Happy 2nd Birthday, Ben!

Dear Ben,

For nearly twenty months your daddy and I thought we had been given such an amazing blessing (your sister), and we were so excited that you were coming, but we had no idea what we were in store for. We never imagined how much better our lives could get, or how having you in our family was like fitting another piece into the puzzle - the picture suddenly got a whole lot clearer.

You amaze us each and every day with new things. We think you are brilliant, but we're your parents - I'm pretty sure we're required to think that. But you can count to 13! Never mind that you typically start at 3, not 1, and that you are not usually counting anything at all. 13! Genius!

You like to sing, and your favorites are the ABC's (I'm not sure you say a single real letter in there), Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Happy Birthday, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. You will surprise me during the day by strolling in with your guitar and singing me a song.

You still wake up far too early in the morning. Today you decided to start celebrating at 4:30. I was not thrilled. But after you morphed from your usual droning, "maaaamaaaa. MAAAAMAAA!" to true crying interspersed with "ay ahh you, Mama??" (where are you, mama?), I could no longer pretend to ignore it, so up we were. Of course, within seconds of being picked up you sweetly asked, "a gween one, Mama?" requesting your typical breakfast of a green nutri-grain bar. You are irresistible, and you're damn lucky that you are, at that hour of the morning!

You know how to turn on the charm, and you have a laugh and smile that are totally infectious. You melt me every time that you run up to me, and give me a hug or a kiss, and so even though you broke my heart yesterday when I asked if you were my baby ("No! Big boy!"), I forgive you. I love that you are so very ticklish. There is one spot between your neck and your shoulder, and a tickle there makes your legs buckle underneath you as you collapse to the floor, convulsing in giggles. Your feet are ticklish, your knees, your chubby thighs, your tummy, your ears, your neck - almost every inch of you. Frequently when tickled until you can barely breathe, you wait a moment to catch your breath before loudly exclaiming, "Gain! Gain!!" (Again! Again!!)

You fancy yourself a comedian, and you think it is incredibly funny to ask me if all of the people we know are in our house. You will run down a huge list, and you ask each question with a lilt on the end and a twinkle in your eye that lets me know exactly how funny you think you are. Finally, when you can hold it in no longer, you will explode with laughter. Yesterday it was after you asked me if there was a "di-no-roar?" (dinosaur) in the car. I wish I could put your voice on here, so everyone else could experience what I am so lucky to be able to every day.

You have a bit of an aggressive streak, and are currently in a big hitting mode. We are trying to curb this by frequent use of time-outs. So far no luck. Sometimes you will hit, and then put yourself in time out. The problem is that you are so happy-go-lucky, that most often, while you are in time out, you are swinging your legs, tapping your feet, and having a grand old time with whatever thoughts are racing through your head.

One of your more recent habits is that frequently, after I read you a book, you will then climb off my lap to the floor, and sit down to open the book back up and read it to yourself. I watch as you turn the pages thoughtfully, and occasionally say a few words aloud. I hope that you love reading like I do, it will let you experience so many things.

You have become quite attached to your "bwanket", and have to have it for naps and bedtime. We, also have another new bedtime tradition. When we go in your room, you request "snuggiepuppy?" in your most hopeful voice. So I will sit in the glider, and rock with you while I sing the song to you. At the end you reach up to me for a kiss, and say in a quiet voice, "tank you, snuggiepuppy!" I hope you will always be my snugglepuppy, little man. I love you so very much.

Ooooo, snugglepuppy of mine,
Everything about you is my favorite kind.
I love what you are,
I love what you do,
And oooooooo -
I love you!

This last year has been full of all kinds of milestones, and I have loved being right here to experience them with you. I can't wait for a lifetime more. You are an incredible little boy, and you are so very, very loved.

Mama