Two point Five

My attempt at setting up a family pic from a windowsill in Leavenworth, WA

Yes, that is gorilla tape. No washer means no cloth diapers, which means getting every last bit of mileage out of those Huggies. They ripped from top to bottom when I went to secure the tab, cheap!

Now someone looks like his daddy. Minus the washboards in center field.

Thank you Grandma for this awesome snowsuit find.

It's a Corona Christmas 'round these parts.

Koen is 2 1/2 now which means a lot of things in our world. It means...

• Graduating from the nursery at church
• Speaking eloquently at times, yet indulging in his own made up language because it still sounds cool
• Playing intently by himself leaving plenty of time for me to relax or get things done
• It means being able to tell me exactly what hurts and why
• Readiness to potty train if only I could remember to put him on the toilet and let the magic happen
• It means hearing a faint "Bless you, Mama" coming from the kitchen after he's heard me sneeze in the bathroom
• Giving me the tightest hug and kiss on the cheek in appreciation for taking him swimming in a hotel pool, or rewarding his good behaviors with one tiny chocolate chip, or letting him watch Curious George during our one-hour drive to Portland
• It means he still has an appreciation for Elmo, but is welcoming Thomas the Train and Land Before Time into his life
• It means he's strong enough to damage his parents when he gets a wave of energy
• He can tell us he's sorry and mean it to avoid a dreaded one-way ticket to time out
• It means he's gentle to all animals while I'm watching
• Recognizing inconsistencies like "Mama's wearing a bra, but noooo bras for Koen"
• It means 2 1/2 years of pure blessing that we are lucky enough to have him in our lives