i'm not crying, you're crying

I've been really nostalgic and sentimental this past week.

Tommy's about to turn two, you see?

T W O.

I've been looking through all his pictures on my phone, flipping through my "Mom's One Line A Day" journal, reading my post from a year ago, and just feeling all-around weepy that time is such a thief. I mean, time has given me two years with Tommy, and it's been a wild ride, and I'm grateful for that. But I just can't get over how quickly these two years have gone.

Tommy's "terrible twos" began the day after he turned one. THE VERY NEXT DAY. He's always been a bit high-strung, but he mastered the art of tantrums much earlier than I had expected.

But he's still charming.

Can you even handle how cute he is?

Playing with Gramma O

Running from Santa Claus

Legit running from him. Can't help but think
he'll be scared of him again (still?) this year.

He's still not an awesome sleeper. Shouldn't a kid his age be sleeping through the night by now? Like, every night, unless he's sick or something? Anyway, I'm permanently exhausted.

But he's also such a sweet fellow, and we're getting the tantrums under control, and he's such a dashing thing, AND HIS CHEEKS ARE STILL SQUISHY AND KISSY! Plus, he'll usually kiss me on the mouth when I ask politely, he's a good cuddle buddy, and he makes me laugh every single day.

Sharing Dad's breakfast smoothie.

Living his best life: pants less and napping.

I wonder how long he'll let this tradition continue...

Boy always has bruises up and down his shins.

He rarely rides on Dad's shoulders, but when he does, he pulls his hair.

He likes to "tex Papa" with millions of emojis.

Note to self: always have animal-foot slippers for Tommy to wear.

Eating outside is preferable to eating inside.

More Cheetos, please!

I'm not sure what was happening when Andy snapped this picture,
but I LOVE IT.

A not-so-rare tantrum caught on camera.

Screaming because Dad had the audacity to quit hiking and head home.

11:00 church is rough for a tired little boy
(and his Momma).

If he wasn't wearing a swimsuit, he'd likely be drenched.

Throwing rocks at Tony Grove.

Beautiful boy and a lollipop.

A Dad and his boy.

Getting more rocks.

This boy in this hat...

...and also THIS hat.

Tommy loves Gunner. And Mary. And the iPad.

Tommy and Gunner (cue the heart eyes)

This was after rolling around in the dirt while camping.
We called him Pigpen.

I just can't get over how beautiful he is.

Looking for ducks.

He loves dragging blankets around the apartment, then plopping
down in the middle of the floor to snuggle. 

He's recently started caring about what he wears; on this day, he insisted on wearing a tee shirt.
Under a too-small pajama shirt. With his monster feet. 

My little Clark Kent.

He has three other cat ears to choose from, but he only wears the pink ones. 

I love this little squirt. 

He was a lumberjack for Halloween. 

Dino-kitty.

As much as I keep hoping time will slow down, I'm sure enjoying these days with Tommy. We've wandered around the Christmas section at Lowe's more than once, and he's been really excited about the lights and the trees; Christmas with a 2-year-old is going to be amazing, and I cannot wait to buy our tree and deck our halls!

Christmas is quite magical, though, isn't it? 

Cutest elf ever.

I feel so grateful to be Tommy's mom. Somehow, he keeps getting cooler each day, and I'm smitten with the sweetness he brings into our lives.

Interlaken, etc.

After seeing the Lion Monument and eating breakfast, we took a train to Interlaken (and there was much rejoicing that we got to stay put for two consecutive nights!)

The train ride from Lucerne to Interlaken was beautiful. I swear, every view deserves a magazine layout in, like, National Geographic. Switzerland is breathtaking and  so lovely you could just cry.

Ignore the reflection from the train window...

I mean...it's just so lovely.

Can you figure out why this area is called Interlaken? Think about it...

I got all up in other passengers' business to take all these pictures. And I'm okay with that.

When we got to Interlaken, it took us a while to figure out which way was what, but we eventually made our way to our B&B (called Katy's). If you'll believe it, we stayed on the third floor in room six. 

Once we were checked in and had grabbed a bit to eat, we hopped on another train (or two or three) and started exploring. Our first stop: Reichenbach Falls very near Meiringen. Jeanna and I decided we had to go there because Sherlock Holmes (and Benedict Cumberbatch! And Martin Freeman! And also Robert Downey, Jr., and Jude Law!). Jen indulged our little...ah...obsession and went along for the ride. (I freely admit it: I'm hooked on BBC's Sherlock. Because Benedict Cumberbatch. And Martin Freeman. And also Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.)

This is...somewhere in Switzerland. Not sure of the town.

The ride-up-selfie v

And here is our first glimpse of Reichenbach Falls.

Reichenbackfall up close

Panorama of Reichenbach and the gorgeous, lush valley.

Jeanna took this stunning shot from near the falls

Once we took the little train thingy to the falls, we went on a little hike to get nearer the top.

So serene

From the top (and I quote): "It's butt-scrunching!" -Jeanna

A different view of the falls.

Our slow-moving steed. (I can't for the life of me remember what this was called.)

Holmes's business card, yo.

After we were finished with Reichenbach, we had to walk a few kilometers to the nearest end of Aare Gorge. It's basically a long slot canyon with bridges and walkways built into and around "a raging river of death!" (name that movie).

It seems we walked quite a distance...

But it was a very pretty walk.

Our SwissPass allowed us to do this for free, too.

Looking up

More river, more rock wall

Golly, I seem to have a thing for stairs...

Kinda blurry, but aren't they cute?

See how there's a walkway cut into the stone?

This was at the other end of the gorge...nearer Meiringen, maybe. Or maybe not...

Jen had an eye for spotting waterfalls when we were on trains.

Aaaand since we were so very close to Meiringen, we simply had to try meringue.
I'm so glad we split one among the three of us, because none of us liked it.
#TooSweet #Yuck #PassTheAltoids

I'd have to say that Reichenbachfall is probably in my "top five" of neat things to do in Switzerland.

Next stop: Jungfraujoch!