Happy Birthday Thomas

Dear Tommy,

When I was pregnant with you, I often told other parents that I hoped the second baby would be "easier". Not that Henry was a difficult child at all. But he did have his health problems. And those, added to all the weirdness that comes with being a new mom, added up to some stress for me.

I hoped that this time it would be "easier" because we would be more confident. We wouldn't be as scared and unsure. I wanted to enjoy you more. (Does every parent want that? Is that part of why we keep having more children? To try to re-capture the babyness and "appreciate" it more? It is so fleeting.)

So, today you turned 2 years old and I wonder how that happened. I have appreciated you, every minute of every day, but yet you still grew out of a baby and into a toddler. Right before my eyes. Lately I have been thinking about it and wishing that you could stay this way a little bit longer. Your godmother wisely reminded me that 2 years old is great, but so is 8 years old. So I guess I'll let you keep growing up. (Yeah, right, as if I have a choice!)

So far raising you does seem a little "easier", as far as the worrying goes. But it seems more bittersweet. (That is a word that a lot of my mommy friends use.) With Henry it seems like I just jumped right into motherhood and floundered around. With you, the road is more familiar, so maybe I have more time to look around me and enjoy the scenery.

You are so precious to me- truly, almost everything you do leaves me grinning like a love struck drunk or something. Even in church when you declare "take shirt off" and then start jumping on my lap like I'm a trampoline. Or when you won't poop in the potty but then poop on the floor and come to tell me. I want to document some of the extra-cute things you do, so that I can always remember:

You like to say "Oh! See mommy, see!" And then show me a toy or a book or whatever. Sometimes you say "Oh mon!" and you sound Jamaican.

Every once in awhile, when the stars are aligned just right, you put your face very close to mine and give me a kiss on the lips, without me even asking! L told me that one day you did that to her and said "I love you."

You like to hop up and down a lot-especially to entertain the "babies" at L's house. You love babies, which always amuses me, because I think you are just a baby yourself.

You never want to sit in your booster seat, but always at a big chair at the table, just like Bubba.

Sometimes you say "OH! Mommy- turtle scare me!" But I don't think you're really that scared, because you keep on watching the turtles.

You like to "roughhouse", especially with daddy and Bubba.

When you sneeze, and I say "God bless you", you always say "God bless you too Mommy." When I say "you're a neat kid, Tommy" you say "mommy neat kid."

You are different from your brother and sister in that you will try new food without missing a beat. In fact, whenever I am trying to eat anything, you climb up on me and say "my do, my do"

Lately you have wanted to climb up and jump. From any piece of furniture or even something like Daddy's lunchbox. Sometimes you count: "one, two, three, seven, eight, nine, ten! JUMP!"

I think you had a fun day today. You seemed to sort of "get it" that it was your birthday. We hung up the "happy birthday" banner and you were pretty excited about that. You pointed at it and said "ABCDEFG!"

You waited at the door for Grandma and Grandpa to come. Tanner and her mom got you that water table that really seems to be for outside in the warmer weather. But I filled it up in the laundry room and let you play in it. Then I emptied it out, but you got Grandpa to fill it up for you again. I wonder where I learned to be such a spoiler?!

You enjoyed blowing out your candles, and got your Grandpa to re-light them at least a dozen times and then help you blow them out, over and over. Finally I told you 2 more times, but then wasn't paying attention. Henry was sure to point out when your two more times were up!

You had a great day, but didn't have a nap. So it was an early bedtime tonight. Today you gave me lots of hugs and kisses. I told you that I loved you and that I'm so glad you came into my life 2 years ago. You have made me so happy.

I promise I will always love you this much.

Happy Birthday.