"Hi, Mommy! Doing?"

This is a question I am asked many, many times a day, and it gets me every time! Arden is always excited to see me and always wants to know what is going on! He doesn't miss a beat around here. I wanted to jot down a few of my favorite things about Arden at this point in his life before things get crazy and before I forget all these little things that I love about him at almost 2 1/2.
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He has yet to meet a stranger. Whenever we are out walking around our complex or neighborhood, at the grocery store, or just out in general, he is quick to say hi to anyone he comes in contact with and will continue to say hi until they respond to him. He's gotten used to people saying hi back and pointing out what's on his shirt or what toy he is holding, so his newest thing is to say hi and then automatically point out what shirt he's wearing. Just saving them the time it takes to ask, I guess!
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He keeps track of where everyone is or where they are going. "Daddy back work" is a frequent phrase at our house.
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Something that he has gotten used to is Mommy not feeling well. Pregnancy is rough for me and most mornings I feel sick. Arden is very aware and knows "Mommy not feel good" or "Mommy sick, potty" or "Mommy back hurt." He is very sympathetic and responds with stroking my arm, back, etc and saying "I sowwy Mommy." Too sweet.
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He has become very polite and is always saying "Scuse me, Mommy (or Daddy or Bah-yee, etc)" which is usually in a polite tone, but sometimes it comes out rather demanding, but at least he's using his manners, right? Ha.  He is also good about saying "Thank oo" and "Pease" and "I sowwy" in the correct situations.
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Other phrases that I just want to remember are:
"Two songs" - his request for being sung to before going to sleep
"Run, tickle" - he loves being chased and tickled
"Back home"
"Baaabbyy" - yelled at the top of the stairs after bath time meaning Naked Baby!
"Down a stairs"
"Mommy save you" - when he's scared or pretending to be scared
"Arden's car!" - whenever he spots our car in a parking lot
"Play toys"
"Wash Hainds!"
"Something else?" -asking to watch a show or movie
"Stitters, Pease?" - always asks the cashiers for stickers at the grocery store
"Bye! Seealater"
"Go Pop's house?"
"Bahyee scared" - whenever there's a loud noise that he knows has scared Molly
"Way seeat!" - aka "this way"
"Daddy all dirty!" - before a shower and then "Daddy all cean!" - after a shower
"Close it door"
"Daddy fick it" - said about anything and everything that gets broken - Daddy is a super fixer
"Bahyee go tee-tee" - showing concern for Molly needing to go potty, but really just wanting to go play outside
"Mommy, Daddy get you" - Yes, we will come get you out of bed
"Oh, boo boo" - said to anyone wearing a bandaid
"A, C, E" - whenever he sees words or letters - pointing out the abc's
"Hoop ball" - aka basketball
"Jamas on!" - he always wants to wear pajamas
"Wuh-woo" - our whole family's new way of saying I love you thanks to Arden
"______ is?" - Anything from Daddy to a toy, this is how he asks where something is
"Jesus Cross! dobeyed? Sins. Jesus, heaven!" - Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins because we disobeyed. And Jesus is in heaven, but one day he will come back and we will get to see him.

There are many, many more, but these I hear at least once every day. His vocabulary and understanding is exploding daily and it is fun to see what all he has picked up on and to see him beginning to grasp different concepts and situations. He is such a joy and while I fail daily at parenting and showing him grace, it is encouraging to see that God is at work, covering my mistakes and making Arden into the little boy that he is and is becoming. It is true when they say that the days are long, but the years are short. I can't believe he's almost 2 1/2! I look forward to watching him grow more and more and seeing him become a big brother!