The Birth of a Middle Child

The birth of a middle child has been an adjustment for us! You love on baby brother, and have no feelings of jealousy, but you have a strong desire for attention and physical touch and to be held these days. Lots of whining and you are the instigator of bickering between you and Troy - bless his heart. But we still love you Rock.

Rocky has become so good at talking lately. He is putting together longer and longer sentences and just about every day I think "Wow! I can't believe you just said that!" His little voice is still so high and usually ends in a question. Troy and Rocky are just beginning to have conversations between the two of them, and I love to listen in. Rocky's biggest conversation contributions are:
"NO!"
"OH!"
"OK!"
"Yucky ______!"
"Hold you...Hold you...Hold you."
"Owie!"

The poor boy falls more than any other toddler I've ever met. In fact, the dentist wants to pull his tooth on Tuesday due to trauma (I'm hoping we can get out of it). He is constantly tripping while running forward. This week he was running towards me, tripped and his face landed on the kitchen stool...Lots of blood and a torn frenulum later...And that's not even case of his dead tooth.

Rocky has SO much energy and is excited about anything anyone is excited about. He loves to dance/jump (one in the same to him). Still has the most expressive eyebrows, which are constantly raised as high as he can get them.

Rocky is somewhat potty trained. Today he wet his pants bad in nursery. But he has been so interested and wanting to wear underwear that I would have been crazy not to run with it. His anticipation is not great, but he goes on command. It's just a matter of reminding him/having access to a toilet as soon as he mentions it. But overall I am so impressed with him. He practically told me he was going to stop using diapers. I had NO intention of potty training him this early.

I love your little body

At the dentist, I was impressed at how well you followed instructions while it was your turn to be the patient. Although you did act like a wild man when it was Troy's turn.

No cavities! Fewf!

Looovin the beach

Mommy/Rocky date to get ice cream

How handsome are you?!? I love when you wear hats.

You love to line up toys - mostly cars. Then when you're finished you run to me and say "Wow! Wow!" Which I repeat "Wow! Wow! You did that?!" "YEAH!"

You are also excellent at stacking legos and will do it longer than Troy will.

Obsessed with food. Loves treats.

Sad that you can't always ride all the rides Troy can.

You love pockets. You get sad when I put on a pair of shorts that doesn't have pockets and have your hands in your pockets all day when you do have them. Michael's wedding was the first day you figured this out.

You love so easily.

You were so happy to play in the rain! Perhaps because it was so warm.

There is just something about that little body that I adore. 

Today when we came home from church you were jumping, and I am just obsessed with how cute your body is! You also have crazy good jumping skills for a 2 year old.

While fighting getting your diaper changed, you rolled off the changing table and onto the floor. I could tell your leg was hurt, but for hours after you couldn't walk, stand or even sit without avoiding pressure on it. So we took you into SAMMC. 8 hours later and nothing broken. It took a couple days for you to be walking normal, and a could weeks for you to run normal. Still not convinced it was "nothing."

Cute lil sickie

At New Years at the Sorenson's you ran straight towards the fireworks. You loved them and wanted to touch them. Here I am trying to keep you from grabbing it. We couldn't take our eyes off you for a second!

That blonde blonde hair! Bobby thinks it was just like Troy's and it will get darker, but I think no way!

You wanted to love on aunt sissy.

I love you little man. Seeing pictures of your sweet cheeks makes me want to slow down and hold you and watch you more often. You are wild and fiesty and take a lot of energy, but I absolutely adore you. I hear you waking up from your nap now - time to practice some lovin!

TWO!

Rocky has been 2 to me for a long time. It fits you, Rocky. 

We loved celebrating you today. We love the person you are. 

I wasn't going to do a party, but we went to another 2-year-old party and you were WAY into it. Into the presents and cake and fun! So I thought you needed one. 

I stayed up until 11 last night (I never stay up late!) making a perfect "2" cake and cupcakes and doing banners, streamers, and balloons for the big day (we wanted to celebrate today while dad was home and not at the office all day studying like Sat). We invited the Sorensens, Strider, Carlsons, Jeters, Brandsons, Williardsons, Kimes and Rodriguez to come celebrate (2 families couldn't come but still a LOT of friends). And I baked a cake, cupcakes, got lots of ice cream and was prepped for an apple pie too. All plans were in place...

Until sacrament meeting, where Troy threw up on our bench, in the foyer and all over himself and dad. That is a traumatic post for another blog. Then we had to tell everyone not to come :( But we still celebrated with just our family. We even let the sickie eat cake. And you seemed just as happy. 

You loved your bubble machine from grandma and barking card from Tutu. You loved being sung to and us giving you attention. It was a good day. 

I wrote this on facebook - 

Happy 2nd Birthday Rocky Rampton!! 🎉 We've loved two years of the biggest facial expressions and extreme moods, snuggles and kisses from our tender child, watching you gain ground on wrestling Troy, constant acting like a puppy/kitty and lining trucks in a row. Rocky is friendly, assertive and athletic, talkative, self-aware and fast. And always hungry for snacks. We love this little guy ❤❤

Rocky is a wild child. A word I think of to describe Rocky is emotional, but not in the way it's used. Emotional as in he wears his emotions. The boy is always making loud noises. Sometimes whining and crying, but lots of time laughing and talking. He just gets overcome with emotions for me, and wants to hug for long periods of time, or goes through kissing spurts. 

He really does have the funniest facial expressions. I remember saying that in the hospital with him. But he is so good with his eyebrows. He raises them and tilts his head and grabs your face as he talks gibbersih to you. He is a master at the surprised face and the pouty face. He scrunches his nose so cute. He also has the concerned look down. Or he squints his eyes real small and smiles and shakes his head in a 'this is silly' face...There are many more faces of Rocky, I could go on. 

I just asked Bobby what he wants to remember about you when you were 2, and he says that you are just so loving and forgiving. "He's just so naughty but then two minutes later he'll still just love me."

Rocky is not "processor" like Troy is. Rocky just does. He likes the chaos of other kids, and likes to join and run and be friendly. He doesn't think things through like Troy does. He makes friends easily. He doesn't get overwhelmed or shy. Although he does not like getting dropped off for nursery but then usually does ok (but his dad does stay with him a lot - even though I tell him not to). 

Rocky and Troy fight nonstop. But Rocky is not a poor younger sibling victim. He is often the instigator. How it usually works is Rocky pesters and annoys until Troy snaps and hits. Then Rocky comes crying to me. He knows just what to do so I never want to put him down. Snuggles close and rests his head on my shoulder.

His favorite word right now is "yeah." It's cute how much he uses it. "Yee-ah." He is just beginning to put together two worded sentences "Bye bye dada."

"Are you ready for bed, Rocky?"

"No, Troy!"

Rocky also is getting interested in building magformers and lining trucks, just like his brother. He likes balls and playing catch with dad. He pretends he's a dog or kitty about 1/4 of the day long and will really squeeze through your legs like a cat or lick you. 

I love you so much Rocky. You are a great sleeper, you don't really make noise until I get you so I never know when you woke up. You are a great eater. You ate a ton of taco salad the other day. You are sweet and fun and smart. 

Love you so much for who you are!

❤

fjkgh

Lately