Dear Ransom,
You are going to be 2 years old tomorrow. Which means, that 2 years ago today I was in labor. Thanks for that.
That being said, I've been thinking recently about the sentiment that you often hear from mothers, how they wish they their little babies would stay little babies forever. I never understood this. I loved you when you were a baby, sure. But I really could hardly wait for the fun things to come. Well, I think I've finally reached the point. The point when I'd like to keep you like this forever. You are so very very fun to be around. You are constantly saying funny things, doing funny things. You are bubbling over with excitement for life and you can hardly contain it all.
I love how you so very much wish you knew more words. You can speak in short sentences now, but its quite clear that, in your mind, some things deserve to be talked about in paragraphs. Of course, your lack of vocabulary does not stop you. Oh no. You'll just repeat the words you DO know until they have adequately filled the proper space that is needed.
You have a very good sense of humor and are continually cracking yourself up. But this is not enough, you have also started yelling for Mommy or Daddy until one of us acknowledges what your incredible wit has come up with now. Why, yes, Ransom...two pacifiers in your mouth is hilarious. Putting a little piece of play dough into that lantern where a candle should go....pure genius. Of course, we laugh with you. We laugh because we are delighted by your discoveries of the world around you. We too, have renewed interest in firetrucks, motorcycles, mail trucks, ambulances, police cars, bicycles, pianos, guitars, dogs and anything else you might have come to love.
We think its great that you love the Wheels on the Bus song so much, that for a while you would ask us to put anything and everything on the bus. Not just normal things like people and animals (one could argue that they do not belong on the bus either) but airplanes and helicopters, pacifiers, showers, rain, various foods...all of them have been on the bus, and we have done our very best to come up with the proper sounds for each one.
We think its great that have recently started pushing two of your stuffed animals around perched on top of your lawnmower like it were a stroller. Every so often you will take one off, cradle it like a baby and bounce and "shhh" it. We assume that God is subconsciously preparing you for two sisters....but whatever the case, you are quite the little Daddy.
We think its great that you like to eat grapes and bananas, strawberries and you LOVE cheese. We love that you now understand bargaining and will at least try bites of new foods if you know that you'll get a bite of something you like afterwards. In this way you have found that you are actually not as picky as you may have thought you were...and that your food tastes really DO branch out past four foods. geez.
Yes, there are definitely things that are not fun about two year olds. 2 year old tantrums are REAL. And you have them from time to time. Especially if things change quickly or if something different from what you were expecting happens. Or if someone looks at you wrong and doesn't give you exactly what you want. ha! ;-)
But, honestly, the good outweighs the bad so very much. And I love that you are still my little boy. My little boy who gives the very best hugs and kisses. My little boy who is the very best cuddler and who likes to hang out in bed playing under pillows and blankets ( Mommy likes beds too). I love that your hair grows super fast and gets curly when its humid. I love your stinky little feet and how you like to hold hands when we pray. I love that you sing in your crib when you wake up in the mornings and before you go to sleep at night.
Your Daddy and I are so very grateful for you in our lives, above all you have taught us that we know very little and must rely on our Lord Jesus for all wisdom when it comes to raising you. We are thankful that you point us to Him every single day, and we pray that one day you will come to love Him as much as we do.
Happy Birthday, my little two year old!
Mommy