2 years old!

wow...where to begin...stetson turned 2 a few weeks ago...may 27th to be exact...and it seems that he is blossoming overnight...everyday there's a new word...a couple of weeks ago, he could just all of the sudden name 9 colors(!!!)...it's been amazing to watch...he had his 2 year well-check last week...he's doing great...doing everything he's supposed to...he had grown over 4 inches in the last 6 months...35 1/4 inches (75th percentile) and 25 lbs, 8 1/2 oz (still 10-25th percentile)...we've got a little string bean on our hands...i had to get him new shoes last week...every 3 months rolls around right regular...he's wearing size 6 now...he's just turning more and more into a little boy and not a baby...and of course, because he's talking more now, the communication makes a lot of things a lot easier...for instance, if i'm trying to figure out what he will eat for a meal (eating has been our struggle...he's a bit picky to say the least...he won't even eat a ritz bitz if the crackers aren't lined up perfectly) and i name different foods, he will let me know which one he wants...this has been most helpful so that i'm not constantly making him food he won't eat....but since he is off whole milk now, his appetite has increased dramatically...he's still not a big fan of anything red, yellow, or orange...(although he has eaten a few strawberries in the last couple of months and he will drink orange juice)...but he will eat things that are green...so some of his current faves are cucumber, green bell pepper, celery, green beans, black beans, RICE---#1 fave, chicken, cheese (just tried orange cheese for the first time this week), yogurt, toast, peanut butter sandwich....and he's starting to try more things, which is wonderful...he is finally not afraid of balloons anymore, but he is now obsessed with wanting them when he sees them...thankfully the grocery store (& chick-fil-a) gives them away for free...he still LOVES to be outside--and we have the mosquito bites to prove it!...he loves to eat breakfast on the screened porch (pursh) and rock in the rocking chairs out there...he still loves his legos...he plays with them every day...best $15 i think we ever spent...he got a lot of toys for his birthday so i've been trying to go through and make room for his new things...he actually ate 2 bites of birthday cake (last year he gagged when he tasted it) but had to have a fork...he doesn't like his hands to be sticky...we just had a little party at our house...he seemed pretty oblivious that it was for him...he was just happy to be carrying around balloons...this has been a crazy month for our little family...james has been traveling for almost a month...he left may 22nd and will be home june 17th...this has been quite a stretch for us...we're down to the last few days and i am ready to have him back in our everyday life...stetson has changed so much since he left...i can't wait to have him home so he can hear all the new words...i have had a lot of help from family while he's been away (shout-out to mama, dan & marti, aunt holly, and sunni & kate for all their help)...it has been great to have help for all the days i have had to work...the summer is just going by so fast and i know it will be september before we know it and he'll be going to his little school 2 days a week...but i think he is definitely ready...he is very interested in playing with other kids now and i'm sure he's gonna love it....for now, i'm trying to enjoy every moment i have with him.