Happy 2 and a Half Killian!
Happy New Year Everybody!
Mick has now spent as much time outside of my body as he did in! It's hard to believe how fast they grow and how we went from this a year ago today:

to this:

I remember how when I used to write Killian's monthly "birthday" posts I would tally up all the new words he started to say this month. At 2.5 now, we are beyond counting words, as I now try to remember all the funny things he has said over the past few months.
"Red means stop. Green means go. Purple means... zig zag zig zag! ... Did you know that, Mommy?" he asks me inquisitively, with his head tilted to the side nodding.
Also, at this time last year, I was reflecting on how active Mick was in utero (he got into breech position twice later in the pregnancy) and "what does it mean?!" Well, I suppose it did mean that I'd have a very active baby too. Mick tears around the house, pushing large objects, crawling over or on top of anything he can. His favorite game is "ball," in which he delicately unfolds his fingers, and lets little balls (or another round objects) roll off of his hands and across the floor.
The exersaucer, the last symbol of a stationary baby, has left the house. We used to keep it in the bathroom for when I showered and was home alone with Mick. But after a series of bad colds and sinus infections, Mick got used to us bringing him into the shower with us for the steamy air. The last time I tried to put him in the exersaucer so I could shower he flipped out. He was like "What the hell? You know I want to go splash in the shower!"
As I've mentioned recently, Mick likes to do everything everyone else is doing. He is even more super jazzed and energetic when Mike and Killian are both home too, and likes to push legos around next to Mike and Killian as they build tall towers and offshore drilling platforms.

2011 was a busy year. Mick was born! We had a newborn! For a few months we had "2 under 2." I started a new job. Then another. I worked hard to get back into shape post-second baby. Mike formed a company, was very busy with freelancing for most of the year, and then much to both of our delight, just recently took a fulltime salaried position that fits him just perfectly. Mick's 1st birthday is just around the corner. My plan for 2012 is to take a long, deep breath... and relax... and enjoy, especially all my wonderful blessings from 2011.
Happy 2012!
