Tagg is Two

Dear Tagg,

Two - Two - Two! I cannot believe you are TWO!!! You are for sure my favorite two-year old boy in the entire world. I love how you snuggle with me, call me Momma, tease your sister and believe that everything is "mine" lately. You really can be a stinker and throw the biggest fits we've ever seen. You've by far surpassed Holland's two-year-old version of the "throw-yourself-on-the-ground-and scream" talent. It's infuriating and hysterical. But at the same time, all you have to do is smile that toothy grin of yours and I'm a puddle, unable to do anything but scoop you up and kiss you all over.

Your giggle is low and scratchy sounding, which I adore. Your little voice is so cute as you talk, talk, talk all day long. Your favorite words are "mine", "Thomas", "Lightening", "No", "Yes", "puppy", "train", "truck", "vacuum", "Daddy", "Nahnee", "juice", "treat", "cereal", "milk", "show", and "How 'bout..." You make Holland (aka Nahnee) laugh, scream, cry and hug & kiss you several times every day. You two are definitely lovers and haters. In fact, in the morning when you two sit on the couch to watch a "show" you freak if she is touching your blanket one second and the next you are both snuggled together and laughing. Speaking of shows, your favorites to watch are Thomas the Tank Engine, Cars (Lightening McQueen) and Chuggington.

You are an average eater and pretty willing to try most things. Meat is still not a favorite, but at least you've tried chicken and ground beef. You love yogurt, graham crackers, grapes, apples, apple sauce, Goldfish crackers, marshmallows and cereal.

You aren't big on brushing your teeth, but you are getting better - thanks to "Thomas" toothpaste. You and Holland for sure share a love of the tub and shower. And, you would probably stay in either for hours if we would let you.We have to limit your baths though because you are huge stinker who loves to jump up and splash down on your bottom making a huge wave of water. You also think it is super funny to get out and run around the house and then jump back in. W a t e r  e v e r y w h e r e!!!

It is cute to watch you play. You get all the way on the ground to push a car, truck or train along the floor. You definitely prefer to be outside and right by Daddy's side, mowing the lawn, watching him work on bikes, or just playing. We took you to wAIRhouse (a trampoline park) for yours and Daddy's birthday and I'm pretty sure you would like to live there. You've now been talking about the "tramp'leen park" for a week. I tried to convince Daddy that we should get a tramp, but he's not on board with that idea. We'll definitely be taking you back to "jump" soon! Your all-time FAVORITE "toy" lately is the vacuum. You are borderline obsessed! You push it around, want it turned on, ask where it is, and you've even hugged it good-night a time or two. We laugh pretty hard.

You love to be read to and you love to finish the sentences as we read to you. Your favorite books are Little Blue Truck, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, What do you love?, any Thomas the Tank Engine book, and Digger, Dozer, Dumper. You like to have your blanket over you and a cup of milk in hand. You are a really great sleeper most days and snuggle up with your puppy before you fall asleep. It's adorable!

You are not in love with nursery at church, but you are willing to go most Sundays. I'm not sure what is going to happen come January when Holland goes to Primary because I'm sure it's a comfort for you to have your big sister in there with you. I'm sure you'll figure it out though and love it.

Your personality is beyond little - it's BOOMING and BLOOMING and I'm pretty sure, little man, you are going to do great things in this world. Your sparkly eyes and sweet smile are definitely going to break a heart or two, but your tenderness and amazingly funny nature is going to make you a million friends everywhere you go.

Stay little just a bit longer and keep snuggling with me, please!

I love you!

~Momma

Two Year Stats

Weight: 24 lb. 3 oz. (20th %)

Height:  34.8 inches (50th %)

Watching you grow this past year, in pictures...

Tagg - Twenty Months

Dear Tagg,

As I look at you right now I can hardly believe that you are a month older than Holland was the day you were born. She was still so tiny when we brought you home. She adored you from the beginning (who wouldn't though?) and I'm so grateful that the two of you are so close in age and are such cute little buddies. I hope the two of you will always be friends!

