TWO YEATS!

Errr, that would be two years.  TWO YEATS is what you hear from Jack when you ask him how old he will be on his next birthday.  Well, that birthday has snuck up on us, and I somehow find myself being the momma to a two year old man child.

Oh Jackie Jack, you are a delight.  You keep your Poppy and I laughing so hard that sometimes I fear we'll collectively pee our pants.  Your Poppy says that having you around is like having a tiny Bill Murray living in our house.  You have your father's comedic timing, and your momma's love of all things mischevious.

It is so hard being two, but you are doing your best to be so good.  Things can get frustrating for you, but you always take a deep breath when momma asks you too and that usually calms you right down.  You wake up in the morning and the second you're done nursing you say "play" and rush off to the livingroom and the waiting arms of your proud Poppy.

You know so many words and speak in such great ESL sentences that sometimes I have a hard time remembering you're only 24 months old.  I love that you love learning and choose books over almost anything.  Your imagination has me wishing I could live in your creative little head because it must be so fun and happy there.

Every momma is proud of their kid, but somehow you've made me push the acceptable limit and I'm often bursting at the seams with pride.  You are such a kind boy and are so polite; "please" and "thank you" are words that we rarely have to remind you to use.  You were fully potty trained by 23 months, and you still are so excited each and every time you go "pee pee on the potty".

You love with a kind of love that eharmony.com wishes they could bottle and sell.  Even though you don't know how to be super gentle with cousin "Parkah", you're often tackling him to try to hug him, rather than out of spite. 

This isn't just a mother's pride speaking - you are seriously one of the brightest little munchkins I've ever met.  I was so impressed with you when you told the 8 year old boy on the airplane that his dinosaur was an "Iguanodon" and it uses it "claw to jab foe".  And you had to tell him this information because he didn't know.  You surprise me every day with what you pick up, and are a constant reminder that I need to watch my language least you tell an errantic Lil Tykes car driver to fuck off some day on the playground.

You have your father's unconditional kindness and I hope you never lose that.  You also have his calves, and well, let's just say that leg modeling could potentially be in your future.  The two of you have the same little furrowed brows when you're thinking, and I love watching the wheels turn in your head while you try to figure out something new. 

Speaking of your Poppy, he loves you so much and it makes him so happy that you guys are besties.  You may not understand this now, but many daddies and sons out there in this world don't have the type of relationship you two have.  Your father will never allow someone to say he is babysitting you, because a real father doesn't babysit his own child.  You are the first thing on his mind when he wakes up, and the last thing he thinks about when his head hits the pillow.  When he's had a long day at the fire station, he comes home and will watch you sleep in your crib for up to 20 minutes.

When the two of your hang out alone at home, I know that I will be greeted with a completely trashed house completed with a giant fort and every toy you own on the floor.  But your laughter and smile from playing with your Poppy makes it worth it...even when I'm cleaning bubble residue off the TV, or prying a ninja sword out from under the bookshelf.

From me, you've gotten your love of adventure, your desire to collect as much information as you possibly can, and a strong core belief that you can do things on your own.  Unfortunately, you've also seem to have developed my bossiness.  We'll work on that together.

I adore that you love helping me cook and bake.  Even though it takes 4 times as long to make something, and 10 times longer to it clean up, I look forward to turning around from the counter and seeing the chair you've brought over as you declare "Jackie help".

These next few years will be huge for you as you continue to learn, gain independence, and expand your world.  Poppy and I can't wait to be there with you to hold your hand when you ask for it, and give you little nudges when you need it.

xoxo,
Mommy