Long Live 2

Tomorrow, Pack (a.k.a. The Dooz) turns 3.  I have been dreading this day for months.  I'm not shy in saying my favorite age is between 18 months - 3 years, and let me tell you, Dooz did NOT disappoint!

My Last Night With 2 Year Old Dooz

In fact, he has been so fun that I was able to successfully avoid mourning the loss of Tag leaving his two's.  So much so, that I can barely remember Tag in his two's at all -- which leads me to my current level of fear and sadness about Dooz turning 3.  Who will take his place?  How will I fill this void of happiness? And who can replace his hair in the morning?

Morning time is Doozy time

Don't lecture me about how fun they also are after this phase.  I know this.  Also, please don't tell me to "Have another one!"  This is out of the question.  I'm too tired and too old for another.  I'll be 49 in a few months.  That makes me 64 when Dooz is a senior in high school.  Plus, I am looking forward to no more diapers, straight-jacket car seats, and sleepless nights.  I'm also ready for the ability to take my wife on an overnight date soon in my future.  See?  I know there are advantages coming.

But, my heart has experienced so much joy over the last 3 years with these two boys in the sweet spot, that it's no wonder the Savior, when he visited the Americas said, in effect, "Bring me the little ones!  They are the BEST!" Imagine how much more fun the Lord had in these moments because he knew these little ones before and now could see them in their two's, smiling, playing, etc.  That had to be hilarious!

As I ponder this magic time, consider this.  We came from a pre-earth existence where I'm assuming we were adult age in form.  Then, after our time on earth, we return to a similar state of development.  This means that 2 years old only happens ONCE in eternity.  It's such a gift to see and experience this moment that there is honestly nothing that has given me more pure joy in my life.

I keep telling Dooz, "I don't want you to be 3, Dooz!  Can you stay 2 a little longer?"

"No, Dad, I need to be free and a half, so I can be BIG," he replies.

Dooz longs to be doing the things his older brother does.  And most of the time, Tag is a patient teacher and allows Dooz to follow him around and play.  Actually, they play together great.  I can see myself and my own brother, Nate as I watch these two boys play and interact.  I find myself fiercely protective of the Dooz, which often doesn't bode well for

Tag after he has taken advantage of his little brother.

Dooz is a sweet little boy who has crazy Einstein hair, only blonde.  He gets smiley looks and happy reactions no matter where we go. He is left handed, except when he swings a baseball bat and golf club.  Exactly like me and his grandpa Howard.  He is already adept at the iPhone and a few games.

At 18 months until 2.5, his favorite movie was The Iron Giant.  I think he watched it 100 times at least.  Now, he loves Tweety and Scooby Doo.  We just ended Halloween, and he was the Hulk.  Or HULT, as he calls him.  He knew that's what he wanted to be in September and he never wavered.

Hulk and The White Ninja.  Hallow's Eve 2014

Like their dad, both boys love Halloween.  Here were some backup costumes this year:

Gladiator

Black and White Ninjas

Hercules and Achilles

Hercules and Philoctetes

One of our many visits to the Halloween store.

You're FIRED!  (The Donald)

The Donald, LIVE

Dooz loves to go to his nursery class at church.  Always has.  His teachers love him as do the daycare girls at the gym.  Both always brighten up when he arrives.  Some of the things I love about my 2 year olds are how they love to cuddle up next to me and I can put my whole arm around them from many angles.  Dooz loves to wrestle and at this age it's so fun because he thinks he is being tough, but he's not big enough to hurt me.  One of the greatest gifts of my life is that my work is at home, so I really took advantage of this and took many wrestling and pillow fight breaks.  Too many to count and it wasn't enough.

Dooz is deliberate.  He can handle sitting at a puzzle and figuring it out.  He is fiercely independent, and wants to climb a climbing wall 5 times his size by himself.  He is tough and gets over an injury quickly.

I love how much he loves super heroes.  He has pajamas that are Superman, Spiderman and Batman.  He has others, but these are his favorites.  After I put them on, he actually becomes the super hero in his mind and it is so classic to watch.  He slides off his bed, lifts his shoulders like a bull about to charge, and runs out into the room and yells, "SuperMAAAAN!" -- while he lifts one hand in the air like he has arrived to save the day.  Recently, he asks me to "fly me to the couch".  I lift him in the air in a flying position and he puts his arms straight out and in his mind he IS flying.  So am I.

The "HULT"

Dooz has good hand eye coordination and I think he will be a good athlete, like his brother.  As a fan of sports, this thrills me to see both boys take to sports.  However, if Dooz decides that he's more of a musician or whatever, it won't matter.

"Blue 42.  Set, HUT!"

In front of people, he wants to pipe in or participate, but once he notices everyone is watching, he gets extremely shy, looks down in a mad face, and can be seen running to his room crying and slamming the door.

He makes Tag and I laugh.  A lot.  But sometimes, when we laugh at his antics, he gets mad as if we are laughing AT him, rather than with him.  I look forward to seeing him grow out of these shy beginnings.

Tag and Doozy at 2 -- the greatest gift of my life.  I pray I won't miss you too much as you grow, little boy.  I love you.