My babies are not babies anymore

This morning we pulled the exersaucer and jumperoo down from the attic.  I have so many mixed memories tied to these things.  They made the babies so happy, bopping and bouncing away, while letting me get things done around the house.  But they also took up half our living room for what felt like forever.  

But it wasn't forever.  It was only a few months.  A few months that now seem so very long ago.  We got them down this morning so we could bring them over to Aunt Julia & Uncle Adam's house for Taylor, so she can have fun happily bopping and bouncing away.  Of course, Lucinda and Malcolm were delighted and immediately wanted to play with them.  So naturally, this happened.

It's official.  My babies are not babies anymore.  I've known this for some time, but I guess I've been in denial about it.  There is no denying it anymore.  They are big, boisterous, two and a half year olds who are about to start preschool (which is perhaps why I'm feeling particularly sentimental about how much they've grown up lately).

At 2.5 years old, Malcolm Walter:

• is 37.75 inches tall (90th percentile)
• weighs 33.5 lbs (85th percentile)
• wears 2T and 3T clothes, size 8.5W shoes, and size 5 diapers
• is showing a lot of interest in potty training.  We're following his lead.  He gets stickers when he uses the potty.  As you can see, he's been quite successful!

• loves trucks, cars, planes, fire trucks, and dinosaurs.  He is all boy.  We took them to see their first movie yesterday - Planes - and he brought along his "pepe" (airplane) and when the planes zoomed around, he flew his plane around the air whisper-shouting "fly pepe, fly!"
• is very into doing everything "all by myself!"  Everything.  This makes us late to everything.
• is very sweet, says please and thank you unprompted and gives lots of hugs and kisses.
• favorite move: The Tigger Movie (he wants to be Tigger for Halloween, which is good, since he already spends much of his time bouncing off the walls)
• favorite show: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
• favorite animal: Tiger (are you seeing a pattern?)
• favorite color: blue
• favorite food: macaroni & cheese
• favorite toys: trains, trucks, airplanes (anything that goes)
• favorite books: Dragons Love Tacos and Llama Llama Misses Mama 

At 2.5 years old, Lucinda Jean:

• is 34.25 inches tall (21st percentile)
• weighs 26.5 lbs (24th percentile)
• wears 2T clothes, size 7 shoes, and size 4 diapers
• politely declines potty training with a "no thank you" whenever we ask, so we're not pushing it.  She got her one sticker (see above) for sitting and "trying".  That was weeks ago.  We'll get there as soon as she's ready, but we'll follow her lead.
• likes to tuck the members of her dollhouse family into bed, kiss their cheeks and sing them night-night songs.  She, herself, sleeps with at least 6 books, 12 animals, 2 blankets and 2 pillows.  Matt told her last weekend she was a hoarder.  She responded "why you call me a horse, dada?"
• is good at playing independently, but is also a terrible dawdler.  And she has an annoying habit of running away yelling "stop chasing me!" if you ask her to come do something she doesn't want to do (like stop playing and take a bath)
• loves to sing songs, and knows dozens.  On her favorites, she hits most of the notes and sings with proper inflection.  This of course delights her Daddy who can't wait to start her music training.
• favorite movie: whatever Malcolm picks
• favorite show: Chuggington
• favorite animal: giraffe
• favorite color: purple
• favorite food: grapes
• favorite toys: dollhouse, rocketship
• favorite books: Berenstain Bears books, Steam Train Dream Train