You're TWO years old today! Two!! Every day I look at you and wonder where the time has gone. It seems like last week -- really -- that I was holding you as a tiny little newborn, and now you're TWO!
You are such a delight to your father and I. It's really hard to remember what life was like before you came into the world. You definitely make every day, every moment better in every single way.
You are an incredibly sweet-natured little boy. People tell your dad and I all the time what a good child you are, and what a kind and pleasant personality you have. It makes us so proud, although to be honest, I don't think we can take the credit for it. God just made you extra special, and I'm so honored that I get a front-row view into watching your life unfold.
A few things you love: you love to go 'bye bye' in the truck, you love to play with your friends at church, you love Thomas the Tank Engine, the Wiggles, and Elmo (but don't really care for any of the rest of the Sesame Street episode, so we have to fast-forward a lot). You love when Oma or Poppy come over to play with you, and you love to visit with Gran Jan and Aunt Tracy and cousin Daniel. You love to talk on the phone, especially if it's a real one, instead of your play one, with a live person on the other end. And, even if it's 40 degrees, you LOVE to play outside.
You would rather run than walk, anywhere. When we go out our front door to play, the sidewalk goes a bit downhill, and it's easy to lose your footing. You love to take off running, and I am always chasing you, telling you to slow down. What I mean is, slow down, or you're going to fall. But I also mean, slow down, because you are growing up way too fast, and soon I might not be able to catch you.
You are seriously the world's BEST traveler. When we drive to Pennsylvania to see Mommy's family, you take it all in stride. 800 miles one way to sleep a bunch of nights in a different bed in a different house, and you act like it's the most natural thing in the world. (Of course, it doesn't hurt that Aunt Dawn and Uncle Mike and your cousin Hunter give you all kinds of special attention, does it?)
You also love to EAT, and you're not picky at all. Thai food, Persian food, Mexican food, vegetables -- you'll eat all of it, and then say 'more, please.' Sometimes I wonder where you put all that food! You also love fruit and cookies, and you know exactly where the dish of candy is. (And sometimes, even if it's too early in the day, when you fold your hands behind your back and look at the candy dish and then say, 'Please, Mom,' I give in any way because you are just too cute).
You are so polite. You say 'please,' whenever you want anything, without any prompting anymore from your dad or I. That's quite impressive for a two-year-old, I think! You also say thank you when you are given something. But, what touches me the most, is you've started to say 'sorry' when you know you've done something wrong, all on your own, without anyone reminding you. You have such a tender, tender heart. I hope it always stays that way.
Just a few weeks ago, you realized that if you stand up on the bench outside, you can reach Mommy's flower pots that have dirt in them. When I found you, you were covered head to toe with dirt. I got you down, washed you off, and told you to NOT do that again. Of course, a few minutes later, there you were again, feasting on dirt (I bet it didn't taste very good, either). But I had to laugh when I scolded you and you gave me the sweetest face, patted my hand, and said, 'Silly Mommy.' You are QUITE the charmer, even if your face is covered in dirt.
When we go out in public, like to the store or out to eat, you wave and say 'Hi!' to everyone. Almost everyone waves and returns your greeting, but occasionally someone ignores you. I secretly want to go up to them and smack them on the forehead and make them acknowledge you, but I don't. You seem undeterred by their lack of attention, so I try to follow your lead. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of that over the years.
You still believe Mommy's kisses can fix anything. When you get a boo-boo, you come up to me and say, 'Boo boo, Mom,' and then put it right up to my mouth. Sometimes you hit your hand on the table just so you can have me kiss it. I'm so glad you still think Mommy's kisses can fix your hurts. It won't always be that way, try as I might, but for now, I'm happy to kiss all your hurts away.
You are also quite the talker! You say so many words now, and have started talking in sentences. I love listening to you talk, even if I don't always know exactly what you're saying. You still say 'mo' for 'no,' and while I suppose I should be correcting you, 'mo' is just so much cuter! One of the things you do that cracks me up every time, is sometimes you'll drop something on purpose, and then say, 'Oh mo!' really loud and animated. You also like to say 'oh wow,' 'oh boy,' 'oh yeah' and 'oh my.'
You love dogs, and love petting the dogs in our neighborhood. We had to say goodbye to our dog earlier this year, because he was old and in pain and didn't quite appreciate your loving, but not necessarily gentle, touches. But someday, when you're a bit older, we'll get you another dog. I promise. (Daddy says we have to wait until you're old enough to walk it yourself, but I have a feeling if, in a couple years, you ask, he'll give in. He's pretty sweet like that).
You are a great sleeper. You still take two naps a day, and sleep about 11 to 12 hours a night. The great thing about you, and your laid-back nature, is you go to bed every time still awake, and just play in your crib until you fall asleep. Sometimes we hear you through the monitor practicing your animal noises. You're a funny kid.
Last week, you got to play at the Y with your friends for a little while. When I came back to get you, I stood at the door and watched you for a minute. You just looked so ... so big, and so happy. You were sitting in a chair, watching a video, clutching two Thomas trains. Every now and then you'd turn to a friend and wave and say 'Hi!,' and then go back to the video. When I walked up to you, you said, 'Hi Mom!' and gave me a big hug. You seemed so happy, so content, so in love with life. I wish I could bottle up those sweet moments.
Right now, you view the world as a safe place. I dread the day when you realize that, while the good far outweighs the bad, there are people who will be unkind to you, people who hurt you, intentionally or not, people who don't have your best interest at heart. I wish I could keep you in Mommy and Daddy's cocoon forever.
I'm trying to find a way to describe to you how much I love you, and I can't. My tears have started to flow as I realize, yet again, that my love for you is so much bigger than me. There are not enough words in all of the English language -- or in all of the languages combined -- to express to you how deep my love flows for you, my sweet blond-haired boy. Even when you're fussy (which doesn't happen very often), I still love you to the moon and back times 10 million.
I'm going to let you down, sweet boy. I've already let you down. I'm going to fail you. I'm going to disappoint you. I'm going to lose my patience with you and be too busy to spend time with you and snap at you for something that was really my fault. I'm going to be exasperated by you and your seemingly endless vat of energy. I'm going to show you the worst of me, and not my best.
But know this, John Reagan Patterson Thompson. Your mother loves you with a love that overwhelms me. It consumes every single part of my being. It is bigger than anything I could possibly ever articulate or explain. I'm a writer, yet words will always fail to express the depth of my love for you..
Happy birthday, sweet angel boy. I love you.
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