At 12 Months

Weight: 13 lb. 13 oz. (25th %)

Height: 25 in. (50th %)

Head Circumference: 43.2 cm (75th %)

At 15 Months

Weight: 19 lb. 13 oz. (5th %)

Height: 31 in. (10th %)

Head Circumference: 18.8 in. (75th %)

At 18 Months

Weight: 21 lb. 14 oz. (25th %)

Height: 32 in. (20th %)

Head Circumference: 19.3 in. (90th %)

At your 12 month check-up I discussed with the doctor my concern that you weren't yet really talking. You had said "Dada" "Daddy" and "Hi", but you hadn't really said them in relation to anything, so I think you were just merely trying out sounds and babbling. Dr. Michelle Chamberlain said that I shouldn't worry, but that if you weren't talking by your 15 month appointment we could discuss some interventions to help you.

On Sunday, February 23, I was getting you dressed and as I put on your socks you said, "Socks." All drawn out and emphasizing the "S". I was so excited! I kept making you say it over and over and over. Daddy was out of town so we called him to share your new word. Grandma Lucy was staying with us while Daddy was gone...she and I thought it was the cutest thing ever that you knew the word 'Socks.' From that point on your vocabulary exploded. The next word you learned was "Outside." You now say all kinds of things, and about every 3-4 days you say a new word.

You are a really good eater, most days. Last month we were out to eat and you grabbed an entire burger out of my hands and pounded down about half of it. You love grapes, noodles, fruit snacks, cereal and milk. Every morning you bring us the entire Costco size box of Goldfish for you to snack on before breakfast. The box is half your size!

I stopped nursing you on April Fools Day this year when you were 17 months old....but it was no joke. I had planned to stop when you turned one, but well, that didn't happen. You transitioned straight to a sippy cup and even though you weren't really big on drinking much cows milk, you were really good about weaning. Just recently, like in the past few weeks, you've started asking for milk and drinking about two cups a day.

You love, love, love to be outside. Any time the door is open you run out as fast as you can and when we try to get you to come back in and sometimes turns ugly. This past month you've started throwing yourself on the ground and crying when you don't get what you want. It's so cute...NOT! But it is pretty funny. I sometimes have to walk away so that you won't see me laughing at your temper tantrum.

When outside you are usually found riding your three wheeler or Holland's scooter (even though it's way too big for you), pushing around your dump truck or lawn mower, playing with cars, digging in the dirt, or getting as wet as possible. You also love to be pushed in the swing. In fact, if Holland is swinging you always want to get in the swing too, and that sometimes turns into one of those temper tantrums I mentioned above.

Your hair has definitely lost all hints of those dark locks you were born with. You are truly a blond hair blue eyed little heart breaker. I look at you and just gush...I cannot believe how darn cute you are. Your smile brightens my day and your laugh is completely contagious. I love to watch Holland when she sees you being silly. She cracks up and then the two of you just laugh and laugh and laugh. You are very aware of the fact that you are funny and you have this sly look about you at times when you are trying to get attention. I'm a sucker for your personality!

Your favorite books recently are Railroad Toad, Thomas the Tank Engine, Goodnight Moon, Little Blue Truck, and Trains. You are really good about sitting still and listening to about three stories in a row. You can be found a few times a day in the living room sitting by the fireplace just flipping through books. You've started saying "Show" when you want to watch TV, and then you specify "Mouse" so that I'll turn it to Mickey Mouse Club House. You also say "Usic" when you want music turned on. You often climb up and pound on the piano. I really hope you'll still want to do that when we put you in Piano lessons.

Tagg, you are a cuddly baby. I love it! Sometimes you grab on to my neck and snuggle into my chest and I feel like you and I are one. It's like you've just melted right into me. At these moments I don't want you to get any bigger, I don't want you to grow up. But then I remember that every age has precious moments and I'm definitely looking forward to many more new moments with you that I know I'm going to love and cherish.

You started nursery when you turned 18 months and there have only been a few times that you haven't wanted to go. I think it's helpful that your big sister is in there with you. I think it's so cute when you and Holland come walking out of nursery together with your coloring pages all proud and excited to show them to me and Daddy.

