If you’ve been here over the last 6+ years, you’ve gone on this mom journey with me. You remember my pregnancy with Jack (catch my trimester updates here) and our infertility journey, you remember his birth story, and you remember his ONE-der the Sea first birthday. And now, we are here again. Another year has passed with the sweetest boy in the world and I haven’t been able to stop crying all day long. JACK IS TWO! I have so many thoughts, advice and reflections over the past year – so let’s jump into it.
JACK TURNS TWO! My reflections on the last two years.
The last year absolutely flew by….I thought his first year was fast but if it’s even possible, his second went by even faster. He is just absolutely darling – so smart, funny and way cooler than Adam and I have ever been in our whole lives.
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT J:
- He LOVES bunnies and dogs. Almost every morning, we take a walk outside to look for bunnies around the neighborhood.
- He also loves anything with wheels: cars, trucks, construction vehicles, firetrucks. ALL of them.
- His current movie line up: Cars 1, Cars 2, Cars 3. Occasionally we get Planes 1 and Planes 2 as a break. 😉
- He calls everyone “buddy”. He often greats Adam and I as “daddy buddy” and “mommy buddy”. Bunnies are also “bunny buddies”.
- He can count to 10!
- He speaks in full sentences and talks all day long.
- His favorite people in the world are Mama, Daddy, Nani, Pa, Aunt Cici and Uncle Cal! He is happiest when we are all in the same place together.
- He is an excellent traveler – and we’ve never had an issue with him on airplanes!
- He smiles at everyone, and loves to make new friends at the park.
- Lightning McQueen + Grogu are his two favorite fictional characters!
There is something special about being a mom in that so far – every new age has been my favorite, and the past ages and milestones soften with time. Right now TWO is everything we see: in his speech, his movement, his opinions, his laughs, his adorable mouthful of baby teeth. And it’s JOYOUS. It’s so stinking fun. And it’s my favorite. But 18 months was also my favorite. And one year. And 10 months. And 6 months. And newborn. I remember the past months with less clarity but we have videos and pictures and those are precious. Over time, when Jack is 6, and 10, and 18 – two will be softer, too. But we will look back on pictures and videos and laugh and cry.
It seems impossible that Adam and I have figured out each new stage because we are always so worried about it before it comes. We are learning to let go of that worry, too. Potty training is our next big step with Jack and we are honestly TERRIFIED. But it’ll happen. He will learn, and we will learn. That’s my biggest advice for parents, I think. Stop worrying about the next stage before it’s here. You’ll get there. Stages are so short at this age. Most of us grow up into well-adjusted adults regardless of the mistakes our parents may or may not have made when we were two.
Two feels different because when Jack turned one, I still had a baby. He was still nursing, still small enough for my to rock and hold without the lean, long legs of a toddler. Somewhere between 18 months and 2, Jack turned into a toddler. Every time he gets a haircut I cry because he looks SO BIG. I don’t have a baby anymore – he often smells like sunshine, sunscreen and strawberries and he says exactly what’s on his mind. He recalls events from days ago, and remembers what he likes and dislikes.
JACK – this is my note for you, today, on your birthday:
You are AWESOME, my darling boy. You are so fun and bright and sweet. It is an HONOR to be your mom and every day I thank God for that opportunity. I never feel like I could possibly be good enough for you – but I promise I try every day. It is my favorite thing in the world to be your mama and watching you grow up is a privilege I will never get enough of. Every day I pray that you will keep the wonder you have for life right now. I cannot wait to see you grow and change over the next year. We love you, baby boy. SO much. Happy Birthday, J.
