nolan: 2 and a half years old

Nolan is epitomizing the terrible twos right now. And my saving grace is that we are halfway through it. Nolan is smart, aggressive and determined which can make quite the combination sometimes... 

He doesn't listen, unless it's what he wants to hear. He doesn't focus, unless it's on what he wants to do. He is extremely stubborn and determined. He has his own idea about things and how they should be done and he rarely considers an opposing option. He is fearless. He isn't afraid of anyone or anything. He is aggressive and even more so if he feels defensive. He is very loud, and even more so when he feels angry.  He will usually yell before he goes to hitting or pushing (although he's been known to do that too).

The key to Nolan is letting him think he's in charge. He's a leader and he's very independent. He's indifferent to any type of discipline. He laughs and thinks its funny or turns it back on us. I am learning to let things go and pick my battles. I try to be consistent and clear.  

Luckily all of that it is heavily mixed in with the wonderful parts of Nolan. He loves his family and he is very loyal. He defends Caitlin and loves her to no end. He loves his baby brother and has never once been rough or wild with him. He has a gentle soul and a big heart. He loves his mommy and can be so sweet and still gives the best snuggles and still lets me kiss his cheeks all over because i can't stop myself. He is obsessed with his Daddy and loves to wrestle, play and do anything if it involves dad.

He is obsessed with anything cars or trucks. He is pretty coordinated and rarely sits still. He also loves animals, especially horses. He's very smart and communicates well and notices things around him. He usually plays well with other kids as long as there are enough toys to go around and he doesn't feel threatened by anyone. He has a very active imagination.

But he has a big heart, no fears and lots of energy and THAT combination will take him far.