two

Dear Preston,

I’m going with the cliche and saying, I can’t believe you’re already TWO! In some ways it feels like you were just born yesterday, but in others, I can’t imagine life before you.

You are such a stereotypical boy. You love trucks and cars and balls and sports. Your dad is STOKED that you are already a sports-lover, even though he would have loved you just as much if you were not. You love to watch baseball with him while holding your bat, you love to kick balls around the house, and you love to throw EVERYTHING.

And you love to run and race strollers with your buddy Kesler.

Here are a few things I love about you:

I love the way you, when you get hurt, will say “Ow” over and over while pointing to where you were hurt, and then come to me for a kiss. And then another kiss. And sometimes a third and fourth.

I love how kind you are, even if someone is not kind to you. Like how when Liliana takes something from you, but then drops something of her own, you will pick up her dropped item and hand it to her, saying, “Dah doe.” (Here you go.)

I love your vocabulary. When we saw the health nurse five months ago, she was kind of concerned that you weren’t saying much, but I wasn’t. I knew you’d talk when you wanted to and you have added many, many words since then. You can communicate effectively when you’re calm, and you’re saying new things every day. Like “two”.

(To hear the video, just click on the little red x in the top left corner. I have it automatically muted because automatic music/videos are annoying and my voice is, too, so be sure to re-mute it after watching.)

I love it when you come and sit right beside me. And how you will come and stand directly beside me, too, and then look up and me and smile your knowing smile.

I love that you’ve developed a love of your blanket(s) and how you like to cuddle up with them and your soother.

I love that when you want someone to follow you, you start walking away, look over your shoulder, say ‘Mon! and motion for that person to follow you. It’s nearly impossible to say no to.

I love how you like to fan the pages of one of my thick books.

I love how loving you are. You love to give hugs, and have recently branched out from your immediate family members to anyone in your vicinity who you think merits a hug. You also love to hold hands while we’re walking.

I love how you have started to string words together. Like, “Deh dis!” (there it is)

I love that you will eat basically anything. Especially if it is on my plate. (Although I don’t love that last part as much.)

I love how much you love your sisters, Nana and Sisas.

I love that you’re opening up to people more now. Whereas you were attached to me for the first year and a bit of your life (not that I minded, at all), you’ll now talk to people who aren’t related to you.

I love how cuddly you are. You love hugs and snuggling and being close to people. Every morning you come and lay on top of me with your head on my chest and give me the biggest, bestest hug.

I love how much you love being outside and I hope that the snow melts soon so that you can play out there again.

I love that you are a mama’s boy. I hope that never changes.

I tried all day yesterday to get a great photo of you, but you had more important things to do than be photographed happy and looking at the camera, and that’s ok. Your dad even tried to help me, but you were like, I don’t think so, you guys! So, here are a few of my favourites of the shots I did get. I know you would have been a million times more cooperative if we’d been able to go outside, and I’m sorry that the snow in our yard is higher than you are tall.

You make our lives better and brighter and fuller. You completed our family perfectly. I love you more than I could have possibly ever imagined, my little redhead. I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.

Unless maybe you’d like to stay in your bed after Dad and I tuck you in at night. That might be nice.

Love,
Mom