Two!

Dear Conor,

Hello, Love Bug! Did you know you are two years old today? Of course you did! All morning long you've been saying "today CONA'S birthday" and following that adorable statement up with "I'm twoooo". And the way you say "twoooo" is just beyond cute.

I said it last year, and I'll probably say it every year until I finally get it, but I can't believe you are two! How did this happen? But you are most definitely a two year old. You are becoming independent and vocal and you want everything to go EXACTLY. YOUR. WAY. All the time.

I've noticed over the last few weeks that you are like me in so many ways. For one, you insist on doing everything perfectly the first time. In fact, if it doesn't work immediately, you give up, throw a fit and politely request (through your screams) "help, please." I'm learning to encourage you to finish what you started and when you do accomplish it, you are so proud of yourself. And I'm proud of you too!

You're so tall and strong and rugged. Just like you Daddy. Speaking of Daddy, you love to play tackle together. When he gets home from work, one of the first things you like to do, is say "ready, set, hike" and then run full speed into his chest with your head and shoulders down. And, if Daddy hasn't said it quickly enough, you always compliment yourself with a "good tackle".

In fact, you're always reminding us when we forget to say things. If you say 'thank you' and we don't immediately follow it with a you're welcome, you're quick to remind us of our manners. "You're WELCOME", you'll say in a little sing-song voice. You also like to remind us to say "good job" when you've done anything you feel is of merit. You put a toy away..."good job", you choose to calm down instead of sit in time out..."Goooood choice".

I said last year on your birthday how impressed we all were with your vocabulary and it has grown by leaps and bounds over the past twelve months. I stopped counting the number of words you could say at 100. You are remarkable and talkative and FUNNY! Did I mention funny? Because you have Daddy and I laughing so much! You can recite the entire alphabet, identify each letter by sight, tell us what each letter "says" and identify letters by the sound they make. You love to read books and count and before long I know you'll be reading stories to ME!

Oh! And when you get hurt, or when you've been scolded, you look tearfully up at me and say "I needa HUG!". And oh, my heart! And so, I drop what I am doing and we hug and hug and hug and I hope you'll do this a thousand times a day forever. But I know you won't so I promise to stop what I am doing and hug you whenever you need one.

You're going to be a big brother soon and you love to look at Mommy's growing tummy and give it the sweetest gentlest kisses. Of course you also like to jump on my belly while we are snuggling in bed together or reading on the couch. I'm nervous about how you'll react to your new baby brother or sister and I'm afraid you'll think that you are somehow second place in our hearts.

I can tell you now that you will always be my first born, always be my angel, always (no matter how big you get) by my sweet baby boy. I love you so much little man and I'm so glad, so proud and so much better for getting to be your mommy.

Happy Birthday, little one. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy