Dawson is Two!

Sawyer

Sawyer likes to tell me snippets of things he's learned at school and he's been really proud of all the new shapes he's learned. He surprised me one day when we reached a stop sign and he said, "Look Mom! An oct-a-don!" I told him that he was right and that was awesome that he'd learned new things. And now he identifies every octagon stop sign, everywhere we go, every single time. Dawson's picked up on it now too and will say, "Yay! An oct-a-don!" right after Sawyer says it.

Sawyer's anxiety has basically disappeared when it comes to school which is seriously the biggest blessing. But now it's coming out in other places at a higher level, mostly when it comes to his perception of Dawson's safety. Example story- we went to our block party in our neighbor's backyard. Their backyard has a pond that the kid's played around all night with the adults giving gentle reminders to be careful so that no one fell in. Everything was fine until Dawson got too close for Sawyer's liking (though not mine or Dillon's, kid was seriously fine). Sawyer freaked and puked all over the place. Then as we were cleaning up, we looked up to find Sawyer with Dawson in a headlock dragging him across the yard (kids are so quick, the things they can accomplish in thirty seconds are legitimately astounding) all in the name of "saving" him. It's exhausting for everyone. Sawyer thinks he's being a protector. Dawson's royally ticked at having a third (and extremely overbearing) parent. And Dillon and I try to be patient and understanding with Sawyer while also trying to get him to freaking.leave.his.brother.alone.

Sawyer and I have been butting heads a lot. Which seems ridiculous when I type it out but man you guys, I'll take his former threenager-ness over his current almost-four-year-old sass any day. He can be sassy and argumentative like it's nobody's business and we've fully entered the "I'm going to count to three and then (insert some kind of parent threat here)" stage of life.

He had his first Primary Program yesterday. He helped to write his part when we got his slip. What he chose to have me write in made me smile and feel all the warm fuzzies (the other side of parenting). As part of his part, he was also supposed to introduce himself by saying his first and last name. And that was when I realized that my child almost reached four years of age without even knowing he had a last name, let alone that it was Thatcher. My bad ha. We never say his whole name apparently, not even his middle name when he's working our nerves. Back to his part.. he said most of it with help during each of the practices (which Dillon and I attended with our current calling in Sunbeams) but the day of the program he got up and went to straight gibberish at the microphone. After the rest of his class went, he desperately wanted to have another turn and try to do his part again. Poor guy didn't understand the "one and done" concept. He recovered quickly upon receiving a donut in primary after sacrament ;)

Dawson

Dawson loves all the sports. He loves to play them. He loves to watch them. We were able to make it over to a couple of Dillon's softball games and practices the last few weeks. When we got to the fields, Sawyer would beeline for the playground and I would ask Dawson if he wanted to play too. Each time he'd shake his head and say, "No! Watch daddy baseball!" And, much to my surprise, he sat on the bleachers and watched almost the entire hour each time and provided commentary. "Hit it!" when they'd hit the ball and "Awww! Miss!" if someone dropped a pop fly. He's hooked for sure. 

He likes when we get to go see cousins play ball and we've been able to make it to some of Braden's games during the last little bit. Each time we go, Dawson will wave at the players in general (lately it's been for football games) and yells, "Hi Braden! Go Braden!" A couple of weeks ago Sawyer went with my parents to a game but we had to stay in town. Dillon turned on an NFL football game at home for a minute and Dawson lit up and excitedly yelled at the TV, "Hi Braden! Love Braden! Go Braden!" while he waved and waved. He knew Braden had a game because Sawyer got to go. We didn't have the heart to break it to him that that wasn't Braden's game on TV. 

Mr. Dawson turned two almost two weeks ago! He's enjoying the 1st percentile in his stats according to his well check at the doctor's office. He's definitely built like Dillon was when he was younger. He's a whopping 22 lbs and owns it. Dawson is as feisty as ever but he seriously arrived that way so I can't really say that his temperament is due to him being two. It's just intensified the extremity of his emotions. He loves meat. Loves it. He'll pick through food (like a casserole or spaghetti or something) just to find the meat and eat it first. And even though he has a real thing for sugar and candy, I'm confident he would take a steak over a cupcake any day of the week. He's confident that he can do anything and everything bigger kids can do, especially his big brother. Although I'm proud of his "go get 'em" attitude, this often causes me stress. Daws loves to color and asks to do it frequently throughout the day. He loooooves animals, especially dogs and cats. He likes to hang out in our backyard and yell for the kitties that wander through our neighborhood to "M'ere!" (shorthand for come here??). Cats, of course, don't listen to two-year-olds but sometimes he's lucky and they happen to be passing by when we're outside. (But I'm a lame mom who only let's them stay for a second then chases them off because my yard is not their litter box, mmkay?) Dawson's vocabulary is the best and I love that he can communicate so well. He makes us laugh on the daily with his chatter. He loves most of everything that Sawyer loves (like sharks, dinosaurs, Spiderman, and PJ Masks) but he's definitely showing preferences for other things that Sawyer's had no sway over. We love little Daws and are so glad he's part of our family.

