It feels like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital, and then all of a sudden we were celebrating your first birthday, and now here we are again (already?!)

The day you were born, you looked like this:

and now you look like this:

You have learned so much in the last year. You love to run and jump, and you fly around the house on cars and trains and whatever isn’t nailed down. You want to do whatever Gus is doing, whenever possible, and with zero consideration if it’s something a two-year-old could or should be doing.

You adore your brother, and he is still just as in love with you as he was the day we brought you home from the hospital (although he’s less thrilled about sharing certain toys with you now that you know they exist).

You LOVE to eat, and you’re obsessed with eating Nan’s food, and then my food, and then Dad’s food, before you’ll sit down and eat your own. You love mac and cheese, Canadian bacon, broccoli, eggs, salad, and soup, and then all the toddler standbys like chicken nuggets and goldfish. You take bites of things and say, “Mmmmm, lish lish!” You call popsicles and ice cream, “goppagles,” and I hope you never stop.

You have discovered the television and you currently love Boss Baby (“Baby!” for the movie or the show), Sesame Street (“Elmo!”), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Daniel Tiger, and Curious George (“Eeee Eeeee!”)

You love animals, and pretending to be a puppy. You love baby dolls and you carry them around with you, or push them in a stroller. You love to read books, and you torture us with the same ones over and over and over again. You like to pretend to take pictures and you hold your fingers up to your eyes (and now your new camera!) and squint and say “Cheeeeese!” I cant walk through a TJMaxx or a Homegoods without stopping so you can smell e.v.e.r.y candle in the store.

This summer you learned to sleep in your own room, and — knock on wood! — it didn’t phase you at all. You give us the biggest kisses goodnight and then you lay in your bed, laughing at yourself, until you fall asleep.

You called me “Baba” for months, but in the last few weeks that’s turned into Mommy. Dad is Daddy, Gus is Dus, and Nan is Nee. You’re learning so many new words and phrases so quickly now, and you have the sweetest little voice. You tell your own version of jokes and then you laugh and laugh at yourself (a trait you undoubtedly got from me).

Happy Second Birthday, you adorable baby boy. We love you so much!