J-Bear turns two

Dear J-Bear,

How did two years just fly by?  You are officially a Terrific Two!  I say this several times a day, but "I just love my boy".  You are my squishy, affectionate, opinionated, sweet, determined boy.

I'll start with sweet:  You are always so concerned and aware of other children and adults in need.  If anyone is ever crying, you stop in your tracks to watch, take it in, comment "baby crying" or "SR crying", you go over to offer a hug, or you say "okay, mommy?" or "okay SR?"  You offer kisses and hugs to me regularly.  And if you ever think your mischief upset me, after you have calmed down, you are the first to say "huggies, mommy."  Sigh, you are so delicious!

Determined:  You persevere with everything, independently, until you master the skill.  I remember a few months ago, you stood on your little arm chair, quite a distance off the ground.  You were determined to step off of it without falling down.  You stepped off, fell flat on your face, gave a whimper, and got right back up.  You did this again and again until you mastered it.  It's the same with almost everything.  Your favourite skill to practise is going up and down any steps you can find. And your favourite expression when you conquer something you've been trying "I DID IT!"

Mischievous:  From an early age, you would watch and take in what I approve of and what I don't like.  And yet, you try to get away with what you shouldn't be doing - be it climbing on furniture, standing on tall toys or chairs or booster seats, going up stairs without me, or colouring or eating where you shouldn't.  You watch, and you wait, and you smile as you do it, waiting for me to catch you in the act.  And of course, I try to be stern, but you are so darn cute, it's hard to show displeasure.

Adoring your sister:  You just love SR.  She loves you as much.  But you will do anything she does and you will do anything she tells you to do.  Any attention SR gives you is golden.  If she reads to you or does a puzzle with you, you sit and wait for her instruction for what to do.  If she starts singing or dancing or jumping, you do exactly what she does.  And during playdates, you only want to be with the big kids.

Charming:  You will often choose a random girl, older than you, to go up to, smile at, get closer to, and closer, then wrap your arms around, and hug.  You are charming, that's for sure....and if you have this much confidence with the ladies now, and this natural charm, I am going to have to start schooling you very early in how to be a proper gentleman!!!!

Know EXACTLY what you want:  Picture it....middle of the night....milk, more milk, (turning my face to his) more milk, milk please, more milk please, this side, no this side, no this side, no the other side, sweater (I need to be wearing long sleeves for nursing so you have my sleeve to tickle).  You slowly go back to sleep, and if I move even slightly, you are back upright saying "more milk please."  But wait, there's more....you also demand "pillow away", "knee down" "no blanket" "pack and play" and "Dora Rora".  I could keep going!

Yes, I'm exhausted....but I could not imagine a better reason for being tired than you.  Waking up to your smiling face each morning, hearing you sing and hold notes and end with "Oh Yeah", hearing you say "come here, mommy, sit down" because you want me near you, knowing exactly how you like to snuggle my left arm, and that when it is almost wake up time, how you squish in under my left armpit and pull both of my arms around you, how you go to daycare every morning with two sesame figurines clutched in your hand, how you run to me when you see me, and how you love your sister and how much she loves you in return - you just make me the happiest mommy ever.

In 2 years we have had 5 hospital visits.  You keep me on my toes and I wouldn't want it any other way.  I wish for both of us to get more sleep and visit the hospital less in this coming third year.

Happy 2nd birthday baby boy!!!!

Love, Mommy

Check out your two pictures taken in the same place exactly one year apart.  What a change!!!!

J-Bear at 12 months

J-Bear at 2 years - same shirt, same chair same day