DaNae

I participated in the social media fast that President Nelson challenged the women of the church with during the general women's meeting. It was so good for me! Social Media can be such a time suck and I was definitely wasting a lot of my day on it. Now that I'm back using it, I'm trying to find a better balance between posting/checking in with friends and being productive and present with my family.

I've also been doing the scripture reading challenge (to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year) that our prophet issued and I've been surprised by how well I'm actually following the story and timeline of events this time. It's been really great to piece things together better, not to mention boost my personal spirituality which has definitely been lacking lately.

On another note.. our Christmas shopping is ninety-five percent finished and I'm so glad. I love shopping for presents for people but I feel like December has gotten really hectic and it's hard to slow down and remember why we celebrate it. So, I'm hoping our early shopping will help us be able to focus on other things during the Christmas season.

Dillon

Dillon's been living his normal day to day life. Work, being a better spouse than I am, occasional Grifol's visits, parenting our boys. He's been doing things here and there to winterize our house. He's also been doing the scripture reading challenge and will read a few verses to the boys before bed time. I feel bad his paragraph is so small this time but just know he's rocking everything and we love him. Maybe I should have him write his own section on some of these posts.. but then you might get even less information ha. 

Visiting a pumpkin patch for Sawyer's first field trip. He found the tiniest pumpkin there to bring home.

Dawson and I got to tag along and they even let Dawson pick a pumpkin too.

Dawson wanted to check out the animals. Sawyer didn't as much and didn't think Dawson should either.

Visiting a cute Paragonah playground after the pumpkin patch.

Rockin' that bee like nobody's business.

Over the moon for his pumpkin.

All our pumpkins waiting to be carved and painted (Dawson has two since he got to pick one on Sawyer's field trip).

A brother photo shoot in their new matching robot shirts. Sawyer is SUPER into robots now.

That little hand on the right refused to let go of mine most of the way down to St. George. My contorted arm did not love it but my heart sure did.

Sleeping faces are the sweetest.

Snack buffet so that mom and dad could have a few minutes of quiet during General Conference.

Operation "dwindle down the toys" had to happen before Dawson's birthday. We pulled them all out and organized them, then chose some to go to new homes.

Opening his birthday box from Aunt Bridgette and Aunt Kristin and their families.

It's the best when they get along (which is really the majority of the time.. for now).

His new toy for his birthday!

Learning how to use it.

Hermie's for birthday dinner.

Then we visited the Haunted Homestead with the Britos who were in town. This display was definitely the favorite for the kids.

Jane, Sofia, Sawyer, and Dawson.

Rocking his Frankenstein mask he made at one of the stations.

Monster donuts for breakfast.

We visited the New Harmony Apple Fest with my parents and Dawson took full ownership of our bag of apples and wouldn't let anyone else hold it (until he saw the bouncy castle).

Sawyer loves these slides!

This is a lot of pictures of a toddler on a slide but the depiction of his slide experience is just too funny.. Started a little rocky.

Starting to tip.

Uh-oh

Lost it.

Face plant.

Popped up with a big smile ready to do it again. Which he did, the exact same way.

My parents and their three youngest grandsons.

Sawyer got invited to his friend Sam's superhero birthday party and he had a blast. It was such a cute party. Here he is going through the obstacle course.

Getting the bad guys.

Cute superhero pictures thanks to Sam's mom, Amy.

Grandma Paula got the boys new towels and they both love them.

They ask to take a bath just so they can use the towels.

Dawson decided he wanted a baseball party (like.. he really, actually had an opinion about it) and he loved it. 

Totally into the present opening.

Showing off his batting stance.

Cute cupcakes made by a local bakery.

I wasn't fast enough to catch Dawson singing to himself but it was definitely cuteness level 100. 

Sawyer totally stole the candle blow and Dawson's reaction is the best.

Dawson's present from Steph and Corom and the kids. Both boys love it.

Riding like a big boy now that he's old enough and big enough. 

Halloween Bunco. These are some of the best ladies I know and this is one of my favorite Bunco months. I don't love dressing myself up, but I always love seeing what other people dress up as. Some people have a real knack for costumes.

And I feel like I should mention that I'm Hermione.. in case it's not obvious ha.

When there's a trunk-or-treat to go to but Dawson's actual costume (that goes with Sawyer's actual costume) isn't done yet, already owned Old Navy Halloween jammies and $3 face paint save the day. 

Ready for the Primary Program.

Sawyer's part with the fill-in that he chose. He was very specific that it be mommy and dad, not mommy and daddy or mom and dad.