Typical

Roo is delayed in several areas. I can put it in writing, I can say it to your face one-on-one, I can mention it casually to a group of friends--or strangers. I can do it with no twinge of sadness, no wave of mommy guilt. Roo marches to the beat of his own drum, and quite honestly, I love it. It's like God's way of reminding me that we are on no one's schedule but His. Roo does things when he's gonna do them, and we just enjoy the ride.

Anyway.

Roo is delayed in several areas. But not in all areas. He is right on track for the "Terrible Twos." In fact, he's about 2 weeks ahead.

He signs milk and whines and lunges for his bottle... and when I hand it to him, he immediately launches it across the room.

He kisses me... using his teeth... but just a little bit. When I tell him no, he cries and acts very sorry. Then he lunges forward and bites HARD.

He throws EVERYTHING, and when you tell him no, he throws harder--and grunts, for effect.

He turns and hops the other way when you say, "Come here, buddy." And he laughs the whole time.

And I love it.

Don't get me wrong--I still discipline him, and I can't say I'm ecstatic about the occassional bite marks on my cheeks. But I love watching him grow, test his limits, develop his personality and his will.

Today I took the boys to Panera, a reward to Monkey for being a good sport about missing preschool because I had a meeting and didn't have anyone who would be able to pick him up, so he had to come with me. And Roo was hungry and tired and a little on the grouchy side. He signed milk, and as I mentioned before, he tossed it across the room when I gave it to him.

The lady next to me said, "How old is he?"

"Almost two," I told her.

She laughed and said, "Well, that's typical."

Typical.

That's not a word I hear very often when it comes to Roo. Typical usually means "children other than Roo." But not this time. This time he was typical.

Bring it on, 2. I. love. it.