I’ve never seen anything more true than a toddler celebrating their wins. Said a new word? Thunderous applause. Put the shape in the puzzle? Celebration dance. Excited to wake up from nap? Thrilled squeals.
I don't want to that 'that guy' that three is no picnic, three made two seem like a dream with my boys 😂 (but hopefully you'll find you have a different experience)
Despite what I've said above, I love these early years. The meltdowns are big but so are the happy emotions, and I just find it so fascinating and heartwarming to watch them learning and growing and experiencing everything for the first time. I think the harder stuff just makes the good parts that much sweeter, so I'll take it.
Haha that is what everyone is telling me! Definitely gearing up for a wild year of 3! Thankfully the past month or so she's chilled down sooo much so we're at least getting a nice little break before the 3 chaos begins haha but yes, wouldn't trade it for the world! They are so funny and exciting at this age too.
So gorgeous Hunter. Such a lovely thing to read. V is 18 months now and so much of this resonates! She says ‘yay’ when we say we are going somewhere, she does this cute run on tip toes that is just like Phoebe from Friends, she points at every ‘flower’ and has just started saying ‘pia’ when talking about her older sister. She is hilarious and has the cheekiest smile… it’s brutally intense but also so many things I want to bottle up and keep forever. Xx
Ah this is such a beautiful way of recording your daughter’s gorgeous ways. I am astounded daily by my little ones’ wildness and depth of feeling. I also like to remind myself in any given moment that this will be the littlest they will be and it helps to reframe many a situation! xx
Ah this is such a beautiful way of recording your daughter’s gorgeous ways. I am astounded daily by my little ones’ wildness and depth of feeling. I also like to remind myself in any given moment that this will be the littlest they will be and it helps to reframe many a situation! xx
What a gorgeous list Hunter, I can see so many of these in my youngest who is 2 - the animal noises, loves watermelon, the finger shhhh! I love the look on my youngest's face when I work out what word he's trying to say, the way he still looks like a baby when he's sleeping, the way he reaches for me for a cuddle, the way he's starting to say 'love you' and his passion for all and any types of vehicles (and how excited he gets when he sees the recycling lorry or fire engine!)
So many sweet things!! Aww yes trying to decipher what they are saying is so funny and cute all at once. The cuddling!! Ahh so many good ones. Thank you for sharing, Jenna!
Oh Hunter, I love this. My son is two and it is so hard and I love it all so much. The way he garage my face with both hands when he wants to give me a kiss, how excited he gets about water whether he is drinking it or playing in it, his new love for his “babies” which is what he started called all his stuffed animals. UGH, it too much time all the love and all the intensity.
My little one is almost two and so much of this resonates with me! He makes me laugh deep in my belly like nothing else and makes me feel like my heart is going to explode with love. He is so sweet when he asks ‘help please’ or ‘more please’. And has a hilarious habit of collecting gumnuts on our walks. He cannot continue without grasping a couple in his little hands. We seem to be constantly finding them in our jacket pockets, in the washing and under furniture.
As challenging as it is, I love how opinionated my almost 3 year old toddler is. Loving or disliking with his full heart! Trying things for the first time to declare "I LIIIKE IT!" or "YUCK!"
#22 is just the sweetest, right? My little one does the same and leans in to give "hundreds" of kisses.
Another toddler trait that I absolutely adore and am not ready to see come to an end is the incorrect recitation of words/phrases/song lyrics. After our pool sessions this summer, my 2 yo famously shouts, "It's TOLLDD!" instead of "It's COLD!" Ugh, my heart! ❤️
I have 1.5 and 3.5 (and 5.5) so I'm splitting the difference. But I love the look on their faces when I walk in the door. I love my baby asking me to sing "bus" (wheels on the bus) before bed. I love when I tell them to go to the garage, and they line up and out. This season is so much work, but there's countless good moments, if I remember to look for them.
I’ve never seen anything more true than a toddler celebrating their wins. Said a new word? Thunderous applause. Put the shape in the puzzle? Celebration dance. Excited to wake up from nap? Thrilled squeals.
When did we lose this? And how do we get it back?
THE BEST! They get sooo excited over the small things, it's such a beautiful reminder for us!
Absolutely. We definitely need to bring big celebrating back!
I don't want to that 'that guy' that three is no picnic, three made two seem like a dream with my boys 😂 (but hopefully you'll find you have a different experience)
Despite what I've said above, I love these early years. The meltdowns are big but so are the happy emotions, and I just find it so fascinating and heartwarming to watch them learning and growing and experiencing everything for the first time. I think the harder stuff just makes the good parts that much sweeter, so I'll take it.
Lovely list 💞
Haha that is what everyone is telling me! Definitely gearing up for a wild year of 3! Thankfully the past month or so she's chilled down sooo much so we're at least getting a nice little break before the 3 chaos begins haha but yes, wouldn't trade it for the world! They are so funny and exciting at this age too.
I needed this today. Things I love about my two year old:
- The singing. All of the singing. And how she knows the words to songs I had no idea she had even hear before.
-How much playing peekaboo, being tickled and a dramatic game of catch still make her laugh.
