Two

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

My Dear Wild One,

Today, you are two, and I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around where the time has gone.  It's so fresh in my memory when you were tumbling around in my belly, and I spent hours wondering what you would be like: what shape your nose would be and how you would smell.  I wondered whose toes you would get, and I hoped you would inherit Daddy's nice jawline.  I was so anxious to meet you, so much that I ate an unpleasant amount of spicy food, hoping to jump start your journey.  Friends told me I would experience an unimaginable love when you arrived.  On April 29, 2012 at 2:54 in the afternoon, you proved them right.  I immediately knew you were the most amazing human being I had ever met, all nine pounds, one ounce of you.  And even though your birthday was a hard day for me, it's still one of the best days of my life.

Meeting Daddy for the First Time

Bonding With Mommy

You have already given me so many priceless gifts in these short two years.  The day you were born, your magical tiny fingers somehow expanded my heart's ability to love... to love larger and greater than I ever believed possible.  The secret place in me, saved only for your Daddy and your older brother, suddenly expanded in a way similar to how scientists must feel when they discover a new galaxy, exploding exponentially in all directions, exposing new mysteries that from that point forward they will never be able to un-know.  And if that had been it... if the way I felt in the moment I met you had been the embodiment of all the new love I would feel, that would have exceeded my expectations.  But no... the explosion of love continues each day I spend with you.

Wild One: 10 Days Old

When the sunshine bounces off your golden hair (that sometimes gets you called a girl, but I don't mind) or when your short, little legs carry you swiftly across the yard, I find myself wondering how I was graced to be your mother.  But more than flowery words and ornate metaphors, I want to convey to you how grateful Daddy and I are that you're part of our lives.  The word part doesn't seem right, because you and your brothers are so intertwined into our joy and sadness and pride and love.  You have made us whole when we never knew we were incomplete.

Trains, Trains, Trains

Easter Sunday: April 20, 2014

Today, you are two.  You love to be "side," always with a wagon in tow, wearing your camo rain "boots" and often begging for a ride in the "swing."  You freely give "kiss" to "baby" and you ask "Bubba" for a "hug" to follow.  You spend your days with your "friends" at "iss-loris" (Mrs. Lori's), and we've noticed you talking about "Audrey" more than anyone else.  You're not shy about letting us know when something hasn't gone your way, and you feel very frustrated when you think we don't understand what you mean.  But, you're easily consolable, often with a "cup" of "milk" or "juice" and a "snack," especially a "tepzel-stick" (pretzel stick), and you respond with "Peas and thank you."  Your development of language is bittersweet, as it indicates you move further from being my baby with each correct enunciation.  At bedtime, we sometimes end up reading ten books before we finally follow through with our "last one and then night-night" ultimatum we made six books ago.  The past couple of weeks, you've insisted we read "Little Blue Truck," every night, and you fill in the rhyming words and animal sounds.  You melt my heart when you say "Bye-bye, I-wuv-you," so much that sometimes I make you say it over and over to each person in our family (including "moona" and the "kitty-kitties".)  I've heard you count to ten a few times, but more often it goes, "one, two, three, four, gibberish."  When I ask if you want to sing, you reply back with "A, B, C, D, E ... " in your sing-song voice. I know you share the same musical ear that your father and older brother have, because every time Daddy plays music, you immediately bob your head and tap your toes to the beat.  Most hours of the day, your emit so much joy, it's difficult to feel down when I see your smile.

March 2014: Wild One and Daddy

You are two, and I love the way your little body fits perfectly in my lap that seems made just for you.  I love when you realize I'm not wearing my shoes, so you bring them to me and say "Mommy's (pause) shoes."  I love when I gasp in excitement, and your eyes get so big and you gasp too, but you have no idea what we're excited about.  You're always so willing to be along for the ride, and you make your mouth into an o-shape where your lips cover your teeth, and you make this deep sounding "ohhhhhh."  I love when you call Daddy "fella," because that's what he calls you.  I love when you try and wink, but both eyes close, and you seem thrilled with the results.  I love that I'm able to see your forceful personality as a mirrored-image of my own.  I love when you try to be helpful with dishes and clean-up and feeding the pets way too many scoops of food.  And most of all, I love how you love.

March 2014: Wild One and Mommy

So Happy Birthday, my Wild One.  I pray for sanity and strength over the next year, but I look forward to all the new things I know you will teach me.