Tay 23 Month Update

How is Taylor going to be 2 in a month?? It has flown by! Here are some highlights from month 23:

• Tay's biggest trick this month is climbing out of his crib. YIKES! It started on vacation - We was able to hoist himself out of the pack n play onto the bed. I was hoping it was because he had the best to hoist himself up but our first night home I watched him climb out of the full size crib and start wandering around his room crying. We have now put the crib mattress on the floor with the crib around it and he is now safely back in his crib/cage.
• He is very agile and athletic - Can throw a ball pretty far and on the playground can hang on one arm on the monkey bars successfully. For such a skinny guy is he stronger than he looks!
• Tay is very into taking you by the hand and leading you to what he needs/wants you to do. Because he's not very verbal he just has this cute way of guiding you to what he wants. Like if he wants you to lay on the floor, he pushes down your shoulder. And in the lake he kept pulling Grandpa's hand down to make him kneel in the water with him.
• On vacation he was getting really upset at breakfast one morning. I had no idea what he wanted to he took the coffee mug full of creamers, emptied it, took my hand and led me to the hot chocolate machine and pointed at it. He wanted hot chocolate like his sister. It was just so sweet!! 
• He has been saying Up, Help and WaWa for water in addition to Mama, No and Yeah. He also points to his mouth when he is thirsty and says Yeah and throws his arms up when he is excited. He also raises his hand when you ask "who wants to do x, y, z".
• Tay is LOVING trains, cars and trucks. He is into lining them up and forming a long choo choo train and then saying "choo choo". And also just likes to carry them around and take them wherever we go. Papa says "He is a boy who loves his transitional objects".
• Tay also really likes water guns/shooting things. I basically want to abolish the 2nd amendment and Tay has decided to loves guns :( 
• He has been resisting the high chair and sippy cups. He wants to do what Avery does and sit in a regular chair and use regular cups. It can be a bit messy and also leads to him getting up and down a lot during meals which is not ideal....But if you put him in the chair he kicks and screams like a crazy man.
• Tay can be really sweet when someone is upset. If Avery starts to cry he runs and gets her a tissue and pats her back. And he'll give random, sweet hugs that we love! Also good at giving kisses when prompted.
• Tay is still in 18 month-2T clothes and some 12 Month pants since he has shorter legs. Size 6-7 shoe.
• Appetite and favorite foods vary from day to day but he is always up for a treat!
• Sleep has been a challenge lately - Not only with the crib escape but he's been fighting going down more both for nap and bedtime and waking some in the night so we are having to do some more sleep training. Since coming back from vacation it's been a bit better luckily.
• Tay loves playing with the older kids in the neighborhood - When they all head to the trampoline he just wants to be a part of it. And they are all really sweet about including him.
• He is such an inquisitive kid and just wants to tinker and figure things out like his Dad. He is also strong willed and knows what he wants and gets pretty darn mad when he doesn't get what he is asking for. His face is the sweetest, he cracks us up and keeps us on our toes and we love this age. It's SO cute!! Onto 2.....
• And he still hates his sign.. Thanks to Avery for making sure we got some pics :)