My little guy turns 2.

It was two years ago from tomorrow, just 4 days after Thanksgiving 2007, that I called my mom at about 10:00 a.m. I had been having steady painful contractions for 9 hours and they were down to 5 minutes apart. Since it's almost impossible to sleep when it feels like someone is jabbing a knife into your back every couple minutes, I stayed up that night, cleaned, put Chase's crib together, wrote a paper for school that was due the next day, and did all the things I should have done weeks before.

My mom asked if I couldn't just stretch it out so the baby would be born the next day (her birthday). I insincerely apologized and told her that I was going to get that baby out of there as soon as I possibly could if it would stop the pain.

I had called to tell her that we were going to drop my paper off at school and then head over to the hospital to see if this was the real thing. I was hopeful, yet I had heard so many stories of false labor or people being sent home while they were actually in labor, so I didn't get my hopes up.

It turned out to be the real thing and just shortly after 7:00 p.m. my little Chase was born.

That was hands down the most excitement filled day I have ever had, and things haven't settled down a whole lot since that day.

So for Thanksgiving this year, I am remembering how thankful I am for this sweet little two year old that talks to me and plays with me all day every day. My life certainly wouldn't be the same without him.

Some of his recent quirks:

~He is very polite and says "Excuse you" if someone burps, and "bless you" when someone sneezes, but my favorite is if he burps or farts he says "Excuse YOU" and gives you a funny look like you did it.

~He loves Winnie the Pooh, Cars, 101 Dalmations, The Polar Express and Mickey Mouse. He thinks all ducks are named Donald now.

~ He can name all the characters of Winnie the Pooh, and we quiz him everyday on them just to hear him say them. Our favorites are Pig-o-wet, and Christopher Robin (which basically sound like he is speaking Chinese jibberish).

~He knows most of the colors and loves to show that off. When he picks up a toy, he usually names the color and the toy.

~Knows how to count to three, and can specify if he has one or two of something.

~Is starting to speak in short sentences.

~If you ask his where Drew is going on his mission, he answers " Peur-to RIC-o" (really drawn out.)

~Is still a daddy's boy. The first thing he usually asks me in the morning is: "Daddy at work??"

~Loves to talk. There isn't a word he won't attempt to repeat you say. I often end up with a parrot wherever I go. As I passed his nursery leader in the hall on Sunday she said, "Holy Cow!! Chase has A LOT to say". I agreed.

~Says prayers with our help. Lately it has turned into "Bless Fresson (Preston)" after everything that Daniel and I say. The prayers end abruptly when he is finished with Amen, while we are in the middle.

~ LOVES Preston, Brennan, and Drew. When he talks on the phone he is usually pretending to talk to them.

~ Loves stuffed animals particularly Ray, Bear, Neil, Donald, and Dee Dee (his blanket). He feeds them, gives them drinks, gives them baths, and even puts them on the potty so they can use the bathroom.

~ Is as picky an eater as I am. Daniel says it's pay back for what I put my mom through, but don't think it's fair. I already have to put up with trying to find myself something to eat.

~ LOVES, LOVES cycles of any variety. His tricycle, motorcycles driving down the freeway, dirt bikes he gets ride on with with dad or papa, the sound of Motorcycles driving around somewhere, anything cycles he loves! He is so excited about this quilt I am making and everyday points at it saying, " (gasp) CYCLES!! See 'em, see 'em!" Then continues to name the colors of all the cycles on the quilt.

~Loves the snow. He will watch it out the window until it's time to eat or do something else. When we go outside to play in it, he will not come inside without kicking and screaming. No matter the bribe, and no matter how long he had been out there playing.