Walker is 23 months old!

Our cute, sweet, strong-willed, fit-throwing, clothes-stripping, stubborn, adoring-sister, truck-loving boy is 23 months old. And my oh my, can he be a challenge! We either have good days or really bad days. He fights us on almost everything that one might consider a necessary part of one's day...you know, putting on clothes, getting a new diaper, putting on shoes, brushing teeth/hair, putting on socks, keeping clothes on, putting on a seatbelt...you know. All the stuff that you have to do. Walker doesn't want anything to do with ANY of it. However, I will say that he can be a complete grouch one second and then melt your heart the next...maybe it's just boys. But as easily as he can make you want to scream, he can make you want to squeeze him and love on him and never let him go. So...here we go. Walker's 23-month-post!

As a 23-month old, Walker...

• arbitrarily points at things in books. When I ask, “Where’s the ______, Walker?” He’ll just throw that finger down on the page like he knows exactly where it is. He doesn’t spend time looking, just jabs his finger down whether he actually knows or not!
• tries to repeat every word we say. “Hahsey” is a personal favorite for “horsey.” I also like hearing him ask for "sah sah" (fruit snacks) and "caca" (chocolate). :)
• sings actively by just “yelling” along with the music.
• still likes to be rocked..and he likes to smile and play with your face. He pushes and pulls on your cheeks, your nose, your eyes. He thinks it's funny.
• shows everyone his “boo boo" upon meeting them. It's like his own personal ice breaker when meeting new people (or, well, anybody). And, it's the same boo boo each time...it's healing now, thankfully, but it was from when he was sick at Christmas.
• crosses his arms and turns away from you if he doesn’t want to do something. And grunts. Body language!
• colored a wall panel with black marker at his aunt and uncle's house. He also wrote with Chapstick on the wall. 
• seems to become attached to small things. Like magnets, Chapstick, etc.
• does not like the bright sun coming in the windows. He covers his eyes and groans. 
• hates clothing. Particularly shirts.
• has started putting two-word phrases together, like "Hi, Mama" and "Hi, Sissy" and "Hi, Dada."
• LOVES my iPhone. In fact, when I tell him "no" he throws an epic fit. For about 30 minutes! 
• LOVES Team Umi Zoomi. He's less likely to watch a Barbie movie these days...he'll point at the TV and cry. :)
• likes to wear his sister's heart sunglasses.
• goes along with whatever Lainey's doing...if she's playing kitchen, then he's playing kitchen. If she is engaged in some sort of pretend play, then he's doing his best to go along with it.
• is very aware of (extremely) wet diapers – he'll say “poo poo" and then he'll get a diaper and lay down so we can change it. Sometimes he's aware of very poopy diapers. And if that's the case, then he wants to throw the whole diaper in the potty or goes to the potty to put toilet paper in there to flush it. :)
• spins the tablecloth to get what he wants on the table.
• can get in a couple of child-proofed cabinets.
• wants to drink out of a big-boy cup.
• loves Elmo.
• would love to wear Lainey's tap shoes. And ballet shoes. He's really content in anything she puts him in.
• loves to play with Lainey. If she yells something - like "Daddy!" - then Walker will also yell "Dada!", but in doing so he'll kinda put his hand over his mouth so you really can't hear what he's saying. It's a muffled yell that sort of sounds like his sister's. I think he's trying to cup his hand around his mouth so that his voice will project. Obviously, the opposite happens! :) 
• still has the cutest feet. I LOVE it when his pants are too long and I can only see his little tiny cute toes sticking out from under the hem. Just too cute. 

Just one more month till Walker turns 2! We love you so, Doody Doo. Happy 23 months!