Bret's Birthday Letter

It's your birthday today, and you are TWO, Bret!  And now, after all the time we spent teaching you to say "I'm ONE!" instead of "Fweee!" in response to the question "How old are you?" we have to teach you to say you're two!  ;)  I know I'll never think of all the things I want to say to you in this letter, but here's what's at the top of my heart right now, anyway!

There are so many things I just love about you.  Your bright eyes, your sweet and fun-loving personality, your tender heart, your love for your sister and your obsession with all things "Daddy."  I just get such a kick out of what a "BOY" you are...from your rough-and-tumble action to your mechanical bend to your much-more-simple-emotional-state-than-your-sweet-sister ;)...you fit the "little boy" stereotype so well, and I just LOVE it.

I love how when you're really excited about something, your first thought is to find Serena and tackle her.

I love that you run everywhere you go.  That you jump and clap your hands when you're happy.  That you don't just give in when there's a fight to be had.

I love the way you carry my old doll "Diana Lou" around, naked, and emphatically call her "Diana Luke."  You do a great job taking care of her, putting her to sleepy, wiping her poopy bottom, and feeding her.  ;)

I love how you have certain fleeting expressions that cross your face that remind me of my Daddy.  How I wish he could have known you!

I love the way you snuggle your "special blankie" against your face during bedtime.  It is absolutely precious how your eyes get so heavy when you feel that soft fabric on your cheek.  I know you're going to grow up so strong and brave and your "special blankie" will soon be a distant memory; but right at this moment, I wish I could keep you at this tender age forever!

I love the way you love to cuddle with your Mommy.  I just love scooping your little warm, strong body up and snuggling you against my chest.  And I love how you just melt right into me with absolutely no sense of hurry to move on to something else.

I love the way you try to sing along with me when I sing our special bedtime lullaby, "Goodnight, My Angel."

I love the way your eyes light up with mischief when you bug Serena.  You can be an absolute turd!

I love the way you say, "Hold-a me, Mommy!"  Sometimes at night, when you need me to come tuck you back in, you'll say "Hold-a me, Mommy!"  I'll pick you up and hold you for a while and then you'll finally say, "I all better now, Mommy." I lay you back down, you snuggle in, I cover you up, and you fall right back to sleep.

I love the way you adore your Daddy and try to please him and be like him.  I can't think of a better person for you to mimic.  It makes my heart soar when I see his traits in you!

It cracks me up the way you'll say nice and loud, "I OKAY, MOMMY!" whenever you fall down or have some other mishap during play.

I just love what a little package you are!  I know someday you'll be a big, strong man; but right now you are such a little guy, full of life and energy!  You only weigh 25 pounds; 5 pounds more than your baby brother, though you are 18 months older than him!  As he is in the 95th percentile and you are in the 15th, I often wonder how long it will be until you guys are the exact same size!

I've been so amazed over the last year how your vocabulary and conversation-making abilities have exploded!  Your newest trick has been counting, and you're not too bad at it!  You're also very good at conversation starters like, "How's it going?" and "Good morning!"  You picked up really fast on social graces and rarely forget to say "Please" or "Thank you"!

I love how you love music and singing.  You are quick to say, "I know that song!" if you hear a familiar song come on the radio or Pandora.  You have so many songs in your repertoire that I've lost count!

Your absolute favorite books are the "Bizzy Bear" books.  You could read them over and over!  You also love playing with balls, puzzles, trucks, and anything that requires some putting-together (blocks, train tracks, etc).  Your favorite accessories are your yellow sunglasses, your phone (Daddy's old Blackberry), and a penny.

You love having "jobs."  If you're in a funk, the magic words are, "Bret, I have a job for you" and you snap out of it immediately!  You love working!  If you hear me give Serena a job, you'll ask me, "Where'd my job go?"  Once, I saw you playing with something you shouldn't, and when I said, "Bret, we don't play with that; it's not a toy," you said, "I working, Mommy!  I working hard!"

I love when people ask you your name, because I know that 9 times out of 10 you'll reply (as you point happily to your belly), "I Betster-boy!"

You have such a confident little swagger to your gait!  You are so good-natured and care-free!  I know life will throw all kinds of curve balls your way.  You'll be faced with unfairness, dishonesty, hypocrisy, and sadness.  And though part of me wants to shield you, to hold you tight and never let you grow; the other part of me is proud to see you march through the years from your babyhood into little-boyhood into adolescence and finally into manhood.  I know you have what it takes to be a great man and I couldn't be more proud of my little Bretster-boy!  My heart is overflowing with my love for you, as the tears pour down my cheeks.  I know these days are flying by, but I love them for all the craziness they hold!  There are nights where I long...even cry, I'm afraid...for a little more sleep, but then I remember that I don't know when your call for me and your request to be held will be the last one.  So, tonight, I'll hold you just as tightly as ever.  I'll sing to my little angels as I tuck you in bed to "dream of how wonderful your lives will be."  And as I leave, I'll once again thank God for the precious gift that you are and pray for His blessing on your life.

I love you, Bret Jordan!