The boys are often doing little things that I find hugely entertaining. Whether it’s eating a strawberry in a weird creepy zombie fashion or making a face that will inevitably get dozens of kisses, I am enamored with their blossoming personalities.

Boaz has several Boaz-isms that I find endless joy in; be it the manner in which he says a phrase or the phrase itself. He just has really funny nomenclature. Cake really means carrot. Chips mean cucumbers. Pancakes are ‘Cold Bread’. Everything that you pour on, have as a side or dip in is simply called ‘dip’. He also calls my hair accessories dip. I haven’t quite figured that one out yet. He loves to mimic the noises of large vehicles. All motorcycles are “Uncle’s Bike!” and all trucks are “Uncle’s Truck!”.

He is very authoritative. He will tell you what to do if you are doing something not in our daily routine. For instance, when Aaron comes home he gives Boaz the mail to give to me. Now every time Aaron comes in the door Boaz yells to him ”Hey you mail box!”. God help us if we don’t get mail that day. He also has been telling me to clean up more. When something gets dirty he comes to me and says “clean up mama!” Don’t get me wrong, he always helps (or is at least willing though some messes do not require a 2 year old’s expertise) but we are working on being polite nevertheless.

I am astounded to see the natural inclination of headship in a toddler.

Gideon already has the humor of a teenage boy and will laugh whenever someone falls down, gets hit or throws something that hits something else. I am anticipating many fart jokes in my future. He is naturally very athletic. He can catch balls, throw and kick very very well. The first time he caught a ball I was amazed. That is something Boaz still cannot do. I have loved seeing his athleticism develop and to have been able to recognize this from birth.

He has the goofiest grin I’ve ever seen and loves to show it off. He absolutely demands attention and is a total cuddle-bug. He usually doesn’t need me to entertain him or play with him, but he does require me to be available for him to run to whenever the mood strikes him. A lot of times I get a hug-and-run or he’ll sit on my lap for 20 seconds and hop down (just to come running back after a few minutes). He is very affectionate and, like Michael, his love language is very much touch.

When he gets in trouble or when he doesn’t get what he wants, he does this crazy ostrich thing and bends over onto his head. I have no idea when he started doing that or WHY he started doing that but it makes taking his tantrums serious impossible.

Gideon has a couple new words, including “no”. Or rather “nOOOOOOhhh”. He doesn’t say it in a “I’m going to talk back” sort of way, just in a “I shouldn’t be doing this and I will let everyone know I shouldn’t be doing this, but will continue doing this” sort of way. He will thank you if you give him something although the words sound more like “tee-too” than ‘Thank You’.

He is currently teething every tooth he has left (which is 8). All molars and cuspids are currently coming in – in a horrible bloody, swollen riot in his mouth. While Boaz teethed in a 7 month explosion (and was done by 14 months), never once have we experienced teething like this. Boaz never had more than 4 teeth come in at a time (and I thought THAT was bad). All considered, Gideon is fairing amazingly well. He has an affinity to bite anything that gets close to his mouth (be warned) but other than that, he doesn’t seem too put out. He’s a much stronger person than I.