Tomorrow my Baby A turns two. I wanted to write him a letter on is birthday that I could give to him when he is 40 to tell him what he was like at 2. I have to admit I wept through most of the writing of it. We are having a big party for him today at a park by our house.
Dear Baby A,
Today you turn two. It is such a monumental day for you. You are such a ray of
sunshine in my life and I thank the universe daily that I get the honor to be your Mom. You are active, smart, inquisitive, snuggly, and with knowing I am biased I will tell you that I think you are one of the cutest creatures to walk the earth. Your speech has really exploded and you love to talk about everything and regularly try new words on for size. Names are the newest thing you are learning. My name you have no problem with, your Dad�s name is tougher, and you insist that you and Wildman have the same name. You also like to sing and try to follow the words of songs; you usually can get every 5th word. It is mega cute.
Books make you very excited. You could read all day and like to carry books around and have us read them or read them yourself. I try and take every moment we have alone to read to you, since your older brother does not sit still for books as well as
you do. You are a Billy goat on the playground and you scare the other parents with your climbing skills. I think you climb so well because you try to keep up with Wildman. You rarely fall but when you do the tears are short lived and you are off to explore. When it is time to get dressed in the morning you love to put on your shoes because you know we are going on an adventure out of the house. Hiking is another thing you excel at, I have taken you on an almost two hour hike and you insisted on walking the whole way.
You have totally turned two these past few weeks in your behavior. You hear when I say no and have begun really trying to test the boundaries. This is frustrating but I know completely normal. You tend to tattle on your brother just as a little brother should and you to fight over toys with him. Regularly you walk into the kitchen and exclaim, �Wildman hit you�. Both you and your brother really love each other and hug often and sit together on the couch to watch Sesame Street while I cook dinner. You look for Wildman as soon as you wake up from your nap every afternoon. I hope you grow up and learn to be friends, he will be the only brother you have. Wildman can be overwhelming but he has an empathetic heart.
Since birth you have had a tough time medically. You have multiple severe food allergies. It is hard to keep you away from the foods you are allergic to out in the world. Your Dad, Wildman and I really are careful every time you put something in your mouth. Wildman was there the day you ate peanut butter and almost died. He regularly mentions that day and says if our baby died we would be very sad and miss him forever. Now that your allergies are under control you are extremely social, before we knew about all
your allergies you tended to be a shy guy. You also had surgery this year and may have to have another. I am hoping this is the end of your medical issues. I think everyday that if I had birthed you as a younger woman you may not had had all these issues. It is just
my guilt speaking. Your allergy retesting went well this year. You are still very allergic but your blood tests says your numbers are dropping which is encouraging.
You still breastfeed quite a bit and co sleep most of the time. You love to crawl in my lap and ask for, �boose� and especially love to nurse wrapped in the covers on the bed with only your face peeking out. Your Dad and I are working on telling you that big boys sleep in their cribs. You are not having it. We start you off in your crib but usually
wake up after about two hours all panicked and upset that you are alone in your room. You come to bed with us and sleep happily snuggled in one of our armpits. You snuggle so close that in the winter we put you in summer pj�s because you get too hot and kick off the covers. Dad says it is ok that you are still in our bed, his quote is �sleeping with the baby spoils the Dad as much as the baby.� We figure that soon enough you will be in your own room and we will miss you.
We joined a pool this summer and you love to go to the pool. Always on the way home you say,� Have fun at pool, have fun at pool Mom�. You are a regular fish and we have to keep your water wings on because you will jump in the big pool like you are a big
guy and we worry that you need to be safe. Again you keep up with Wildman and want to be able to do everything he does. Later this summer I signed you up for Mommy and Me swimming lessons, I think that we are going to have a really good time.
This is going to be your last year home with me. Next year you will start
preschool. Wildman goes to preschool and at the end of the school year you started crying when Wildman got out of the car and you had to stay behind. Sorry Baby A, the school does not let you attend till you are two years and seven months, you are too young. This time will pass quickly and I will try and find fun things for us to do this school year together.
Your Dad, Wildman and I love you more than you ever know. We all dote on you and revel in your delightfulness. Enjoy being two, baby and I know I will try to enjoy you being two and all that entails.
Love,
your Mom
