Here's a glance of Thatcher's favorite things at two, in no particular order.
TV: A couple weeks ago I would have just said Mouse Cookie (If you give a mouse a cookie TV show on amazon). He just started enjoying watching TV maybe six months ago and his desired TV shows were either dinosaurs (Dinosaur Train) or Mouse Cookie. However, in the past few weeks he has broadened his horizons to all sorts of things like Bubble Guppies, Fire trucks, Stinky and Dirty, and Goldie and Bear. As with everything in life that I tell him no about, he will quickly just ask a brother and they usually are happy to get a show on for him. He watches something when he wakes up in the morning, after naps for a little bit, and in the event that we need him contained for awhile, think batting practice outside, playing board games with the big boys, or making dinner. He gets all cozy on the couch, requests milk and a snack, then enjoys his stories. It's probably not a great habit, but such is life, sometimes he needs to be still, and in one place.
Note his Mouse Cookie stuffed animal. The obsession is real.
Books: This is a fairly recent development as well, probably within the last few months, where he will sit and listen to an entire book. Usually we are ready If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or another book in that genera (If you give an animal some sort of food) or one of our many dinosaur books. How Does a Dinosaur do various things. Zane loved the dinosaur books at this age as well and we have videos of us reading him the books and little Zane answering "nooooo" to all the questions in the book. In a very full circle moment the other day I got a video of Zane reading the books to Thatcher as he dutifully answered "Nooooo" To all the questions. So cute and I still love this books all these years later. The other favorite book in rotation currently is Brave, the book about a fire engine. He loves saying all the sounds a fire truck makes and has led to his new obsession with all things fire truck.
Visiting the Ducks: Thatcher loves being outside, doing anything, but one of his biggest requests when we are outside is to go visit the "quack quacks." This means riding his little tricycle (he still refuses to learn how to peddle so he just uses his feet) down to the big lake to say his to the ducks and geese. And when I say "Say hi to the ducks and geese" I mean that very literally. When we get there he stands and waves at them, "Hi quack quacks!" "What you doing?" Then after walking around the lake, looking at sticks and throwing rocks, he always is sure to say "Bye bye quack quacks, love you." Half the fun is in the ride there, but a lot of the fun is visiting his duck friends.
Swinging: Thatcher's other favorite outdoor activity is saying "weee." Praise God for our swings in our backyard. He will spend hours out there swinging, both in the baby swing, and the big kid swings. Luckily for me his big brothers can also help him swing, so there are times all three can be outside, playing happily together, with little to no supervision from me. We rarely actually make it to the park, because we can swing and slides in our backyard, his two favorite things at the park. As the weather because nicer I'm sure we'll spend more time at actual parks, but he really prefers his brothers to be there with him, and not unlike Rowan, wonders around a little lost when they aren't there with him.
Playdough: I know what you're thinking, why in God's name would I let my two year old do playdough. Honest answer, I'm not sure how it happened, but he loved it so much and was surprisingly good with it. He doesn't try to eat it and only rarely gets in on the floor. He quietly plays with it, making balls, and tearing pieces apart. I even bought him more for his birthday. Strange I know, and totally not my usual feeling on playdough, but he loves it.
Donuts: In reality he loves all food and eats as much as his eight year old brother. However, his favorite thing might just be donuts. His obsession started with donut holes after mass, but has spread to all forms of donuts, any chance he can get. In the event there isn't donuts cries of "OH NO NONUTS" can be heard throughout the land. If given the opportunity I think he might eat them until he got sick. Don't get me wrong he loves all food, but donuts are his favorite.
Climbing/Jumping/Falling/Getting people/Wresting/Being a boy: This all probably goes without saying, but Thatcher is a rough and tumble boy. He loves getting people, jumping on his brothers, wrestling, climbing up on things he should be on, then jumping off. He also really loves to pretend to fall off things, followed by saying "I'm ok!" He is getting big enough that he can legit "get" Rowan, pulling him to the ground by his shirt at times when Rowan isn't really wanting to play. He's got a bit of a mean streak, but loves his brothers, just really loves jumping on them the most.
I occasionally walk into rooms to find scenes like these.
His Brothers: His brothers are his absolute favorite thing in the world. He misses them dearly when they are at school and are beyond excited when they finally arrive home in the afternoon. As much as he loves playing rough with them, he also loves cuddling them on the couch, watching a movie or reading books. He wants to be wherever they are and does not handle not being able to do what they are doing very well. He's really bossy with them, which I find really entertaining, "Roro, come on, bath time, come on!" "Bobo, read to me, come on." The big boys have loved watching him be able to communicate and play with them more over this past year. There are times I feel like they are too far apart, but for the most part I adore how good his big brothers are with him and how much he loves them both.
Puzzles: I've had the same five toddler puzzles since Zane was little and I'm happy to report Thatcher loves them as well. We do all the puzzles multiple times a day.
The dinosaur one is probably his favorite.
Dinosaurs: Truth be told we probably are stifling Thatcher's love of dinosaurs by hiding his dinosaur toys that walk and make a God forsakenly annoying noise. He got two of these for Christmas and loved them, but after about a month of having the constant sound of the dinosaurs in the background of our lives they magically disappeared. He does love playing with all the plastic, non motorized, quite dinosaurs we have accumulated over the years.
Look at this joy! Maybe I should get the big one out of hiding. I think the little one did actually break so doesn't make noise anymore, but he still plays with it.
Mega Blocks: In an attempt to learn our colors I've busted out the old Mega Blocks again recently. Thatcher is a huge fan, but it in no way has helped him learn his colors. We do have lots of fun building and just as much fun tearing things down.