-When she surprises us with a new saying, last week it was “oh my goodness”
And so much more but those give me particular joy. 💛 Thank you for focusing on the abundant good in these beautiful little humans.
Awww I love that she sings!! How special. Mine is very big into dancing. I love how much they love music!
These are all soo sweet, thank you for sharing them Leah!
Yes!! The little songs! And always looking at me so sweetly and asking me to sing too.
Precious!!
So gorgeous Hunter. Such a lovely thing to read. V is 18 months now and so much of this resonates! She says ‘yay’ when we say we are going somewhere, she does this cute run on tip toes that is just like Phoebe from Friends, she points at every ‘flower’ and has just started saying ‘pia’ when talking about her older sister. She is hilarious and has the cheekiest smile… it’s brutally intense but also so many things I want to bottle up and keep forever. Xx
Haha phoebe from friends is so good!
I love all of these, what a special (and hard!) time!! I can't believe she's 18 months already!
Ah this is such a beautiful way of recording your daughter’s gorgeous ways. I am astounded daily by my little ones’ wildness and depth of feeling. I also like to remind myself in any given moment that this will be the littlest they will be and it helps to reframe many a situation! xx
Aww yes, I can't believe how fast they grow. And as soon as you get adjusted something new happens! It's such a big lesson for life.
i'm borrowing this phrase "depth of feeling"... what a wonderful reframe.
Ah great I am glad you found it useful, the depth can certainly be pretty wild!
Ah this is such a beautiful way of recording your daughter’s gorgeous ways. I am astounded daily by my little ones’ wildness and depth of feeling. I also like to remind myself in any given moment that this will be the littlest they will be and it helps to reframe many a situation! xx
What a gorgeous list Hunter, I can see so many of these in my youngest who is 2 - the animal noises, loves watermelon, the finger shhhh! I love the look on my youngest's face when I work out what word he's trying to say, the way he still looks like a baby when he's sleeping, the way he reaches for me for a cuddle, the way he's starting to say 'love you' and his passion for all and any types of vehicles (and how excited he gets when he sees the recycling lorry or fire engine!)
So many sweet things!! Aww yes trying to decipher what they are saying is so funny and cute all at once. The cuddling!! Ahh so many good ones. Thank you for sharing, Jenna!
"The way she gasps constantly over anything exciting or new." I LOVE experiencing the joy and awe of life through toddlerhood.
It's SO magical!
Such a beautiful reminder to appreciate this wild and beautiful stage 💛 I can relate to every single word!!
It really is such a special stage, even amidst the chaos!
Oh Hunter, I love this. My son is two and it is so hard and I love it all so much. The way he garage my face with both hands when he wants to give me a kiss, how excited he gets about water whether he is drinking it or playing in it, his new love for his “babies” which is what he started called all his stuffed animals. UGH, it too much time all the love and all the intensity.
The holding your face for a kiss is the best thing ever!! Maverick just started doing that and I want to cry everytime, it's so sweet.
These are all soo sweet!! Thank you for sharing, Emma!
You are so welcome! Thank you for writing.
My little one is almost two and so much of this resonates with me! He makes me laugh deep in my belly like nothing else and makes me feel like my heart is going to explode with love. He is so sweet when he asks ‘help please’ or ‘more please’. And has a hilarious habit of collecting gumnuts on our walks. He cannot continue without grasping a couple in his little hands. We seem to be constantly finding them in our jacket pockets, in the washing and under furniture.
Awww I love his little obsession with gumnuts, how sweet!! Thank you for sharing these, Steph! These little beings are the bestttt.
As challenging as it is, I love how opinionated my almost 3 year old toddler is. Loving or disliking with his full heart! Trying things for the first time to declare "I LIIIKE IT!" or "YUCK!"
The decisiveness of a toddler is so funny! I love how committed he is to the decision!! Haha
#22 is just the sweetest, right? My little one does the same and leans in to give "hundreds" of kisses.
Another toddler trait that I absolutely adore and am not ready to see come to an end is the incorrect recitation of words/phrases/song lyrics. After our pool sessions this summer, my 2 yo famously shouts, "It's TOLLDD!" instead of "It's COLD!" Ugh, my heart! ❤️
By the way, I recently wrote about my 4 yo's singing of "Do-Re-Mi" and her incorrect recitation of the lyrics. If you're interested in reading, you can find the essay here: https://katrinadonhamwrites.substack.com/p/snake-night?r=3cnvg1
It's the BEST! Makes my heart burst.
Aww yes!! Now that Maverick is starting to speak a little bit it's so cute to hear her words and how she pronounces things. So special!!
Aww I'll definitely have to read it! Thanks so much for sharing, Katrina!
This is such a refreshing view of toddlerhood. There really is such magic among the chaos!
Yes yes!
I have 1.5 and 3.5 (and 5.5) so I'm splitting the difference. But I love the look on their faces when I walk in the door. I love my baby asking me to sing "bus" (wheels on the bus) before bed. I love when I tell them to go to the garage, and they line up and out. This season is so much work, but there's countless good moments, if I remember to look for them.
I love this, Hunter – and in a hard season of wrangling a 9-month-old right now, this gives me so darn much to look forward to. You're doing great 🤍