Two is no longer such a tiny kidney Bean.
Two is all gangly legs and skinny Beanpole.
Two is a chatterbox, in a unique and alphabet soup-kinda way.
“Daddy readen de boek?” [Daddy reads the book?]
“Bean-ey haven de grote dummy.” [Bean has the big dummy]
“Apwi la bocca, Monkey!” [Open your mouth, Monkey!]
“Dov’è the mes gone?” [Where has the knife gone?]
Admittedly not 100% desirable when Daddy is already 10 mins late and Mama’s deadlines holler for attention, but still kinda cute. Evading the nappy and squeezing yourself in between the cupboard and the bed until you get stuck. Carefully and slooooowly examining a speck on the floor that has suddenly become the Most Interesting Thing Ever. Putting off bedtime for as long as possible by heaving as many books as your little arms will carry onto the bed. You own stalling, Two.
Two is the cuddliest CuddleBean you ever did see, languishing in bed, digging toes under thighs for extra closeness, practically purring under the soft fleece of the buggy blanket.
Two loves cars and tractors and trains and drills and brooms and HOOVERS, oh my god, HOOVERS. Although Two is also a little bit scared of HOOVERS.
Two detests spinach, marmite, not being in control, having to share toys. Two says “No! Mio!” [mine] rather a lot.
Two loves apples, pears, bananas, and strawberries too on a good day. Crumpets, crisps, rice, PASTA PASTA PASTA and poLENta. Peas and cucumbers and … No actually I can’t think of any other vegetables Two likes.
Two still adores sticks, stones and dirt.
Two falls asleep tucked into the crook of Mama’s arm or curled up against the small of her back.
Two can name numbers 0-9, count to ten in Italian and English, and name almost every letter of the alphabet as long as they have an alphablock stuck to them.
Two is hell-bent on doing everything himself, even if that involves seriously challenging the principle of self-preservation or fitting squares into round holes, and will sweep aside any of Mama’s concerns or offers of help with a courageous “Beaney plobelen [proberen = try]”. And Mama can do nothing other than stand back and admire Two’s tenacity.
Two is masses of fluffy hair, a cheeky grin, a unique song:
“row row row your boat streeeeeeeeam! Merry merry cro-CO-dile scream AAAAARGH”
Two is a bit bossy, but also very funny:
“Daddy! Do angry armpits!” [Daddy, cross your arms and make an angry face”]
Two has a fascination with how things work: spinning wheels, turning cogs, opening & closing scissors (!), pressing buttons.
Two is obsessed with anything by Julia Donaldson, but especially Zog. And the Gruffalo. And Witch-on-de-bwoom. Especially all of them before bedtime.
Two is everything he should be: fiercely protective, boundlessly curious, seriously volatile, studiously pensive, endlessly testing, beautifully loving, irresistibly gorgeous.