You are down to one nap, but it's generally between 2.5 - 3 hours. You go to bed for the night about 7:30 pm and have been waking up around 6:00 am (ugh!). You were sleeping until 7:15 am, but two vacations in a row messed up your schedule a bit. I'm really, really, really hoping I can get you back on track so we can all get one more precious hour of sleep each night. Wishful thinking perhaps, but whatever it takes baby.

Buddy, it's so fun to listen to you speak lately. I love to see if I can get you to say things. Lately I've been telling you to repeat after me as I say: "I." "Love." And then either "Mommy", or "Daddy" or "Holland", and occasionally "to poop." You now say "I" and then as soon as I say "love" you immediately jump straight to "DADDY!" Little stinker. You also like to count. When I say "one" you then say "two" and then I say "three" and then next you always say "SIX!" So funny! You like to recite colors as well. You don't associate the names with the actual colors yet, but I can hear you walking around reciting "Lello. Geen. Blue." quite often. It's stinkin' cute!

Well, my little man, I love you so so so much!! Please stay cute, funny, sweet and cuddly...forever.

Love you.

~Momma

 

 

Happy Half-Birthday to Tagg and Daddy!

First day of nursery

 

"Flop-Flops" from Gma Lucy and Gpa Charlie

 

Found mom's lipstick - naughty!

That notorious hamburger

 

Taken today! Happy 20 Months, Taggart Craig!!

Taylor Reunion 2014

Even though I'm not a fan of camping (and it's ALWAYS camping) I love the Taylor Reunion. It's fun to reconnect and relax with those I love. Plus, there are always those Taylor activities that you never want to miss: The Auction, Uncle Adrian's Store, and the Candy Canon!

This past week, Wednesday through Saturday was spent up Hobble Creek Canyon, but we slept at my parents' house and would head up the canyon each morning. Tagg napped great in my parents' motor home and Holland enjoyed a three day break from napping (Argh!)

My mom's oldest brother's family was in charge this year, and they did a great job. Mainly is was my cousin Grant and his family that did the major work. The theme was "Honoring Those Who Serve." Each family was given a branch of the military. We got the Navy, since my dad was a Navy Seabee. He even has the tattoo to prove it, but Shhhh, don't tell him I told you.

These anchor t-shirts were a last-minute idea of mine. I grabbed a few grey t-shirts and painted the anchor on with fabric paint. I think they turned out pretty cute!

 

The kids were seriously in heaven playing outside. All. Day. Long! Riding bikes, swinging, and getting as wet and dirty as possible.

Jaxon ~ Holland ~ Zackary

 

Uncle Shane made getting wet even more fun!

Shane took Holland down to the river for the Rubber Duckie Race. He said that as soon as they got there Holland declared, "I want to do that!" Meaning, she wanted to get in the river. And so she did. And she loved it!!

Side Note: Tyler won the Rubber Duckie Race, even though he wasn't there. And, Holland's duck got stuck in the weeds upstream and never crossed the finish line. Life was not OK until that darn duck was found.

This is how Holland and Tagg did the "Forced March" one morning...

My mom is the cutest!

And now for just a few other random shots...of the people I call my FAMILY. Love them. Kind of stinks that I didn't get a picture of everyone that was there...hey...Uncle Adrian...I need that picture of our entire family!!!

Holland loved the water fight...until she herself got squirted. It's all fun getting others wet, right? But when they do the same to you...TEARS! She was also excited about the Candy Cannon, but as you can see, the launch of the candy each time was spent with her fingers in her ears. She is VERY sensitive to noise...sheesh!

We really had a great time...and are already excited for Taylor Reunion 2016!

Girl cousins and the best friends to have!

 

Me and my Magpie

My dad on the bike Maggie won the highest bid for at the Kids Auction.

Cookies for dinner? Yep!

She loves him!

This was taken after Tyler went for a bike ride up the canyon. He took a wrong turn...and didn't get back until an hour and a half after he said I should expect him!

Uncle Adrian ~ My mom ~ Aunt Florence ~ Uncle Myron (Aun Beth wasn't able to make it)

See! She really, really loves him!

Christopher ~ Tagg