Two years old. Or "two old" as the boy refers to himself. Two years and 6 days. Grandma left this afternoon after spending a week with us. After we dropped her off at the airport and went to Kroger to buy "Big Boy Diapers" (more about that in a minute) Jacob kept singing "I love Grandma! I love you Grandma! I love Grandma!" I think he enjoyed her visit immensely.
Had his well-child 2 year visit today. He is progressing perfectly - only semi-negative is that his eardrums look a little "dull" but I guess that is to be expected after all the ear infections he had this fall (or was that one stubborn continuous ear infection?). He is in the 99th percentile for head circ., 98th for height, and 63rd for weight. As usual, he charmed the socks off of everyone he encountered there.
So the big boy diapers... Cheryl showed us Davis's potties last time we were at their house, and Jacob seemed really interested. So ever since then we've been really talking about what happens in toilets (3 years ago, would I have dreamed I would be talking about this? Never.) Monday we took him out to look for a Big Boy Potty and found a little kid-sized seat you set on/in the regular grown-up toilet. This one had Blues Clues dogs all over it, so it was a big hit. Tuesday we had several close calls - he'd grab his diaper and tell us he had to go to the "bafroom" to poop, only to find that he had already gone in his diaper. But Wednesday he spent the day with Nanie and was able to get to the toilet in time for the big event. He was quite proud. Today he made it on the toilet in time to pee. Very encouraging!!

Jacob thoroughly enjoyed his 2nd birthday. He started off with his favorite b'fast: Cheerios and berries, while he opened his first presents - a Gymboree drum head thingy, some movement scarves, a construction helmet, and a Bob The Builder doll. (We have a little call and response down - me: can he fix it? Jacob: YES HE CAN!) Then we headed off to the JCC to have a little party and cake with his day care friends. Jacob totally dug being sung to...and being the center of attention. My mom and I were encouraged to stay for the Shabbat festivities after the party, which was tons of fun. Jacob's teacher Dee Dee bought him the sweetest presents - a little stuffed dog and two very Jacob-like outfits. I think he/we are really going to miss her when he moves up to older toddler room in the spring.

After Jacob's nap, we had cake and more presents with Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Robbie, then headed back out, this time to B&N ("Bobble Nobble") and Whole Foods ("Cheese House!") for more fun, but not before we hit the car wash. Good times! Dinner was pizza from Pizza House. Then more presents, including the coveted Thomas train house. Then time for a bath and off to dreamland. All in all, a very satisfying birthday.

Saturday morning Jacob and his grandparents accompanied me to a WEMU fundraiser at the Northside grill. I was roped into getting coffee and water for people and clearing empty dishes, while The Boy and his grandparents ate a delicious breakfast. Jacob was amazingly good, and apparently very hungry. He must be going through a growth spurt, as this kid is packing it away like nobody's business lately.

I headed off to do my radio show and Jacob headed down for a nap. After my show, I picked him up to meet Janis at The Manhattan Transfer soundcheck at the Power Center, but there was some kind of communication breakdown and most of the group (including Janis) was MIA. We wandered around listening to the Basie band until we ran into Jon Hendricks, who was (of course) smitten with Jacob and invited us in to his dressing room. When he heard that the Alphabet song was one of Jacob's faves, he serenaded him with the Lambert Hendricks and Ross version of The New ABCs, including a fab scat solo. Then he sang him "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder". They shook hands as they parted, and Jacob seemed to take the whole thing very seriously. Someday I hope he realizes just how cool that whole interaction was.

We figured out what happened with the Manhattan Transfer, or rather figured out what hadn't happened - no one had been dispatched from the University to pick them up, so Jacob and I headed over to Plymouth road to get them. The Boy seemed a little intimidated by the whole thing, and had no memory of playing house with Janis this summer. But after we got back to the Power Center and they started singing, he seemed to get into it, and even clapped enthusiastically for Blee Blop Blues.

Sunday was party day. First came church and bagels, then picking up our second huge Zingerman's cake, then naptime, as Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma frantically cleaned, burned party favor CDs, and stuffed party favor bags full of bubble stuff and matchbox cars. Miraculously we got it all done in time, woke The Boy up, and got him dressed and ready before the first guest arrived. Cheryl and Davis, Steve, Kate and Devon, Kathie (across the street), Danny, Carol, Marielle, Jenna and Alejandro (next door), Linda, Gary and Silvia, Emily, Bob, Patti and Sam, Jeff and Jenna, and Uncle Robbie all came and paid their respects, and Jacob had a blast!
Then later that day Nanie and Papa came and presented Jacob with his very own train table. Blew his mind. There really isn't any room to keep it in our living room, but try to tell him that!

More on the great gifts when it's not 12:15am.