better Life with Burgers says
Happy birthday, Lucas! He’s SO cute! I love how honest you are about the hard parts. Marshall is 14 months, and I agree that the discipline part is so difficult. I can’t imagine how tough it must be with extra people around all the time!
Christy says
Oh man, we are right there with you! Jayson turned two in May and he has been really pushing his limits lately. I love our time together but there are days when his behavior drives me crazy and I feel like all I do is say no, tell him not to jump on the couch, tell him not to chase/kick/hit/pick up the dog, etc. Eating and bedtimes have become a chore. Makes me realize why my mom seemed batshit crazy at times when my sisters and I were growing up. I know this too shall pass seeing as how they grow so quickly, but it’s a tough phase that’s for sure!
Mama Pat says
You are a WONDERFUL MOM and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I am experiencing your parenting first hand….don’t change a thing
Emily B says
I can relate to almost every word of this post! My little boy will be two in a few weeks. His behavior is spot on with Lucas! My behavior spot on with yours! :)
Heather @ Life In Leggings says
Oh my goodness, Lucas is such a stud in those shades and backwards hat! I loved this post and wish hime a very happy (belated) birthday!
Michelle @ Baby Bump Bundle says
Oh my goodness ! He is such a big boy now ! Love the pic of the backwards hat and shades ha he is too cool !