Happy 2nd Birthday Nathan!

To my sweet Baby Bear,

I can’t believe that you are 2 years old today…and yet I can. I can remember the day of your birth so clearly, but the last 2 years are so full of memories made with you that your birth seems so long ago. In the last year since your first birthday, you have changed so much. Not only in looks, but in personality and in your skills and abilities.

You are a child like none other. While you are a social butterfly like your brother, you have your very own distinct personality. As Grandma Shona pointed out, “He definitely has that sparkle in his eye”. You will tilt your head, give a sly smile, and twinkle those baby blues at me. There’s a reason that I call you a stinker, but you aren’t a bad kid. Just a little mischievous sometimes

You say “Hi!” to anyone and everyone in your general vicinity. If they don’t respond, you repeat yourself until they do. You also say “Yep” to most questions thrown your way. That is unless it’s something to which you know the answer is “No” to, such as, “Do you want to go to bed?”

Your vocabulary is expanding daily, thanks mostly to your chatty brother. The two of you are like two peas in a pod. Though there is the occasional scuffle over a toy, generally you both share everything really well…with a “Here you go!” thrown in as you hand it over. If one of you is playing in another room, the other will go looking for their buddy. If I get you up in the morning or after a nap and Graham isn’t with me, you’ll ask me where he is.

You love, love, LOVE your Daddy. You’re a lot like him too. Long and lean, and a lot of similar personality traits. Though he’s not a huge extrovert, so you must get that from me. You take delight in “helping” him do whatever he is doing. Whether it’s mowing the lawn, fixing the house or working in the office, you want to be right next to him, doing what he’s doing. He calls you “Mini me”.

You love machinery. Of any type. Trucks, cars, quads, you name it. If it has wheels or an engine (boat, plane, etc.) you are all over it. You spend many hours of the day with a toy vehicle in your hand, making engine noises. You are over the moon with joy when Daddy takes you on a quad ride, and are even happy to sit on it while it’s parked in the driveway. Our house is overflowing with all of your trucks (as is the van, deck, and sandbox) but you’re a BOY – I totally expect it from you.

You are also a very loving and cuddly kid. This seems in direct contrast to your inner need to never stop moving. But stop you do, and ask to be picked up. You will wrap your arms around me and nuzzle your face into my neck. You’re full of kisses too. You give many and receive even more.

I can’t even imagine what this next year will bring. You will become even more of a little boy…and less of a baby. Despite all of this growth and change to come in the coming year and those to follow, you will always be my baby. I love you.

Mommy.