Talking the Talk

You are really talking up a storm now.  Dada and I are loving it too. You have so many fun ideas and thoughts I have to remind myself to keep a pencil and pad on me to write it all down.  Here's what I've remembered from today :

1.  When attempting to walk down the stairs on your own you said to me:  "Rocco do it.  I big boy. Rocco 2 and a half."

2.  When seeing Ollie Cat (your favorite) you always say to him "Good boy!"  Good Boy!"  And "Mama, Ollie cat happy to see Rocco?"  and I always say "Yes, Ollie is happy to see you." It makes you so happy.  "Ollie cat give Rocco a kiss mama"

3.  When going to sleep you like it when I stay in your room until you fall asleep. More often then not you try and get me to lay down next to you and will say "lay next to Rocco mama?" "Lay down like this"  You ask that I lay my head on the pillow and hold your hand.

You're growing so fast.  Its so awesome! 

For the Love of Trains

A favorite memory occured the other night.  It's been a hot hot summer.  One warm sunny afternoon we took you to the New York Transit Museum for the first time. It was everything you could have hoped for.  Real live BIG trains for you to hop on and off of.  You were able to take the wheel of the MTA bus and learn about electricity.  Before leaving the Transit Museum you picked out a really cool choo choo "E" Train where the doors openened and shut while making train announcements and when you press the train wheels down they make a loud "chooo choooing" sound. You absolutely love it.  You kept pushing the train around the coffee table until we declared "Bed Time!" 

That evening dad and I got you ready to sleep.  We read bedtime stories. You had your new train in hand the whole time.  Before falling asleep Dad said goodnight  & gave you a kiss.  I sit next to you until you are fully asleep. This evening you turn to me and say "Mama, go away! Train, stay here".  We left you in the room.  When we came back to check on you all the lights were on in your bedroom and there you are sleeping on the floor with your train in hand. You literally played until you couldn't keep your eyes open any longer. Such a precious sight!  We love you!

BIG THINGS

Big Boy Room

Like the speed of light you have grown into a big boy this past weekend. That's the cool thing about parenting.  There are days where you can really pinpoint an actual growth/developmental spurt.  Its amazing!

Peaceful Boy

We prepped you for your big boy room.  We have a one bedroom apartment right now.  You stayed in our room, in your travel sized crib, next to our bed since you were born. It was time! And we were all ready.  We were not sure how the transition would go.  But alas Friday night came,  Crystal, your babysitter,  put you to sleep in your bed at 745 pm and you didn't wake until 6am.  Kudos!  We couldn't believe our luck.  You loved it too.  Since, you have been sleeping in your bed every night.  Its been almost a week.  Some nights better than others but for the most part you prefer to be in there. Even asking to go to bed on your own with out rocking to sleep.  Last night you asked for "piacy" privacy...you tried on your Munos dadas hat, laid in bed turning your moonlight on and off.  I hope you continue to like your Independence and your big boy room.

 

Helping Dada with the Big Boy Shelves

In other news this past Saturday you used the big boy potty for the first time.  All on your own accord.  Remarkable. Check out the story here.  (We even got a picture of the poo poo part but worry not my son, I will not share it on social media)  Dad and I were so proud we just had to take a picture :)

It's Been Awhile

 

Stylish 2 year old in your favorite news boy cap

Ahhh! Time has flown...it's been almost a year since I've written. ;/  Shame on me.  Life has been so busy since you've turned two years. 2 is super super cool.  Much better than we are lead to believe in fact. At two you can run around and scale the monkey bars in the playground all your own. You started nursery school at Jugamos a Cantar with Isaac and we can actually leave you guys on your own for 2 hours with the teacher.  WIN!

You're also SUPER cool!

1.  Whenever we tell you something that's new to you you'll repeat what we say followed by "Awight".  For example, Dad said your shirt today was "Awesome!" You repeated "Awesome!?!?  Awight."  Or if I tell you we are going to the park.  You'll say "Pike?  Awight!"  It's so cool.

2. You ride the scooter like no one else and love skateboarders. In fact you told me you are a skateboarder as is Rosa (sometimes).  You are only 2 and can do tricks on the scooter by yourself. No prompting from us.  It's cool to witness your courage and your ease in scooting.  We conclude you have the athletic skills of Uncle Ben and Uncle Billy and skating skills from Dada (you still call dad-dada.  Thinking by the time you read these you will be referring to the "Old Man" as dad)

3.  You've traveled a ton in the last year. Our most recent trip was visiting Nana in California for two weeks. Our goal is to see Nana 2 times a year. Whether we go there or she comes here. (More if we can swing it) But it's so lovely taking you to the west coast.  Showing you where dad and I first fell in love (San Clemente, CA).  Dad especially loves taking you to the beach.  You love going. You can point from the car which direction the beach is in.  Radical right?  You cried when we had to take you out of the skate shop because you threw a fit when you learned you couldn't "test" every skateboard in the shop.   You also LOVE the trains on the beach. Even at 2 years and months after our trip you know there are trains at the beach when we go back to visit Nana.

