dear adam,
this is your last month, officially, as a 2 year old. un.believe.able. these months, as all the months since you were born, have flown by too fast for your mama.
you are such a joy as a child and i love you beyond words. you are funny, sensitive, compassionate and curious.
you like to tell jokes, love pop-a-cles and the jokes on the Popsicle sticks, tho i don't think you understand them, but you and i laugh anyhow. you run run run circles in our house, doing nothing sometimes other than running and saying "i am going fast!" this summer, you've loved bubbles, the little pool/splash pad near our house, helping me look at the "baby vegetables" in our garden, and the movie "Cars 2", which was the first movie we took you to see in the theater. you play all day, every day, with Mater and McQueen. you have a big Mater, who you call Big Mater or Daddy Mater, and you have a little Mater who you call Baby Mater. as in, "mommy, can you help me find Baby Mater?" altho, you're into all kinds of cars, trucks, tractors, "snow plows" (as you call a backhoe, and i find this hilarious and telling of your life experiences here in maine...), and basically anything with 2 or more wheels. this includes thomas the train - you know all the train names and colors and numbers. you love to watch thomas the train when we will allow you and read thomas books. you continue to love blue's clues, which pleases me because this show is positive and always introduces themes i like.
you are potty trained, only wearing a pull up, or "nite nite pants" as we call them, at night time. sometimes you wake up dry, sometimes not. you stay dry at naps and can do all the bathroom activities solo (stand and aim, climb up on the seat, lower and lift the seat, wash hands...), except wiping ... which you tell me daily that now you're big and you can do it yourself, but i insist you let me continue to lend a hand. :)
when someone is crying, you say things like - they need a hug, some milk (baby marin), or tell me that they're upset. you seem to be highly aware of others' feelings and needs. you are (usually...) very polite and we continue to receive compliments on your good behavior. occasionally you have been more testy than before, especially now that your baby sister has arrived, but this behavior is rare. mostly, when you don't get your way, you just pout, face down on the couch. i have to be my strongest mommy self to not give into this pouting, because truly i want you to be happy all the time and enjoy every ounce of childhood. BUT... as your mom, i also have to set limits and help you learn that you can't get everything you want when you want it, helping guide you away from impulsiveness and being spoiled later on. just today, we were in the grocery and you spotted a Cars birthday cake. you begged and begged for this cake, and i tried to explain that your birthday is coming very soon and if you're a good boy we will get you that cake. and you said, " but mom, i AM a good boy!" i had to smile and say you're right, because truly you are. you run fast to get me a diaper for the baby, help me carry in groceries (you take the paper towels and bread :)), and tell me you love me lots. you adore your baby sister, asking to hug, kiss and touch her often. you like to try to make her smile. also, recently, i was coming down stairs and you looked at me and said, "mom, you look great!" you'd never said this before and i thought it was the sweetest thing ever. and, tonight i was leaning over you talking, and you said that my "pretty hair was all around" you. such a sweet boy.
adam, you are also a TALKER. goodness gracious, sometimes your dad and i are exhausted (just being honest!) answering your questions, responding to your mommy!? and daddy?!, and looking at all the things you want us to look at. but we always try to respond in earnest because your curiosity and positivity and innocence is perfection. you still love being read to and "reading" books on your own, especially in your bed at night. you still wake up with books in bed. you recently wrote MOM in chalk on your own accord, without me saying - ok, now write M, now write O. you start preschool 3 days a week next month and i'm certain your writing skills will grow from here.
we also recently took you (and marin) on your first vacation that was not to grandparents' houses. we spent a week at a lakhouse in maine and the best part of the vacation, for me, was watching you have the best week of your little life all week long. you played and played, and without work, internet, tv, phone or chores, you had your dad's and my undivided attention all week (well, divided with marin, but that's it!). you played hard and long, ran through the woods and played in the water. you had your first fishing trip in a canoe with daddy and helped make and eat s'mores. you helped daddy gather wood for a fire and read a million books, made dozes of sandcastles. at the beginning of this week, we saw thomas the train IN PERSON and took a ride on him. you were in heaven and it was fun for daddy and me too.
sometimes you say really funny things, like recently i asked you how you slept and you answered: mmmm, like a banana. and then just went on your way, like it was nothing. you love silly talk and making up weird nonsense words. you like to play hide and seek (you're good at counting and searching, but your hiding spots need some help...!) and chase/tag. you LOVE baseball, we've been to several minor league games this summer. and, you can hit a baseball with a bat, which impresses me to no end.
adam, my best boy, as i often call you, i just can't believe you'll be 3 soon. for me, this marks the end of your "babyhood" and the start of your boyhood. i swear, and i know i say this a lot, but it feels like you JUST ARRIVED. where does the time go. i try each day to savor our time together and remember that each moment moves on quickly. i love you super craaaaazy much. love, mom.
