Nate is 2!

January 5, 2011

Dear Nathaniel,

Happy 2nd Birthday! My goodness, you are officially 2 today. It seems you have been 2 for quite some time. You are such a big boy, so mature, so talkative, and so smart that is often hard to remember you are still a toddler. Then you square that bottom lip and have a tantrum over wanting your shirt both on and off in the same instant and I am reminded once again of your actual age.

Nate, my sweet sweet Nate, I so admire how you love. You are attentive and affectionate to the people and things you hold dear. For example: Sometimes you will be engaged in an activity, stop to seek out your cozy pillow, pick it up to cuddle for a few moments, put it down and return to your previous task. I hope you always love like this Nate. I hope you always keep what you love close and take the time to cherish it as you do today. What a precious heart you possess.

You have matured from calling me Mum-Mum to Mommy, saying “Ess!” to Yes, giving one word, all capital commands to polite requests. (From FRIES! to Please Mommy Fries) You don’t experiment with foods much. You have your staples that you love, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches, yogurt, pancakes (pronounced Pan-pakes), various crunchy snack foods and any type of dessert. It is a challenge to say the least keeping you proper nutritioned. But when you do eat, you sure do put it away.

You refuse to acknowledge your middle name is Thomas, instead picking a different train each time. “Faniel Percy Stonah” or “Faniel Emily Stonah”. Then you give that ornery smile that lights up your eyes before the sly grin appears. Oh that smile, I always tell you it’s a good thing you are so cute, it keeps you out of most of the trouble you should be in. You climb anything. You jump off things without regard to landing. You look for things to get into. You are just an on-the-go, perpetual movement little boy. But you would say “No, I’m just Nate”

I cherish our bedtime routine, holding you close and singing “Hush little baby” brings me the greatest peace I have ever known. You lay your head on my shoulder and when I’m finished you pull back and say something like “good singing Mommy” or sometimes “love you Mommy”. Just last week you said “happy holidays Mommy”. It’s been over 10 days but I still tear up every time remember your serious expression and soft voice.

So Happy Second Birthday Nate. We are having the Thomas party that you have been requesting for a few months now. Mommy & Daddy love you more than you could ever imagine. Thank you for being “just Nate”, because just Nate is more than we could have ever dreamed.

With all my love,
Mommy