 

With Otto and Rosa in Prospect Park, BK

 

Besties since you were 12  days old 

4.  You have so many great friends.  Your best friends is Isaac.  And in the summer of 2012 you met your very first friend of your own-no prompting from me...Otto.  You are always always happy to see these two boys as are they to see you.  You are often running up to them hugging them and they you once they arrive for a play date.  You also play with Silvia (MeMa you call her) often...holding hands and having some fun.

5.  One of your favorite people in this world is your cousin Rosalina. You still call her Doa.  But can say Rosa.  You both light up whenever you get together. Right now, Uncle Billy, Terri and Rosa live two blocks away and we see each other often enough.  It's so nice and we hope to live close so you and Rosa grow up together. It's really really special relationship.

6.  Your favorite color is blue

 

Oliver, You & Muno-Life's good!

 

You summoning Ollie Cat into the Tent

7.  Your best pal is Ollie Cat. You get very proud when you hug and kiss him often bragging to me that "Mama, I kissed Ollie Cat".

 

You two love each other

8.  You are outgoing, sociable and kind (for the most part) You share beautifully with one exception the scooter.

9. Your favorite game-jumping on the bed with Dada.

10 . I give you a sweet when I pick you up from school. We call it a "surprise" and you love it.  Always asking for croissants.  Probably not the best idea.  C'est la vie!

11. You love your Uncles-Uncle Ben, Uncle Adam, Uncle Billy and Uncle Joe.  Uncle Billy currently plays a game with you and Rosa "Tick Tock" like a clock in the air.  You practice that game on your own toys.

 

Your favorite character Muno and his Dad. You love Muno's Dadda's hat-adopting the style

 

12.  Your favorite toy is Muno. He sleeps in your bed and you even bring him to school sometimes. At the moment he's a lil dirty and his eye is rubbed off. But Muno is your boy.  He's from a TV show Yo Gabba Gabba and is a skateboarder too.

 In a homemade train wearing your "Muno's Dada's hat". It was safe to say a great day for you. 

13.  You love to run around the apartment- calling it "run, run, run"

14.  You sing all the time. Your have a great voice and made up a song that goes:
"Buddy Rocco! Buddy Rocco, he's a friend! He's a friend.  Muyy Gracias,  Muyyy Muyyy Gracias.  He's a bud! He's a bud!"

15.  Your favorite band is the Ramones and Creedance Clear Water

16. You are a fantastic dancer (insert Video).  Love live music.

17.  For your second birthday your dad made your Muno Cake and you had a Muno party.

18. We had a major trip for Uncle Ben in Mexico-You did great being 1.5 years in a new country.  Adjusted well and kept us focused & present at a time when thoughts could easily run rampant.  
So, that's the scoop.  We love you so!  

Ouch!

Today on this very warm, barefoot wearing kind of day we discovered your first "Owww!" It was right smack in the middle of your heel. I cleaned it and you were brave, Brave.

You didn't flinch nor let out a peep of dissatisfaction  Band-Aid, our hero came to your rescue in it's brightly colored packaging catching the attention of all the little eyes and accessorized with antibiotic ointment...fabulous for us both!  Hip yet practical.  .

Water Baby

You are 1.5 years old (well, almost). It's summer and you have discovered and falling in love with water, getting wet and swimming. Being a Brooklyn raised kid the parks seem to be decked with water play equipment.  EVERY SINGLE park has some sort of water contraption that looks like a piece of art when first spotting it.  But, when the weather is hot, the sun beats down and voila the water sprouts.  We got you crocs to go with your new love of water.  Although, I was hesitant in investing in such wear (coming from a fashion background I saw no need) but as you splashed around in the parks and your sneaks were not drying in time for your next romp I knew it was my time to invest and take the plunge into the world of crocdom. I'm glad I did.  They dry in seconds.  You climb well in them and if I do say so myself you actually Rock those crocs.  Kudos~  I think you even get a lot of compliments while sporting them.  Your bestie Isaac wears them too.  You guys certainly look sharp when trolling the park together in your green crocs looking for the next patch of water to dive into. 

While you soak in the sun and the water sprinkles your tan skin you laugh, run real fast and chase kids around.  Always the bigger one and the craziest ones are your absolute favorite.  Yesterday a nice relaxed calm boy wanted to befriend you. You had no interest even though you shared bubbles with him. It wasn't until the kids running and screaming with squirt guns in hand did you decide to take notice and join in on their fun.  You, like your peers, started to scream loud Loud LOUD and then run.  They were bigger.  You were smaller. You were slow but still were able to keep up.  They liked you.  You liked them. Together you laughted.  Then a beauty caught your eye with her straw hat and frilly suit. She ran.  You chased her.  She ran.  You ran after her.  She cried and you said "Muah!" (because you're such a nice boy-ha!)  Regardless you made friends, you had fun and the water this summer has certainly become your thing.  Perhaps swimmer will be in your future of things to become.

LOVE YOU BUG!

Zootopia