Happy 2nd Birthday, Buddy!

My Sweet Isaac,

Today you turned two. You love to say "two" in these ways: "two Papas, two Nanas, two cars" (referencing the two cars currently in the garage) and anytime you count two of anything. Speaking of which, you are an excellent counter. These days you can count to 27! Your counting goes like this: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, (you always skip 8), 9, 10, 11, 12, (you usually skip 13, but sometimes you say it too), 14, five-teen, 16, 17, (ain't nobody got time for 18 and 19), 20 (which you always say with excitement!) and 27!" Sometimes you throw in "30" and when you do you follow it with "yucky" because I think you associate it with the word "dirty" (since they rhyme) and we both know mommy says "dirty diaper, yucky!" What a smart boy you are.

When we tried to teach you how old you are today. You remembered the two, but not the "years." Instead you tell us you are "two minutes" old. Keeping it fresh, buddy, that's awesome. I hope you always keep life fresh.

You are SO smart and we hear it from your doctor, teachers at church, your family and people we meet in the store. Your doctor tells us your vocabulary is that of a 2.5 to 3-year-old child. It's no wonder when you frequently (and easily) use words like: helicopter, alligator, rectangle, pentagon and elephant. You learn things at an incredible speed and it's such a joy to watch you. Just today you said this to mommy as I was holding Hannah: "Upstairs Hannah. Lay in bed." You clearly wanted mommy all to yourself and wanted me to put your sister in her room.

You are always quick with a smile and LOVE to interact with people when we are out. You often will wave, smile and say "hello" (it sounds like hewo). Sometimes when the interaction is over you will even say "bye-bye", throw in a "later alligator (waiter ah-gator)" and blow a kiss for good measure. Maybe you are going to be a future politician (mommy hopes not, but I will be the first to contribute to your campaign if you do). ;)

Isaac, you bring your daddy and I such happiness. We enjoy watching you learn, interact with your sister (you're starting to do that more these days), explore your surroundings and become more independent (although that last item can be a bit more debatable during moments you are pitching yourself onto the floor and writhing because we tell you "no").

I pray that you will continue to love playing outside and exploring the world God has made for you. Any chance you get, you ask to be out there (you are truly your daddy's boy in that regard). Things you regularly look for when you are outside: mushrooms (yes you can say that too), flowers, airplanes, trucks, drain holes (that's one your Papa Duncan taught you), birds and mailboxes. You love to check the mail. You also regularly remind us (even when you are not outside) to not go in the street ("no, no in street"). Let's hope you remember that fact!

As I watch you grow, I am so thankful to God for your presence in my life. I am grateful that He has let your dad and me take care of you and it's my prayer that you will grow to discover God in your own life. He has such amazing plans for you, Isaac; they are even bigger than mommy can dream (and that's saying a whole lot!). His Word says that God's plans are to prosper you, give you hope and a future.

I will continue to hold your hand for as long as you'll let me. I promise to kiss all your boo-boos and listen to your dreams. I will pray with you and walk with you as you explore your world. It's these moments that mommy treasures. Keep on reaching out to others, ask as many questions as you can and dive all-in to your world. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Happy second birthday, son. May it be filled with all the big trucks, planes, cars, rocks, buses and trains that you can imagine!

I love you,
Mommy

From Three to Four: A Reflection

The last entry I made on my blog was a love letter to our second child who will be arriving within the next 24 hours. The child will turn our family of three into one of four.

I've gotten pretty used to this family of three. We are in a state that is familiar. Sleep patterns, for example are familiar. I actually get sleep right now and I'm rather spoiled by how much. When we put Isaac to bed, Mike and I get some quality time together that consists of 2-3 hours depending on how late we stay up. When Mike gets up to go to work, Isaac will usually keep sleeping and I get another hour to myself to do with whatever I'd like (confession: usually this means I go back to sleep!).

Isaac had a night just last week that reminded me of the early days of his life. He'd wake, cry for me (and no, he wanted nothing to do with Mike who tried to help, but was rejected by a mommy-clinging, 19-month old boy), sleep for 10 minutes and wake again. The pattern repeated for hours and my weariness began overtake me. I couldn't help but wonder if it was God's way of reminding me what was in store in just a short time.

But besides sleep, I've grown comfortable in this role of a mom to a precious boy who (at this point in life) has eyes only for me when it comes to many moments in life. I'm enjoying this season of having time with my husband when we want it. We've both grown comfortable in our roles as parents to the point that they are natural. We've been able to shift our focus again to us.

So, as I look ahead to tomorrow, I have to tell myself to breathe deep. This is what we planned (RIGHT!?). We wanted this and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mama to another precious life that God has deemed me worthy of pouring myself into.

Before I was pregnant, I heard moms confess a fear of their hearts not being big enough to properly welcome another child. How could they love it as much as their first? How could they split their attention among more than one and be fair to both? How could they still give their husbands the attention he deserves? Until I was pregnant I didn't get their fears. Now I do. I've had the same fears and questions. The answer I've heard from those who have crossed over from a family of three to four is: "your fears are valid, but your heart just gets bigger."

So, here I am. I feel as big as a house and wonder how anything in my body will expand. Physically, I feel like my heart is already crammed halfway up my neck. Yet I know something magical will happen with the birth of our second child: my heart will get bigger.

It will probably be the moment the nurses lay that little person on my chest, but who knows? Maybe it will be when I see Mike hold our second child for the first time. Or maybe, just maybe, it won't happen until Isaac, Mike and I are all snuggled around the baby as a family. Either way, this mama is looking forward to expanding more tomorrow. As I trade baby weight for the weight of being a family of four I will embrace it. This is part of how we women are made. Our hearts keep expanding and giving and our Creator keeps applauding and singing over us as He watches us grow.